LAKE COMO – View of the Dauphiné and the Tour, The new BMC becomes official on the day of Il Lombardia 2023. It is called Teammachine R in all respects a further evolution of the Teammachine, even more efficient in terms of aerodynamics and with a design destined to leave its mark.
The new Teammachine R (acronym for racing) further strengthens a strategic collaboration between BMC and Red Bull Advanced Technology, a partnership from which the SpeedmachineWe saw and tested it in preview, taking it to one of the sacred places of cycling: Ghisallo (opening photo).
Between cycling and Formula One
«It is still possible to invent something new – comments Stefan Christ, R&D manager at BMC – to innovate and develop, to explore solutions that have not been tried until now, but to do this you need to go furtherWe have managed to combine the engineering meticulousness of F1, this thanks to the collaboration with Red Bull, to the knowledge of our Impec lab, in the cycling field and in the application of carbon on bicycles.
«The result is extraordinary – continues Christ – and it goes far beyond the numbers of the thousands of analyses we have conductedThe new Teammachine R is not just a bike, but it is also the point where technology can change and evolve further. This bike is in fact the second product born from the collaboration between BMC and Red Bull».
300 carbon skins
The bike in its entirety it is very rich in detailsThe frame is completely made of composite and It is built using over 300 pieces of carbon fiber (910 grams declared, with paint and in the LTD version).
The fork project is called Halo, It is full carbon and has a declared weight of 395 grams. (while the seatpost, with a specific design, weighs 155 and contains the Di2 battery). In the upper part, the seat stays are widened (never seen a shape like this, except on the Speedmachine), with the aim of creating the least possible contrast with the front space. It is optimised for 25/28 mm tyres, but it can accommodate tyres up to 30 mm in section.This factor coincides with the reduced frontal sections of the stems which, when observed from the front, appear triangular. But All the profiles bring with them a new development linked to shapes, volumes and application of composite fibre.
I am an example of this. the bottom bracket box (which adopts the name of Mariana , due to its design which significantly discharges towards the seat stays), the seat tube and the horizontal tube, elements which facilitate the flow of air towards the rear and take into account the bike/athlete combination.
Handlebar with a lot of flare
from Teammachine SLR 01 The integrated Aerocore bottle cages and the integrated ICS handlebar with 12,5° flare (36 centimetres wide at the top of the shifters, 42 at the lower end of the curve) have been borrowed.
The derailleur hanger is hidden in the frame and the threaded seats of the thru axles are also completely hidden. The new BMC Teammachine R, with the same equipment and conditions, it is 3,5 percent faster compared to the Teammachine SLR.
Equipment and prices
The Teammachine R It is available in five different trims, to which a frame-kit is added (5.999 euros). 01 LTD It comes with the Sram Red eTap AXS transmission, with a list price of 14.999 euros (with this set-up the weight difference, for all sizes, is between 6,85 and 7,3 kilograms). 01 TWO is the one with the Dura Ace transmission and a list price of 13.999 euros. Then there are the 01 Three and Four, with the Force eTap AXS and Ultegra Di2 respectively at 9.499 and 8.999 euros.
SThere are 6 sizes (47, 51 and 54, 56, 58 and 61) available and all show a value of thevery short wheelbaseOnly the two largest, the 58 and 61, have a total wheelbase of a few millimetres over a metre in length.
First impressions
About 60 kilometers and just over two hours with 650 meters of elevation gain, like an "aperitif," because in our opinion it takes more time to describe and discuss a bike, even if the same bike offers an immediate feeling. It is stiffer and definitely more aerodynamic than the SLR version of the Teamachine "traditional".
The stiffness is felt mainly in the central area and on the front end, with an agility and quickness to change direction that is uncommon for an aero bike. These two aspects are perceived hand in hand with the stability and the bicycle's ability to pick up speed in a flash, all this considering the 62mm wheels. It must also be considered from a climbing perspective, since 62mm wheels are not so common and the new Teammachine R, despite being classified as a true racing bike, offers an immediate feeling.
