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You have to hand it to BMC: The model names of their gravel bikes are original and stick in the memory. Yes, that's right: gravel bikes. Because after the Urs, behind which the Swiss common name and the abbreviation "UnReStricted" are hidden, the Swiss are expanding their off-road portfolio with the Kaius. Another first name, another allusion: after all, Kaius, a form of Gaius, is said to go back to the Latin Gaudium (joy) - and riding fun is truly guaranteed with this new addition. The Kaius has already proven itself in racing. In October, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot became world champion on a BMC Kaius gravel bike.
Click through: The BMC Kaius by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
BMC Kaius 01 One - Race bike
BMC places the Kaius in the still young category of race gravel bikes and clearly differentiates it from the Urs (TOUR 5/2021) with its more comfortable orientation. The dividing line to the versatile Roadmachine X (TOUR 1/2022), on the other hand, is not so sharp. Just like the off-road marathon bike from the Swiss brand, the Kaius can tear over gravel and forest tracks like only very few gravel bikes can. It also craves speed on tarmac. Even road racers are sometimes not as powerful and lively as the exclusive BMC Kaius 01 One, which at 7.6 kilograms is one of the lightest gravel bikes on the market.
The riding position is extreme for an off-road bike - sporty racing cyclists will quickly become familiar with it. When it comes to the cockpit, the Swiss company has bucked the trend and fitted a narrow handlebar: the upper handlebar is 36 centimetres wide, the lower handlebar measures 42 centimetres. After a little familiarisation, the calculation works surprisingly well and the compact design allows quick changes of position.
The only weakness of the BMC Kaius 01 One is its comfort, especially the front end is very harsh, but the damping can be improved slightly by lowering the tyre pressure. If you can already see yourself flying over the gravel on this bike, the price will quickly bring you back down to earth. BMC charges 11499 euros for the top model we tested. The cheaper but heavier versions cost 8499 and 5499 euros. That's a lot of money for a second bike in the cold season. But as a winter bike, the Kaius is actually far too good.
BMC Kaius 01 One gravel bike in detail
- Price11499 Euro >> available here
Frame/fork/steering bearing weight* 1075/432/67 grammes
Frame sizes** 47, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61
Seat/top tube/head tube 495/575/145 millimetres
Stack/Reach/STR*** 572/402 millimetres/1.42
Wheelbase/caster 1025/72 millimetres
Equipment
Drive/gear shift SRAM Red eTap XPLR (1x12; 42, 10-44 t.)
Brakes SRAM Red (160/160 mm)
Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Zipp 303 Firecrest/Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 40 mm (f./h. 1387/1902 g)
Measured values & individual grades*****
Weight of complete wheel 7.6 kilos Grade 1,3
Steering head stiffness 97 Nm/° Grade 1,3
Lateral stiffness fork 54 N/mm Grade 1,0
Bottom bracket stiffness 61 N/mm Grade 1,0
Seatpost spring stiffness 48 N/mm Grade 1,7
Spring rate fork 52 N/mm Grade 3,7
*Weighed weights. **Manufacturer's test size in bold. ***Stack/reach projected vertical/horizontal dimension from centre of bottom bracket to top of head tube; STR (Stack to Reach) 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 an upright riding position. ****Wheel weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/threaded axles and brake discs if applicable. *****Individual grades, which are weighted differently in the overall grade, are only partially printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated up to the final grade with all decimal places; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are given with rounded decimal places.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
