New Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate 2023 first ride review – Something to hide…

“Who invented it?”. No, we’re not talking about the brown herbal cough drops: with the new Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate 2023, the Swiss boutique brand is showcasing many years of bike know-how, delivering yet another carbon rig with a stealth look, integrated shock and many clever details. But how does the new enduro bruiser fare on the trail?

Integration is both the credo and distinctive trademark of Bold Cycles. The Swiss boutique manufacturer relied on their signature recipe for the third iteration of the Unplugged, which was redesigned from the ground up for 2023 and features a fully enclosed shock design. Bold Cycles’ small development team was the first one to integrate the shock into the frame of an enduro bike back in 2018 and has been further developing the concept since. Like with the new Linkin, the shock of the latest Bold Cycles Unplugged 2023 is positioned horizontally in the down tube, which is meant to ensure a lower centre of gravity while at the same time improving kinematics and creating plenty of storage room.

The new Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate 2023 in detail

Like its little sibling, Linkin 135 Ultimate, the new Unplugged relies on an enclosed shock design, which ensures a tidy look and leaves plenty of room for long dropper posts and big water bottles. A simple but effective push button allows you to remove the big down tube protector and access the shock and storage compartment quickly and without the need for tools. The compartment comes standard with Bold’s Save The Day kit, which contains all the basic trail essentials, including a multitool, inner tube, mini pump, tire levers and a chain lock.

For smaller punctures, Bold integrate a tire-plug kit into the bar ends, including a small knife for cutting the plugs to size. Additionally, there’s a mini tool hidden inside the rear thru-axle, which includes a T25, T30 and 6mm Allen key. This is next-level integration, something you only get with a handful of bikes, which renders a backpack or hip pack redundant.

The Unplugged 2023 comes standard with a chain guide, which is neatly integrated into the frame and discreetly tucked under the seat stay, where it prevents chain slap, thus ensuring a quiet ride on the trail.

For the cockpit, Bold rely on a one-piece Syncros Hixon iC carbon handlebar/stem unit, which routes both the rear brake line and the TracLoc remote cable for the dropper post and shock directly through the headset and straight into the frame. The internal routing system ensures a quiet ride and clean look, and the rear brake line only reappears a few centimetres before the brake calliper. By the way, the frame of the Bold Unplugged renounces cable ports altogether, because the Swiss manufacturer relies on a wireless SRAM AXS drivetrain. However, the clean look comes at the expense of practicality, because the lack of cable ports forces you to run a wireless drivetrain – these are far more expensive to replace than their cable-operated counterparts in the event of a crash. However, if you’re lucky enough to get away with a snapped mech hanger, you’ll be back riding in no time, because the Bold Cycles Unplugged 2023 features SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) , which is available in almost every bike shop – awesome!

The FOX FLOAT X Nude shock and TracLoc-Remote

As a subsidiary of SCOTT, Bold Cycles can benefit from the extensive knowledge of the Swiss sports giant. The Bold Cycles Unplugged 2023 comes equipped with a FOX FLOAT X Nude shock, which was developed specifically for the bike and can also be found on the new SCOTT Genius. The shock can be accessed through the removable service port. The dials are easily accessible from the front and don’t require tools, which makes it easy to dial in the rear suspension. While some of you might assume that the integrated shock makes it a pain to see the SAG level, that’s not at all the case, because the Unplugged features the same clever, external SAG indicator as the Linkin. As the suspension compresses, a small magnetic marker on the non-drive side of the bottom bracket tells you how much travel you’re using and how much you have left in reserve. That being said, the enclosed concept limits the shock choice to the FOX Nude models, simply because a different model would make the set-up incredibly complicated.

The shock of the Bold Cycles Unplugged 2023 is connected to SCOTT’s proprietary TracLoc remote on the handlebars, which lets you switch between three modes, Climb, Ramp Control and Descend. Climb Mode closes off the compression damping, preventing the rear suspension from swallowing up the rider’s energy. Ramp Control mode, on the other hand, closes off one of the two air chambers, reducing the shock’s air volume and thus increasing progression – which is essentially like adding a volume spacer on the fly! According to Bold Cycles, this allows you to pump through flat trail sections and generate speed as if you were riding a pump track. As the name suggests, Descend mode is for the descents and corresponds to a conventional shock’s open setting. That being said, the TracLoc remote takes some getting used to, because at first it’s easy to push the wrong lever and it isn’t always clear what mode you’re in while you’re riding. Moreover, the additional cables on the cockpit clutter the otherwise very clean look of the Bold Unplugged to some extent.

The spec variants of the new Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate 2023

The Unplugged 2023 will be available in two spec variants and as a frame set. The two complete builds are easy to tell apart as each one comes in its own colour. The two versions retail at €8,999 and €10,999, respectively. Both models feature the same HMX carbon frame with FOX FLOAT X Nude PE EVOL piggyback shock, and only differ in colour and specs.

The € 8,999 Bold Cycles Unplugged Pro 2023 comes equipped with a FOX 38 FLOAT Performance Grip fork and Shimano SLX four-piston brakes, which are paired with a 203 mm rotor at the front and smaller 180 mm rotor at the rear. SRAM supply the electronic, wireless GX Eagle AXS drivetrain. The Pro model rolls on SCOTT’s in-house Syncros Revelstoke 2 alloy wheelset and MAXXIS Minion DHF EXO+ tires front and rear. According to Bold, the Unplugged Pro 2023 tips the scales at 15.8 kg, including the Save The Day kit. While the fork and tires are pretty decent, they’re usually found on entry-level bikes, which is rather cheeky considering the price level.

If you want to build your own custom Unplugged from the ground up, you can get the €5,999 frameset in either “Carbon Raw” or “Warm Grey” finish. While 6k might sound like a ton of cash, you’ll get more than just the frame and shock, which is what most manufacturers deliver when you buy a frame set. Alongside the FOX FLOAT X Nude shock, you’ll also get the matching TracLoc remote, a Syncros Hixon iC carbon handlebar/stem unit, the Acros Pro headset and Save The Day kit – and Bold also throw in the rear thru-axle. Frame sizes L and XL come standard with a 200 mm Syncros Duncan 1.5 dropper post, while the S and M frames drop to 150 mm and 170 mm travel, respectively. According to Bold Cycles, the frame including the shock and without Save The Day kit tips the scales at 3,899 g.

Our test bike: the Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate 2023

The € 10,999 Unplugged Ultimate 2023 flagship model comes equipped with an Öhlins RXF 38 M.2 fork and weighs 15.4 kg (manufacturer’s specifications). The fork’s air spring uses three chambers – conventional, self-equalising positive and negative chambers as well as a third ramp-up chamber, which makes it slightly harder to find the optimal setting. The main chamber can be adjusted to the rider’s weight by adding or releasing air pressure, while the ramp-up chamber can be pressurised to control the progression of the fork – and has essentially the same function as a volume spacer. This is particularly beneficial for riders who like to plough through obstacles rather than ride around them. If the chambers aren’t set up correctly, you might end up with an unbalanced bike. However, once you’ve found your optimal setting, the fork works a treat.

Shimano XTR four piston brakes do stopping duties. While these are excellent per se, their performance is severely limited by the 180 mm rotor at the rear. Not only does the smaller disc provide less braking power than a bigger 200 mm rotor, but also overheats quicker, leading to brake fade on long descents. In other words, a 180 mm rotor simply doesn’t do justice to the potential of a modern, thoroughbred enduro bike.

A SRAM X01 Eagle AXS drivetrain ensures smooth and precise shifting. If you aren’t happy with the standard paddle function assignments, these can be freely configured using SRAM’s AXS app.

Just like the Nude shock, the Syncros Duncan 1.5 dropper post can be operated via the bar-mounted TracLoc remote. Since the shock is positioned deep inside the frame, the 200 mm dropper post (size L and XL) can be fully inserted into the frame, ensuring plenty of freedom of movement on the bike – awesome! For the cockpit, Bold rely on SCOTT’s in-house Syncros Hixon iC carbon handlebar/stem unit, which might look great and help save weight, but doesn’t allow for fine-tuning, except for the stem height. If either the stem length or handlebar rise (or both) don’t work for you, there’s nothing you can do, unless you replace the one-piece unit with a conventional handlebar and special stem with integrated cable routing that allows you to run the cables through the headset. However, the standard 780 mm handlebars worked well for us and the slight flex they have harmonises well with the otherwise stiff frame.

he Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate 2023 rolls on a Syncros Revelstoke 1.5 alloy wheelset and MAXXIS Minion DHF tires front and rear. Like the handlebars, the alloy rims aren’t overly stiff. As a result, the front wheel doesn’t jump around unpredictably on loose terrain, which makes for a very pleasant riding experience. Unfortunately, the tires limit the performance of the Unplugged Ultimate 2023 somewhat, because the puncture-prone EXO+ casing requires you to run high air pressures to prevent punctures. In addition, the harder MaxxTerra rubber compound generates less traction than its softer counterpart, especially at the front. We recommend upgrading to more robust tires with a tougher casing like MAXXIS’ Doubledown, which is more resistant to punctures and pinch flats and also allows you to run lower air pressures for more traction. On top of that, we recommend using the softer MaxxGrip rubber compound, at least at the front, because it generates far more traction than its harder MaxxTerra counterpart.

Tuning tip:

• More robust tires with tougher casing like MAXXIS Doubledown
• Front tire with softer rubber compound like MAXXIS MaxxGrip
• 200 mm brake rotor at the rear

The geometry of the new Bold Cycles Unplugged 2023

Like its predecessors, the third iteration of the Bold Cycles Unplugged allows you to adapt the geometry of the bike to suit your preferences and riding style. By rotating the headset cups of the Acros headset by 180°, you can change the head angle by +/- 1°, while a flip chip in the seat stays lets you lower the bottom bracket by 5 mm, which automatically drops the centre of gravity of the bike. Not only does the flip chip allow you to fine tune the geometry of the bike, but also allows you to swap between a 27.5″ and 29″ rear wheel, because the new Unplugged is designed to work with both sizes. When changing the rear wheel, the flip chip needs to be turned by 180° to compensate for the different wheel sizes.

The Unplugged is available in four sizes, S to XL. Frame sizes S and M come standard with a mullet setup while sizes L and XL roll out of the factory on two 29” wheels. That being said, all our sizes are compatible with both 27.5” and 29” rear wheels.
Chainstay length is 437 mm across the board, which is relatively short for the XL frame and rather long for the smallest S size. This approach is a little outdated, as most manufacturers tend to adapt the chainstay length to the respective frame size to ensure consistent handling across all sizes.

The geometry of the new Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate in 29″

Size	S	M	L	XL
Top tube	548 mm	596 mm	628 mm	661 mm
Head tube	90 mm	105 mm	120 mm	135 mm
Head angle	63.2°/64.5°	63.2°/64.5°	63.2°/64.5°	63.2°/64.5°
Seat angle	78.6°	77.8°	77.8°	77.8°
Chainstay	437 mm	437 mm	437 mm	437 mm
BB Drop	33/25 mm	33/25 mm	33/25 mm	33/25 mm
Wheelbase	1,203/1,193 mm	1,244/1,235 mm	1,281/1,271 mm	1,317/1,308 mm
Reach	425 mm	460 mm	490 mm	520 mm
Stack	617 mm	631 mm	644 mm	658 mm

Reach ranges between 425 mm and 520 mm and grows in rather big intervals, increasing by 35 mm between size S and M, and by 30 mm between M and XL, making it hard to pick the right size if you’re on the fence. However, this can be an advantage for both very tall and short riders. In our case, Bold’s size recommendation was spot on, and our 181 cm test rider got on well with our size L test bike.

The new Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate 2023 on the trail

When we first rolled off in the low geometry setting, the new Unplugged felt surprisingly unspectacular. The steep seat tube angle ensures a comfortable pedalling position without too much pressure on the hands. For an enduro bike, the Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate 2023 is surprisingly light-footed uphill. The front wheel always remains planted on the trail, even on steep climbs and without reaching for the TracLoc.

With the shock in Descend mode, the rear suspension tends to wallow slightly, but by switching into Climb mode using the TracLoc remote, you’ll lock out the shock almost entirely and eliminate pedal bob. However, while this does the trick on steep tarmac climbs, it doesn’t really work on technical uphills, where the rear wheel struggles to generate traction over big steps and ledges, which is where the Ramp Control mode comes into play. Like in Climb mode, Ramp Control ensures that the shock sits higher in its travel, because it closes off one air chamber, thus reducing the shock’s air volume. However, the shock still responds sensitively, absorbing bumps extremely well.

As soon as you drop the saddle and gravity takes over, the Unplugged shows its true strengths, feeling pleasantly plush and well balanced on the trail. On our size L test bike, the weight is evenly distributed between the front and rear wheel, making it easy to pull manuals without the front feeling too nervous. Even in the slack and low setting, the front wheel keeps tracking, allowing you to carve through corners at MACH 10.

The low centre of gravity benefits the handling and inspires huge amounts of confidence on rough terrain, making it easy to stick to the chosen line with extreme precision. The Unplugged implements steering inputs willingly and directly, making it easy to spontaneously change your line.

Particularly impressive is the suspension’s mid-stroke support, which provides enough pop to pull off ledges, change direction and bunny-hop over obstacles. This allows you to ride actively without too much physical effort and ensures nimble, agile handling with excellent feedback from the ground. Only on slow and winding trails does the long wheelbase require you to work a little harder.

The Unplugged also packs away nasty huck-to-flats, with the rear suspension kinematics ensuring good final progression and thus preventing the shock from blowing through its travel – provided you tweak the compression damping a little.
However, the Unplugged’s main enemy is its own spec – or part of it. The 180 mm rear brake rotor overheats far too quickly, resulting in an inconsistent bite point at the rear. Moreover, puncture-prone tires don’t do justice to the character and potential of the bike.

Our conclusions about the new Bold Cycles Unplugged Ultimate 2023

With the Unplugged Ultimate 2023, Bold Cycles have created a true master of integration, which invites you to leave behind your backpack or hip pack with its clever storage solutions and integrated tools. However, the tidy look also limits customisation and adjustment with the integrated shock and 1-piece handlebar. The Unplugged is a real head-turner and impresses with potent suspension on the trail, where it inspires huge amounts of confidence in all situations. With a few small upgrades to the spec, you’ll be able to get even more performance from what is already a very successful bike.

For more information visit Bold Cycles.

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Words: Timo Walter, Peter Walker Photos: Andreas Vigl