BMC Teammachine Masterpiece Frameset
What can be accomplished when no expense is spared? It’s a broad question, but when narrowed down to focus on a carbon frameset, BMC may have answered it. Twice. The *very* limited edition BMC Teammachine SLR Mpc (or “Masterpiece”), along with the Roadmachine Mpc have essentially set the bar as far as road bikes for riders where money is no object.
Featuring exposed carbon weave, a deliciously aggressive look and lightness and stiffness factors exceeding those of BMC’s Pro Tour machines, the Teammachine Mpc is hard to define as anything but a true Masterpiece, and we’ve got one to show you! This is truly a bike you’re not likely to see often if at all, so we’re very excited for the opportunity to build it up and share the process with you.
The BMC Teammachine SLR 01 is already a top-shelf race bike, with amazing build quality, great looks and performance to match. But that’s refreshingly common these days in bikes that exist in the premium orbit. What sets the BMC Masterpiece apart could be seen as existing in another dimension entirely.
Over the last decade, BMC's Impec Lab R&D and production facility in Switzerland has established itself as somewhat the equivalent of the Large Hadron Collider of the bike world. The Masterpiece frames are born of innovation and technology employed at the Impec Lab and each are hand crafted, one at a time. Each frame takes more than a full day to build, in-house at the Impec Workshop in Gretchen, Switzerland, or one of two other BMC layup facilities. Needless to say, production volume is extremely limited.
The Teammachine Masterpiece shares its outward aesthetic with BMC's standard production Teammachine SLR 01, but with a striking, attention grabbing difference: No paint. BMC wants you to see what makes this frame so special, and rightfully so. The hand-craftsmanship and precision that go into the carbon layup of the Masterpiece frames are clearly visible and it would be a shame to cover up the beautiful, raw aesthetic.
Once the frames go through the layup, bonding and production process, the end result is a finished product so precise and free of production waste, that it requires little if any finish sanding before clear coat is applied. The extraordinary characteristics of the Masterpiece frames go deeper than the surface of course, with the thinner tubing walls providing increased stiffness as well as noteworthy weight reduction. The Teammachine Mpc frameset weighs in at 1179 grams, compared to the standard Teammachine SLR 01 frameset's weight of around 1365 grams.
As is fitting of something as special and limited as the Masterpiece, the frameset ships in an industrial-themed and metal-trimmed premium road case. This super cool container looks fitting of the treasure contained within, and makes for an interesting accessory to the Masterpiece frame. Additional accessories that accompany the frame include a Scicon gear bag, Aerocore bottle cages, bike sock, ownership certificate, quality check seal and a custom alloy BMC lunch box. Yes, a high-quality and very stylish alloy lunchbox.
Available (and "available" is used loosely here) as a frameset only, the Teammachine Mpc is intended to be built to customer specifications by the marquis BMC dealer that facilitates each Masterpiece order and purchase. To acquire one of these ultra-limited framesets, one can start the process by visiting an authorized BMC Masterpiece dealer, or contacting BMC to request an appointment to visit their North American office in Scott's Valley, California or their Global Headquarters in Gretchen, Switzerland.
The vetting and ordering process serves to further emphasize how carefully curated these frames are, and how BMC intends to make the acquisition and ownership of a Masterpiece truly special. These bikes are an investment to say the least, and both the purchase process and ownership experience are intended to be anything but ordinary.
This Teammachine Mpc is actually our second Masterpiece build experience here at Contender and we're extremely excited to be trusted to build it up and get it's lucky owner rolling on it. BMC describes each Masterpiece frame as "A work of art that is eager to be ridden", and we couldn't agree more. Watch for more details about the build as well as a video review for an up-close look at this very special, ultra-limited, artistically crafted frame.
If you're interested in starting the process of acquiring your own Masterpiece, we can help! Contender has been with BMC from the beginning and we can help take you from your first inquiry, to your first ride.