Whereas the vast majority of my using over time has been on the highway, I’ve at all times owned a mountain bike to sometimes dabble within the dust and now, I not even personal a highway bike, the place I as an alternative alternate between my gravel bike and mountain bike.
Having labored in bike retailers as a mechanic for 14 years in a former life and been a professional highway rider for a number of years, I used to be actually excited to crack open the bike field that was delivered to my home. They supplied to ship it to an area BMC seller to assemble and I may decide it up able to roll, however I used to be fired as much as take this on.
Whereas there was really not all that a lot to do, aside from take away the packaging, bolt on the handlebar, entrance wheel and naturally set up my very own pedals, it was enjoyable to go over the bike and uncover all of the ins and outs, notably the SRAM XO Eagle digital drivetrain, my first expertise with digital shifting (effectively, apart from Mavic ZAP in 1994 on a teammate’s bike).
My preliminary impressions of the Fourstroke 01 ONE had been of amazement, particularly the burden of the bike, the construct high quality, componentry, the graceful strains and class of the Premium Carbon body, adn the synced distant suspension lockout/adjusting. The bike simply screams XC velocity and effectivity!
The Fourstroke is a cross nation bike with trendy geometry for good dealing with, coupled with superior pedaling effectivity and energy switch.
The Fourstroke line is available in many alternative flavors and spans a variety of value factors from lower than $5,000 to over $13,000 relying on how they’re specced out: componentry, wheelsets, Autodrop or not and it’s even is offered in a LT mannequin (lengthy journey) that gives 120mm of journey vs. 100mm on the entire others.
The Fourstroke 01 line options the built-in Autodrop put up, whereas the remainder of the Fourstroke line makes use of a standard dropper put up, however in any other case has the identical body and 100mm journey spec.
Body:
BMC makes use of what they name Premium Carbon for the Fourstroke body and the 01 particularly options their new proprietary Autodrop expertise, using an air canister situated inside the body that’s charged/inflated with a traditional ground pump.
The Autodrop put up is 2 stage and is activated by a thumb lever on the bar, offering 80mm of drop and the complete put up might be adjusted generously up/down with a 4mm allen bolt in the midst of the seat tube on the drive facet. The air element permits the put up to drop with out the rider having to be sitting on the saddle to weigh it down, as you will need to on a standard dropper put up.
I’ve a standard dropper put up by myself mountain bike (Specialised Epic Carbon hardtail) and that put up is infinitely adjustable inside the full vary of the drop between the excessive to low positions.
The Autodrop nevertheless as I discussed above is 2 stage, which means it’s both all the way in which up, or all the way in which down. Whereas the Autodrop is helpful, I query whether or not the advantages outweigh the flexibility to regulate infinitely all through the vary of the drop. The vast majority of my using is with the put up on the highest setting, however that highest setting isn’t all the way in which up as excessive as I’d on my Specialised with the normal dropper put up.
I discovered that I have to discover a compromise max peak with the Autodrop. When the path will get past reasonably technical, I’ll drop the put up all the way in which down, however that’s for my part too far down for all however essentially the most excessive circumstances, the place I could in any other case solely need to decrease my put up simply half manner down. In brief, there are various causes that one could need to have their saddle at any peak inside vary vs. simply two positions.
The cables are in fact internally routed and enter the body on both facet of the pinnacle tube, showing to have an environment friendly line of routing (although I’ve not had the necessity to change any cables or brake hose, so can not converse to the benefit of routing).
The body has actually trendy and stylish strains and I particularly wish to admire the downtube, which could be very thick and substantial trying, which in look not less than, belies the distinctive mild weight of the bike.
Suspension:
The RockShox SID Final fork mixed with RockShox SIDLUXE Final supplies 100mm of journey entrance and rear and is managed by “grip shift” lever mounted to the left facet of the handlebar, so the suspension can immediately be toggled from full 100mm of journey, to a center setting, to locked out.
The moment suspension adjustability is is a serious spotlight of the Fourstroke for me, as it’s particularly handy and efficient to have the ability to shortly and instantaneously make this adjustment on the fly.
On clean climbs particularly, or any extra buffed out terrain, dust roads, paths, and many others… I hold the suspension locked out. If reasonably technical, I’ll hold it within the mid setting to offer some journey to clean out the journey after which in fact, then the path will get extra technical and particularly on tough downhills, I open it as much as the complete 100mm of journey.
BMC’s APS Suspension System incorporates a twin hyperlink design that maximizes pedaling effectivity (with out “bobbing” up and down, but supplies a really clean and efficient journey motion to eat up the bumps, belying the 100mm journey spec which looks like extra.
Elements:
The Fourstroke 01 ONE is exceptionally effectively specced, that includes a SRAM XO Eagle 1×12 digital drivetrain. The chainring is a 34 tooth and cassette is a 10-52 and provides a pleasant wide selection, although like several 1 x, can get fairly spun out on increased velocity descents.
The crankset could be very mild and stiff, making for very environment friendly pedaling. The dimensions medium bike that I’m using comes specced with a crank size of 170, which appears to work effectively for normal path use, however with an extended inseam (34.75”), I’d seemingly commerce out for a 175 if I owned this bike.
The digital shifting is exceptionally clean, optimistic and correct, and stayed in good adjustment.
The rear derailleur is powered by a battery that pops off and plugs right into a separate included charger and lasts a surprisingly very long time (a number of hundred miles/~1 month) earlier than I felt I ought to cost it (you’ll be able to see the battery stage for the rear derailleur and the AXS shift pod within the SRAM AXS app). The rear derailleur and AXS shift pod talk wirelessly, making it very easy, clear and streamlined.
The SRAM Stage Final hydraulic disc brakes are exceptionally efficient and simple to function, the place on lengthy downhills, I admire the simple braking that I can function with only a single index finger.
The DT Swiss Carbon wheelset is tubeless prepared and tremendous mild with little or no rotating weight, not solely lightening the bike, however making for a really responsive really feel when climbing and accelerating.
The carbon rims additionally assist contribute to a clean journey and up to now have confirmed to be fairly sturdy.
The two.35 width Vittoria Mezcal tires work very well on the paths right here in Colorado, offering excellent grip on clean dust, unfastened dust climbs, unfastened descents and largely dry situations.
The BMC stem is very nice and durable with a BMC 760mm carbon bar that’s actually mild.
The carbon bar feels sturdy sufficient for normal XC use with none undesirable flex.
The left facet of the bar subsequent to the grip is fairly crowded, with the Autodrop thumb lever, “grip shifter” to regulate the suspension and the brake lever, which might be tough to regulate and I usually rake my hand on the Autodrop lever when rotating the suspension adjustment.
Efficiency –
For sure, efficiency right here is nearly as good because it will get. That is an exceptionally excessive finish cross nation race bike that can fulfill essentially the most critical professional or leisure rider out of the field (apart from attainable saddle swap and changing to tubeless in fact).
BMC managed to create a motorbike that seamlessly merges the most effective of each worlds, the light-weight and stiffness of a carbon hardtail for extremely environment friendly climbing, with the graceful journey of a full suspension bike. When on an extended climb and I lock out the suspension, the Fourstroke feels very quick, mild and environment friendly, with very low rolling resistance.
I really feel as if I can push my hardest with out feeling like I’m overcoming attempting to maneuver extra weight and mass up the hill, in whole synchrony and unison with the bike.
I’ve by no means been a talented downhill mountain biker, however I’ve grow to be very assured on this bike, because the dealing with and geometry is so responsive, but concurrently steady and predictable.
The 100mm entrance and rear suspension is simply sufficient for my tastes and using type, using quick on smoother to reasonably technical trails and could be very environment friendly actually smoothing out the terrain with minimal bounce or jolting.
Sizing/match/geometry:
I’m 5’9” and appear to at all times journey the road between sizes medium and huge. As I’m constructed fairly disproportionate, sizing for me has at all times been a contact tough although, being 5’9” and having a 34.75” inseam, I I believe the medium works for me nice and I can obtain sufficient seat put up extension, however total the bike feels a bit compact. I must strive a big to find out for certain, however would possibly discover a big to suit higher.
Conclusions/Suggestions:
Whether or not you’re professional trying to compete within the Olympics, a World Cup race, or are an novice rider trying to compete in your native weekend circuit, the Fourstroke provides the best stage of high quality and efficiency that can assist you get the most effective out of your rides. The BMC Fourstroke provides a mannequin constructed only for you irrespective of your finances, with a variety of bikes beginning at aggressive costs and with very alluring componentry choices, I extremely suggest whichever Fourstroke matches your finances and preferences.
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Tester Profile
Jeff Valliere has been round bikes his whole life, as a toddler following his dad to bike races and bike retailers, BMX racing as a child, working in bike retailers as a mechanic for 14+ years (10 at U-Bikes in Boulder the place he met John) and racing as knowledgeable highway bicycle owner for a number of years. Jeff not races, however nonetheless likes to journey as he introduces his daughters to the thrill of biking. Along with being obsessive about biking, he runs mountains each day and has been reviewing trainers/gear/tech for RoadTrailRun since 2015 and for different publications/firms since 2005.
