BMC aims to redefine endurance standard with latest Roadmachine bike

A move to larger 40mm tyre clearance has made BMC's endurance bike more versatile than ever before

15:00, Tuesday 9th April 2024

Tom Hallam-Gravells

Online Production Editor

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BMC has refined its Roadmachine endurance bikes

BMC has unveiled the long-awaited third generation of its Roadmachine, which it says will “re-set the standard” for endurance bikes.

In a case of evolution rather than revolution, the Swiss brand has refined the existing endurance formula, most notably boosting the tyre clearance to a gravel-worthy 40mm. That’s large, even by modern standards, which was BMC’s plan in an attempt to jump ahead of the curve and provide a bike that is “future-proofed”, presuming the trend for wider tyres continues in the same direction.

Adding more clearance would usually have an impact on the overall design of the frame, but BMC says that it has kept this impact to a minimum. Instead, the biggest changes to the frame have been made in the name of added comfort, such as the raised stacked height.

Anyone familiar with the existing Roadmachine range will know that it is split into multiple different tiers and the latest generation has upped the number of options to seven through the addition of the 01 AMP and 01 AMP X electric bikes. This takes the selection of e-bikes to three, along with the standard Roadmachine AMP. The mechanical range includes the all-rider Roadmachine, the premium 01, plus the gravel-ready 01 X and X.

Read more: BMC unveils all new Speedmachine in collaboration with Red Bull

Extra tyre clearance to create a “ride-anything bike”

When it was first released eight years ago, the first generation of the Roadmachine proved to be a trend-setting bike. It was a part of BMC’s plans to revolutionise the endurance category, while it also became one of the first bikes to feature integrated cabling.

While the latest generation can’t claim to be quite as revolutionary, the move to 40mm tyre clearance is out there, even by current trends. Beyond future-proofing the bike, it is a part of BMC’s attempts to make it a “ride-anything bike that redefines the one-bike collection”.

The Roadmachine can now accommodate tyres up to a 40mm width

This rounded approach is something we’ve seen brands follow a lot in recent years, but more so for their race bikes, which has led to the emergence of superbikes - think the Specialized Tarmac. Rather than having separate climbing and aero bikes, superbikes pack all of these characteristics into one package.

With the Roadmachine, BMC appears to have produced a new take on the one-bike-does-all solution, adopting it for the endurance category with a focus on functional versatility. It’s a move that makes sense, especially for amateur cyclists who need a more comfortable but versatile bike.

Read more: BMC continues partnership with Red Bull for new Teammachine R

Versatility without compromise

Adding tyre clearance can have a knock-on effect for the rest of the frame design, but BMC says that it has kept these disruptions to a minimum.

The most obvious effect would usually be a longer wheelbase, which has an impact on handling and speed. However, the wheelbase on the Roadmachine has only been extended by between one to three millimetres, depending on the frame size, according to BMC. In a world where tube length and geometry are measured in centimetres, those figures shouldn’t have an impact on the bike.

Elsewhere, the overall frame design has received some minor tweaks, all of which add to the overall endurance characteristics. The raised stack height should lead to a more relaxed geometry although, sticking to the versatility theme, BMC says that it is designed to easily be lowered.

Comfort is further enhanced by a new ICS cockpit with its suspension stem. This can provide up to 20mm of tunable suspension, which should come in handy if the 40mm clearance is taken advantage of for an off-road adventure.

The new ICS cockpit with its in-built suspension

Handling is another area that should benefit from the tweaked design. BMC points to a lower bottom bracket and what it described as “one of the shortest” rear centres around.

Many of these differences are hard to notice when looking at the bike, which still strikes a close resemblance to its predecessor, partly thanks to BMC’s continued use of the aforementioned integrated cables.

Added functionality

To fulfil its purpose as a versatile bike, the Roadmachine has received some practical upgrades too.

The integrated light is what immediately stands out, visually at least, which is housed at the rear of the seatpost.

The Roadmachine has storage built into the down tube

What is less obvious but no less useful is the addition of in-frame storage in the downtube. This isn’t a revolutionary new idea and is something we’ve seen before, especially on gravel bikes, but it is a rarer addition on road bikes. To create it, BMC has adopted an integrated bottle cage which can be removed at the twist of a dial to reveal the hidden storage solution. It’s not going to fit everything in, but is a handy addition for those who prefer to lose a frame bag for cleaner aesthetics.