TESTED: BMC teammachine SLR02

BMC didn’t quite burst onto the scene in the mid 2000s, but their prominence certainly grew when they entered the professional cycling sphere in 2001. This was a big step for a company that started as an assembler and wholesaler in the USA. But when Andy Rihs took over the company in 2000 and moved the operation to Grenchen, Switzerland, everything changed.

And the progression was quick. Their bikes were raced under the Phonak team, until Rihs realised he needed complete control to maintain the image he wanted his brand to have, and stay clear of any tainted blood in cycling. The BMC Racing Team was born, registered in the USA and co-owned by Jim Ochowicz.

This investment in professional sport has meant that BMC have had access to supreme testing beyond their own research and development labs. Their best-known frames are regarded for their pedigree, and BMC road bikes have been piloted to wins in Paris-Nice, the Giro d’Italia, World Championships and of course, Cadel Evans’ Tour de France title in 2011.

Evans rode to victory in Paris aboard a teammachine SLR01, a bike that has matched ride compliance with race winning performance and agile handling consistently for many years. It is the perfect bike for a general classification rider like Evans. It’s not heavy or cumbersome as some aero road bikes can be, and it remains stiff under power despite its svelte frame weight of 790g. The SLR01 is built for going fast, and while the SLR02 frame on this test bike isn’t quite the same, it’s not far off.

While the SLR01 sits at the top of the teammachine family, the SLR02 trades a grade of carbon and the carbon dropouts to move into a different, more comfortable, price range. And at the same time it barely gains 200g, and loses little ride quality. The result of a cheaper carbon and resin and less-involved layup takes the frame weight to 990g, with paint and hardware – although the stealth black beauty we tested is almost entirely free from paint!

BMC claim that the teammachine line was developed in accordance with the requirements of World Tour racing. And it’s clear that the SLR01 has been successful at that. But I would suspect the SLR02 has been bred out of a need to create something with World Tour pedigree, at a Sunday bunch ride price point. And while $5999 isn’t a small amount of change, the ride quality, faultless group set and performance make it an exceptional bike.

Initial Impressions

The BMC teammachine SLR range has been on my mind since they launched. In 2011 I worked at a BMC dealer and their first model had me highly interested. A light frame, stiff handling when out of the saddle, impressive ride compliance through pencil-thin seat stays and a custom seatpost… the original BMC teammachine SLR01 was a thing of beauty.

When building up this stealth black teammachine SLR02, a lot of that allure came flooding back. This isn’t an imitation model produced for the masses. The SLR02 is a professionally finished frame that would rival the quality of many frames used by teams in the World Tour. As a modern road bike the SLR02 sports a tapered head tube, a full-carbon fork with carbon drop outs, a frame designed for Di2, external mechanical routing for wireless shifting, a compact chainstay length, monstrous down tube and a short head tube to promote a performance position.

While the exoskeleton look of the carbon seat tube piercing the aluminium main tubes of early BMCs is gone, the small triangular frame detail remains, appearing to be purely cosmetic, although it certainly braces the seat tube and top tube junction which can be a high stress area.

BMC use Accelerated Composites Technology, or ACE as part of their frame design process. It’s one of many acronyms in the cycling industry, and in this case it is unique to BMC. ACE is an in-house software design package that lets the engineers simulate every stage of carbon frame production digitally, before committing to moulds and manufacturing. In essence, it means that nothing they do is based on ‘feel’ or purely on rider feedback. Design changes are made with a sound understanding of what works, and tested digitally before committing to production. BMC engineers can design and test up to 34,000 models a year with this process. It means that BMC have a far shorter lead-time on new models, and their design process can be condensed, meaning they create cutting-edge bikes in much shorter time frames.

What dos this mean to you? There is a certain confidence gained knowing that the bike you are riding in a fast moving bunch, or down a perilous mountain descent, has passed the scrutiny of a host of Swiss engineers, before being allowed to go into production. The Swiss have immense national pride in quality control, and looking over the finish of the SLR02 it is apparent – nothing is on the frame that doesn’t need to be, and nothing has been overlooked.

The Shimano Ultegra Di2 setup on the SLR02 is neat and tidy. The cable for the front derailleur pops out above the base of the down tube, with a neat rubber seal, and the rear cable exits right at the end of the chainstay, on the top side to help avoid road grime entering the frame. With the battery housed internally in the seatpost, the SLR02 has a quiet ride and no noise from the internal cables. Of note, the brake line is external – which makes sense on a bike with racing pedigree, for ease of maintenance. Design purists might disagree. BMC have sensibly chosen a semi-compact 36/52 chainring size matched to an 11-28 cassette. This must be one of the most versatile gear ranges for a high-end road bike, that would only need changing in the hilliest or flattest terrain.

The cockpit is made up of BMC branded bars and stem, and my only note was that the slight flattened top profile of the tops of the bars didn’t quite suit my handlebar and hood position. Such a complaint is based on personal fit and preference, and any contact point quandaries are easy changes when you get your bike professionally fitted at your BMC dealer.

Out on the road

BMC Australia had sent a 54cm teammachine SLR02 to test, and with a effective top tube of 550mm, it was about spot on. With a 420mm wide handlebar and 110mm stem, the cockpit was a little wider and a little shorter than what I run on my own bike, but overall it was a perfect match for the 54cm model. With the stem set about halfway down the stack of steerers, there is good scope for running a higher or lower position. But if you’re not after World Tour performance and the position that goes with it, you might be better off looking elsewhere in the BMC range, like the new roadmachine or perhaps the granfondo.

I haven’t mentioned the rolling stock – Shimano RS21 wheels sat in the drop outs by way of regular quick release hubs. The benefits of caliper brakes and not disc brakes means that standard quick releases work just fine! While the wheels are a long way from the top of Shimano’s family, they proved to be a timely reminder of how nicely cup and cone bearing hubs roll. They are a robust wheel, and the brake surface took a little while to come alive, but they are the kind of wheel that should offer reliability for years to come – much like the Ultegra Di2 group set and the frame they are in. The quick releases themselves are a little bulky though, and there was no position where they truly sat flush with the frame and work, a small oversight on an otherwise very smart looking package.

Having moved on to 25mm tyres about 5 years ago, it does surprise me to see companies still sending bikes out on 23mm rubber. The Continental tyres rolled fast, didn’t flat even on a few short gravel roads, and they remained predictable from the mountain rides to club crits that came up through the testing period.

While wheels make a difference, my first rides on the SLR02 were mostly about enjoying the handling and responsiveness of the bike. The teammachine range is based on performance, and the agility comes from a 72.5 degree headangle and a nice short wheelbase. When in the drops, it really gave the perfect feel for either point and shoot descending, or for long sweeping corners.

Out of the saddle and pushing hard on the pedals, the huge downtube and flared seat tube help make the bottom bracket tremendously stiff. And while I don’t have the power output to trouble the poise of most bikes, the teammachine certainly had no trouble making sure everything I put in, I got straight back out again in acceleration. This is precisely what you want in a performance road bike. While the modern ‘all road’ bikes are amazing in what sort of terrain you can take them on, they can miss out on one of the most naturally exhilarating experiences – acceleration.

At times, I did find the handling a little too responsive. This was mostly on my first few rides, as I adapted to the different input required at speed with the occasional over steer correction. But the plus side of this is how easily the bike changes direction, even if it does mean it rewards an experienced rider more than an outright beginner.

Where the teammachine SLR02 truly excelled was being ridden with purpose, and looking after the rider on long days in the saddle. It jumps with ease at changes of pace, and as noted, is quick to change line and steady once there. This ability to remain agile, yet planted, is an excellent trait, and one achieved through the right combination of head angle, fork rake, bottom bracket drop and wheel base length. Overall, the teammachine has a very balanced feel, and there was never the need to ‘fight’ the bike. It is no wonder that the teammachine has been piloted to many victories by the BMC pro team.

Away from the World Tour and in my own backyard the teammachine handled the climbs, descents and rougher sealed roads of South East Queensland remarkably well – but I do feel a high quality 25mm tyre would do wonders for the SLR02. Like any of your contact points, this would be an easy change. But what BMC have created here is a bike with the cache of a machine from the pro peloton, with some changes in materials to keep the price at more of a real world setting, without having to diminish the ride quality and handling of an incredible bike.

Our Take

From a distance, you could look past the BMC teammachine SLR02. Its matte black finish and black-on-black decals means it doesn’t jump out at you like some of the gaudy paint jobs that are currently masquerading as fashionable. But that finish is the perfect match to the bike. It is understated and purposeful. The SLR02 will reward any cyclist with a competitive edge, who eschews the needs for ‘adventure riding’ and finds their adventure in pure speed, agile handling, and all out road racing performance.

BMC have specced the SLR02 with a highly reliable and functional group set, and with a few choice upgrades to finishing gear and even the wheels down the track, any owner will end up with a bike with few peers on the road.

If you are after a road bike with a broader performance envelope, then you would be best to look elsewhere, perhaps even in BMC’s own range with a modern bike like their roadmachine. But for the road cycling purist, who wants to feel speed, acceleration, and loves to get the best out of themselves, the teammachine SLR02 is an ideal package.