on the Di2 versions, it’s nice that there is a Di2 battery so you can still shift with the Fazua battery turned off or taken off. Wheels might be a hard thing to replace since the rear hub is wider than the current standard for road bikes. 

Despite its “road” categorization, the Domane+ LT would make for a pretty good gravel bike, because the speeds are lower so the motor could provide more usable assistance, and there is plenty of tire clearance. The only thing is the 252-Wh battery probably won’t last for a full gravel adventure. The wheels and tires are tubeless-ready, and with a 25mm internal width, they would be a great match for a 38 or 40mm tire.

PUNCH LINES

• Resistance-free pedaling

• 20-mph is not for everyone

• Great finishes and Project One paint option

STATS

Price: $9,200

Weight: 37.64 pounds

Sizes:
50cm, 52cm, 54cm, 56cm (tested), 58cm, 60cm, 62cm

www.trekbikes.com

THE GEAR

Helmet: Bontrager Specter WaveCel

Jersey: Bontrager Circuit Ltd.

Bibs: Bontrager Velocis

Shoes: Bontrager XXX

Socks: Bontrager Race Crew

Glasses: Oakley Jawbreaker

BMC ALPENCHALLENGE AMP

The BMC name is certainly nothing new to roadies around the world. The Swiss brand has been at the forefront of performance-oriented, race-winning bikes for decades. 

And just as every other forward-thinking bike brand has jumped on the e-bike wagon, so, too, has BMC, who have entered the market with a family of e-bikes that address every segment of the pedal world.

THE FRAME

The Alpenchallenge AMP frame and fork are molded from BMC’s premium carbon. The frame has BMC’s Micro-Travel Technology that provides 10mm of travel at the top of the seatstays for a bit of improved comfort. The frameset fits the current standard for road with 100x12mm front and 142x12mm rear thru-axles, both paired with flat-mount disc-caliper mounts. BMC has left plenty of room for tires, with a maximum of 40mm and a
chainstay length of 43.5cm.

The AMP has an endurance geometry with a long 105.3cm wheelbase. The virtual top tube is also long at 58.3cm for a reach of 40.5cm. There is a 15.7cm head tube that delivers a 60cm stack. On paper that seems a bit long for us, but the 90mm stem and 70mm bar reach keep things fitted fairly well for most of our 5-foot-10 test riders. All the hoses and wires are run internally and are nearly hidden, other than a cluster of Di2 wires connecting to a bar-mounted display.

One immediate quibble we found was that owing to the seat tube-mounted battery, the BMC loses a water-bottle mount.

THE PARTS

Currently, there is only one build option for the AMP, and from drive unit to gear changers, Shimano does all the work. A set of Shimano Ultegra Di2 shifters control the 1x system, as well as cycle through the assist modes of the Shimano STEPS system. Up front is an FSA Megatooth 44t chainring paired to the 11-34 cassette. 

The bike rolls on a set of tubeless-ready alloy DT Swiss wheels that have…

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