New BMC Roadmachine AMP offers blend of road endurance and ebike power

By Warren Rossiter

Published: Tuesday, 28 June 2022 at 12:00 am

BMC has entered into the performance electric road market with the Roadmachine AMP, an all-new bike modelled on the Roadmachine endurance bike.

The Roadmachine AMP’s silhouette very closely matches the non-electric version and the bikes share the same fork. The Roadmachine’s endurance-biased geometry carries over to the AMP version too.

The difference in weight between the framesets is only 60g. That means, when combined with the new Mahle X20 rear-hub motor, plus battery, wiring, control and bottom bracket, it makes for a complete bike weight of 11.8kg (size 54cm).

That figure is comparable to some of the best electric road bikes such as Scott’s Addict eRIDE Premium, Wilier’s Cento10 Hybrid and Cannondale’s SuperSix EVO Neo.

All of those bikes are equipped with Mahle’s X35 rear hub and a smaller-capacity battery (250Wh), which makes the Roadmachine AMP’s relatively low weight all the more notable.

The battery is replaceable, so in theory you could switch out the larger 350Wh unit for the lighter 250Wh unit and save another 250g from the total weight should you not need such an extensive range.

What you need to know about the BMC Roadmachine AMP

  • The Roadmachine AMP is powered by the lightest ebike system on the market, Mahle’s 1.39kg X20 rear-hub motor
  • The bike weighs in at just 11.8kg
  • The large 350Wh internal battery promises extensive range
  • Bluetooth communications allow for motor control via a Garmin bike computer
  • The new Mahle bottom bracket has built-in power and cadence measurement
  • The range features three models, starting at £5,700 and rising to £7,600

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The thru-axle rear dropout has the connector from battery to motor moulded in for fast wheel changes.
Warren Rossiter / Our Media

New Mahle X20 motor

Mahle says it has done a lot of work on the X20’s operation. An all-new AI is designed to allow the bike to auto-adapt to the rider, the environment and the effort, for a consistently natural feel.

As you put pressure through the pedals, the new Mahle bottom bracket measures both cadence and power (watts), and through the system’s software it optimises the power assistance being delivered irrespective of which of the three power modes you’re riding in.

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Mahle’s new bottom bracket measures both cadence and power.
Warren Rossiter / Our Media

The power measurement at the bottom bracket is shown on either the app or a connected head unit. Mahle hasn’t ruled out a metric showing your effort and the bike’s assistance level being available in a future firmware update.

The new motor, built into a wheel, doesn’t require a different dropout to take a threaded bolt-on axle, something that was a bit of a bugbear with the X35 and other rear-hub motor systems.

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The integration of the battery and motor cabling adds only 60g in weight over the non-assisted Roadmachine frame.
Warren Rossiter / Our Media

The X20 fits with a standard thru-axle and is said to be no more difficult to remove than a standard wheel. The connection between hub motor and power line comes from a quick-fitting connector that sits in a special mould on the non-driveside dropout. You just need to align the hub with the connector on refitting.

Alongside the basic system, Mahle offers a new optional head unit, remote control buttons and a 173Wh range-extending battery designed to fit on standard bottle cage mounts. The battery cage can be used with a standard bottle when not being occupied by the battery.

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If you want more range, Mahle offers this 175Wh range-extending battery that fits into a bottle cage.
Warren Rossiter / Our Media

Like the older X35 motor, the new X20 makes use of Mahle’s app. It can be used to adjust motor map settings, monitor and analyse energy consumption, and even link to your heart rate monitor, delivering power to keep you in the HR zones of your choosing.

Full route data can also be recorded through the app, making for much more in-depth analysis of your ride.

Power and range

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The new compact Mahle X20 rear-hub motor.
Warren Rossiter / Our Media

The X20 promises 55Nm of torque and is compatible with the EU (25km/h) and US (20km/h) limits.

Charging comes via a new smart charger that BMC says can deliver 80 per cent charge in just two hours, with a full recharge in just shy of four.

The new charger also has a USB port so you can download any firmware updates to a USB stick and perform upgrades to the system at home without the need to take your bike to an authorised Mahle shop.

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The charge port is on the seat tube, underneath the front-derailleur mount.
Warren Rossiter / Our Media

BMC and Mahle remain tight-lipped about the bike’s range because it’s dependent on rider size, plus where and how it’s being ridden. However, they have provided a couple of case studies.

It’s claimed a 94kg rider on flatter roads using full assist mode could expect a range of around 136km, with a total elevation of 2,050m. A 78kg rider on a hillier route is said to be able to achieve around 78km, with 1,678m of total elevation.

BikeRadar’s senior technical editor Warren Rossiter rode the BMC Roadmachine AMP on the steeper parts of the Tour de Suisse stage three. You can read his BMC Roadmachine AMP One review for an idea of the range and performance available from the compact motor and 350Wh iX battery.

BMC Roadmachine AMP size and pricing details

  • The Roadmachine AMP is available in six sizes (47, 51, 54, 56, 58 and 61cm) and three models
  • The Roadmachine AMP One and Two, available from 1 July 2022, cost €7,999 / £7,600 and €6,999 / £6,700 respectively
  • The Roadmachine AMP THREE, available from August 2022, costs €5,999 / £5,700
  • The US-only version of the Roadmachine AMP TWO will be available from November 2022 for $7,729.99

BMC Roadmachine AMP specifications

BMC Roadmachine AMP ONE

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The range-topping Roadmachine ONE with carbon wheels and SRAM Force AXS.
BMC
  • Sizes: 47, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
  • Frame: Roadmachine AMP Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance Concept Endurance
  • Fork: Roadmachine AMP Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance Concept Endurance
  • Crankset: SRAM Force AXS 46-33t
  • Bottom bracket: PF86
  • Cassette: SRAM Force XG-1270 10-36t
  • Chain: SRAM Force 12-speed
  • Front derailleur: SRAM Force eTap AXS
  • Rear derailleur: SRAM Force eTap AXS
  • Shifters: SRAM Force eTap AXS
  • Drive unit: Mahle X20
  • Battery pack: iX350 – 350 Wh
  • Drive unit control: Mahle X20
  • Charger: Mahle X20 Active Charger
  • Wheelset: CRD-321 Carbon, tubeless ready, 35mm
  • Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro, 28mm
  • Tyre Clearance: 33mm (measured width)
  • Stem: BMC ICS01
  • Handlebar: BMC RAB 02, Ergo Top Shape, Compact Bend
  • Saddle: Fizik Taiga
  • Seatpost: Roadmachine AMP Premium Carbon D-shaped seatpost, 15mm offset
  • Brakes: SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD Centerline X Rotors (160/160)
  • ASTM Classification: Level 2
  • Weight Limit: 120kg
  • Colour: Petrol, turquoise, black
  • Price: £7,600 / $8,499 / €7,999 / CHF8,499

Roadmachine AMP TWO

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The TWO has the same build as the ONE, but uses SRAM’s most affordable wireless group, Rival AXS.
BMC
  • Sizes: 47, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
  • Frame: Roadmachine AMP Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance Concept Endurance
  • Fork: Roadmachine AMP Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance
  • Crankset: SRAM Rival AXS 46-33t
  • Bottom bracket: PF86
  • Cassette: SRAM Rival XG-1270 10-36t
  • Chain: SRAM Rival 12-speed
  • Front Derailleur: SRAM Rival eTap AXS
  • Rear Derailleur: SRAM Rival eTap AXS
  • Shifters: SRAM Rival eTap AXS
  • Drive unit: Mahle X20
  • Battery pack: iX350 – 350 Wh
  • Drive unit control: Mahle X20
  • Charger: Mahle X20 Active Charger
  • Wheelset: XRD-522, tubeless ready, 25mm
  • Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro, 28mm
  • Tyre Clearance: 33mm (measured width)
  • Stem: BMC RSM01
  • Handlebar: BMC RAB 02, Ergo Top Shape, Compact Bend
  • Saddle: Fizik Taiga
  • Seatpost: Roadmachine AMP Premium Carbon D-shaped seatpost, 15mm offset
  • Brakes: SRAM Rival eTap AXS HRD Centerline X Rotors (160/160)
  • ASTM Classification: Level 2
  • Weight Limit: 120kg
  • Colour: Yellow, blue, white
  • Price: £6,700 / $7,299 / €6,999 / CHF7,499

Roadmachine AMP Three

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The base-model THREE comes with Shimano’s ever-reliable mechanical 105.
BMC
  • Sizes: 47, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
  • Frame: Roadmachine AMP Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance Concept Endurance
  • Fork: Roadmachine AMP Premium Carbon with Tuned Compliance Concept Endurance
  • Chainset: Shimano 105 50/34
  • Bottom bracket: PF86
  • Cassette: Shimano 105 11-32
  • Chain: Shimano 105
  • Front derailleur: Shimano 105
  • Rear derailleurs: Shimano 105
  • Shifters: Shimano 105
  • Drive unit: Mahle X20
  • Battery pack: iX350 – 350 Wh
  • Drive unit control: Mahle X20
  • Charger: Mahle X20 Active Charger
  • Wheelset: XRD-522, tubeless ready, 25mm
  • Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro, 28mm
  • Stem: BMC RSM01
  • Bar: BMC RAB 02, Ergo Top Shape, Compact Bend
  • Saddle: Fizik Taiga
  • Seatpost: Roadmachine AMP Premium Carbon D-shaped seatpost, 15mm offset
  • Brakes: Shimano 105 Rotors (160/160)
  • ASTM Classification: Level 2
  • Weight Limit: 120 Kg
  • Colour: Red, blue, petrol
  • Price: £5,700 / $6,299 / €5,999 / CHF6,499