BMC Team Machine SLT 01

Price Paid:  $3800.00 at friend

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
OPH, Brooklyn

Bike Setup:
Easton EA50 handlebars, EC90 forks, Fizik saddle, Chorus grouppo, Mavik ES wheelset, Bontrager seatpost

Summary:
What a bike! This bike is so smooth and fast I can't wait for each weekend to roll around. It stays on line, climbs well and descends like an arrow. Although not the lightest bike in the world, it is so well balanced that it seems to move forward very easily.

Strengths:
Beautiful finish, eye catching, gets lots of comments and is strong.

Weaknesses:
Internal cabling sometimes rattles over rough roads, which can be a little disconcerting if you are not used to it. Buying new, it is quite expensive.

Similar Products Used:
This is only my second road bike - first was a Giant TCR 1 - aluminium, carbon forks so can't really compare it on similar grounds. I also can't knock the giant for a great all round entry level bike.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Kaos Customcycles

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
The next one

Bike Setup:
Red, White black frame, Easton EC90 fork
Full Dura ace,
Easton bars, stem, post
Mavic Kysirium Elites

Summary:
The BMC SLT 01 caught my eye is various mags etc and when I saw one at a shop I was very impresssed. Unfortunately I ended up buying a TCR CO, based on a really good deal with full Dura ace etc. I'd come from an Avanti Giro frame (Alloy/Carbon) with Open pros and 105, which was my first road bike. (Have been mountainbiking for 10+yrs). What a let down. The Giant was poor handling, flexy and uncomfortable for my body even after multiple fittings (I'm 5'9.). Fortuntely I spoke with Kaos, who built up the SLT with the giant part set, and now I really know what a good bike should be like. Given my mountainbiking I know what handles etc and this bike just nails it. The first thing I noticed was the stiffness. If you have a look at an SLT, the downtube is nearly as wide as the bottom bracket. What this results in is a frame that just transfers all power and is super solid. Equally on course roads (very common in Oz) it just dampens vibration. Bigger bumps are felt but the thing just tracks perfectly straight through them. It's interesting sitting on someone's wheel, and they hit a bump and you watch the whole thing shudder, whilst the SLT just rolls straight through (For the skiers out there it's like a great GS ski through crud). Up hill the stiffness means you're nice and efficent. Downhill it's super stable and just inspires confidence. It corners superbly, is smooth and suffers no wobbles whatsoever (unlike the TCR which was scary). This is one of those bikes that goes where it's pointed. You can take your hands off the bars, go round corners, pedal up hill etc all by just leaning. Not recommended, but a good measure of stability.
A special mention should go for the Easton fork which is fabulous and super stiff. With this frame/fork combo my wheels actualy feel noticably stiffer and more acurate due to the frame/fork combined rigidity.
The look. This is personal, but I love it, especially the harder edges etc. In todays trend of 'organic' flowing tubes and joints, the SLT stands out as a bit unique and the build quality is fabulous. Finally the $, well it's not cheap but in Oz is significantly cheaper than many of the well known euro brands. Overall I've a full bike with dura ace etc for approx $5K which is less than many.
Fitting wise they come in 2cm increments and fairly traditional geomentry (slightly sloping top tube), so will fit most people. I note that some reviews said sizing is big but I've the 53cm with 550mm top tube. Normally I'd ride a 52-54, so this appears fairly normal.
Overall a fabulous bike.
Cheers.

Strengths:
Smooth
Super stiff
Handlng
Looks
Uniqeness
Build quality

Weaknesses:
Not as light as the lightest frames out there, but we are talking mere grams.

Similar Products Used:
Avanti Giro (local Aus/NZ brand)
Giant TCR C0
Time VXR

Price Paid:  $0.00

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in SF, or at home in NZ when it's sunny

Bike Setup:
Fizik saddle (funny looking but oh so comfy)
Easton carbon post
Kestral carbon EMS bars
Hed Alps
Dura Ace 10 (it works, but it's just not Record...)
Fizik microtex bar tape (so nice!)
Ugly cannondale stem
Michelin Pro race tyres
Size 55 - feels bigger though.

Summary:
Had this frame kicking around for a while, looked kind of uncool, so put off building it. Had Record on it, but I wanted a training bike that I wouldn't feel guilty riding in the rain, so I put 10 speed Dura Ace on it. Totally exceeds my expectations, light, fast, stiff, comfortable. Holds a line well, even when bumpy. Climbs very well. I have several other bikes, but this one has lived in the living room for months now, and it's always the one I pick to ride or to take away with me.

I bought it in the EPO colours (Phonak), wanted to make a statement about drug cheats not affecting my love of my sport.

Strengths:
Climbs really well, looks kind of cool (well, it grows on you), starts conversations, gets me up hill better than someone of my fitness level has a right to climb. Handles well, descending is cool, just leaves everyone else for dead.

Weaknesses:
Cables can make noise inside the frame over our terrible roads. All my cycling gear clashes with the Phonak colours... How cool would it look with glossy black with candy tangerine flames on it...

Similar Products Used:
Own Merlin (record), Caad8 R5000 (record), Cinelli Aliante (Chorus), Scott Plasma (DA10). Think I'm going to swap the DA 10 for Record...

Price Paid:  $2900.00 at Roadbikereview.com C

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Lake Washington Loop

Bike Setup:
Easton EC90 SLX Fork
Dura-Ace 10
FSA K-Force Bars and Post
Mavic Ksyrium Elite Wheelset
Look KEO Carbon Pedals

Summary:
This bike is light, and monster fast. The carbon absorbs numbing vibrations nicely but doesn't mute out all of the bumps. The frame construction and design is incredible and is as solid as a rock. I am 6’0” and weigh in at 190 lbs and ride hard. The original bike came with DTSwiss 240’s which proved too light and I tore them up, but I can’t flex the BB. I replaced the wheels with Ksyrium Elites that are a little more appropriate for my build and riding style. The added weight is minimal, but the bike is already so light it seems to float.
The handling is rock solid, too. Pick a line and the bike stays on it and never waivers. Uphill, the tracking is consistent and power transfer is efficient and steady. As for acceleration – just mash on the pedals and the bike seems to leap forward.

Strengths:
Stability, Speed, Stiffness, Weight, Looks. Love the naked black finish and internal cable routing

Weaknesses:
You can’t sneak around any more because the finish and unique construction warrant comments from everyone.

Similar Products Used:
GT 4000, Trek 2300, Klein

Price Paid:  $3700.00

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
15% grade and up

Bike Setup:
Easton EC90 SLX Fork
Dura-Ace 10
FSA K-Force Bars and Post
Speedplay Zero Pedals
Specialized Toupe Saddle

Summary:
OMFG This is the bike of my dreams. It is light, comfy, stiff, and extremely fast. The carbon absorbs numbing vibrations nicely but the lugs keep everything really stiff and quick. The road doesn't feel muted like with other full carbon bikes I've demoed. The build quality is incredible making for a frame that is a work of art. At 6'5" and 210 I can flex most anything, but this bike always feels "real". It is ridiculously light and I always smile when I lift it. My bike built up with Dura-Ace, Easton, and Fulcrum racing wheels weighs in at a barely legal 15.5 lbs. It's the ideal bike to help you pick up chicks.

Strengths:
Speed, stiffness, weight, looks.

Makes a rider more visible because they will be riding at the front of the peloton.

Weaknesses:
I can't stop looking at it.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Allez Elite Double
Specialized Allez Sport