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SOC14: BOS Reveals Radically Shaped Prototype XC Shock

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BOS Prototype XC Shock

Long recognized as one of the premiere suspension manufacturers in Europe, it is only recently that BOS suspension has turned their attention to the US Market. Over their history, they’ve largely focused on the downhill and Enduro market, but with the recent introduction of their first 29er XC fork, the Dizzy, they finally started to give the spandex market some well deserved love.

Their prototype XC shock project began around a year ago, because BOS wanted to create a lightweight solution that would be capable of matching the performance of their Dizzy XC Fork. They wanted to build something small, easy to tune, and quickly adjustable. With this radically shaped 186g shock they feel they have finally achieved those goals.

Learn more after the break…

BOS Prototype XC Shock Adjustments

According to company founder Olivier Bossard, one of the biggest challenges in designing an XC shock was packing the level of performance they demand into such a small platform. So instead of trying to make everything work inside the size constraints required by an inline design, BOS developed an external oil reservoir with a nitrogen charged oil piston. This allowed them to expand the oil volume in the shock for better and more consistent performance.

Prototype BOS XC Shock Rebound

Tuning is relatively simple, with adjustments restricted to rebound and compression. Much like a motorcycle fork, a single adjustment (in this case a three position lever) allows the rider to adjust both the high and low speed compression. This is the first time in BOS history that the company has used this dual tuning method, but after working with XC athletes, Olivier felt that this platform was the easiest and fastest way for them to tune their shocks on the fly while racing.

While the shock looks like it is very close to production, we are told they are still several weeks away from finishing testing, and they are still in the process of developing a remote lockout lever.

BOS Dizzy XC Fork
While XC riders wait for the new shock to become available, they can salivate over the long rumored Dizzy 29er fork. Now available in both 100 and 120mm travel sizes, it weighs 1580g and has 32mm stanchions, and a three step low speed compression adjustment system.

BOS Dizzy XC Fork Adjustment

One unique thing about the BOS system is its infinite adjustment between each of the three specific detents. You can place the lever anywhere between the three prescribed positions for more or less compression damping.

BOS Deville Convertible 20 to 15mm Fork Axle

BOS Deville Convertible 20 to 15mm Fork Dropout

Not necessarily new, but the Deville series of forks now has the ability to swap between 15/20mm axles. For the past 8 months the forks have been shipping with your preferred axle configuration, with an aftermarket conversion kit available for those who wish to swap between wheelset configurations.

BOSmtb.com

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groghunter
groghunter
9 years ago

I almost wonder if this shock wouldn’t be good enough to be the lightest weight shock you could run that would stand up to the rigors of e-word riding…

Joseph Clemenzi
9 years ago

BOS taking their fair share of the suspension market – pumped to see and try out the new new

RussellG
9 years ago

Wanna send Me a free set for the front of My mountain bike to “FIELD TEST”…(grins)
I’d be more than happy to give them a gentle workout while I pedal My old arse back into shape…:)

patrik
patrik
9 years ago

I can see this being used in lightweight XC rigs. They need to publish some graphs so we can see those spring curves. If they can manage the “wall” on the right side of the curve, they might be onto something; hopefully the nitro piggyback can manage any serious ramping. Again, for core XC racers, not necessarily a bad thing, but if they want to make the move to trail it’d be interesting to see how they pivot this product.

On the Specialized Epics, the Fox mini Brain shock is already a top-notch performer. This thing has to do not just as good but a whole better to unseat that shock from that bike.

padrote
padrote
9 years ago

Good luck fitting a water bottle under that thing.

tsuful
tsuful
9 years ago

@padrote- Plenty of space http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/10816340/

Maxwell
Maxwell
9 years ago

It’s got a piggyback reservoir. Don’t see how that is a radical new shape.

Vince Pearl
Vince Pearl
9 years ago

I’d love to try these as well, I’m a sucker for new shock tech. Too bad it’s road racing season and all bike funds must lay in reserve.

Ninko
Ninko
9 years ago

@Patrick… Trying to make replacements for Epic’s is a stupid idea. the Brain is a Epic specific shock and not just replaceable with something else, stock mounting is different to….
To every other xc rig it could work!

I’m curious to see how it works out, hope to get my dizzy fork next week and if that’s ok, than I will go for this little shock to! or a Vip’r?

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