The BMC Roadmachine X comes specced with SRAM’s XPLR groupset and hybrid tires. Does that make it the fastest gravel bike of all time or the most off-road capable road bike? According to the Swiss brand, it’s the ultimate all-road bike and doesn’t have to shy away from long gravel rides. We put it to the test to find out if their concept delivers.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test
7.98 kg in size 56 | € 5,999 | Manufacturer’s website
The BMC Roadmachine X is based on the exact same frame as the BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE (review here), a special edition of which was included in last year’s road bike group test. As such, it features the same smart chain catcher and mounting points on the top tube. In contrast, the WTB Expanse tires are much more robust, promising to provide sufficient traction and cornering grip even on compact gravel. Fitted tubeless on the CRD-321 carbon wheels, the 700 x 32C tires inflate to a true width of 33 mm. Therefore, they make the most of the tire clearance offered by the Roadmachine X.
The second biggest difference between the standard Roadmachine and the Roadmachine X is that the latter comes specced with a 1x chainring. As such, the SRAM Force eTap AXS XPLR groupset consists of a 44 t chainring paired with a 10–44 t cassette. One of the benefits of a 1x drivetrain is the simple shifting logic – right paddle to shift up, left paddle to shift down. However, the gearing increments are bigger than on all the other bikes on test and the top pedalling speed is slower too. For the cockpit, BMC rely on a two-piece construction consisting of a 110 mm ICS1 stem and a 420 mm wide RAB 02 handlebar, both of which are supplied in-house. It’s very neat for a two-piece system, almost looking like a one-piece stem and handlebar combination thanks to the proprietary stem – excellent!
Paired with 160 mm rotors front and rear, the SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD brakes offer good modulation and sufficient braking power on the BMC, though they can’t compete with the new DURA-ACE brakes on the Trek.
The 700 x 32C WTB Expanse tires inflate to 33 mm on the CRD-321 carbon wheels, maxing the frame’s tire clearances – you really couldn’t fit wider tires.
The cockpit of the BMC Roadmachine X ONE is great, except for the external cable routing. We would have preferred completely integrated cables.
BMC Roadmachine X ONE 2022
€ 5,999
Specifications
Seatpost Roadmachine X Premium Carbon D-Shaped Seatpost
Brakes SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD 160/160 mm
Drivetrain SRAM Force eTap AXS XPLR
Chainring 44T
Stem BMC ICS1 110 mm
Handlebar BMC RAB 02 420 mm
Wheelset CRD-321 Carbon
Tires WTB Expanse
Cranks SRAM Force eTap AXS 172,5 mm
Cassette SRAM CS-XG-1271-D1 10–44T
Technical Data
Size 47 51 54 56 58 61
Weight 7.98 kg
Specific Features
Single drive with XPLR/dual possible
thoughtful chain catcher
mounting points on the top tube
ICS-Cockpit
The seat post clamp on the BMC Roadmachine X ONE is neatly integrated and blends seamlessly with the bike’s design.
Thanks to the bosses on the top tube for a small bag to carry your energy bars and gels, the BMC Roadmachine X ONE is ready to tackle epic all-day rides.
The clever chain catcher on the frame of the BMC Roadmachine X should prevent the frame from getting damaged in case the chain comes off.
Did someone say Strade Bianche? The BMC Roadmachine X is ready when you are, begging you to go full-speed on hardpack!
BMC prove that aluminium cockpits don’t necessarily have to be uncomfortable – damping and compliance are provided by the bike as a whole, so it just has to work as a system. We’re a bit disappointed that BMC haven’t made more of an effort to integrate the only cables on the bike, leaving the brake lines external around the head tube. In size 56, our test bike tipped the scales at 7.98 kg, which is around 400 g above the test field average, and it’s priced at € 5,999.
| 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 |
Jersey Adidas The Short Sleeve Jersey | Shorts Adidas The Padded Cycling Bib Shorts
Shoes Adidas The Road Cycling Shoe | Socks Adidas Crew Socks | Watch Garmin Forerunner 45
Riding the BMC Roadmachine X
Due to the stiff and efficient frame of the BMC Roadmachine X ONE, the pedalling feels very direct. Compared to the other bikes on test, however, it isn’t the quickest out of the gate due to the weight of the WTB Expanse tires. That said, the direct response on the pedals motivates you to sprint as soon as you exit every corner. In terms of efficiency, the BMC can carry its pace well on flat and descending roads consisting of hardpack and poorly maintained asphalt, though it will start falling behind on climbs and perfectly smooth asphalt. In that case, it’s limited by the heavy, hybrid tires and the gear range of the 1x drivetrain. The latter offers enough reserves for the climbs, but it could do with a faster gear on the descents. On a more positive note, the BMC Roadmachine X ONE provides the best vibration damping of all the bikes on test, which is largely due to the high-volume tires. However, the frame’s compliance also offers a pleasant level of damping.
The handling of the BMC Roadmachine X ONE errs on the side of playfulness, though without neglecting its composure, even if you’ll find significantly more composed bikes in the test field. The steering feels very direct, but it loses some of this feeling due to the wide tires with their shoulder knobs, especially when riding on asphalt. This is less of an issue on hardpack, easily compensating for this shortfall with their unbeatable cornering grip. The BMC is also amongst the best performing bikes when it comes to acceleration and braking traction on compact gravel.
Tuning tips: one-piece BMC ICS cockpit | 2x drivetrain for a wider gear range
On the flip side, the WTB tires reach their limit a lot sooner through asphalt corners compared to dedicated road tires. The same applies to braking and accelerating on asphalt, and it’s worthwhile playing with the tire pressure until you’ve found the best compromise between their performance on different kinds of terrain. That said, you should be aware of these tires’ limitations when cornering on asphalt at high speeds.
All in all, the components on the BMC Roadmachine X ONE suit the concept well, making it a fun and fast bike on hardpack and undulating terrain. Unfortunately, the spec isn’t as suitable for the criteria of our all-road group test, clearly limiting the bike on asphalt and at top speed.
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Our conclusion on the BMC Roadmachine X
The BMC Roadmachine X is both: the fastest gravel bike and the most off-road capable road bike of all time. For all ambitious riders that like riding on flat to undulating hardpack, it’s more of a Strade Bianche race bike than the ultimate all-road weapon. That said, BMC are on the right track and the frame is a diamond in the rough in their portfolio. With a different choice of components that would make it more versatile, it could have taken the top spot.
Tops
- coherent concept
- long-distance comfort/mounting points
- the frame would make an excellent basis for a custom build
- generous tire clearance
Flops
- components limit the bike’s versatility
- lack of precision and traction on asphalt
- not completely integrated brake lines
You can find out more about at bmc-switzerland.com
The testfield
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test
All bikes on review: BMC Roadmachine X ONE | Cervelo Caledonia-5 Ultegra Di2 (Click for review) | Parapera Atmos MASTERPIECE (Click for review) | ROSE REVEAL SIX DISC Red eTap AXS (Click for review) | Sarto Seta Disc (Click for review) | Specialized Aethos Expert (Click for review) | Trek Domane SLR 9 (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↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf
