BH has been producing bikes for more than 100 years. With the Expert 4.5, the Spaniards not only deliver the most affordable hardtail in the test field, but also one with classic racing virtues. The stem is long, the suspension travel is sporty and the steering angle is steep. The narrow rims with a rim width of 19 millimetres and the tame Maxxis tyres are designed to be ridden fast uphill rather than fun downhill. Rims less than 25 millimetres wide support the tyres very poorly at low pressures. The ride feels spongy.
In our overview article Hardtails from 1199 to 1799 euros: 9 sporty entry-level hardtails in the test you will find all the bikes tested.
Considering the price, you have to accept a few compromises when it comes to the BH Expert 4.5's spec. You won't find a thru-axle on the Rockshox Judy suspension fork, which was tested with a defective rebound damping. However, the 12-speed drivetrain offers 500 per cent range and the frame of this entry-level hardtail remains the same, as one of the few in our test field, under the two-kilo limit. Thanks to the easy-to-accelerate wheels and the good overall weight, the propulsion is impressive.
Conclusion on the BH Expert 4.5 by Peter Nilges, BIKE Test Manager:
The cheapest hardtail in the test, the BH Expert 4.5 has a sporty focus and scores points, especially on the climbs. Despite compromises in terms of equipment, the price-performance ratio is impressive.
Technical data and notes BH Expert 4.5
Manufacturer information
- Price: 1199 Euro
- available from specialised dealers
- Material / Sizes: Aluminium / XS / S / M / L / XL / (tested in size L, 48 cm)
Measured values
- Weight without pedals / frame: 13.04 kg / 1826 g
- Weight of wheels: 5255 g
- Frame stiffness (absolute / STW): 56 N/mm; 30.7 N/mm/kg
Equipment
- Fork: Rockshox Judy TK
- Suspension travel: 103 mm
- Cranks / gears: Shimano MT 510 / XT/Deore
- Gear ratio, range / handlebar width: 1 x 12, 500 % / 780 mm
- Brake system / Disc (front / rear): Shimano 201 / 180/160 mm
- Seatpost / seat comfort: BH Lite / 5.0 mm
- Wheels / tyres: Shimano hubs; Neo Ro29 rims / Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.25
BIKE test rating*: satisfactory - 142.8 out of 250 points
*The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measurements and the subjective impression of the test riders. The BIKE judgement is independent of price. BIKE judgements: super (250-205 P.), very good (204.75-170 P.), good (169.75-140 P.), satisfactory (139.75-100 P.), with weaknesses, unsatisfactory.
