BMC Teammachine SLR01 ONE 2021 first ride review – hill-climber in peak form

You’ve signed up for the Öztaler but during a training ride a month before you notice that you’ve only managed 4,000 of the 5,500 metres ascending planned for the race. If so, the BMC Teammachine SLR01 might be your saviour! You can find out how the Swiss bike performed in our first ride review here.

Which bike does BMC’s Bike Finder point you to if your focus is on road, racing and efficiency? The BMC Teammachine SLR! Ten years ago, the first generation was released and ridden into the limelight with Cadel Evans’ Tour de France win. The SLR platform and its proprietary TCC (Tuned Compliance Concept) was born and the dropped seat stay design established. Multiple wins at the Olympics, Road World Championships, World Tour races and two more Teammachine SLR generations followed. All that has led to the new, fourth-generation Teammachine SLR road bike. The ambitious goal: for the new BMC to place on podiums at all the most important races over the next decade!

The Swiss brand’s engineers have done a lot of tinkering to create, what they claim, is the fastest Teammachine of all times. The simple and logical calculation: less weight and better aerodynamics result in a faster road bike. BMC’s ACE technology (see the video here) has been further refined to ACE+. The parametric design software, which automatically ‘tests’ thousands of virtual prototypes based on stiffness, weight and comfort, can now also optimise potential frames for aerodynamics. According to BMC, that makes it possible to find the perfect balance of these four parameters and design the frame accordingly. Compared to its predecessor, the head tube, fork and down tube of the new SLR have been aerodynamically optimised and now have an elongated form, similar to the more exaggerated shaping found on the BMC’s aero bike, the Timemachine Road (read our test here). The down tube was the key focus in the aerodynamic development of the bike. Its area has been increased and its profile optimised to balance weight and aerodynamics. The Aerocore bottle cages blend seamlessly into the down tube and are designed to further improve aerodynamics. According to BMC’s own tests, every test rider was faster in all tests riding the new Teammachine, than they were on the previous model. Aerodynamic improvements are claimed to be 6%.

Despite this, the system weight, consisting of frame, fork, seatpost and cockpit is claimed to have been reduced by 9%, equivalent to a 160 g saving. The two-piece ICS cockpit, which we previously tested on the BMC URS gravel bike and the BMC Roadmachine (read the review here) has also seen some developments and is now available in two different versions. It’s available as the two-piece ICS2, though a little slimmer and 15 g lighter than its predecessor, or as a one-piece ICS carbon cockpit. In both cases, cables are routed completely internally, creating a very clean look.

All version of the ICS carbon cockpit

Stem length	Bar width	Version	Weight
90 mm	400 mm	RED	285 g
100 mm	420 mm	RED	–
110 mm	420 mm	RED	305 g
110 mm	400 mm	RED TEAM	–
120 mm	400 mm	RED TEAM	–
130 mm	400 mm	RED TEAM	–
140 mm	400 mm	RED TEAM	360 g

Weight savings of the fourth vs. the third SLR01 generation

Generation	4 (2021)	3 (2017)
Frame	820 g	815 g
Fork	345 g	395 g
Seatpost	185 g	195 g
Cockpit	305 g	410 g
Total weight	1,655 g	1,815 g
Weight savings	-160 g or 9 %

BMC Teammachine SLR01 – geometry and components

The new Teammachine is available in four different SLR01 builds, using the premium SLR01 frameset, and five versions based on the SLR frame. The new ICS carbon cockpit is reserved for the two top-end models. The SLR01 ONE we tested comes with a complete SRAM Red eTap AXS drivetrain (read our review here) and DT Swiss PRC 1100 wheels. The size 56 bike weighs just 6.86 kg and costs € 10,999. Undoubtedly expensive, we wouldn’t have found fault with the price except for the lack of a Quarq power meter which, disappointingly, is not included as part of the package.

Groupset SRAM RED eTap AXS, 2 x 12, 48–35T
Cassette SRAM RED 10–28T
Brakes SRAM RED eTap AXS 160/160 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss PRC 1100 DICUT Mon Chasseral Disc
Tires Vittoria Corsa 700 x 25C
Seatpost Teammachine SLR 01 Premium Carbon D-Shape, 15 mm offset
Bars ICS Carbon, 420 mm
Stem ICS Carbon, 110 mm
Weight 6.86 kg in size 56
Price € 10,999
Available now

Overview of the Teammachine models

Model	Cockpit	Groupset	Colour	Price
SLR01 ONE	ICS Carbon	RED eTap AXS	Carbon & Neon Red	€ 10,999
SLR01 TWO	ICS Carbon	DURA-ACE Di2	Iron Grey & Neon Red	€ 10,499
SLR01 THREE	ICS2	Force AXS HRD	Metallic Orange & Carbo	€ 7,499
SLR01 FOUR	ICS2	ULTEGRA Di2	Pearl Blue & Carbon	€ 6,799
SLR01 V1-frameset	ICS Carbon	–	Carbon & Neon Red	€ 4,599
SLR01 V2-frameset	ICS Carbon	–	Deep Sea & Neon Red	€ 4,599
SLR01 V3-frameset	ICS2	–	Poison Green & Carbon	€ 4,299
SLR ONE	ICS01	Force AXS HRD	Anthracite Prisma & White	€ 5,299
SLR TWO	kein ICS	ULTEGRA Di2	Pearl Grey & Black	€ 4,799
SLR THREE	kein ICS	ULTEGRA	Carbon & Gold	€ 3,599
SLR FOUR V1	kein ICS	105	Racing Red & Brushed Silver	€ 2,799
SLR FOUR V2	kein ICS	105	True Blue & Neon Red	€ 2,799

Size	47	51	54	56	58	61
Seat tube	423 mm	468 mm	504 mm	524 mm	545 mm	574 mm
Top tube	517 mm	534 mm	549 mm	559 mm	574 mm	589 mm
Head tube	110 mm	130 mm	145 mm	165 mm	184 mm	210 mm
Head angle	71.5	71.5	72.3°	72.3°	72.3°	72.3°
Seat angle	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°
Chainstays	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm	410 mm
BB Drop	69 mm	69 mm	69 mm	69 mm	69 mm	69 mm
Wheelbase	968 mm	986 mm	989 mm	1,000 mm	1,015 mm	1,030 mm
Reach	367 mm	377 mm	386 mm	392 mm	401 mm	409 mm
Stack	506 mm	530 mm	550 mm	565 mm	584 mm	608 mm

BMC Teammachine SLR01 ONE first ride review

Even at a standstill, the new Teammachine exudes its potential for speed. The new ICS carbon cockpit and its internally routed cables create a streamlined look, while frame’s finish makes it look like it’s sped through flames. Red detailing starts at the cockpit and stretches back across the top tube of the otherwise matte black frame. Only the aerodynamically optimised Aerocore bottle cages disturb the otherwise svelte lines of the Teammachine, sitting a little too proud in profile.

Set off and the bike immediately tells you what it wants: to get up to speed as fast as possible. The Teammachine drives forward and benefits from the stiff bottom bracket and low inertia of the lightweight DT Swiss PRC 1100 DICUT Mon Chasseral wheels. Regardless of whether you’re setting off or blasting through a corner, the BMC accelerates like a 911 and rewards you with every watt of effort transferred directly to the tarmac, in every situation. However, on the flats, the Teammachine is missing that last iota of aerodynamic performance necessary to maintain that same level of acceleration and speed. An aero wheelset would no doubt help eke out the last bit of performance, but would also increase side wind susceptibility which is hardly present or noticeable as it stands. Unarguably, the BMC is a very fast road bike that will dispatch long rides or big climbs with ease.

The DNA of the new Teammachine expresses two dominant genes: ascending and descending. Perhaps that’s not a huge surprise for a Swiss road bike! The bike climbs incredibly easily and efficiently up the hills and even when pushing hard, holds its line perfectly. We’ve rarely had this much fun while climbing! You’ve spent yourself in your enthusiasm, arrived at the summit tired and launch yourself directly down the descent again? Then you can rely on the Teammachine 100%. The hydraulic SRAM RED brakes are easy to modulate and offer a decent amount of bite while the fork is stiff and stays steady even under hard braking. The handling is very precise and suitable even for those who aren’t riding in the Tour de France peloton.

Where’s the hidden motor? The new Teammachine skips up the longest climbs with ease and is an outstanding bike for the hills

For a race bike in this class, the compliance is surprisingly high, even if the Teammachine isn’t a super comfortable road bike per se. Individual components, including the long spokes of the DT Swiss wheels, the comfortable Vittoria Corsa 700 x 25C tires, the carbon seatpost and neat cockpit all contribute to an acceptable level of comfort.

BMC Teammachine SLR01 ONE 2021 conclusion

The new Teammachine SLR01 ONE loves the hills. Too many metres ascending in a ride? That’s no longer an excuse! With its tantalisingly light weight, this road bike eats up the ascents, yet can also convince on the descents with a secure ride, precise handling and excellent acceleration. The Teammachine seems almost purpose-built for events like the Öztaler, Maratona dles Dolomites and other intense hill stages and with its clean and coherent design, looks phenomenal.

You can find more information about the BMC Teammachine SLR01 ONE at bmc-switzerland.com and read all our current road bike reviews here.

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Words: Philipp Schwab, Benjamin Topf Photos: Benjamin Topf