 In this video I'm going to provide my first impressions on the stock 2021 BMC Team Machine SLR-O13 which is the same geometry and design of the latest 2022 models and I'm going to do this through the lens of someone who owned the previous version of the team machine before the geometry and design was upgraded in 2021 and before according to BMC the BMC team machine became 20% stiffer 9% lighter and 6% more aerodynamic so we're going to split this first impressions into four main parts number one we're going to talk about the weight of this new BMC versus the predecessor and mine had rim brakes number two the geometry and design versus the predecessor number three my riding experience first impressions and number four opportunities for improvement or what I don't like about this BMC so I'm going to keep this first impressions short and sharp because mid-year I'm going to share a full comprehensive review on this bike where I'll also share with you an interview I'm going to be having with a head product engineer at BMC and also some on-road speed tests I'll be doing on this bike but just know before we get into the first impressions I do own this BMC team machine and if you want the full story on that I'll link it up there so number one is the weight of the BMC team machine so this BMC team machine SLRO 1354 centimeter which comes in at 10500 AUD with SRAM force access 12 speed and DT Swiss spline 35 millimeter carbon disc rims which is acclaimed to weigh 7.6 kilograms on BMC's website comes in at 7.635 kilograms that's without pedals but with the BMC mount and integrated bottle cages the only difference on this bike in terms of stock is the saddle I've got a specialized tube there versus what it comes with which is a physique saddle now if we compare that weight to the predecessor at 54 centimeter with rim brakes and that's Ultegra mechanical on that bike with MV 3.4 carbon clinches we have a weight difference of 200 grams number two is the geometry and design geometry wise comparing this 54 centimeter versus its predecessor 54 centimeter we basically have the same bike with some small tweaks notably the seat tube and the head tube which were potential areas where BMC could reduce carbon fiber and therefore frame weight although the stack on the BMC which enables the rider to get more aerodynamic despite the head tube change stays exactly the same no doubt due to some other micro adjustments in geometry BMC have made with this iteration now if we look at the BMC from afar this BMC versus the predecessor they almost look identical which is unlike other brands when you compare say a specialized tarmac sl6 to the sl7 there's been some major changes there or the canondale super six their recent upgrades that was a huge or what appeared to be a huge overhaul whereas BMC have stuck to their guns which I like because they're inadvertently saying they've got a product they stand by without needing major overhauls however getting up close and personal with this BMC I can definitely see some notable modifications including the BMC team machine taking on some of the cam tail tube shapes you see on the time machine which now accommodates custom integrated bottle cages similar to its time machine companion the fork is definitely finer and looks to be one of the focal points in the new design for greater aerodynamics and the back end visually appears to be the same as the predecessor but the riding experience in the rear has definitely changed which I'll explain for you shortly aesthetically I'm a big fan of the Lamborghini orange which has a super polished integration of black into the top tube although I feel like this model is let down by the exclusion of the BMC aerodynamic handlebar system which I'll explain for you in point number four point number three is my riding experience so owning the previous model of the BMC team machine external to price I felt like there was two areas that let that bike down I was a huge fan of it but there were two things in particular that I didn't so much like number one was I felt like there was just too much softness in the back end of the BMC in fact a lot of users including myself complained of a sensation of having a flat tire when riding on harsher roads and number two I felt like the BMC was missing an edge and that edge was speed or aerodynamics while it certainly wasn't a slow bike for me getting on say a tarmac sl6 or a Cannondale super six I would instantly feel more aggressiveness more aerodynamic advantages being on those all-round race bikes over the previous BMC but can I say after riding this BMC team machine for a few weeks now any negativity I had surrounding the BMC has mostly been swallowed up by improvements you still get that soft sensation in the rear from time to time but there's definitely been some modifications there and look whether this I'll call it an enhancement has come about because of 20% more stiffness in the BMC according to BMC I assume so and I don't think you want to lose that sensation completely in terms of softness in the rear because all of a sudden you'll start to feel a lot more of the road in your lower back and BMC will lose its mantle as one of the if not the most comfortable all-round race bikes on the market so I think BMC have got the blend right in the rear of the bike now and in terms of speed and aerodynamics there is a noticeable improvement there what does noticeable mean well BMC say six percent and to me six percent more or less of anything is typically hardly noticeable but can I just say I have definitely noticed not only greater general aerodynamics but more overall aggressiveness whether that be cornering accelerating or descending no longer will I take my BMC team machine to a crit race and feel like I'm perhaps a little bit disadvantaged those competitors who are on an aero bike and in terms of road racing and general riding this bike to me just ticks so many boxes it still remains to be easily the most comfortable all-round race bike I've ever personally ridden and to add these new improvements in I can honestly say I'm super impressed external to one thing which takes us to point number four which is opportunities for improvement so the only thing I don't like about this bike is the front end yes it's the three I understand it's not the one it's not the two but it's still ten and a half thousand dollars AUD or in the US it's 7700 USD or in Europe it's 7500 euro and that's a lot of money so to have to dip out on the ICS the integrated cockpit system which is lighter it's more aerodynamic it looks more aesthetically pleasing and I'm sure a more comfortable touch point for your hands in exchange for what feels like a cheap alloy handlebar with a stem that feels a little bit flexi let's just say I'm a little bit disappointed so what I'm going to do for the full comprehensive review is I'm going to upgrade the front end of the bike to the BMC integrated cockpit system so I can share with you what impact that has to the three if you're keen to see the full comprehensive review and if you're yet to subscribe to the channel please consider doing it below and if you've gotten value out of this video today please don't forget to give it a thumbs up and I'll catch you in the next video