With BMC’s Alpenchallenge AMP ROAD, the Swiss company presents its first E-road bike. Based on the Alpenchallenge fitness bike, it comes packed with Shimano power and a stealthy matte black paint job. Does the frame also work with drop bars?
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: The best E-road bike of 2019! – 13 of the most exciting models on test
Power-alarm: the Shimano STEPS E8000 on the BMC is the most powerful electric motor in the test field, delivering a torque 70 Nm. However, approach the bike from the non-drive side and at first glance it seems as if something is out of place. The integration of the motor and battery is more elegantly achieved on other bikes in the test field, but the positioning here ensures a central and low centre of gravity. The high-quality, matte black finish blends well with the frame’s clean lines and the minimalist BMC decals. The rear triangle features BMC’s MTT system (Micro Travel technology) providing up to 10 mm of “travel” and promising increased grip and improved ride comfort. Our test bike came fitted with a Shimano ULTEGRA Di2 groupset and DT Swiss HE 1800 SPLINE DB 32 wheels. With the 44 t chainring and the 11-34 t cassette, you’ve got eleven gears to choose from while the 180 mm front and 160 mm rear rotors provide the necessary braking power. Thanks to the integrated BMC ICS cockpit, all cables disappear invisibly inside the bike. Our size L test bike weighed 15.15 kg and costs € 6,499.
he BMC Alpenchallenge AMP ROAD ONE in detail
Motor/Battery Shimano STEPS E8000 504 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano ULTEGRA R8070 Di2, 1×11
Gearing 44 T und 11–34 T
Brakes Shimano ULTEGRA Hydraulic mit SM-RT81-Rotoren 180/160 mm
Stem BMC ICS Aero- Integrated Aero Cockpit Design 100 mm
Handlebar BMC RAB 02 440 mm
Seatpost Alpenchallenge AMP “D” Premium Carbon
Wheels DT Swiss HE 1800 SPLINE DB 32
Tires Vittoria Corsa Control TLR G+ 30C
The 180 mm front brake rotor will stand up to even the longest descents.
The interface and usability of the Shimano system on the BMC are impeccable
The Shimano STEPS E8000 motor and 504 Wh battery dominate the bike
DThanks to the elastic insert and internal rails of the MTT system, hard impacts are effectively cushioned.
| Size | S (51-54) | M (56-58) | L (61-63) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 443 mm | 480 mm | 538 mm |
| Top tube | 548 mm | 583 mm | 608 mm |
| Head tube | 120 mm | 157 mm | 193 mm |
| Head angle | 71.3° | 72.0° | 72.0° |
| Seat angle | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° |
| Chainstays | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,024 mm | 1,053 mm | 1,085 mm |
| Reach | 380 mm | 405 mm | 425 mm |
| Stack | 565 mm | 600 mm | 635 mm |
The BMC Alpenchallenge AMP ROAD ONE in review
The E-urban frameset has a very long reach as it was originally designed exclusively with straight bars and short stems in mind. BMC have recently introduced a 55 mm short ICS stem, which is highly recommended for this setup. With the 110 mm stem on our test bike, the riding position on the BMC felt stretched out and positioned atop the Alpenchallenge due to its high stack. The resulting distance to the front wheel means the steering doesn’t feel very direct but thanks to its stability, you’ll be able to cover long distances in a relaxed manner while the powerful Shimano motor keeps your heart rate in check even up steep climbs. The excellent vibration damping at the rear harmonises perfectly with the front, making for a very comfortable ride at moderate speeds.
shorter stem for a more compact riding position
If the optical integration was as good as its ease of use, the BMC could be right at the top of our list.
However, when you start going faster the lack of feedback from the ground leaves you in the dark as to how far you can push the BMC. Fortunately, you can always rely on the grip of the 30mm wide Vittoria Corsa Control TLR G+ tires. The Shimano motor is equally reliable and intuitive to operate. Thanks to the clever component selection for the drivetrain, the motor can be controlled via the controls already present on the Di2 shifters. The 7000 series Shimano display with its compact dimensions and compatibility with the E-Tube Ride app convinced us throughout our testing.
Conclusion
The Alpenchallenge AMP ROAD sets a new benchmark regarding ease of use thanks to the completely integrated Shimano system. Here, BMC present a coherent overall concept with a focus on comfort and powerful support. Leisure riders who don’t want to work up a sweat on the way to work or relaxed rides but who appreciate the sporty look of a drop bar bike will find the right bike here.
Tops
- maximum ease of use thanks to the Di2 shifters
- very composed
- very powerful motor
Flops
- limited aggressiveness due to its urban-bike roots
- wide Q-factor
- sluggish over 25 km/h
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Motor feeling
- digital
- natural
Motor power
- weak
- strong
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
For more info head to: bmc-switzerland.com
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: The best E-road bike of 2019! – 13 of the most exciting models on test
All bikes in test: Bianchi Aria e-Road | Cannondale Synapse Neo SE | CENTURION Overdrive Carbon Road Z4000 | Coboc TEN Torino | FOCUS Paralane² 9.9 | LOOK E-765 Optimum Disc | Moustache Dimanche 28.7 | ORBEA GAIN M10 | Pinarello Nytro | Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo SL | Thömus Sliker E1 | Wilier Triestina Cento1 Hybrid Custom
This article is from GRAN FONDO issue #012
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No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl, Benjamin Topf, Robin Schmitt
