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Compared to its competitors Canyon Grizl CF 6 SL, Giant Revolt Advanced 2 and the 3T Exploro Primo it's very close. On the test course, all three would have deserved to win the test, but when it comes to hard facts, the top dogs Canyon and Rose assert their supremacy. This is thanks to the Backroad's top scores in precisely those areas that customers look at most: Weight, comfort and equipment. The Bocholter makes up for the lack of a second chainring with a twelfth sprocket and increased braking power plus a 180 mm front disc. This and a slim nine kilos allow almost more speed than you can muster in this position. You don't sit extremely behind the cranks, but the scales show a lot more weight on the rear wheel, which makes for double the comfort. The front wheel sits loosely, you have less weight on your hands and therefore feel fewer bumps.
You can also feel the highlight of the frame more clearly at the rear. The seatpost of the Rose Backroad GRX is only clamped halfway to the bottom bracket, the frame gives it freedom to deform comfortably over this length, which works great! You can feel the minimal movement in the saddle, but it doesn't interfere with pedalling at all. The steering suffers somewhat from the rear bias, steering commands are only implemented with a slight delay, but are completely predictable. A lot of control also means that the ultra-wide handlebars would not have been absolutely necessary, with little drop and slightly ovalised, they otherwise feel variable and comfortable. There are mounting points on the stem for a bike computer or lights - a good thing, as the cable routing leaves little room on the handlebars.
The Backroad is something of a people's bike and a pioneer for the gravel boom: light, stable, easy to control and with great seating comfort. Advanced riders probably wanted more dynamics, which is why the sharper FF version is now available.
Big comparison: 16 gravel bikes in the test
- 3T Exploro Primo (Tip: sports equipment)
- Bergamont Grandurance Expert >> available here
- Bulls Machete
- Canyon Grizl CF SL 6 AXS (Tip: Test winner)
- Conway GRV 9.0
- Corratec Allroad C2
- Fuji Jari Carbon 1.3
- Giant Revolt Advanced 2 (Tip: All-rounder) >> available here
- Koga Colmaro Extreme >> available here
- Marin Headlands 1 >> available here
- Megamo West 10 >> available here
- Merida Silex 700 (Tip: Offroader)
- Rondo Ruut AL1
- Rose Backroad GRX RX820 (Tip: Test winner) >> available here
- Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 (Tip: Price/performance) >> available here
- VSF Fahrradmanufaktur GX-500 >> available here
Rose Backroad GRX RX820Note & Details
- Note: 2.0 (test winner)
- Price: 2999 Euro >> available here
- Weight of complete wheel: 9.02 kilos
- Frame sizes: 47 / 50 / 53 / 55 / 57 / 59 / 62 cm (test size greased)
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 500 / 550 / 136.5 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 591 / 379 millimetres / 1.559
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 652 / 563 millimetres / 1.158
- Wheelbase/caster: 1025 / 70.1 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano GRX RX822 (1 x 12; 40, 10-51 t.) | Grade: 3.0
- Brakes: Shimano GRX RX822 (180/160 mm) | Grade: 1.5
- Tyres: WTB Raddler LFR TCS 700-44 (eff.: 43 mm) | Grade: 2.0
- Impellers: Rose G Thirty Light
- Impeller weights: 1657 / 2271 grams (front/rear)
Advantages & disadvantages of the Rose Backroad GRX
- Plus: light and stiff, top seating comfort, tyres up to 47 mm, robust wheels
- Minus: somewhat sluggish steering, handlebars with exaggerated flare
