BMC Cross Machine CX02 2008

Review from Cycling Plus

The company is Swiss, but like most of the big-name European and US manufactures, BMC produces its frames in the Far East - though it goes further than a lot of its competitors when it comes to design flair. Its ultra-stylish CX02 cyclocross bike is no exception. The top-tube incorporates a rounded 'T' profile which is both stylish and functional; it allows very neat cable routing and helps to resist dents from the sort of crashes and bumps common in fraught cyclocross events, while the curved section improves comfort when you're shouldering bikes over obstacles.

The frame itself is made from Easton Ultralite 7005 aluminium, combining a decent amount of strength and light weight. Its slim line aluminium chainstay bridge sheds mud better than the more common round tube. One major change for '09 is the fork: Easton's full-carbon/aluminium straight-bladed BMX Gladius. Fortunately the harsh ride often associated with this type of fork is absent here.

Like most of the cyclocross bikes we see at Cycling Plus this comes with Shimano 105 kit - it's well made, tough, and components like the rear mech that are likely to get a bashing are cheap to replace. The chain did tend to skip a bit more readily than we could have expected in very muddy off-road conditions - where we would have preferred to have seen a 9-speed system like Tiagra - but on the road the smaller gaps between the gears of the 10-speed are a definite advantage and the ride feels more refined as a result. As for the wheels, our fears that the Shimano RS20s might not be up for cyclocross were allayed, and we didn't need to touch them with a spoke key despite some rigorous off-road riding. The Continental Twister tyres are comparable with Michelin's benchmark Cross tyres off road and we found cornering grip on tarmac surprisingly impressive for a knobbly tread.

So this is mostly definitely a cyclocross bike then, but a 'cross bike these days is expected to do more than just carry a rider across a muddy field as fast as possible. And the fact that the CX02 has ample clearance for today's ultra-wide 700C tyres and broad mudguards does make this a versatile machine. Aside from competitive winter mud-plugging duties, you could commute and train on the CX02 or you could fit some skinnier tyres and tackle a sportive or two during the summer; the rack eyes mean you should even be able to try a spot of light touring - not during the 'cross season, of course.

And just how successful is the CX02 at balancing these various roles? Well, the combination of a long wheelbase and a fork that resists torsion results in a bike equally capable of steering a line through singletrack off-road as on tarmac.

In conclusion...

And while it won't have quite the performance of a full-on race bike to mix cyclocross and other types of riding - and especially if you want your bike to make a serious Swiss style statement - the CX02 is worth some serious consideration.

Rating: No rating given