BMC TE29 Team Elite SLX Review

BMC Team Elite TE29 Complete Bike

2-9ers, 29ers, or whatever you want to call them are extremely popular at the moment.  The mainstream culture has caught on.  You can get a big wheeled bike at Wal-Mart, as matter of fact you can get a 32in wheeled bike at Wal-Mart.  Nearly every bike manufacturer is dabbling in making a bigger wheel bike.  Some of these companies are replacing their entire cross country line with 29ers and a few companies only based on 29ers.  26in bikes are dead to the world.  Well not dead, but definitely on their last leg or tire you could say.  The burlier riders who huck themselves are keeping it the 26” market alive.  29ers are meant for covering ground on the ground due to more tire contacting the ground..  Many 29ers don’t corner well and aren’t comforting when you need to leave the ground for a second or two.  Currently many companies are reforming the design of their big bikes with the intention of making a better handling bike.  

BMC has done some reforming to the 29er bike.  BMC is a Swiss based company that produces highly engineered bikes.  They are a company that has been around the block like many others.  BMC began doing work for Raleigh in the 80’s and in the mid-90’s began their own manufacturing.  BMC is now well known and has a Tour De France title under its belt.  

The 2012 Team Elite TE29 is one of BMC’s first 29ers.  The Team Elite is hydroformed, which is a process of using high pressure fluid to mold aluminum tubing.  Hydroforming allows the manufacture to strengthen the bike in certain areas and also creates very stiff areas on the frame.  It also has Triple-Butted alloy tubing, meaning the bikes tubing has three different wall thicknesses. This reinforces certain areas of each tube for strength benefits. The bike is designed to provide instant power transfer at the bottom bracket, but be a compliant hardtail.  In addition the bikes seat tube has a slight bend in it near the bottom of the frame.  This creates a smaller rear triangle and shorter wheelbase which keeps the bike nimble and creates a stiffer pedaling platform.  The small rear triangle makes wheelies and lifting the front tire over obstacles no hassle.  The tapered head tube is very short and is designed to be very solid while providing fast handling (The head tube angle is 70º and the head tube height is 110mm).  The top tube is also very dynamic.  It is T shaped and splits to meet the seat tube at two locations (BMC calls this ISC: see below), which provides lateral stiffness and strengthens the bike.    

When it came time to ride the Team Elite I was very excited. BMCs have always been in my head as fancy Swiss bikes.  The first thing I noticed was the sizing.  I often have trouble with finding the correct size being 6’2”.  The question is do I go with large or extra large?  Do I go with 20 or 21? 58cm or 60cm? This usually depends on the frame, but the large BMC was spot on with me.  You could say they fit a tad big.  The bike is comfortable and rolls over things very smoothly.  I also felt at home on steep descents and climbs.  When climbing you can feel the stiffness of the frame.  The bike wants to go directly up.  What I liked about the BMC is their belief in the 3X10 drive train.  It is very pleasant having a smaller ring in some situations and creates an all mountain feel.  Too many macho riders running the 2X10 drive train for minimal weight savings. The Team Elite comes with what seems like a slightly longer top tube than normal and has a shorter stem.  This creates a feel of quick handling while still having room in the cockpit.

And for the specifications - SLX set up with BMC house brand Scor used for bar,stem, and post.  Decent Alex wheels. An overall good build with a good mixture of parts.
Weight: around 26 lbs

Rock Shox Recon Gold TK 29er with 100mm Travel, QR axle

ISC (Integrated Skeleton Concept): By supporting the top tube on the seat tube, weight is saved alongside gains in stiffness. This is a signature design element of BMC bikes.

Drivetrain (10-Speed): Shimano SLX 42-32-24 Crankset, Shimano SLX Bottom Bracket (threaded), Shimano HG62 11-36 10-Speed Cassette, Shimano SLX Shifters, Shimano SLX Front and Rear Derailleur, KMC 10-Speed Chain

Components: Avid Elixir 3 Brakes 180mm Rotor, Scor MKII Flat 720mm Handlebars, Scor MKII Stem, Scor Mtb Saddle (white/black), Scor lock-on grips (w/ red anno clamps)Alex XD-Comp Wheelset with Shimano FH-M529 6-Bolt front/rear hubs, sealed cartridge bearings (all black) 

Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.25 folding (front) and Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25 folding (rear)

You can’t always get exactly what you want.  There are a few issues with the Team Elite.  It’s not tubeless ready out the box.  You can convert it tubeless, but it’s a slight process.  As an ex-bmxer it’s a little big feeling for me personally, I prefer a slightly smaller bike.  The fork/ front wheel combo does not have the thru axle set up.  The short stem is a little odd looking but it does serve a function with the longer toptube/ shorter headtube set up. The drivetrain is a 3X10.  I know this is a contradiction to what I said earlier, but for some people out there this may be an issue.

Overall this is a great bike. This bike can handle it all, screaming fast cross country or long all day hilly epics.  Also it’s very aesthetically pleasing with the black and white paint job.  The frame design is very unique and stands out in a world filled with similar looking 29ers.  The drive train is set up with full SLX instead of an entry level no-name Shimano crankset.  The Recon Gold fork is plush and has a lock-out for those on/off road adventures.  The flat bars give you an aggressive feel  immediately as you hop on .  Not to mention it comes with Schwalbe performance tires, a Rocket Ron up front for added traction and a Racing Ralph in the rear for fast rolling.  For the price the bike is amazing.  BMC is providing some of the best frame engineering at a relatively modest price.

MSRP $1999.00  Note, as always, we will work with our customers on bike fit, setup, shipping, and any other questions you have. (Contact us at 1-800-820-GEAR (4327) for additional questions and to place an order. You can view our BMC TE29 Complete Bike page for additional information.