Rose Bikes are one of Germany’s biggest bike brands, and operate with a direct sales model that offers incredible value for money. Part of the system is their custom bike builder that allows you to hand pick your frame colour and complete bike spec – before having the bike delivered to you in the UK, and set up by one of the Rose Bikes technical team.

In 2015, a new suspension platform was launched and included the popular trail/enduro platforms – the 150mm travel Granite Chief and bigger Uncle Jimbo featuring 160mm of travel. For 2016 the platform remains the same, but there are a few neat nips and tucks – and the prototype Pikes Peak enduro weapon that will be unveiled at Eurobike this year.

Here are our favourites from the Rose Bikes 2016 range:

Uncle Jimbo

A complete Rose Bikes Uncle Jimbo can be snapped up for under £1400, depending on the specification that you choose. The model shown here will retail for under £3500 – including a Fox 36 fork; Fox Float X shock, SRAM 11 speed drive train and Mavic Crossmax Enduro wheels – undeniable value

The Uncle Jimbo packs 160mm of travel and a 66 degree head angle in to a light weight bike, that is offered with different specification options and two frame colours – a raw silver finish, or the black with green and blue finishing detail as shown.

Other than specification on the bike, the only major change is to the internal cable routing. Previously Rose had a neat design but some suffered cable rattle or rub. The new system offers a cleaner routing and should reduce the chances of cable rattle.

We currently have one on test so will report with more detail soon.

The neat new cable routing design will be featured across the board on Rose bikes for 2016, and adds to the already smooth lines of the frame design.

 Granite Chief

150mm of travel and a light weight design makes the Granite Chief a super versatile design than will suit a lot of riders. It’s a stiff platform and is happy to shred the odd uplift day – but will be happier as the all-day work horse for any terrain you fancy riding.

The Granite Chief is the lighter weight brother of the Uncle Jimbo, and features 150mm of travel, in the same four bar progressive suspension platform.

Like the Uncle Jimbo, the Granite Chief has the new cable routing design and remains a clean looking design – also offering incredible value. It’s possible to spec a Granite Chief for under £1400, and that will come with a Shimano SLX/XT mix; Rockshox Sektor fork and DT Swiss wheels.

Like the Uncle Jimbo, you can choose different colour ways as well as fully customising the spec of the bike.

Ground Control

Light, stiff and responsive – the Ground Control offers 130mm of travel and wants to be ridden flat out – be that up hill or down dale.

Replacing the Jabba Wood last year, the Ground Control is a light weight and very versatile platform with 130mm of travel that will suit a lot of trail riders, and again like the bigger travel bikes can be had for as little as just shy of £1400 – and features the same progressive four bar suspension design.

The Bruce

The Bruce is the dark horse tucked away in the Rose bikes range – it offers incredible value on a modern dirt/street frame.

Dirt Jump bikes always feel a bit of a guilty pleasure to use as the irritatingly progressive riders of tomorrow are sticking triple tail whips and other ridiculous combinations, whilst we just get our stoke on manualling a few triples on the local pump track! But nonetheless you can snap up a complete single speed The Bruce model for under £700 – potentially a perfect second ‘play’ bike!

Unlike some dirt jump style frames that seem short for normal riders, the Bruce comes in two sizes – short and long. The long can accommodate six foot riders comfortably.

The Jester

Like the Bruce, the Jester is designed for high jinks and no-nonsense good times – the type of bike that would be the perfect addition to a garage collection.

The Jester is the slopestyle specific bike, but could be used for many applications – a trail bike for the vertically challenged; a jump bike for those too nervy for a hard tail – or simply to build up as the trick play bike.

You can snap up a Jester for under £1300 – or go crazy on spec.

Rose Bikes have a cool thing going on and manage to offer some really great bikes for the money – keep an eye out for more features with Rose bikes, and bike reviews on Factory Jackson…

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