BMC Team Machine SLT 01

Price Paid:  $2599.00 at Competitive Cyclist

Favorite Ride:
Hills of West St. Louis County

Bike Setup:
Dura-Ace/Ultegra, Mavic Aksium Race, FSA bars and stem, Easton EC90 SL Fork, Selle saddle

Summary:
Amazing bike. Light, fast, and comfortable. Bought it two weeks ago, took it out for a 25 mile shakedown ride, then rode 175 miles the next weekend. The bike feels like it would move by itself. Every bit of energy applied to the pedals is transformed into forward motion. Climbs like no one's business (I went from a triple crank to a full size 53/39 on the BMC and I climb faster and easier than before). Wheelset is smooth and fast. I have easily picked up 2 mph on my pace. Bike is extremely stable and predictable and, did I mention, FAST! Very unique and innovative styling. Gets lots of attention and I'm not riding the same bike everyone else is.

Strengths:
Speed, climbing, comfortable ride.

Weaknesses:
Stock Selle saddle is a little firm and thin.

Similar Products Used:
Raleigh Supercourse

Price Paid:  $4000.00

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Port hills New Zealand

Bike Setup:
Dura ace, Fulcrums, FSA kit.

Summary:
I am a bike nut and have owned many bikes. They are truely my weakness. Anyway the BMC SLT 01 is the most "alive" carbon bike you will ever own. I love the looks and no other bike I have ever owned gets the comments like the SLT.
In the flesh its stunning!!
Ride is stiff and alive. I have ridden harsher carbon bikes though BUT nothing stiffer. I am 85kg.
So in conclusion a really nice bike that has "I am an individual" written all over it!

Strengths:
Looks, stiff, paint, engineering.
55cm frame weight 1300 gms.
Very strong and well built.
Nice fork that absorbs lots vibration.
Carbon bars really smooth this bike out.

Weaknesses:
Yes cable rattle on the top tube. i slipped a sheath of heat shrink over the length of the inner cable and fixed itn that way.

Similar Products Used:
Nearly everything.

Price Paid:  $3800.00 at friend

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
OPH, Brooklyn

Bike Setup:
Easton EA50 handlebars, EC90 forks, Fizik saddle, Chorus grouppo, Mavik ES wheelset, Bontrager seatpost

Summary:
What a bike! This bike is so smooth and fast I can't wait for each weekend to roll around. It stays on line, climbs well and descends like an arrow. Although not the lightest bike in the world, it is so well balanced that it seems to move forward very easily.

Strengths:
Beautiful finish, eye catching, gets lots of comments and is strong.

Weaknesses:
Internal cabling sometimes rattles over rough roads, which can be a little disconcerting if you are not used to it. Buying new, it is quite expensive.

Similar Products Used:
This is only my second road bike - first was a Giant TCR 1 - aluminium, carbon forks so can't really compare it on similar grounds. I also can't knock the giant for a great all round entry level bike.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Kaos Customcycles

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
The next one

Bike Setup:
Red, White black frame, Easton EC90 fork
Full Dura ace,
Easton bars, stem, post
Mavic Kysirium Elites

Summary:
The BMC SLT 01 caught my eye is various mags etc and when I saw one at a shop I was very impresssed. Unfortunately I ended up buying a TCR CO, based on a really good deal with full Dura ace etc. I'd come from an Avanti Giro frame (Alloy/Carbon) with Open pros and 105, which was my first road bike. (Have been mountainbiking for 10+yrs). What a let down. The Giant was poor handling, flexy and uncomfortable for my body even after multiple fittings (I'm 5'9.). Fortuntely I spoke with Kaos, who built up the SLT with the giant part set, and now I really know what a good bike should be like. Given my mountainbiking I know what handles etc and this bike just nails it. The first thing I noticed was the stiffness. If you have a look at an SLT, the downtube is nearly as wide as the bottom bracket. What this results in is a frame that just transfers all power and is super solid. Equally on course roads (very common in Oz) it just dampens vibration. Bigger bumps are felt but the thing just tracks perfectly straight through them. It's interesting sitting on someone's wheel, and they hit a bump and you watch the whole thing shudder, whilst the SLT just rolls straight through (For the skiers out there it's like a great GS ski through crud). Up hill the stiffness means you're nice and efficent. Downhill it's super stable and just inspires confidence. It corners superbly, is smooth and suffers no wobbles whatsoever (unlike the TCR which was scary). This is one of those bikes that goes where it's pointed. You can take your hands off the bars, go round corners, pedal up hill etc all by just leaning. Not recommended, but a good measure of stability.
A special mention should go for the Easton fork which is fabulous and super stiff. With this frame/fork combo my wheels actualy feel noticably stiffer and more acurate due to the frame/fork combined rigidity.
The look. This is personal, but I love it, especially the harder edges etc. In todays trend of 'organic' flowing tubes and joints, the SLT stands out as a bit unique and the build quality is fabulous. Finally the $, well it's not cheap but in Oz is significantly cheaper than many of the well known euro brands. Overall I've a full bike with dura ace etc for approx $5K which is less than many.
Fitting wise they come in 2cm increments and fairly traditional geomentry (slightly sloping top tube), so will fit most people. I note that some reviews said sizing is big but I've the 53cm with 550mm top tube. Normally I'd ride a 52-54, so this appears fairly normal.
Overall a fabulous bike.
Cheers.

Strengths:
Smooth
Super stiff
Handlng
Looks
Uniqeness
Build quality

Weaknesses:
Not as light as the lightest frames out there, but we are talking mere grams.

Similar Products Used:
Avanti Giro (local Aus/NZ brand)
Giant TCR C0
Time VXR

Price Paid:  $0.00

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in SF, or at home in NZ when it's sunny

Bike Setup:
Fizik saddle (funny looking but oh so comfy)
Easton carbon post
Kestral carbon EMS bars
Hed Alps
Dura Ace 10 (it works, but it's just not Record...)
Fizik microtex bar tape (so nice!)
Ugly cannondale stem
Michelin Pro race tyres
Size 55 - feels bigger though.

Summary:
Had this frame kicking around for a while, looked kind of uncool, so put off building it. Had Record on it, but I wanted a training bike that I wouldn't feel guilty riding in the rain, so I put 10 speed Dura Ace on it. Totally exceeds my expectations, light, fast, stiff, comfortable. Holds a line well, even when bumpy. Climbs very well. I have several other bikes, but this one has lived in the living room for months now, and it's always the one I pick to ride or to take away with me.

I bought it in the EPO colours (Phonak), wanted to make a statement about drug cheats not affecting my love of my sport.

Strengths:
Climbs really well, looks kind of cool (well, it grows on you), starts conversations, gets me up hill better than someone of my fitness level has a right to climb. Handles well, descending is cool, just leaves everyone else for dead.

Weaknesses:
Cables can make noise inside the frame over our terrible roads. All my cycling gear clashes with the Phonak colours... How cool would it look with glossy black with candy tangerine flames on it...

Similar Products Used:
Own Merlin (record), Caad8 R5000 (record), Cinelli Aliante (Chorus), Scott Plasma (DA10). Think I'm going to swap the DA 10 for Record...