BMC’s all-new lighter, “faster” Teammachine SLR 01 climbing bike narrows aero performance gap: here are our first ride impressions

BMC has redesigned its lightweight climbing bike, the Teammachine SLR 01, for 2026. Now in its fifth generation, the frame has lost 222g in weight compared to the fourth iteration but without any reduction in stiffness, according to BMC. 

Although it’s an out-and-out climbing bike designed for racing at altitude, BMC was also keen to optimise the Teammachine SLR 01’s aerodynamics, the new generation bike closing the gap to the brand’s aero racer, the Teammachine R 01. 

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I was at the launch ahead of the Eurobike show in Frankfurt, so was able to put these claims to the test on some rolling German roads. 

What’s new?

The Teammachine SLR 01 Gen 5 remains a lightweight climbing bike. In fact, it’s the lightest it’s ever been – 16% lighter then Gen 4, according to BMC. Sadly I didn’t have scales on me at the launch to really test these claims, but given the detail the brand went into about paint, and the decision to use decal stickers instead of painting them on to save weight, would suggest there is some truth in these figures. 

The frame geometry remains the same, but the overall shape has been refined. The tubing is slimmer overall, and the carbon layup has been altered. Things like the edges have been smoothed to save material accumulation in sharp edges, which in turn means the frame weighs less. 

The new forks are able to accept tyres up to 32mm, although the trail measurement of 63 degrees is optimised for 26mm tyres and 700C wheels. It’s not quite as wide as the Teammachine R 01 forks, or that Factor bike that’s currently under some UCI scrutiny – but when weight is the biggest factor, wider tyres just won’t cut it. 

Aerodynamics

Although it’s a climbing bike designed for alpine racing, everyone knows by now that aerodynamics still plays a big part in race performance. So, BMC has taken inspiration from the Teammachine R 01 (its aero race bike) and reduced the frontal area of the SLR 01, as well redesigning the fork with a slimmer profile. The tubing size has also been reduced, as has the weight of the seatpost, and there are proprietary bottle cages that fit flush with the tubes to boost the aerodynamics further. 

Compliance is also a big part of the BMC ethos, and it’s what makes a bike nice to ride. You can create the fastest bike in the world, but most normal riders won’t want to buy it if they can feel every pothole through their teeth. 

The geometry and carbon layup go a long way to creating a stable, and intuitive ride feel, and BMC has also adapted the shape of the aero seat post to keep some flex and absorb road vibrations. 

There are four fully built models available, with prices ranging between €8,499 and €12,999. The flagship model, the SLR 01 ONE, weighs a claimed 6.6kg – and is the bike we test rode during the launch. 

There are also several frame-only options, with vibrant colours a little out of the usual BMC wheelhouse to choose from. The brand is also offering a super minimalist paint scheme called Lightweight Carbon VAR0, which does not come with a lacquer clear coat to keep the weight down. 

We have it on good authority it will be launched in the UK soon, with BMC telling us the UK is a “priority” market. So, while we don’t have exact prices just yet, we know they will be similar to the Euro pricing. 

But how did it actually ride? I was travelling to Frankfurt for a certain huge annual bike expo called Eurobike, but attended BMC’s launch of this bike en route to ride the new Teammachine SLR 01…

First ride impressions

Cruising around Frankfurt isn’t the best showcase of a bike’s capabilities, unless of course it’s a city bike. But the new BMC Teammachine SLR 01 is anything but that. 

Setting sail from a swanky location (yes, there is such a thing in Frankfurt) we set out to conquer a few decent climbs on some serenely laid tarmac to get a better feel of the bike. 

And that, I did. The first thing I noticed was just how stiff it is, although this certainly didn’t make the ride harsh. I think there can be a misconception about how premium racing bikes ride, in that they have an image of fast = uncomfortable. But I don’t think that needs to be the case.

Sure, tyres, pressures and contact points all make a huge difference to the overall ride comfort of a bike, but so do other elements of the design. And I’m a firm believer that you can’t out-accessorise a harsh bike. 

So it’s stiff. That’s my point. But it’s also not uncomfortable. Second point made. The power transfer when you open up a sprint is super smooth, and even with a setup that isn’t 100% ideal (wider bars than normal, longer cranks etc.) I still felt the benefit of the brilliant BMC design. 

Climbing was a dream. A painful, nightmarish dream in 30° German heat with a bunch of much fitter journalists, but even as I wallowed in my private little pain cave, I still enjoyed how the bike felt on the climbs. 

Then it came to the descents. Since really turning my hand to mountain biking, I’ve learned to love the chance to really open up speed on a road bike and push it to its limits. The BMC did not disappoint. I’m already a user of Pirelli P Zero tyres, so I knew what to expect when it came to “the limit”, but cornering at some speed I never felt uncomfortable – that’s likely down to the predictable handling this bike offers. 

It feels planted, and I bet if I was on a better fitting version I’d have been really confident to show off my non-existent Tom Pidcock skills. 

So overall, does the Teammachine SLR 01 do what it claims to? In the 70km ride I’ve used it on, yes. The acceleration is almost unmatched in a climbing bike, and it’s super comfortable – although smooth German roads are unlikely to compare to the rough, pothole-laden lanes of North Yorkshire. 

Hopefully BMC manages to sort out a deal with a distributor in the UK soon. I know Brexit has caused issues for many a bike brand, but with a HQ in Switzerland, well, hopefully it won’t be too difficult to figure out. 

bmc-switzerland.com