2008 BMC Fourstroke

Hmm, what is BMC? A bike company?. I never heard of it. BMC is a swiss mountain bike company, they are not that popular in MountainBike but roadies should know BMC. So anyway they make some interesting moutain bikes too, the quality of their bikes are superb (considering its built in Swiss), so far their lineup only offers hardtails and full suspension ranging from cross country to all-mountain.

BMC uses VPS which is something like a virtual pivot bike (seems most bike manufacturer are using virtual pivot concept nowadays). Their XC full suspension bike, FourStroke receives some changes for 08, so what do the Swiss company has offered us for 2008?

08 Fourstroke 01 VPS rear linkage and Easton unidirectional CNT

For starters, they did a makeover on their top XC full suspension bike, FourStroke01. Its now offered in full black and it features Easton CNT (thats right, they use the same type of carbon tube that you found on your Eason carbon MTB products). Above is the picture of the rear linkage. It looks beefy and stiff for a XC bike, the weight hasnt been confirmed yet (lets hope its light shall we).

To improve stiffness, the lower link for 08 models have been widened.

Knowing European bikes, the mud clearance for the Fourstroke doesnt disappoint. And the carbon bracer is actually curved upwards for better rigidity and it looks good too.

The Fourstroke 01 also receives a newly redesign head tube bond that increases the front stiffness.

So before we move to the aluminium model, there is a bit of change that will affect both the carbon and aluminium model which is BMC unique toptube/seattube joint. It has been redesign and it looks beautifull.

The newly redesign toptube/seattube joint

The aluminium version of Fourstroke also recieves a new hydroformed head tube joint which elimantes the use of gussets, thus save weight.

So basically those are the changes that 08 BMC Fourstroke will undertake and I must say that the carbon bike aint going to be cheap. But since the carbon is made from Easton which produces one of the strongest carbon fibre parts in Mountain Bikes, EC90 seatpost, MonkeyLite Handlebars, durability should be assured. Below are the pics of the new Fourstrokes and take note that in the second pic, the bike located in the middle is 07 Fourstroke, as you can see the toptube/seattube junction is different.

2008 BMC Fourstroke 01 (carbon) - It aint goint to be cheap

07 and 08 BMC Fourstrokes (Aluminium version - front is 08 and the middle one is 07)

Pics provided from CyclingNews.com