Our LBS stopped carrying BMC because as one guy told us "We needed a full time warranty guy just for the POS frames". They had a lot of problems with frames cracking, I think it was mountain not road. Cannot remember it has been a couple years.

On the test ride, I really wanted a Cannondale. Although they are big name they are less owned around here so they felt pseudo boutique. I didn't want Specialized because I don't know, the Synapse Frame from 2007 looked better to me and hell I am dropping $2500 I better want to look at it. I feel you on not wanting to sell out, it is hard to justify they are good bikes when you feel a bit generic.

I went to the shop and they wanted a $200 deposit to do longer than a local shop area test ride (WTF?). The $200 could be applied to a bike only so I was locked into a Cannondale, Felt (no women's in the shop) or Orbea (which was out of my budget). So I found a compromise- the shop was on a nice hill. I took my Cannondale for impromptu hill repeats. The hill ends with a cove so I could even sort of get a feel for cornering. Wasn't perfect but better than a parking lot.

On the front end thing. Do you ride little bars normally? I think a 51 cm like a 48 cm will have 38cm bars. They feel kind of weird if you are used to bigger, almost like the bike is lost under you or disappearing. From what I know of the Specialized it is a relaxed racing geometry so it might be your body going "huh? What is going on here?". Make sure they do a thorough fit and guarantee it if you buy.