- 10 Pinkbike points
for whoever could come up with the best acronym
for what BMC stands for.
Sarah, do you know what it actually stands for?
They're not very creative over there.
- Bike Manufacturing Company.
We thought it would be something a little more exciting.
So if you have something more exciting than that,
let us know.
They'll probably change it based on Pinkbike comments.
- I don't think that's what they're gonna do.
(Sarah laughs)
(upbeat techno music)
- Hey everyone.
My name is Sarah Moore and we're here on the sunshine coast
for another Value Bikes Field Trip review.
With me here is BMCs Two-Stroke aluminum
which retails for $1,600.
We're testing it in the hardtail category.
BMC has had some of the fastest cross-country racers
on their bikes in years past.
Including two time Olympic gold medalist, Julien Absalon
and now they just signed current world champion
Pauline Ferrand- Prevot.
So we were pretty excited to see
how this racy hardtail
stacked up against the rest of the value bikes.
This bike looks fast, just standing still.
BMC says it's for setting personal records on uphills
and for tearing around your local cross-country track.
Frame details include internal cable routing
which contributes to that sleek look.
And there's also a threaded bottom bracket.
It comes in sizes small, through extra large,
all with 29 inch wheels.
None of those bikes come with dropper posts
which does save costs,
but it's also not uncommon for a cross-country bike,
not to come with a dropper post.
Some of those $10,000 bikes, the Trek Supercaliber,
the Cannondale Scalpel
that I tested in the cross-country field test,
also didn't come with dropper posts.
This bike comes with that slam stem and no headset spacers,
which will definitely appeal to that cross-country racer.
You're not gonna be doing any bar spins
with this bike.
For one it's a cross-country bike,
for two there's an integrated fork stopper,
which means that your handlebars
are not gonna spin further than 90 degrees.
Let's move on to geometry.
With a 67 degree head tube angle
and a 75 degrees seat to angle,
it might not sound that aggressive
if we're comparing it to the other trail bikes
in this category.
But if we look at the cross-country bikes
that we had at the last field test,
it's actually half a degree slacker,
than that specialized Epic,
that we said was the most modern geometry of them all.
There are two aluminum versions of the two-stroke
with prices starting at $1,200.
If you want a carbon version, there are four to choose from,
with prices starting at 2,200 U.S. dollars.
Our test bike here is the BMC Two-stroke AL One.
It comes with a Rock Shox Recon, hundred millimeter fork
with a bar mounted lockout.
It has a SRAM NX, SX mixed drivetrain,
Shimano Deore brakes, and Vittoria Barzo tires,
in a 2.25 width.
It retails for 1,600 U.S. dollars
and weighs in at 27 pounds, 12 ounces.
That's enough for the details.
Let's get into what you really wanna know,
how it rides out on the trails.
(gentle music)
- Before we hit the trails,
what do you gotta do to this bike?
- So you set up the Rock Shox fork,
according to the numbers in their Trailhead app.
So handy app they've got, you can use there.
And then we set up the tires with 21, 23 PSI
just like we did on all the other bikes.
- I do have one question though.
So that BMC here, it arrived with the stem
absolutely slammed and no headset spacer.
So if you wanted the handlebars higher,
you-
- Don't have any options.
Just do your yoga.
If you want to ride this bike.
- Oh boy.
(Mike laughs)
(gentle music)
- All right, Sarah.
So BMC bills this thing
as an entry level, cross-country hardtail.
So obviously it's gotta be good on the climbs.
I mean, it looks fast just sitting there.
What's the deal?
- Yeah, it definitely looks like the fastest bike
of all the hardtails, I would say.
And you know, it's not just looks,
it actually climbs really well.
And you know it seems silly to say,
but it's the most efficient
of the hardtails on the climbs.
- I don't think that's silly though.
So obviously it doesn't have rear suspension
so it's gonna feel quick that way,
but the position that it puts you in
I think that's what you're more referring to,
the position that it puts you in,
sort of encourages you to pedal hard.
I was behind her.
So I know this.
- Yeah. So when you're in that kind of just low position,
that long stem,
it really just you want to, push on the pedals, you know
and it makes easy work of, you know, smooth grapple climbs.
It makes easy work of, you know,
twists in your single track.
And even with that long stem,
the steering is still precise and it just wants to climb.
You know, it makes climbing an enjoyable thing to do.
- So Sarah, you've been jumping back and forth
between that BMC and that Vitus.
They're very different bikes,
made for very different things, to be fair.
But tell me how the two ride,
on the single track when it gets a little tighter
and a little slower.
- Yeah. I mean, you might look at them and be like,
you know hardtailed is one,
how can one feel better than the other one?
And it's that geometry on that BMC
that's just more aggressive
and it's just, you want to push on the pedals
when you're, when you're on that bike.
And it's funny when you switch back and forth
between the Vitus and the BMC,
the Vitus feels so upright.
Like you almost, I was joking when we were riding it.
Like, it feels like I'm on a hybrid suddenly.
- Your adjustable stem was up too high.
- Yeah. I had to lower the stem, you know
- Lower it down a little bit.
- So yeah that's a more traditional kind of feeling bike
whereas the BMC just feels a bit,
definitely a lot more aggressive.
(gentle music)
- All right.
So the BMC is obviously a cross-country focused hardtail.
Cross-country races still go down the hills
and cross-country races can still be won or lost
on the descents, for sure.
So what is the BMC like on the way back down?
- It's a more traditional feeling bike,
even if it does have,
you know, pretty progressive cross-country numbers
- For cross-country, it's a 67, 67 degree head angle
on the front of that thing.
I mean, I've ridden a lot of older cross-country bikes,
that were just like downright scary.
- Even that Canyon Lux that we were riding,
it had a 70 degree head tube angle.
So that's like a significant difference.
And it's great to see that on a value oriented bike.
- Yeah. So I think what we're trying to say here
is that yeah, obviously the Growler
is more capable on the descents,
the Fluid and the Vitus-
- It's not even a fair comparison.
- It's not apples to apples comparison.
- Yeah. So handling wise,
this bike if it had a dropper post on it,
it would be a really confident descender
for a cross-country bike.
- But it sounds like what you're saying is,
that if this thing had a dropper post,
it's not the geometry that's holding the BMC back
on the descents is it ?
Which if we're talking cross-country bikes,
I mean that's a notable thing, right?
- Yeah. And it's, you know, it's definitely gonna be
more tiring than those full suspension bikes
that we were testing on the downhills.
And you've gotta choose your lines more carefully.
If you're on a hard tail, you're more likely to be,
you know, kicked offline,
but for what it is-
- Speak for yourself Sarah.
I wasn't having that problem on the Growler everybody.
(laughs)
But if we're just talking cross-country bikes,
I mean it's a capable descender for what it is,
rear suspension or not.
Okay, Sarah, let's wrap up the descending section
with the BMC
and remembering this thing as an entry-level,
cross-country race bike.
What are your final thoughts about this thing?
- You know what,
if you're coming from an older cross-country bike
and you upgrade to this thing,
it's gonna be a significant difference.
Like it is definitely a cross-country bike
that handles really well on the descents.
And it's not fair to compare it to a Rocky Mountain Growler,
or that kind of thing.
It's a lot more efficient on the climbs
and that's what you're gonna get on the downhills.
(gentle music)
- Okay. Let's move on to components
and let's start with the stuff you liked first, Sarah.
- I really liked that Rock Shox recon fork,
100 millimeters of travel, but it works really well.
And it also has a bar mounted, lockout.
- Everybody out there right now saying,
"Lockout on the handlebar"?
You don't need that, but-
- For the intended use, I think it makes sense,
that you would want to be at a cross-country race
and lock out your fork.
You want to be efficient.
- Right. Exactly.
So what are some other things
about this bike component wise, that makes sense.
- I think those tires make sense,
you know, it's fast rolling.
You definitely feel that on the climbs,
you don't need a wider tire on this kind of bike.
- Okay. Let's talk about the stuff
that you didn't like now, component wise, what was it?
- You know, it's got a mix of SX and NX,
which it works well,
but it's not as good as that Deore 12 speed
and the ergonomics of how the shifter works,
it's just not as easy
when it's paired with those Shimano brakes.
- Yeah. That's the thing here.
Those ,that shifter, it's right up against the Shimano brake
and it is kinds hard to reach, isn't it?
Yeah. And that's something that I remember
from the last Value Field Trip that we did.
Ergonomics, I mean, if you're buying an entry-level bike,
you're not getting any,
so it's a little bit hard to compare the BMC
to the other hardtails
'cause it's not exactly apples to apples, is it Sarah?
The BMC has very different intentions
than those other bikes.
But, that said,
it's still the second most expensive hardtail of the bunch
and it doesn't come with the dropper post.
So-
- Yeah, it doesn't come with a dropper post.
So if you're gonna add one of those,
that'll be at least $200.
And then the other thing that, you know,
if we compare it to the other bikes,
it has that SX, NX drivetrain
which doesn't have as good ergonomics
and doesn't have as good shifting
compared to some of those other bikes
that come with 11 or 12 speed Deore drivetrains.
- Yeah. It's just, it works.
It does the job and there's no reason to change it,
if it's working just fine.
But I mean, there's no arguing
that that stuff doesn't feel nearly as refined,
especially when you're shifting under power,
which I mean it's an entry level
cross-country, race bikes.
- So you're probably shifting, under power.
- Exactly. Yeah.
(gentle music)
- I think this is a great entry level, cross-country bike,
for somebody who's just getting into racing.
It's gonna be a good choice, not too expensive
and you can kind of get that good geometry,
without breaking the bank.
- Yeah. And I think that's the biggest plus to this thing
is that it uses pretty progressive
cross-country focused geometry.
And I know these numbers,
they don't look that great on paper,
but for a cross-country race bike,
it's definitely on the more progressive side.
So for the price of the bike,
you're getting some definitely,
some forward thinking geometry.
- And the other pro
is just like how amazing it feels on the climb.
It's, you know, super efficient, aggressive position,
fast rolling tires.
- Bye Sarah, I'll see you at the top
and just wait for me up there.
(gentle music)
- But if we get into the cons,
I mean that feel on the descent.
It's not going to be as, you know,
you're not gonna be going as fast on the descents
compared to another trail bike.
- That's a given though.
- Yeah. I mean, it's still a con though.
- It' still a con, for sure.
But I think a lot of the bikes potential could be unlocked,
if you just put the damn dropper post on the bike.
- Definitely, If you want to go fast on the descents,
you'll want to upgrade to a dropper post.
- Yeah.
The other thing we should probably mention Sarah,
well this frame has a lot of really neat features.
I think it's the best looking bike here.
It doesn't come with much in the way of frame protection,
so you'll need to add some like yourself.
(gentle music)
Okay. It's time to wrap it up here with this BMC.
Sarah, what did you think?
What are your closing thoughts about this thing?
- Well, BMC touts this bike as being a bike
that you're gonna want to go chase some uphill records on,
go to your local cross country races.
And I'd say they're spot on.
That's exactly what I would, you know,
recommend this bike to a friend,
if they were wanting to get into cross country racing,
without breaking the bank.
And it has good geometry numbers, just add that dropper post
and you can ride any cross country race
and get to the top really fast
with that bar mountain lockout.
- So it sounds like for $1,600,
it's a pretty decent entry level, cross-country, race bike.
All right.
So that is it for the BMC Two-Stroke AL One.
Stay tuned for way more videos and round table discussions.
We're gonna talk about how these bikes performed
and compare them even more.
Make sure to like and subscribe
and we'll see you in the next video.
(gentle music)