The Bicycle Manufacturing Company
View InventoryBorn in 1994, the nascent cycling brand BMC was raised surrounded by Swiss industry that is characterized by it's precision, attention to detail, and quality. Early into it's conception as a company, BMC began supplying bikes to the Phonak Cycling team, a Swiss professional road racing team. Andy Rihs, then the benefactor of Phonak Cycling, took over BMC in 2000 with the vision of building the ‘Porsche of race bikes’, and so he did. With time, BMC developed the Impec Advanced R&D Lab, a facility built specifically to develop new BMC models.
Precision engineering and an innovative approach to research and development are at the core of BMC and no other cycling manufacturer has so many tools at its disposal under one roof. Positive laboratory results lead way to real-world testing under the likes of the world tour BMC Racing Team, with names like Julien Absalon, Corrine Abraham, Cadel Evans, Ralf Näf, Thor Hushovd, and Taylor Phinney as the ultimate proof of the bike’s performance. Their professional input aids in creating new bikes that are ready to ride and built to win. With that, it is no wonder that BMC has such a vast array of technologically advanced premium road, mountain, and lifestyle bikes.
The infancy of gravel bikes saw small brands build their bikes as burly pack mules that were more about getting out there than how efficient they were. Over time, bikes such as the OPEN U.P. approached gravel with a road bike mindset, with only a few concessions to tire clearance and straight-line stability on dirt terrain. The URS is a bit different, as BMC took their expertise from the World Cup-winning Teamelite hardtail and applied it to the unique needs of gravel riding. BMC calls it Gravel+, a concept that is aimed squarely at gravel-specific performance. With a lightweight frame, unique geometry, and TCC rear suspension, the new BMC URS is a shot apart from the competition.
At the core of the URS is a slack 70-degree head angle, long trail figure, and relatively low stack numbers across all sizes. Additionally, there is BMC’s MTT suspension system built into the rear triangle. BMC has used it for years on their Teamelite that has been raced on XC courses for years to great effect. In essence, it uses self-lubricating bushings and an engineered flex point in the chainstays that offer 10mm suspension travel. An elastomer cover acts as a bit of a damper. While 10 mm doesn’t seem like much, this “soft tail” concept assists with traction and a touch of comfort without compromising performance.
URS features a fairly-steep 74-degree seattube angle that, when paired to a very short 55 mm or 70 mm stem (depending on size), places plenty of weight on the front wheel. This also means that the rider is fairly upright on the bike, in a way that feels more like a mountain bike than anything with a drop bar.
BMC didn’t stop at geometry or the TCC suspension. The URS uses a zero-setback proprietary carbon seatpost that BMC uses on other bikes like the Roadmachine. They quote the additional compliance from the seatpost, but BMC has designed it such that a regular 27.2 mm seatpost can be fitted with the aid of a small shim. It is even dropper-compatible! And if the “steep seattube, slack head angle, dropper post, stubby stem” stuff wasn’t enough mountain bike crossover, BMC says that the URS can handle a Fox AX 40 mm travel fork or a Lauf Grit SL fork without affecting the bike’s handling.
All URS models use BMC’s unique ICS stem that routes brake cables through the stem and into the headtube, as well as a modular cable stop that fits a Di2 junction box. There are integrated rubber bumpers at the fork dropouts, downtube, driveside chainstay as preventative wear pieces. They’ve also included fender and rack mounts, dynamo hub wiring, three bottle cages, and space for a 700 x 45c or 650 x 47b tire. A frame weighs in at a reasonable 1050 grams with hardware. URS is 1x-specific.
We considered the release of the first-generation BMC Roadmachine for the 2017 model year to be a revelation amongst endurance bikes. It had probably a broader appeal than any endurance road bike before it: not as upright as the bikes with stack numbers that were taller than a two-story, but much more comfortable than a usual hard-edged racer. The 2020 BMC Roadmachine road bike isn’t far removed from the original formula, but a refinement of the Swiss brand’s “One-Bike Collection” ethos.
The “One-Bike Collection” ethos is some pretty thick marketing for what equates to a comfortable all-arounder. As before, you’ll find BMC’s ICS cockpit with stealth cable routing. It’s one of the best examples of an integrated cockpit on the market; the combination of a regular handlebar with external cable routing that flows through a cover beneath the stem, split headset spacers and a flattened steer tube show impressive attention to detail that is reflected through the rest of the bike.
Above else, the Roadmachine is about refinement. Perhaps the biggest change is an update to fit up to a 33c tire in the name of expanding the Roadmachine’s overall capability. Everything else is about refinement: there is a new asymmetric fork to increase strength on the disc brake side to put it in line with the rest of the BMC road bike line. You’ll also find tapered chainstays, seatstays that are 10 mm lower along the seat tube
There are a few additions to the mix as well. BMC have doubled down on their ICS cockpit fit with the addition of 0-degree rise stems in an impressive 55-100 mm range. This complements the 90-130 mm -12-degree stem options, which combined effectively doubles the fitting range on each frame size, according to BMC. They’ve also added a bento box mount on the top tube like many of the gravel bikes on the market, and the option for a proprietary bolt-on rear fender off the top of the seatpost.
The Roadmachine has a good thing going in regards to geometry, though that too has seen some small changes. Stack numbers see the largest changes in the three largest sizes in an effort to make the stack and reach progression numbers more natural, though each size receives just a touch more stack than the previous generation.
All said and done, BMC claims that this elongation contributes to a 20% increase in front end stiffness. The reworked seatpost, rear end, and fork combine to make for a 25% increase in compliance, and the bottom bracket sees a 5% bump in torsional stiffness too. A 54 cm frame weighs in at just 895 grams, making this one of the lightest all-around road bikes on the market.
BMC is best known for their premium road bikes. The company started off through sponsoring pro racing teams, with the goal of offering bikes that are heavily invested in technology and design to top athletes. Andy Rihs, the person behind this level of investment, sought to develop the “Porsche of race bikes”. The line of BMC road bikes is a direct result of this, evidence that research and development lead to some of the best bikes in the world.
Redefining the endurance road category is the BMC Roadmachine, featuring hydraulic disc-brakes with thru axles front and rear and a not-too-stiff, not-too-soft ride. Designed with internally-routed cables and hidden brake-lines, the Roadmachine offers a sleek aesthetics on top of an industry leading level of compliance and comfort. The highly-adjustable stem allows any rider – from new enthusiast to experienced competitor – a wide range of handlebar positions to best suit riders’ fitting needs. Models like the BMC Roadmachine 01 Three feature this cockpit, called their Integrated Cockpit System (ICS), as well as their Tuned Compliance Concept to deliver powerful performance at the pedals, while maintaining comfort in the saddle from the first mile and beyond.
The bike you’re most likely to see in the WorldTour is the the BMC Teammachine road bike. Backed by the confidence of a World Championship win, the prestige of a Tour de France title, and the experience of owning countless World and Grand Tour stages, the Teammachine is well-equipped to stare any brutal day of racing square in the face. They starts with BMC’s highest quality carbon fiber and uses their Advanced Composites Evolution (ACE) technology to test thousands of various frame configurations to find the optimal configuration of all parameters and desired qualities. As such, the frame is asymmetric, the seatpost is now d-shaped for greater ride compliance, and weight is set to just 810 g for the frame and 350 g for the fork SLR01 disc model. Models like the BMC Teammachine SLR02 Disc ONE are an all-around strong combination that makes the Teammachine such an exceptional bike.
But if you are looking for the fastest road bike ever, BMC offers their Timemachine Road aero road bike. Every part of the new Timemachine Road is designed with integration in mind, with the end goal of providing riders an advantage in any way possible. BMC’s new ICS Aero cockpit, based off of the ICS design on the Roadmachine 01 and the Teammachine SLR01 Disc, offers stealth cable routing through the bars, stem, and steerer tube. While this is similar to some other companies, BMC’s ICS Aero design offers total adjustability, an integrated computer mount, and an aero profile. Together, with the aero seatpost and overall frame design, the BMC Timemachine Road provides consistent and measureable power savings over the race-ready Teammachine.
Looking for outright speed? look no further than the BMC Timemachine time trial bike. BMC calls the Timemachine the “the fastest bike on earth”, and with all the testing done, it’s not too far off. The company spent the last two years in the Sauber Engineering wind tunnel to develop a philosophy they call p2p x subA. SubA features revised the tube shaping in every part of the frame with re-engineered profiles, using the popular truncated airfoil shape, with crosswind-stable tube shapes and a super-lean frontal area. Models like the BMC Timemachine 02 ONE demonstrate that there is such thing as free speed.
Utilizing BMC’s ACE (Accelerated Composites Evolution) Technology, engineers optimized every tube shape and carbon laminate to achieve BMC’s perfect pro tour bike. Between these diverse platforms, BMC offers a wide range in price points, ensuring each model achieves BMC’s performance standards.
Efficiency and speed inform all design of BMC mountain bikes. Technology, in terms of equipment, is undoubtedly the biggest differentiating factor and greater than the margins of physiological improvement. In making their line of mountain bikes, BMC has developed a line of advanced mountain bikes built to take on the legendary terrain of the Swiss Alps. With race-proven creed developed in through research and design, BMC mountain bikes will give riders a edge on the competition.
The cross-country riding of old has morphed over the years into a more aggressive form of riding requiring slacker angles. Yet with cross-country riding you still need to make a quick and nimble climber to try and get you up as quickly as you go down. BMC addresses both of these needs with the all-new for 2019 BMC Fourstroke 01 XC mountain bike and additionally releases a simple yet progressive dropper post design. At 345 grams, this oval-shaped post increases strength while shedding grams. It’s the lightest dropper post on the market, and gives riders a true advantage descending on technical trails.
For as fun as high-performance road bikes and mountain bikes can be, it is just as impressive when a company can absolutely nail an e-bike. Be it a mountain bike or city bike, pedal assist electric bikes must meet the lofty performance goals of of their non-assist siblings and integrate electric assist into the picture. Between the enduro-capable BMC Trailfox AMP SX, and hustling BMC Alpenchallenge AMP Sport LTD, the Swiss brand has their bases in the e-bike world covered.
The most aggressive bike of the lot goes to the BMC Trailfox AMP SX, build with fast descents and enduro courses in mind. It features 150mm of travel out back, as well as a host of tailored kinematics, pivot placement, and leverage ratios to help the bike handle exactly as it should. With the Trailfox AMP SX, BMC have made the bike fit for 170mm travel, with long reach and slack head angle combines for to a long front center to provide stability and maximum control. Other neat tech includes their Twin Hollow-core design, which consists of two complete tubes that run along the internal battery. This increases front triangle stiffness in the face of having a sizeable battery, while leaving space for internal cable routing that is easily accessible.
On the other side of the spectrum is the BMC Speedfox AMP, with a compartively-sane 130mm suspension travel. The Speedfox AMP has been created for trail riders who just can’t wait… to ride in the great outdoors, to get lost, to discover new trails or just go out and play. Its powerful engine and versatile character blur the lines of what a modern trail bike is capable of. Close that 4-hour epic loop in just 3, go on that killer multi-day single-track adventure with your buddies, or simply level the fitness playing field and focus on the fun. A state-of-the-art drive unit and seamless battery integration improve the Speedfox AMP’s functionality and give it a streamlined look, while its full-carbon frame and tailored APS suspension have been refined to deliver the ultimate performance for those who choose to boost their trail experience. At home on every terrain, the Speedfox AMP is ready to turn that impossible dream ride into reality and amplify adventures beyond imagination.
Despite looking relatively pedestrian, there is a ton of tech to the 2019 Alpenchallenge AMP. The full carbon frame and fork are formed to perfectly accentuate the battery found on the seattube. BMC found that locating the battery there improved handling over placing the battery in the downtube. The brand has also added their Micro Travel Technology (MTT), also found on their Teamelite mountain bike. MTT features 10mm of tuned travel to provide not only the requisite traction for the Shimano drive unit, but also improved comfort. A D-shaped carbon seatpost, also seen on their Roadmachine and Teammachine road bikes, improves ride comfort over a traditional carbon seatpost. Their Internal Cockpit System (ICS) makes an appearance here as well, optimizing cable routing for a minimal, integrated look.
Regardless of what bicycle you choose, riding a BMC AMP e-bike guarantees you’re at the forefront of technology, integration, and performance.
At Contender Bicycles, our best tools for selling bikes are the people who ride them. Each of us on staff has extensive experience riding bikes across many brands. If you have any questions regarding a BMC road or mountain bike, send us an email any time to info@contenderbicycles.com or by phone at Contact Us.
