BMC Street Fire SSX

Price Paid:  $1999.00 at Yellow Jersey

Model Year:
2006

Bike Setup:
Simano groupset apart from FSA cranks and BB. Easton headstem, handlebars and seatpost. Fulcrum wheels.

Summary:
The SSX rides really well, stiff and relatively light for the price. Like the guy in the store said "you get a lot of bike for the money". I changed the seatpost to full carbon and it smoothed things out quite a bit. If you are looking for a really good quality bike for solid mileage without paying $2000+ then go for the SSX, you won't be disappointed.

Strengths:
Frame - it's a gem.
Fulcrum wheels - great for the price.

Weaknesses:
FSA cranks - I'm not a fan... Carbon Pro is actually "Carbon cover over alu.." - and it cracked and split.
Seatpost - change it to carbon.

Price Paid:  $1400.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Races and hammerfests with lots of hills and corners

Bike Setup:
BMC SSX frame
Easton EC70 forks, EA50 bars, stem.
FSA Megaexo compact cranks
Fizik Arione
Fulcrum Racing 7s
Ultegra/105 components

Summary:
This bike is an absolute bargain. It has the stiffness and handling of bikes twice its price. I've raced on it for a full season and it excels at tight cornering and sprints.

It's a very well made frame and has held up well to several quite serious crashes in races. Much better than the rider at least.

On long rides it can be a bit rough though, transmitting a lot of road buzz. Also, the stock EC70 fork does flex a bit under heavy load.

The geometry may also not suit everyone as some of the smaller frames are hard to set up because of the relatively long top tube and short seat tube.

It is still a fantastic bike for racing and hard riding, and is a very beautiful and rare nike

Strengths:
Stiffness
Great handling
Great workmanship and quality

Weaknesses:
-Heavy with its stock components, around 22lbs for a full bike

Similar Products Used:
All the BMCs, Cervelos, Looks and Cannondales due to my job at my LBS

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at MOAB

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
anything with hills

Bike Setup:
shimano 105 front, ultegra rear. ksyrium elite wheels, look keo sprint pedals.

Summary:
This bike is great. I got some ksyrium elite wheels on it. it is very stiff and fast.

Strengths:
fast and not very heavy

Weaknesses:
cleaning around the seat post

Similar Products Used:
nothing

Price Paid:  $0.00 at MOAB

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
20 percent grades are my kinda thing

Bike Setup:
Red and black frame, salsa stem and bars, chris king headset, full ultegra( all you need) bontrager racer x lites, look fork, thompson seat post, selle italia saddle, look keo pedals

Summary:
all around solid bike. these bikes were used for a developemental team in the southeast kind've as a springboard onto the pro scene and the guys loved them and stood on podiums in europe.

Strengths:
super stiff and fast. acceleration is phenominal and handling is quick.for the money you cannot beat it. ideal for college students on a budget that need a great bike for racing.

Weaknesses:
as it comes the seatpost and fork are heavy, however a look carbon fork and thompson seatpost have taken care of that.

Similar Products Used:
felt f80, felt f2c, look 595.

Price Paid:  $800.00 at DON'S BIKES OF RIALT

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
CLIMING, CLIMBING, AND MORE CLIMBING

Bike Setup:
2006 STREETFIRE SSX, FULL CAMPY RECORD, EXCEPT FOR BRAKES (CHORUS), AND CRANKS ARE CENTAUR ULTRA TORQUE (I STILL CAN'T TRUST THE CARBON CRANKS), CAMPY PROTON WHEELS, EASTON EC 90 BAR W/ RITCHEY LOGIC WCS STEM, EASTON EC 90 CARBON POST

Summary:
I BOUGHT THIS BIKE, AS MANY OTHERS DID, FOR THE GREAT PRICE. THE FRAME SET (FRAME, FORK, SEATPOST AND HEADSET)WAS ONLY $800!!!! I WAITED A WHILE TO DO A REVIEW ON THIS BIKE SO THAT I COULD PROPERLY EVALUATE IT. I GOT THIS TO REPLACE MY LOOK CARBON BIKE. I KNOW IT SOUNDS STRANGE, BUT THE ACCELERATION, STIFFNESS, AND POWER TRANSFER ON THIS FRAME ARE PHENOMINAL!! THE LLOK JUST DID NOT COMPARE, AND I PROBABLY WILL NEVER GO BACK TO CARBON. THE SEATPOST IS NOT THE GREATEST BY FAR, HOWEVER THAT IS AN EASY FIX.AS FAR AS SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS GO SUCH AS THE FORK NOT BEING STIFF ENOUGH, I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY FLEX IN IT. I ONLY WEIGH 140 LBS., BUT I AM A VERY BIG SPRINTER AND PUT OUT ALOT OF POWER. ALL IN ALL THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST BIKE I HAVE EVER OWNED.

Strengths:
LIGHT, STIFF, POWER TRANSFER IS EXCELLENT

Weaknesses:
NONE OTHER THAT THE NOT SO GREAT SEATPOST, BUT THAT IS AN EASY FIX.

Similar Products Used:
LEMOND ZURICH, LOOK KG 451, GT'S, VARIOUS TREKS