BMC launches new Speedmachine

We have to wait a couple more days before we’ll get an up close look at it, and much longer for a chance to ride one, but we can at least tell you about the new bike that BMC is calling the fastest triathlon bike in the world.

The bike is the result of a five-year collaboration with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, utilizing the company’s expertise in F1 cars. The end result is a bike that is said to offer excellent handling, less weight, integration and, as is a must for top triathletes, ease of packing.

Handling

“The engineers at BMC’s Impec Lab started this project with the aim of solving a problem – how to perfectly align stability, aerodynamics, fit and integration to produce the fastest bike in the world,” BMC says in the pre-release details of the bike.

With that in mind, BMC has tweaked the head tube angle, rake and trail dimensions of the bike to enhance the handling.

“The integrated hydration unit aids handling and aerodynamics, positioned low above the bottom bracket junction, with internal, easy to clean hydration tube routing, enabling the rider to stay in position and aero,” today’s release continues. “The hydration bottle is supplied in two sizes, with an easily removable 1.2L reservoir, leaving the UCI-compliant 400ml tank in position and accessible whilst tucked.” 

There’s built in rear storage and a light behind the seats tube, all integrated into the frame and designed to enhance aerodynamics.  

There’s also lots of options for base bars, extensions and stack to ensure athletes can dial in a comfortable and aero fit. BMC believes that the fit options, along with the added stability, will allow athletes to choose deeper rims, ultimately allowing them to go faster.

Formula 1 engineering

In the same way Formula 1 engineers are constantly trying to use airflow to produce downward force (think of the wings on race cars), the folks at Red Bull Advanced Technologies were able to help with tube shape design. The head tube leading edge and an airflow spoiler under the fork crown control air flow from the front wheel, which is complemented by the extra-wide fork legs.

Lighter, easy to pack

According to BMC, the new design “comprises just 20 components” which reduces the frameset weight by 500 g. You’ll only need to deal with four bolts to turn the bar assembly, and a simple vertical clamp is all that’s needed to get the seat post off, all of which makes it easy to get the Speedmachine into a bike bag for travel.

Testing

The Speedmachine has been put through its paces by members of the BMC Pro Triathlon team in Lanzarote.

“After spending a good few weeks now on the new Speedmachine you really can’t ask for more in a TT bike,” says Max Neumann, fourth in Kona last year and the winner of the PTO European Open in May. “The biggest noticeable difference from the Timemachine is how stable the Speedmachine is at speed, up climbs and in cross winds. The team at BMC have been able to strip significant weight off the Speedmachine and now it climbs like a road bike but also TT’s on the flat quicker then any bike I’ve ridden” 

Pricing

We’ll work on Canadian pricing, but here’s the European prices for the new bike.

On sale November 2023 

·       01 LTD – 16,999 EUR/USD/CHF 

·       01 TWO – 10,999 

·       01 MOD (Frameset) – 6,999