Anyone compared these?
If so, what’s your take and why?
Thank you in advance.
I have a 2011 R3 and my wife just got a 2012 Race Machine. Although these are not the models you are looking for I have become somewhat familiar with what each company offers.
I think you actually mean the Team Machine. They are both nice. The R5 has BBRight and a slightly taller stack. The Team Machine for 2012 has BB86 and a slightly lower stack similar to Cervelo’s “old” road geometry. The R3 is probably stiffer, especially with BBRight, but with BB86 you have more crankset compatability. One geometry may also work better for you than the other. The Team Machine will also include nicer OEM wheels and di2 options. Finally, having spent a fair bit of time cleaning and lubing my wife’s bike and taking it on and off the roof rack, I can say that, in general, the BMC looks and feels like a higher quality product. I love my R3 and I am very much a Cervelo guy. The R3 is super light, super stiff, super-smooth (especially with Zipp 101s), and turns on a dime. The R5 is lighter and purportedly even stiffer and smoother than the R3. However, the more time I spend around my wife’s BMC the more impressed I am with it. Much like the difference between the R3 and R5, the Team Machine is purportedly lighter, stiffer, and smoother than the Race Machine.
I am a massive Cervelo fan, but I was super impressed by the look of quality of the BMC Team machine. That being said, the R5 VWD is stiffer and lighter than the BMC. As I’m a weightweenie, I’d probably choose the R5, because every other aspect is very comparable (yeah, however, the BMC has better compenents or wheels, stock).
assuming you’re asking about the slr01; test rode one last weekend during one of BMCs demo stops at my LBS.
setup:
50cm slr01
sram force
easton ea90se
conti gp4000s 700x23
fizik arione(ouch. i use a selle smp evolution, so i was missing the cutout by the end of my 32mile ride.)
gearing: 53/39 - 12-25(have to guess on the cassette)
my pedals were mounted(ultegra)
forgot to switch in my powertap pro+/open pro, so sorry, no power numbers to compare with.
unlike some other test-rides i’ve done in the past, my LBS owner measured up my S1 and xferred those to the slr
so i was totally comfortable right away. this was my first go on SRAM components, so it took me a few minutes
to get used to the shifting; shifting was positive, but the driveline was noisy, not sure if it was the chain or what.
my S1 has ultegra which is very smooth and quiet. i found the constant clicking, ticking noises a bit distracting.
frame thoughts:
very smooth, silky ride, good damping, but not dead like my old kestrel 200ems. bike feels very efficient.
fork handles curves without any drama, no brake shudder, weird flex, just good smooth contact; maintains line well through
corners at speed. climbs well with no BB flex to speak of(i weigh 170.) front end is not aerodynamically friendly - it is a giant brick
compared to my Cervelo S1. on the flats, unless you are in a group, you will find you really have to push to maintain speed.
my S1 carries speed better and feels like it’s slipping through the air. the S1 was described as ‘brutally efficient’ someplace
and i’d have to agree with that; you don’t lose any power pedaling, but you will feel it when your ride is done.
despite all that, my legs felt relatively fresh, which i think speaks to the low weight and efficient nature of the frame.
that said, i’d still buy an slr if i could afford it. i have Solvang coming up in three weeks and i’d love to have used an slr for that ride.
i am still seriously considering selling my QR Caliente and Cervelo S1 to fund an slr, but am hoping to find a lightly used S3.
also, i think the Easton wheels are underspec’ed for a bike of this calibre, unlike the frame, the wheels felt a bit sluggish and did
not spin up quickly, and did not give complete confidence; totally outclassed by the frame.
the shop ride chosen on that day was an abbreviated Rock Store climb off of Mulholland Drive in Agoura/Malibu turning around near Westlake Blvd.
the ride has lots of rollers, some nice climbs and descents. i let the group pull away(they would’ve dropped me anyway) and went on my own
way, adding in some long flats(Triunfo Canyon) before turning around at the base of Potrero road(east end.)