Once again, we’ve tested a 150/160 mm travel 29er emtb, weighing in at 26.3 kg. The bike is called Birk e-Furios LTD, but it’s actually a rebranded Besv TRS 1.1. Is this just another grey 29er emtb? No, or yes, it is grey. But, in the sunlight, there’s also some purple and green in there.
Watch our video of the test, or keep on reading below.
BESV TRS 1.1 Specs
It’s not only the color that sets this bike apart from the 29ers we usually review. The Besv comes with a burly and solid 160 mm travel Rockshox Zeb RC fork. This is highly unusual on a 150-160 mm travel bike costing just 56.900 NOK. The Rockshox Deluxe select shock is nice, and it’s more in common this price range. It seems prices will vary between markets though. I’ve seen the bike priced at €5.800 elsewhere, so it may or may not be cheap where you live.
We did not expect to get the Shimano XT M8120 brakes at this price. These are great dual caliper brakes. Along with the shifter and derailleur we get an almost complete Shimano XT groupset. With a couple of exceptions. All cogs on the Sunrace cassette are steel. Hopefully, it’s more durable than the Shimano XT cassette that has a couple of aluminium cogs. The chain is from KMC. Previously, we’ve experienced poor shifting with 3rd party chains on the 12-speed Shimano Hyperglide+ system. But the KMC chain shifts just fine with the Sunrace cassette.
Pretty tyres?
One quicly notices the 29×2.6″ Maxxis Minion tanwall tyres. The brown sidewalls makes the bike stand out. Some think they’re cool, but not everyone. There are a couple of things we don’t like about them. They’re only available in the “2C” Maxxis rubber compound. This is a fairly hard rubbermix that lacks some grip on wet trails. Also, the EXO sidewalls are a bit thin. We would think a bike with a burly 38 mm stanction fork would come with tougher tires. But, considering the price, this is hardly an issue. The tyres are fine for those that don’t ride too hard.
Motor and battery
Besv didn’t cut any corners when it comes to the battery. The Darfon 720 Wh battery is part of the Shimano service program. So, it’s really no downside to the 3rd party approved batteries. But there often is an upside. This 720 Wh battery weighs about 3.8 kg, the same as the Shimano 630 Wh battery.
Motor is the Shimano EP8. We like this motor a lot, especially for technical trails. It’s powerful at low cadence, still it’s easy to control. There are motors that are more powerful when approaching to cut-off speed though. Check out our review of the motor here.
Geometry
The 465 mm chainstays are quite long. They contribute to the long 1.240 mm wheelbase on our size Medium bike. We think the 65* head angle is spot on. Besv claim a 70* seat tube angle. That is very slack. I don’t know how they came up with that figure. Are they just measuring the top section of the tube? The seat tube angle doesn’t feel particularily slack. We don’t feel like we’re sitting far back on the bike.
Geometry 
Specs
Size Large is often right for us, at just over 180 cm. But this bike in size Medium seems fine for us. A smaller size can work well on bikes with a long wheelbase. Besv claim the test bike is suited for riders between 174 and 187 cm. The bike is also available in sizes Small and Large.
On the trails
The 2022 Besv TRS 1.1 is made for the steep uphills. The long rear ensures good balance when going up. We never struggle to keep the front wheel on the ground.
Most bikes are fine for flat and mellow trails. But some are more inspiring than others. The long and heavy TRS 1.1 isn’t designed for maximum fun on narrow trails. And that’s fine. It’s good to have options and pick the bike that suits your riding style. In this terrain, the Besv feels safe and stable. It will roll over most obstacles and hold it’s line well.
And the same can be said for the descents. At low speed, the stable bike is slow through sharp turns. It takes a bit of effort getting the long and stable bike through fast consecutive turns. The Besc TRS 1.1 isn’t what we’d call nimble and playful. But, it’s stable and confidence inspiring! Going down rough trails at speed, the generous wheelbase and long rear end can be an advantage. The “central” riding position helps us wheigh down the front wheel for improved grip through the turns. TRS 1.1 holds it’s line well over rocks and roots, in part thanks to the burly Zeb fork.
Conclusion
Those who enjoy creative line choices or jumping obstacles will likely prefer a more lightweight bike with a shorter rear end. Those who prefer a safe and stable ride, or those who just want to go for a long ride should take a look at the new Besv TRS 1.1. It will get up or over pretty much anything, especially if fitted with softer rubber tyres. The level of specs is just great. The fork, brakes and battery capacity is more than we expected for the money.
