Just three short years after unveiling its first dedicated endurance bike, BMC has updated its Roadmachine platform, placing it at the forefront of the endurance road bike market. With a host of integrated features, two framesets offer, high-end components included as standard, and a price tag to match, join us as we take you through eight things to know about the all-new BMC Roadmachine.
1. Versatility is Key
When BMC went back to the drawing board with the Roadmachine, a clear focus of the Swiss outfit was improving the versatility of its endurance platform, opening it up to a broader range of riders. With a host of improvement made compared to its predecessor, BMC claim to have done just that, creating a bike that excels not only, on the road, but off it too.
2. Smoother
The outgoing Roadmachine was already applauded for its smooth ride; however, with the new model, BMC claimed to have improved vertical compliance by a staggering 25%. This increase in vertical compliance comes courtesy of a revised carbon fibre layup, an all-new D-shaped seatpost, dropped seatstays and a revised fork. This claimed increase in compliance isn’t just limited to the road either, BMC claims the new Roadmachine will offer a smoother ride regardless of the riding terrain.
3. Sleeker
With a host of integration features borrowed from its Teammachine and Timemachine siblings, the Roadmachine has one of the sleekest profiles of the current crop of endurance road bikes. Cables are more or less completely hidden from the wind thanks to an all-new integrated cockpit system dubbed ICS. The integrated cockpit is said to be easily adjustable for both stack height and reach, while a removable weatherproof cover is said to provide easy access for maintenance. Additionally, BMC state that add-ons for computers, GoPro’s and other accessories will be available to provide a clean mounting solution for most devices.
4. Stiffer
While the increase in vertical compliance should translate into a more comfortable ride, BMC has balanced this out, with a claimed 5% increase in stiffness at the bottom bracket, and a 20% increase in torsional stiffness across the frame as a whole. What this translates to in the real world is a bike that is comfortable on less than ideal roads, yet responsive and agile when putting the power down or hunkering down in the drops on a descent.
5. Space for Wide Rubber
Adding to the improved versatility of terrain the new Roadmachine is designed to traverse, BMC claim that the new steed will swallow tyres up to 33mm wide. This means that with the new top tube bag mounts, the new bike could theoretically pull double duty as an all road adventure bike, and transform into a racebike by changing the rolling stock fitted to the bike.
6. Refined Geometry
For 2020, BMC has tweaked the geometry of the Roadmachine to provide a more linear reach and stack figures across the size range. What this means is that in conjunction with the revised carbon layup, a taller rider aboard a size 61 will have the same ride experience as an average sized rider on a size 54.
7. Two Frame Options
While the aluminium framed Roadmachine 03 has been dropped from the lineup, two different versions of the Roadmachine carry on, the 01 and the 02. The critical difference between the two is that the 01 scores the fancy ICS cockpit and matching fork, whereas the 02 makes do a traditional bar and stem setup, with a rounder steerer tube and necessary fork as a result. Aside from this, the carbon layup is exactly the same from the fork back.
8. Pricing and Availability
The 2020 BMC Roadmachine is expected to hit local shores in early July 2019, check your nearest bike store for local availability.
Model options and pricing are as follows;
2020 BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE: SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset, ENVE AR 4.5 SES Wheelset RRP AU$13,799
2020 BMC Roadmachine 01 TWO: Shimano Dura-Ace 9150 Di2 groupset, Mavic Ksyrium Pro Carbon SL UST Disc wheelset RRP AU$12,499
2020 BMC Roadmachine 01 THREE: SRAM Force eTap AXS groupset, DT Swiss ERC1400 wheelset RRP AU$9,999
2020 BMC Roadmachine 01 FOUR: Shimano Ultegra R8050 Di2 groupset, DT Swiss ERC1650 wheelset RRP AU$9,499
2020 BMC Roadmachine 01 Frameset: RRP AU$5,899
2020 BMC Roadmachine 02 ONE: Shimano Ultegra R8050 Di2 groupset, DT Swiss E1800 wheelset RRP AU$6,499
2020 BMC Roadmachine 02 TWO: Shimano Ultegra R8020 groupset, DT Swiss E1850 wheelset, RRP AU$5,199
2020 BMC Roadmachine 02 THREE:Shimano 105 R7020 groupset, Shimano RS-370 TL wheelset RRP AU$4,199
With the new 2020 Roadmachine hitting showroom floors, right now is a great chance to grab a bargain on a previous generation BMC Roadmachine from leading independent retailers across the country.
