It might not be about the bike, but maybe; just maybe; the bike can help you find that missing edge and land you squarely atop the podium. It might not be the Tour de France, and you might not be Cadel Evans; but winning is winning. Is it because of the BMC Team Machine that Cadel won the Tour? It's not the only reason, but as he and any other professional will tell you; without the best equipment, you're not going to win any race, let alone the Tour de France. With nearly one decade of ProTour pedigree, and now a victory in the world's biggest race, you will not find an inch of this frame that hasn't been refined to perfection. BMC has approached the concept of comfort and efficiency from many angles and every solution is present in the 2012 Team Machine SLR01; comprising a system they refer to as "Tuned Compliance Concept." The seat stays, seat post, and fork have all been designed to provide ample vertical compliance to keep you comfortable and in perfect contact with road, while always keeping an eye on performance. This allows you to keep pedaling as hard and efficiently as possible, on even the rougest of roads. As what seems to be an all too common practice in bicycles these days, BMC provides us with plenty of three-letter acronyms to describe their design process; no matter what they're calling it, it's working! Their ideologies, vision, and practices have produced a bike that is undeniably BMC; at the pinnacle of performance and design. Complete with all features of the next generation of bicycles: -Tapered steertube with integrated headtube -BB86 Bottom Bracket -Semi-integrated seatpost
Strengths: Solid, smooth and efficient ride. Comfortable. Great design. Lightweight. TdF winner
Weaknesses: Price. BB86 bottom bracket (good design, but you will need to buy a new bottom bracket if you plan on using your current crankset)
Bottom Line:
The carbon on the top tube of my '09 Pro Machine failed and BMC sent me a 2012 Team Machine SLR01 under warranty! Kudos to BMC's customer service. The Team Machine is hands down the best all around road frame BMC has made. It has all of the characteristics that I loved about my Pro Machine, however, it is stiffer, more efficient and more comfortable. The bike is solid. The geometry is similar to the Pro Machine allowing it to track a straight line. Cornering is significantly improved thanks to the added lateral stiffness. The TCC design works. All of the annoying road chatter that would transmit through the seat tube and fork is eliminated or significantly dampened. The end result is a more comfortable ride.
BMC offers a unique product that performs and backs it up with equally good customer service.
Strengths: Light, Responsive, Fast, Color Scheme (red/black)
Weaknesses: Price
Bottom Line:
This is a very nice bike. You get what you paid for. Very light on the climb (as if it climb by itself) and stiff on the descents (fun). I hate climbing and i'm scared on the down hill, but this bike made me love those ascents and descents. On the hills i used a Reynolds 32mm and on the flats i use the Edge 50mm. Now i can keep up with the gang and never been dropped since. It absorbs the bumps with my Continental Gran Prix 4000s (25mm).
Bike Setup: Campagnolo Record 11s group, Reynolds 32mm or Edge 50mm, Deda Presa Handlebar, Deda Zero Nero Stem, Selle Smp Dynamic saddle, Speedplay Zero pedals, Deda carbon look bar tape, Continental GP 4000 s 25 mm, Garmin 805
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Submitted by
Joe
a Recreational Rider
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2012
Strengths: Efficiency, looks, comfort, design, distinction, climbs like a billy goat, it won the TDF last year !
Weaknesses: You have to write a big check to own one. People will hate you when they have to try to keep up with you.
Bottom Line:
I now know what people mean when they say "this is a fast bike". This bike is truly just silly fast. It almost feels like you get 105% forward motion when you put in 100% effort. I am coming off a Carbon/Ultegra bike and this bike just feels better in every regard. It also looks fantastic. I absolutely love this bike. I do not like getting off of it! Just rode the Trek 100 (mi) ride on it and can vouch for it's all day comfort. 5 hours in the saddle and it never got old. It almost feels like cheating!
Bike Setup: Force, EC90 Aero wheelset, EA90 stem and bars. Sell Italia
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Submitted by
Dee
a Recreational Rider
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2012
Strengths: Stiff but comfortable, lite an fast.
Weaknesses: Could have a taller head tube.
Bottom Line:
I looked at a Trek Madone 5.2 and Cannondale SuperSix Evo. Was going to pull the trigger on the Trek and ran into very great deal on the 2011 BMC Team Machine. I went with the Team Machine because the reviews was more favorable. With my current setup the bike weights 15.7 pounds. It excellerates great, corners beautifully without the need to force it into a turn. It climb well (only hit a few small rollers so far). Based on the BMC website I thought geometry would have a taller head tube, but it has the geometry of straight up racer. I will have to adjust the stem to make it more comfortable for me. Most of all the bike comfortable to the max and absorbs the road good, but not better than the Madone 5.2. The real reason I purchase the bike was because it was SEXY.
Strengths: Light, insanely fast with ridgid pedaling motion, Tight and responsive steering. Very comfortable ride. Hillclimbing is awesome, it probably reduces my energy spent by 10%, which feels twice as good as before. 2 hour rides are totally comfortable. I have not yet put in a full day ride.
Weaknesses: The side winds down a hill can be challenging to navigate, probably due to the Zipp wheels light weight and large rims.
Bottom Line:
I am an active cyclist and triathlete, but not pro or elite. I came from riding a 2005 Allez.
I bought this bike used with 1700 miles in excellent condition and fully backed by the LBS at a ridiculous price.
I changed from a used Camaro to a new Ferrari when I bought this bike, excuse my lack of in depth knowledge. I am very humbled by my priviledge to own this professional caliper bike.
It transfers all energy effortlessly, smooth in every revolution and firm. The unexpected tight steering and instant reaction to every movement is a welcome but alien feeling to a rider of my caliber. The sounds it makes are also foreign to me with hollow clicks and ticks. I have had advanced riders tell me its the sound of speed.
Instantly this bike added 2 MPH to my average.
Moving forward, competitivecyclist has a great review of the 2011 team machine, as well as other sites.
Similar Products Used: My old bike is not similar in any level besides that it is a road bike.
Bike Setup: Campagnolo super record shifters, de-railers, crankset. EE cycleworks brakes. FSA K-wing carbon handlebars, Selle lite 209 carbon rail seat Zipp 404 clinchers wheelset. Look Keo carbon pedals. Total weight with computer, pedals, and bottlecages: 15.4 lbs.
