The BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE in review

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.

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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

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.

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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)

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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl