No expense has been spared on this canary yellow build. With the BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE, the Swiss bike brand sends a versatile road bike with a 1×12 SRAM RED eTap AXS groupset and premium ENVE wheels into the test. How does it perform in direct comparison to 14 of the best road bikes of the 2021 season?
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best road bike of 2021 – 15 models in review
This special build of the BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE in its unusual “Canary Yellow” finish is, like the series bike, based on the second generation Roadmachine frameset. The semi-integrated, two-part ICS cockpit relies on the in-house, 420 mm wide RCB01 carbon bars and routes all cables internally. This proprietary solution offers the choice between a 0° stem in lengths from 55 to 100 mm, and a -12° stem between 90 and 130 mm long. The stem also includes an integrated mount for your GPS as well as a GoPro. For the 1×12 SRAM RED eTap AXS groupset fitted to the bike, BMC have put modularity and simplicity first. With a 44 t chainring and the 10–33 t cassette, the bike has approximately the same gear range as most of its counterparts with a 52/36 t crankset and 11–28 t cassette. The drivetrain and included power meter fit incredibly well into the tidy and modern concept. This is also the first time we’ve ridden the ENVE SES29 TL 700 x 29C tires in one of our tests. These are mounted on the high-end, hookless ENVE SES 3.4 AR Disc wheels where they measure 31 mm wide.
BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE 2021
€ 10,499
Specifications
Seatpost BMC 01 Premium Carbon D-Shape 15 mm
Brakes SRAM RED eTap AXS HRD 160/160 mm
Drivetrain SRAM RED eTap AXS GS-RED-E-B1 1 x 12
Chainring 44
Stem BMC ICS 01 110 mm
Handlebar BMC RCB01 Carbon 420 mm
Wheelset ENVE SES 3.4 AR Disc 12 x 100/12 x 142 mm Thru-Axle
Tires ENVE SES29 TL 29-622 (700x29C) 31
Cranks SRAM RED AXS PM-RED-D1 172,5 mm
Cassette SRAM RED CS-XG-1290-D1 10–33
Technical Data
Size 47 51 54 56 58 61
Weight 7.15 kg
Specific Features
fully-integrated/no visible cables
mounts for top tube bag
1×12 drivetrain with integrated power meter
mudguard mount integrated into D-shape seatpost
The BMC team have chosen a rim-tire combination that is tuned to work as a system – it turns out to be not just a theoretically sound approach as it also proved itself during our testing. The large volume of the tires and their inherent damping significantly improved comfort and while ENVE’s tubeless system also ended up in the tally for our puncture statistics, it was also the only one that was able to seal itself again. At the very least, that let us get to our next service stop, that is, Jaguar stop. The price for the frameset of our test bike sits at € 3,999, while the cost for the complete build of this 7.15 kg star (size 56) comes to € 10,499.
Size | 47 | 51 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 61 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seat tube | 420 mm | 457 mm | 500 mm | 522 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 mm | 71 mm | 71 mm | 71 mm | 71 mm | 71 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 |
The BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE in review
In comparison to the test field, the BMC accelerates snappily and quickly enough to jump into the front third of the pack. It demands speed out of every corner and eggs you on to pedal out of the saddle much more than any other bike in the test field. Climbing steep slopes, the transmission reaches its limits and is geared a little too hard. On the other hand, on flat and rolling terrain, combined with the aerodynamics of the bike, it reveals its full potential. Here, you’ll still be able to pedal at high speeds, where the BMC Roadmachine generates speed efficiently and willingly and scores with its good level of stability.
The rumbling ENVE wheelset feels most at home when churning out watts in hilly terrain and on good road surfaces at home!
However, through tight corners, the rear feels like it gets left behind and performance-oriented riders will want for a little more directness when riding aggressively. On the other hand, beginners and more leisurely riders will appreciate the good-natured and slightly slower handling. On smooth road surfaces, the bike remains completely predictable and only conveys more security as speeds increase. However, as the surface gets rougher, the stiff frameset that previously delivered a secure ride ends up being too stiff and is left unsettled earlier than the competition. In turn, an active riding style is required to keep the Roadmachine under control. Overall, the BMC offers too little comfort in comparison to the other bikes in the test. The ENVE tires might mask the stiffness of the bike with their great grip and good rolling and damping characteristics, but in the end, are only able to improve comfort to a limited degree. Alongside the Storck and MERIDA REACTO, the BMC is one of the least comfortable bikes in the test.
Tuning tip: smaller chainring to broaden range of applications
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Conclusion
The BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE in this special build is perfect for beginners and pros who primarily ride hilly terrain and want to experience a high-speed road bike rush on perfect surfaces. Everyone who prefers to cruise over longer distances or in rough terrain will have to live with the comparatively limited comfort or choose another bike from the test. The intuitive shifting, performance of the ENVE tires as well as the tidy look of the bike garnered much appreciation amongst the whole test crew.
Tops
- high-end and coherent build
- direct pedalling and happy to leap forward at mid speeds
- high stability on good asphalt
Flops
- too little long-distance comfort
- limited performance on poor surfaces
- not enough gears for the uphills
For more information 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 2021 – 15 models in review
All bikes in test: BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE | Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra (Click for review) | Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 eTap (Click for review) | Cervélo Caledonia-5 Dura Ace Di2 Disc (Click for review) | Mason Resolution Ekar (Click for review) | MERIDA REACTO TEAM-E CUSTOM (Click for review) | MERIDA SCULTURA ENDURANCE CUSTOM (Click for review) | OPEN MIN.D. (Click for review) | Orbea Gain M20i (Click for review) | ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2 (Click for review) | SCOTT Addict eRIDE Premium (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Aethos (Click for review) | Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Disc Ultegra (Click for review) | Trek Domane+ LT 9 (Click for review) | Wilier Filante SLR (Click for review)
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