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BMC Roadmachine ONE or Canondale Synapse RLE2

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

BMC Roadmachine ONE or Canondale Synapse RLE2

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Old 04-29-23, 07:32 PM
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a1penguin
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BMC Roadmachine ONE or Canondale Synapse 2 RLE

I'm looking to upgrade my good weather bike. I've been really happy with the 2012 Synapse, but since age is catching up with my, I thought I would splurge for Ultegra Di2 since this could well be my last bike. I test rode both today and liked them both. My primary requirement is not black/drkr color and Endurance geometry (which ruled out the Soloist which looks amazing). I'm not finding a lot of reviews for the BMC and Synapse reviews generally like the bike, but not the SmartSense.

Pros/cons/observations
  • The Synapse cockpit is kind of ugly and I'm not sure I like the Smartsense builtin stuff. It will brek and my guess is the lights are weak sauce compared to what I use
  • Bottom bracket: BMC has PF86 bottom bracket vs threaded on the Synapse and man, the 2012 Synapse can be creaky
  • Weight 20 lbs vs 18.3(?) lbs but weight isn't everything
  • BMC has carbon wheels, which would be happy without
  • The seat post on the Synapse seemed longer than the Synapse and at 5'6" I'm at the lower end of the fit, but smaller frame would be cramped and even more toe overlap and not an option
Both bikes are on sale right now and since I would have considered the Synapse at full price ($5500), the BMC isn't that much more than my budget.
  • BMC: $5850
  • Synapse: $5000

Cannondale Synapse 2 RLE specs
BMC Roadmachine ONE specs

Thoughts?

Last edited by a1penguin; 04-29-23 at 07:35 PM.
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Old 04-29-23, 08:24 PM
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shelbyfv
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A proper threaded bottom bracket is a big plus for the Synapse.
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Old 05-01-23, 11:24 AM
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I have a Roadmachine and it's probably one of the nicest-riding bikes I've had in a long time (and I've had at least 15 bikes in the past 10 years). IMO, it's much racier than the Synape, but in a good way. Comfortable, accelerates well, and handles fast descents impeccably... BMC would be my vote...

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Old 05-01-23, 12:07 PM
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I went with the BMC, but discovered they had that same bike without the carbon wheels in white (Roadmachine three) and I went with that as it was the same price as the Synapse. I just couldn't get past the SmartSense. I'm old and slow and the carbon wheels aren't going to help that :-)
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Old 05-01-23, 12:12 PM
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Caliwild
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Originally Posted by a1penguin
I went with the BMC, but discovered they had that same bike without the carbon wheels in white (Roadmachine three) and I went with that as it was the same price as the Synapse. I just couldn't get past the SmartSense. I'm old and slow and the carbon wheels aren't going to help that :-)
Nice. Mine is the THREE also, even though I upgraded wheels and cockpit... Congrats! Have fun with it...
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Old 05-01-23, 12:13 PM
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Caliwild
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Originally Posted by a1penguin
I went with the BMC, but discovered they had that same bike without the carbon wheels in white (Roadmachine three) and I went with that as it was the same price as the Synapse. I just couldn't get past the SmartSense. I'm old and slow and the carbon wheels aren't going to help that :-)
Funny, I also considered the Synape, but that Smartsense really turned me off as well.
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Old 05-03-23, 07:04 PM
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BMC but I would go with the Cervelo Soloist
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Old 05-04-23, 08:30 AM
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would love to see a picture of it
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Old 05-04-23, 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Jrasero
BMC but I would go with the Cervelo Soloist
It had slightly longer reach and 5 cm more drop and there was no way. I didn't bother to test ride.
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Old 05-12-23, 12:44 PM
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I've got a K-edge and ordered the oft mentioned PRO BIKE TOOL 1/4" torque wrench. I had a hard time finding the screw to adjust the seat height. It seems very light and I like the clean look. I'm terrible at hills and am enjoying the dinner plate sized cassette. So far, I'm very happy.

2023 BMC Roamachine THREE
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