BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE in review

Harmonious tube shapes, clean lines and decent tire clearances. The BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE is the flagship model of what is probably the most loved frameset from the Swiss brand’s lineup. We found out how the premium build of this all-rounder performed in comparison to the rest of the bikes on test.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best road bike of 2020 – 13 high-carat road bikes in review

In our first test of the BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE we were quickly won over by its sex appeal and after just under a year on the market, that hasn’t changed. In comparison to its predecessor and even the rest of the competition, the carefully considered proportions are still a delight to behold. It’s not just easy on the eyes though. The Roadmachine provides a pleasant ride with space for up to 33 mm tires as well as BMC’s TCC (Tuned Compliance Concept) system – in other word, an updated carbon layup of both the frame and the D-shaped seatpost.

The BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE in detail

The integrated two-piece cockpit with its ICS technology is part of BMC’s existing range and conceals all the cables of the Roadmachine 01 internally. You’ll have the choice of a 0° or -12° stem in lengths from 90 to 130 mm. The stem also has an integrated mount for your GPS as well as a GoPro. The fork uses a proprietary mount with an adapter for Flat Mount brakes and is compatible with either 140 or 160 mm rotors. Our test bike is equipped with a 2×12 SRAM RED eTap AXS groupset, ENVE SES 4.5C AR wheelset with 700 x 28C Vittoria Corsa Control TR Graphene 2.0 tires, weighs 7.71 kg in size 56 and costs € 10,499.

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The geometry of the BMC

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Size	47	51	54	56	58	61
Seat tube	420 mm	457 mm	500 mm	519 mm	539 mm	573 mm
Top tube	522 mm	532 mm	546 mm	556 mm	568 mm	583 mm
Head tube	112 mm	139 mm	156 mm	181 mm	206 mm	242 mm
Head angle	71.2°	71.2°	72.0°	72.0°	72.0°	72.0°
Seat angle	74.2°	74.2°	74.2°	74.2°	74.2°	74.2°
Chainstays	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm
BB Drop	71.0 mm	71.0 mm	71.0 mm	71.0 mm	71.0 mm	71.0 mm
Wheelbase	982 mm	999 mm	997 mm	1,008 mm	1,020 mm	1,035 mm
Reach	374 mm	382 mm	386 mm	390 mm	394 mm	398 mm
Stack	516 mm	541 mm	562 mm	586 mm	610 mm	644 mm

It likes to show what it’s got! The BMC looks fast and in hilly terrain, there’s hardly a better choice.

The BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE in review

Accelerating from a standstill and on very steep ascents, the BMC can’t quite keep up with the best of them. In return, on rolling terrain and the flats it unfolds its full potential. Here, it’s remarkably efficient and willingly generates speed, at which point it continues to impress with its good stability. In tight corners, the rear feels like it’s trailing behind a little bit, and performance-oriented riders will want for a little more precision when riding at the limit. However, beginners and leisure riders in particular will appreciate the good-natured and calm handling, which is a result of exactly that slightly more sedate rear end. But that absolutely doesn’t mean that you can’t give the Roadmachine some throttle! Climbing more moderate gradients, the stiff bike is efficient at speed and develops speed effectively on the descents. The wheels make for a sporty character, but they’re also relatively loud and due to the deep carbon rims and short spokes, provide limited amounts of comfort. The compliance of the frameset is also average compared to the rest of the test field. On bigger hits, it’s the Vittoria tires that absorb the brunt of the impact. That also means that on bad surfaces, you’ll need a relatively active riding style. The honest and predictable ride of the BMC earns the bike top marks in terms of security and trust: after a short amount of time you’ll feel completely at home with how the bike handles. You’ll never experience sudden or unwanted surprises aboard this machine.

Tuning tips: Wheels with a bit more compliance

Conclusion

The BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE is a convincing package with its honest ride and streamlined looks. If you live in hilly terrain and ride mainly on good roads, you’ll find a bike that generates both confidence and speed. For relaxed cruising this package, with these components, is a little too stiff.

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For more info head to bmc-switzerland.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best road bike of 2020 – 13 high-carat road bikes in review

All bikes in test: Argon 18 Krypton Pro (Click for review) | Bianchi Infinito CV Disc (Click for review) | BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE | Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Dura Ace (Click for review) | Cicli Bonanno Futomaki Disc (Click for review) | FOCUS IZALCO MAX DISC 9.9 (Click for review) | LOOK 795 BLADE RS DISC (Click for review) | OPEN U.P.P.E.R. (Click for review) | Pinarello Dogma F12 Team INEOS Edition (Click for review) | ROSE REVEAL SIX Dura Ace Di2 Custom (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Roubaix (Click for review) | Trek Domane SLR 9 eTap (Click for review) | VOTEC VRC PRO (Click for review)

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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl