BMC has updated its entry-level Teammachine SLR road race bike with fully integrated cable routing to match the flagship Teammachine SLR 01.
Previously, customers had to shell out $8,499 / €8,499 for a complete Teammachine bike with modern integrated cable routing – that figure is now $2,999 / €2,999.
The brand’s Teammachine SLR 01 remains unchanged.
No more external routing
The Swiss brand’s proprietary ICS routing system, which has been applied here, sees cables and hoses routed inside the upper headset bearing, between the steerer tube.
Some might lament the loss of an externally routed option on ease-of-servicing grounds, but each bike is offered with a two-piece cockpit with a standard front-facing four-bolt stem faceplate (rather than the brand’s more stylised ICS2 design).
This sees cables and hoses fit under the stem, before entering the frameset, and means the stem can be swapped over without having to unravel the system.
BMC says the ICS system confers both aerodynamic and aesthetic benefits, but those purported upsides are left to the rider’s perception – the brand doesn’t offer data on the aerodynamic improvements between the old Teammachine SLR and the updated model.
Is the Teammachine SLR just an SLR 01 without the fancy builds?
In a word, no – the Teammachine SLR isn’t quite a carbon copy of its higher-spec sibling, which is now approaching five years old.
BMC says the updated frameset has the same layout as the top-spec 01 frameset, including compatibility for the brand’s one-piece ICS Carbon Aero, ICS Carbon or latest ICS Carbon EVO cockpits, the D-shape seatpost and semi-integrated Aerocore bottle cages.
Tyre clearance is also identical, at 30mm – a little shy of the latest race bikes.
However, the carbon layup features a lower stiffness-to-weight ratio compared to the premium bike – BMC claims the frame “shares the same stiffness targets as the Teammachine SLR 01”, but that complete builds come in from “around 8kg” in an unspecified size.
For context, Warren Rossiter reviewed the current-generation BMC Teammachine SLR 01 in a size 56cm with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9100 groupset, which weighed 7.09kg.
What Teammachine SLR builds can I have?
The BMC Teammachine SLR is available from today in three builds – the Two, Three and Four – with a One-spec build confirmed to follow later in the year.
BMC says riders have the choice of three seatpost setbacks (15mm as standard, with 25mm and inline options also available).
The brand hasn’t yet confirmed whether these are free of charge to choose at point of purchase.
BMC Teammachine SLR Two
- Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150
- Wheels: BMC AR 27, alloy
- Tyres: Pirelli P Zero Road, 26mm
- Saddle: Fizik Argo Vento R5
- Claimed weight: 8kg (unspecified size)
- Price: $4,999 / €4,999 / CHF4,999
BMC Teammachine SLR Three
- Groupset: Shimano 105 Di2 R7150
- Wheels: BMC PRD 23, alloy
- Tyres: Pirelli P Zero Road Sport, 26mm
- Saddle: Fizik Antares R7
- Claimed weight: 8.3kg (unspecified size)
- Price: $3,999 / €3,999 / CHF3,999
BMC Teammachine SLR Four
- Groupset: Shimano 105 R7100
- Wheels: BMC PRD 23, alloy
- Tyres: Pirelli P7 Sport, 26mm
- Saddle: Fizik Antares R7
- Claimed weight: 8.5kg (unspecified size)
- Price: $2,999 / €2,999 / CHF2,999
