BMC's Roadmachine X is designed for even more adventure

Versatile Roadmachine goes aluminium and single ring

Robin Wilmott / Immediate Media

Published: June 13, 2018 at 7:00 am

The endurance-friendly Roadmachine from BMC launched in 2016 as a versatile all carbon-fibre road bike, with up to 30mm tyres and disc brakes and a plush ride quality with superb integration.

For 2018, BMC has engineered more adventure in to the Roadmachine’s DNA and designed the new Roadmachine X.

BMC’s hydroformed, triple-butted Premium Aluminium Smoothweld frame and Roadmachine X carbon fork utilise the company’s Tuned Compliance Concept (TCC) Endurance system to maximise vertical compliance, control and rider comfort, particularly off road.

SRAM Rival 1x gearing and hydraulic discs add capability - Robin Wilmott / Immediate Media

Aimed at riders looking to mix up tarmac, gravel and dirt on daily rides, commutes or exploratory adventures, the Roadmachine X comes with mounts for a rear rack and hidden fenders, and a maximum inflated tyre width of 34mm, or 30mm with fenders.

Claimed weight for a 54cm frame is 1,270g, and an uncut fork is 420g.

The Roadmachine's frame contains multiple different hydroformed, triple-butted tube profiles - Robin Wilmott / Immediate Media

BMC Roadmachine collection

BMC says the new bike completes the Roadmachine collection and, on paper, its features suggest the potential for fun and versatility on rides as far away from tarmac as you’re willing to go.

There’s neat internal cabling and a SRAM Rival 1x groupset with 40-tooth chain ring and SRAM Apex 11-42 cassette, plus an integrated chain guide and hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors.

The Premium Carbon fork's tyre clearance with 34mm rubber - Robin Wilmott / Immediate Media

Mavic’s Allroad Disc tubeless wheelset is wide, shallow and rugged, and shod as standard with WTB Exposure 34mm tyres. Bikes will be supplied with inner tubes fitted, but tubeless valves are included. We weighed our 54cm example, complete with a bottle cage, at 9.31kg.

At the moment, the Roadmachine X is only a single model, and comes in six sizes, 47/51/54/56/58/61cm. Geometry varies a little across the sizes, but our 54cm bike pictured here has a 172mm head tube, 73.5-degree seat angle and 71.5-degree head angle.

SRAM Rival crank with 40t ring and integrated chain guide - Robin Wilmott / Immediate Media

The rear end is kept responsive with 420mm chainstays, while the front centre is 607mm with a 1,016mm wheelbase and 71mm bottom bracket drop — all aimed at maximising stability without compromising handling agility.

Bikes are expected to be in stores in September, and for now, we only have prices in US dollars, euros and Swiss francs: $2,299 / €2,199 / CHF2,399.