BH Bikes- anyone heard of them?
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
BH Bikes- anyone heard of them?
Looking to buy my first road bike after riding a Trek hybrid for about a year. I've been bit by the tri bug and have interest in doing longer rides solo and group, partly for fun and partly to prep for a HIM down the road. Not interested in a tri bike.
I have a lot of local shops to choose from, easy access to all the major brands. In addition, I'm chummy with the owner of a local nonprofit (focus is training underprivileged youth to ride) that operates a bike studio and sells BH/Kona.
I trust the owner's knowledge, he's a former pro and well respected around town for bike fits. I also like the idea of supporting his org.
After explaining what I'm looking for in a bike, price range, etc. he recommended the BH Prisma with 105 groupset (link here). I'm new to all this so I won't pretend I know everything I should be looking for, but from what I do know, it seems to be a quality bike using newer carbon. I can get the '12 model for 2k, free pro fit and free lifetime service.
My hesitations are 1) he doesn't have a real showroom, i.e. no bikes in my size in stock to test ride. He rides this model himself so I could see it in person, but he won't have the same size frame. He seems quite focused on fit above all else so I guess I would need to take a leap of faith that the bike ordered would fit me. He says I'm not on the hook if I was not totally comfortable with it. 2) I can't find hardly anything out about this brand/model online. There are essentially no real world reviews on this brand. I get that it's not as widely carried as the big guys, but that gives me a lot of pause. I get that aside from a scant few no one makes their own bikes, components are components, etc. But I also think it's natural to want to see what people think about a bike in comparison to other things in its price range.
Thoughts appreciated...
I have a lot of local shops to choose from, easy access to all the major brands. In addition, I'm chummy with the owner of a local nonprofit (focus is training underprivileged youth to ride) that operates a bike studio and sells BH/Kona.
I trust the owner's knowledge, he's a former pro and well respected around town for bike fits. I also like the idea of supporting his org.
After explaining what I'm looking for in a bike, price range, etc. he recommended the BH Prisma with 105 groupset (link here). I'm new to all this so I won't pretend I know everything I should be looking for, but from what I do know, it seems to be a quality bike using newer carbon. I can get the '12 model for 2k, free pro fit and free lifetime service.
My hesitations are 1) he doesn't have a real showroom, i.e. no bikes in my size in stock to test ride. He rides this model himself so I could see it in person, but he won't have the same size frame. He seems quite focused on fit above all else so I guess I would need to take a leap of faith that the bike ordered would fit me. He says I'm not on the hook if I was not totally comfortable with it. 2) I can't find hardly anything out about this brand/model online. There are essentially no real world reviews on this brand. I get that it's not as widely carried as the big guys, but that gives me a lot of pause. I get that aside from a scant few no one makes their own bikes, components are components, etc. But I also think it's natural to want to see what people think about a bike in comparison to other things in its price range.
Thoughts appreciated...
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: GA
Posts: 1,155
Bikes: Helix, HonkyTonk, NailTrail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Kona is a well respected brand, not a top tier featured in Tour brand, but well established nonetheless. It should be built solid and have reasonable performance. Unfamiliar with BH, site looks sketchy and tossed together haphazardly, doesn't instill confidence in a brand.
Drivetrain is Shimano 105, can't get much more robust than that. It is a good price break for reliable performance.
If it was me? I would opt for a respectable Al bike over an entry level Carbon. You mention Trek, Madone 2-4 has options in that price range.
Drivetrain is Shimano 105, can't get much more robust than that. It is a good price break for reliable performance.
If it was me? I would opt for a respectable Al bike over an entry level Carbon. You mention Trek, Madone 2-4 has options in that price range.
#3
blah blah blah
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
There's a website called "google", and if you submit a search for "bh prisma review", it'll show you a lot of reviews of that bike... (I know because I tried it.)
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
145 Posts
Kona is a well respected brand, not a top tier featured in Tour brand, but well established nonetheless. It should be built solid and have reasonable performance. Unfamiliar with BH, site looks sketchy and tossed together haphazardly, doesn't instill confidence in a brand.Drivetrain is Shimano 105, can't get much more robust than that. It is a good price break for reliable performance.
If it was me? I would opt for a respectable Al bike over an entry level Carbon. You mention Trek, Madone 2-4 has options in that price range.
If it was me? I would opt for a respectable Al bike over an entry level Carbon. You mention Trek, Madone 2-4 has options in that price range.
#6
Senior Member
Like some of the others have said here BH is a European bike company that has been making decent bikes for some years now. I have seen them around here in Belgium and can say they look pretty slick on the higher end models at least.
As far as what you should get... if you can, test some of these bikes out, the best deal will be the bike that fits you right.
As far as what you should get... if you can, test some of these bikes out, the best deal will be the bike that fits you right.
#7
Flying Under the Radar
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Northeast PA
Posts: 4,116
Bikes: 10' SuperiorLite SL Club | 06' Giant FCR3 | 2010 GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
BH is definitely a quality bicycle manufacturer. They are featured at interbike quite frequently.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South Florida
Posts: 1,104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
BH makes some really nice carbon frames. They do offer some very high end stuff and are popular overseas. Here is their main site https://www.bhbikes.com/. I wouldn't worry about test ride because you have to dial in your fit which might mean swapping stems/seat/seatpost/bars before you can really get a good sense.
#10
Senior Member
Looking to buy my first road bike after riding a Trek hybrid for about a year. I've been bit by the tri bug and have interest in doing longer rides solo and group, partly for fun and partly to prep for a HIM down the road. Not interested in a tri bike.
I have a lot of local shops to choose from, easy access to all the major brands. In addition, I'm chummy with the owner of a local nonprofit (focus is training underprivileged youth to ride) that operates a bike studio and sells BH/Kona.
I trust the owner's knowledge, he's a former pro and well respected around town for bike fits. I also like the idea of supporting his org.
After explaining what I'm looking for in a bike, price range, etc. he recommended the BH Prisma with 105 groupset (link here). I'm new to all this so I won't pretend I know everything I should be looking for, but from what I do know, it seems to be a quality bike using newer carbon. I can get the '12 model for 2k, free pro fit and free lifetime service.
My hesitations are 1) he doesn't have a real showroom, i.e. no bikes in my size in stock to test ride. He rides this model himself so I could see it in person, but he won't have the same size frame. He seems quite focused on fit above all else so I guess I would need to take a leap of faith that the bike ordered would fit me. He says I'm not on the hook if I was not totally comfortable with it. 2) I can't find hardly anything out about this brand/model online. There are essentially no real world reviews on this brand. I get that it's not as widely carried as the big guys, but that gives me a lot of pause. I get that aside from a scant few no one makes their own bikes, components are components, etc. But I also think it's natural to want to see what people think about a bike in comparison to other things in its price range.
Thoughts appreciated...
I have a lot of local shops to choose from, easy access to all the major brands. In addition, I'm chummy with the owner of a local nonprofit (focus is training underprivileged youth to ride) that operates a bike studio and sells BH/Kona.
I trust the owner's knowledge, he's a former pro and well respected around town for bike fits. I also like the idea of supporting his org.
After explaining what I'm looking for in a bike, price range, etc. he recommended the BH Prisma with 105 groupset (link here). I'm new to all this so I won't pretend I know everything I should be looking for, but from what I do know, it seems to be a quality bike using newer carbon. I can get the '12 model for 2k, free pro fit and free lifetime service.
My hesitations are 1) he doesn't have a real showroom, i.e. no bikes in my size in stock to test ride. He rides this model himself so I could see it in person, but he won't have the same size frame. He seems quite focused on fit above all else so I guess I would need to take a leap of faith that the bike ordered would fit me. He says I'm not on the hook if I was not totally comfortable with it. 2) I can't find hardly anything out about this brand/model online. There are essentially no real world reviews on this brand. I get that it's not as widely carried as the big guys, but that gives me a lot of pause. I get that aside from a scant few no one makes their own bikes, components are components, etc. But I also think it's natural to want to see what people think about a bike in comparison to other things in its price range.
Thoughts appreciated...
As it is BH happens to be a good albeit minor in US brand. A few guys around here race them, from ex-pro Cat 1s to Cat 4s. BH were the sponsors for Vanderkitten for a while. I can't remember if they sponsored a domestic men's team. They are bigger in Europe, they sponsor/ed euro pro teams, like the now-gone Liberty Seguros squad.
They claim to have invented the integrated seat post (ISP) which is how a lot of high end frames end up nowadays.
#11
enthusiast
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Southern Mississippi for the time being.
Posts: 509
Bikes: 2010 BMC SL 01 Roadracer, 2012 Davidson Tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A friend just bought one. I cannot personally speak to any qualities of the bike other than it sure looks pretty... :-)
#12
Underwhelming
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Mississippi
Posts: 1,263
Bikes: Lynskey R330 Ti, Dean El Vado Ti, Trek 4300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A Cat 1 woman who raced for our race team (Absolute Racing) said her BH bike has been her favorite thus far. She was 4th overall this year and was the lap leader.
#13
Middle-Aged Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 2,276
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV 2014, TREK HIFI 2011, Argon18 E-116 2013
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A shop just down the street from me just picked up BH because they can actually keep their bikes in stock... The owner loves his and a few of the riders on the team have also picked them up. The US distributor for BH happens to be in Tempe, AZ so they can deliver a frame/bike same day... that kindof rocks. As for Origins, they are from Spain and have been around a Very long time (Over 100 yrs I think).
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Rockwall, TX
Posts: 51
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Posts: 14
Bikes: BH G5~Full Campy Record
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I love my BH and would definitely build another one when the time comes. I don't think you will be disappointed if you picked up the Prisma.
#16
Senior Member
...he recommended the BH Prisma with 105 groupset (link here). I'm new to all this so I won't pretend I know everything I should be looking for, but from what I do know, it seems to be a quality bike using newer carbon. I can get the '12 model for 2k, free pro fit and free lifetime service.
If you can get him to throw in a couple of carbon bottle cages, and a saddle bag with a tube, patch kit, and tire irons, and pedals ... I'd say go for it.
#17
Just Keep Pedaling
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lakewood, CA
Posts: 3,355
Bikes: 99 Schwinn Mesa GS MTB, 15 Trek Domane 5.9 Dura-Ace, 17 Trek Emonda SL6 Pro & 18 Bianchi Vigorelli
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 251 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 67 Times
in
34 Posts
My LBS sells BH and Trek. I drool over the BH's
#19
i got nothing.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Cali Forn NI A (SoCal)
Posts: 5,723
Bikes: 13 BH G6 with SRAM Red
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do some research besides here…BH is legit. Look up Road bike Action Magazine has done write up's on several of their bikes, so has all the other bike mags.
__________________
14 days...
14 days...
#20
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
206 Posts
I think they sponsored team Jelly Belly a few years ago.
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
#21
i got nothing.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Cali Forn NI A (SoCal)
Posts: 5,723
Bikes: 13 BH G6 with SRAM Red
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
They sponsored AG2r a few years ago…I don't believe Jelly belly was ever sponsored by them.
My team is sponsored by them and they rock, I've owned the G5 and ridden the Ultralight and everyone I know that rides them loves them. I went from an SL2 to the G5 and IMO the G5 was better, I was also better than my SuperSix HiMod also.
I'll be getting one of the new G6s with the team this year for sure!
My team is sponsored by them and they rock, I've owned the G5 and ridden the Ultralight and everyone I know that rides them loves them. I went from an SL2 to the G5 and IMO the G5 was better, I was also better than my SuperSix HiMod also.
I'll be getting one of the new G6s with the team this year for sure!
__________________
14 days...
14 days...
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 681
Bikes: Felt F1C
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A shop just down the street from me just picked up BH because they can actually keep their bikes in stock... The owner loves his and a few of the riders on the team have also picked them up. The US distributor for BH happens to be in Tempe, AZ so they can deliver a frame/bike same day... that kindof rocks. As for Origins, they are from Spain and have been around a Very long time (Over 100 yrs I think).
Couple riders here that absolutely love theirs too. Definitely a company I wouldn't mind purchasing a bike from. Prisma's got a beefy BB and the frame seems to be a great grade of carbon that would be well suited for future upgrades. They really got a couple of people's attention with their new TT bike that's coming out too at Interbike.
#25
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Excellent, good to hear they are respected. I also like the idea of having something not everyone else is riding.
Re: 2k for the Prisma w/105 groupset- I disagree, based on my research, that that is not a good price when throwing in fit/maintenance. Getting a newer mold carbon frame with those components for 2k is (again from what I have seen) not common amongst the big brands.
Thanks for the responses all...
Re: 2k for the Prisma w/105 groupset- I disagree, based on my research, that that is not a good price when throwing in fit/maintenance. Getting a newer mold carbon frame with those components for 2k is (again from what I have seen) not common amongst the big brands.
Thanks for the responses all...