Within a cycling market filled with brands with an extensive portfolio of bicycles, materials, and finishes, we find companies like BMC that have managed to define their DNA and remain true to their racing spirit.

The Swiss brand now presents its new generation of the well-known Teammachine SLR 01, a bike designed to be a true climber, without sacrificing high performance.

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to test firsthand what BMC proudly presented to us as a great work of design and innovation.

Perfect balance between stiffness and lightness

The BMC team’s presentation was straightforward, making it clear from the start, with a well-deserved headline, that the new Teammachine SLR 01 is lighter, more aerodynamic, and faster than its predecessor. Following this comparative line, they explained how they managed to reduce the weight by an astonishing 16% (for a painted frameset in size 54) and graphically illustrated everything they would have to eliminate from a previous-generation frame to match the weight of the new SLR 01. Without a doubt, they impressed us with the demonstration.

This 222-gram reduction isn’t just about achieving a truly lightweight bike designed for climbing. The effort to lighten the frameset has always been guided by a critical premise: finding a perfect balance between weight and stiffness. Based on the current Teammachine R 01 and after a great deal of work, they have achieved a very light frame without compromising the rest of the bike’s defining features, to the point that they have been able to maintain the overall stiffness values ​​offered by its previous generation or even those of the R 01 itself.

The result is a bike (complete with all accessories) weighing 6.6 kg in its SLR 01 ONE or TWO models, which are the most high-end options.

Aerodynamics and new design

BMC acknowledges that they have applied the aerodynamic learnings from the Teammachine R 01 to create what is now the new Teammachine SLR 01. Focusing on the changes, this version features a reduced volume, a more aerodynamic head tube, a redesigned fork, and a seemingly simple seatpost with notable improvements. All of this, along with the manufacturing process, tubing selection, layup, and so on, results in highly optimized aerodynamics while maintaining the spirit for which the bike was designed. If we translate all these technical notes to the performance of the Teammachine SLR 01, we find explosive acceleration, precise power transfer, and greater responsiveness.

Without neglecting the design and aesthetic aspects, in this generation, BMC innovates with a paintless design (the carbon fiber is visible) and a resized logo decoration that takes most of the space in the downtube. Of course, this is one of the points that can generate the most discussion, but we can guarantee that the moment you try the bike, the decoration takes a backseat.

Within the Teammachine SLR 01 catalog, for those who are okay with a few extra grams, we also find painted frame options in various colors.

Other aspects to consider

Among the changes and improvements introduced in this new version, we’d also like to highlight that comfort is also a consideration. Thanks to the precision-engineered carbon layup and the new Aero Shape seatpost with controlled flex, the BMC team ensures that road vibrations are dampened without hindering the ride.

Furthermore, the new fork allows for a wheel width of up to 32 mm, allowing for a good level of versatility without deviating from UCI regulations.

Their premium models offer both Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and SRAM Red AXS builds.

Andermatt approved

If there was an ideal place to test the new Teammachine SLR 01, it was undoubtedly Andermatt. The town, located in a perfect setting and surrounded by some of Switzerland’s most iconic mountain passes, would become our testing ground for a few days, allowing us to check if everything we’d been told was true.

When we received the test unit, in our case the SLR 01 TWO (Blue Carbon finish), the first thing we noticed was its weight. It was evident that the bike was light and aesthetically pleasing. But only by riding would we be able to find out the improvements.

The BMC team planned two days of pure cycling where everyone would have no trouble pushing themselves and giving it their all. Despite the unfriendly weather, we were able to enjoy the terrain thoroughly.

As for the sensations on the bike, responsiveness is one of the factors that is quickly noticeable with the first pedal strokes. During the climbs, it made you feel very comfortable, and in part, we expected it, but what really caught our attention was how it descended. At this point, we decided to explore this aspect of the bike further and went downhill to see how it handled. We always had great control of the bike, and its rigidity allowed us to tackle each corner with confidence and firmness. Honestly, we enjoyed it and were pleasantly surprised.

We spent a total of just over six hours on the new Teammachine SLR 01 over the two days. We rode through legendary mountain passes like the Furka and its iconic Hotel Belvedere, as well as other lesser-known but highly recommended ones. We rode through meadows and valleys of endless greenery and enjoyed every kilometer of that landscape.

During the lunch break on the first day, we extended our stopping time a little longer than expected and had to use up our remaining bullets in the final kilometers of the route. We couldn’t miss the train back to Andermatt, and we suffered while having fun to avoid being stranded and disrupting the rest of the day’s plans. Thanks (or not) to this incident, we were able to test the bike on other types of terrain, and despite not being a bike focused on aerodynamics, it also responded very well at fast speeds on flat terrain.

We shared some great moments with the entire BMC team, some riders from the Tudor Pro Cycling Team, including the general manager Fabian Cancellara himself, and, of course, the rest of the media who, like us, were testing the new Teammachine SLR 01. During those days, they visited us at the Radisson Hotel, which, along with the Andermatt Tourism team, welcomed us with open arms and made us feel very comfortable throughout our stay.