Article by Jeff Valliere
BMC Fourstroke 01 ONE ( $10,999.00 as tested)
Flashfire Orange/Black
Sizes S-XL
24lbs (without pedals)
SRAM XO Eagle Transmission Drivetrain
Rock Shox SID Ultimate Fork / Rock Shox SIDLUXE Ultimate Shock
DT Swiss XRC 1501 Wheelset
Pros: Light, agile handling, remote adjustable suspension, quality, componentry and light wheel spec, craftsmanship, attention to detail, versatility
Cons: Autodrop post only has two settings, all the way up or all the way down, nothing in the middle which can be frustrating.
Introduction:
The Swiss brand BMC (Bicycle Manufacturing Company) is synonymous with the pro peloton, having carried pro riders to victories in the Tour de France (stage victories and the overall), World Road Race Championships, Olympic Gold Road Race, Paris Roubaix with the Fourstroke winning the UCI MTB XC World Championships and Olympic Gold. The list goes on and on, but it is safe to say that BMC bicycles represent the pinnacle of innovation, performance and quality.
Being a lifelong roadie and a rabid fan of pro cycling, I am very familiar with BMC and their presence in the sport, but will admit that I have never really gotten to see one up close, much less ride one. I approached BMC to see if I could borrow a bike for review and was very excited when they offered to send me a Fourstroke to test out for a few months. Please read on for the results of my test.
While the majority of my riding over the years has been on the road, I have always owned a mountain bike to occasionally dabble in the dirt and now, I no longer even own a road bike, where I instead alternate between my gravel bike and mountain bike.
Having worked in bike shops as a mechanic for 14 years in a former life and been a pro road rider for several years, I was really excited to crack open the bike box that was delivered to my house. They offered to send it to a local BMC dealer to assemble and I could pick it up ready to roll, but I was fired up to take this on.
While there was actually not all that much to do, other than remove the packaging, bolt on the handlebar, front wheel and of course install my own pedals, it was fun to go over the bike and discover all the ins and outs, particularly the SRAM XO Eagle electronic drivetrain, my first experience with electronic shifting (well, aside from Mavic ZAP in 1994 on a teammate’s bike).
My initial impressions of the Fourstroke 01 ONE were of amazement, specifically the weight of the bike, the build quality, componentry, the smooth lines and elegance of the Premium Carbon frame, adn the synced remote suspension lockout/adjusting. The bike just screams XC speed and efficiency!
The Fourstroke is a cross country bike with modern geometry for perfect handling, coupled with superior pedaling efficiency and power transfer.
The Fourstroke line comes in many different flavors and spans a wide range of price points from less than $5,000 to over $13,000 depending on how they are specced out: componentry, wheelsets, Autodrop or not and it is even is available in a LT model (long travel) that offers 120mm of travel vs. 100mm on all of the others.
The Fourstroke 01 line features the integrated Autodrop post, whereas the rest of the Fourstroke line utilizes a traditional dropper post, but otherwise has the same frame and 100mm travel spec.
Frame:
BMC utilizes what they call Premium Carbon for the Fourstroke frame and the 01 specifically features their new proprietary Autodrop technology, utilizing an air canister located within the frame that is charged/inflated with a normal floor pump.
The Autodrop post is two stage and is activated by a thumb lever on the bar, providing 80mm of drop and the entire post can be adjusted generously up/down with a 4mm allen bolt in the middle of the seat tube on the drive side. The air component allows the post to drop without the rider having to be sitting on the saddle to weigh it down, as you must on a traditional dropper post.
I have a traditional dropper post on my own mountain bike (Specialized Epic Carbon hardtail) and that post is infinitely adjustable within the full range of the drop between the high to low positions.
The Autodrop however as I mentioned above is two stage, meaning it is either all the way up, or all the way down. While the Autodrop is handy, I question whether the benefits outweigh the ability to adjust infinitely throughout the range of the drop. The majority of my riding is with the post at the highest setting, but that highest setting is not all the way up as high as I might on my Specialized with the traditional dropper post.
I found that I need to find a compromise max height with the Autodrop. When the trail gets beyond moderately technical, I will drop the post all the way down, but that is in my opinion too far down for all but the most extreme circumstances, where I may otherwise only want to lower my post just half way down. In short, there are many reasons that one may want to have their saddle at any height within range vs. just two positions.
The cables are of course internally routed and enter the frame on either side of the head tube, appearing to have an efficient line of routing (though I have not had the need to replace any cables or brake hose, so cannot speak to the ease of routing).
The frame has really modern and elegant lines and I especially like to admire the downtube, which is very thick and substantial looking, which in appearance at least, belies the exceptional light weight of the bike.
Suspension:
The RockShox SID Ultimate fork combined with RockShox SIDLUXE Ultimate provides 100mm of travel front and rear and is controlled by “grip shift” lever mounted to the left side of the handlebar, so the suspension can instantly be toggled from full 100mm of travel, to a middle setting, to locked out.
The instant suspension adjustability is is a major highlight of the Fourstroke for me, as it is especially convenient and effective to be able to quickly and instantaneously make this adjustment on the fly.
On smooth climbs especially, or any more buffed out terrain, dirt roads, paths, etc… I keep the suspension locked out. If moderately technical, I’ll keep it in the mid setting to provide some travel to smooth out the ride and then of course, then the trail gets more technical and especially on rough downhills, I open it up to the full 100mm of travel.
BMC’s APS Suspension System features a dual link design that maximizes pedaling efficiency (without “bobbing” up and down, yet provides a very smooth and effective travel action to eat up the bumps, belying the 100mm travel spec which feels like more.
Components:
The Fourstroke 01 ONE is exceptionally well specced, featuring a SRAM XO Eagle 1x12 electronic drivetrain. The chainring is a 34 tooth and cassette is a 10-52 and offers a nice wide range, though like any 1 x, can get pretty spun out on higher speed descents.
The crankset is very light and stiff, making for very efficient pedaling. The size medium bike that I am riding comes specced with a crank length of 170, which seems to work well for general trail use, but with a long inseam (34.75”), I would likely trade out for a 175 if I owned this bike.
The electronic shifting is exceptionally smooth, positive and accurate, and stayed in perfect adjustment.
The rear derailleur is powered by a battery that pops off and plugs into a separate included charger and lasts a surprisingly long time (a few hundred miles/~1 month) before I felt I should charge it (you can see the battery level for the rear derailleur and the AXS shift pod in the SRAM AXS app). The rear derailleur and AXS shift pod communicate wirelessly, making it really easy, clean and streamlined.
The SRAM Level Ultimate hydraulic disc brakes are exceptionally effective and easy to operate, where on long downhills, I appreciate the easy braking that I can operate with just a single index finger.
The DT Swiss Carbon wheelset is tubeless ready and super light with very little rotating weight, not only lightening the bike, but making for a very responsive feel when climbing and accelerating.
The carbon rims also help contribute to a smooth ride and so far have proven to be quite durable.
The 2.35 width Vittoria Mezcal tires work really well on the trails here in Colorado, providing very good grip on smooth dirt, loose dirt climbs, loose descents and mostly dry conditions.
The BMC stem is really nice and sturdy with a BMC 760mm carbon bar that is really light.
The carbon bar feels sturdy enough for general XC use without any unwanted flex.
The left side of the bar next to the grip is pretty crowded, with the Autodrop thumb lever, “grip shifter” to adjust the suspension and the brake lever, which can be tricky to adjust and I often rake my hand on the Autodrop lever when rotating the suspension adjustment.
Performance -
Needless to say, performance here is as good as it gets. This is an exceptionally high end cross country race bike that will satisfy the most serious pro or recreational rider out of the box (aside from possible saddle swap and converting to tubeless of course).
BMC managed to create a bike that seamlessly merges the best of both worlds, the lightweight and stiffness of a carbon hardtail for incredibly efficient climbing, with the smooth travel of a full suspension bike. When on a long climb and I lock out the suspension, the Fourstroke feels very fast, light and efficient, with very low rolling resistance.
I feel as though I can push my hardest without feeling like I am overcoming trying to move excess weight and mass up the hill, in total synchrony and unison with the bike.
I have never been a skilled downhill mountain biker, but I have become very confident on this bike, as the handling and geometry is so responsive, yet simultaneously stable and predictable.
The 100mm front and rear suspension is just enough for my tastes and riding style, riding fast on smoother to moderately technical trails and is very efficient really smoothing out the terrain with minimal bounce or jolting.
Sizing/fit/geometry:
I am 5’9” and seem to always ride the line between sizes medium and large. As I am built pretty disproportionate, sizing for me has always been a touch tricky though, being 5’9” and having a 34.75” inseam, I I think the medium works for me fine and I can achieve enough seat post extension, but overall the bike feels a bit compact. I would have to try a large to determine for sure, but might find a large to fit better.
Conclusions/Recommendations:
Whether you are pro looking to compete in the Olympics, a World Cup race, or are an amateur rider looking to compete in your local weekend circuit, the Fourstroke offers the highest level of quality and performance to help you get the best out of your rides. The BMC Fourstroke offers a model built just for you no matter your budget, with a wide range of bikes starting at competitive prices and with very alluring componentry options, I highly recommend whichever Fourstroke fits your budget and preferences.
RoadTrailRide Reviews HERE
Tester Profile
Jeff Valliere has been around bikes his entire life, as a toddler following his dad to bike races and bike shops, BMX racing as a kid, working in bike shops as a mechanic for 14+ years (10 at U-Bikes in Boulder where he met John) and racing as a professional road cyclist for several years. Jeff no longer races, but still loves to ride as he introduces his daughters to the joys of cycling. In addition to being obsessed with cycling, he runs mountains daily and has been reviewing running shoes/gear/tech for RoadTrailRun since 2015 and for other publications/companies since 2005.
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