Competitive Cyclist

BMC PRO MACHINE SLC 01

The first thing that hits you about the Pro Machine SLC 01 is how gorgeous it is as pure sculpture -- it's possibly the most artful carbon bike we've ever seen. The whole frame is carbon -- dropouts, headset cups, seat collar, everything (well, except the BB shell, which by necessity has to be alloy). BMC pulled this off by working with Easton to utilize their CNT nanotechnology carbon manufacturing techniques. Nanotechnology specifically addresses the fact that the weak link in carbon fiber frames isn't the carbon itself. It's the resin matrix (think of it as the glue that holds the carbon layers together) that has potential vulnerabilities. CNT is short for "Carbon Nanotubes", and it's the process of adding microscopically small carbon tubes to the resin to give it entirely new material properties.

It's reasonable to be curious about carbon fiber's ability to resist impact forces (i.e. how well the downtube can withstand the impact when you mis-time a bunny hop over a railroad bed or manhole cover at 30mph+). And it's reasonable to be curious about its ability to resist crushing forces (i.e. when you tighten a skewer on carbon dropouts or tighten your headset when the bearing cups are carbon). While the carbon fiber used in the Pro Machine is no different than what BMC uses in the Team Machine, CNT nanotechnology strengthens the resin matrix to such an extent that BMC deems the Pro Machine "the safest, most durable carbon bike on the market." Given that it weighs sub-1000g in size 55cm, that's an impressive statement.

The Pro Machine is built using lugged construction. But in comparison to Team Machine SLT 01 (BMC's carbon/aluminum lugged frame) the logic behind the Pro Machine's lugwork is completely new: The lugs are perhaps the longest you'll ever see on a carbon frame. Why? Because the tube/lug interfaces aren't located at the highly stressed tube junctures. Instead BMC positions them in relatively low stress areas -- exactly where you'd see the wall thickness of a butted tube transition from thick to thin. This holds true for every lug on the frame. It maximizes the strength of the frame while allowing for the main tubes of the frame to be built with absolute lightness.

Another detail we love is the redesigned seat tube and Integrated Skeleton seat cluster. It improves the shock damping effect of the Pro Machine while (yet again) shaving every gram possible. One other eye-catching detail is the mammoth chainstay profile -- they're breathtaking tallness is one final measure to increase frame stiffness. It's in these areas (which have great structural import) that the BMC is most beautiful to behold. Artful indeed.

The Pro Machine is available in odd sizes between 47cm-61cm with a progressively sloping geometry. On smaller sizes where added standover clearance is needed most the slope of the top tube is at its greatest. On the medium sizes the slope is moderate. On the largest sizes there is virtually no slope at all. This being the case, we recommend that you focus first and foremost on top tube length when selecting frame size.

The Pro Machine comes with an Easton EC90 SLX full carbon fork, and FSA integrated headset, and an Easton EC70 full carbon seatpost. It requires the use of a 35.0mm front derailleur and an English bottom bracket. It is offered in two colors for 2009: Black/White, and Black/Red.

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2009 BMC Pro Machine SLC 01 Pricing