E-bike cheaper than an organic hardtail: The motor makes this bike cheaper

The Rose Bonero Plus is currently attracting hardtail fans with huge discounts. The e-bike is so drastically reduced that it outshines its non-motorised counterpart. This bargain is a tempting offer, but it may not be a one-off. For under 2,000 euros, it offers Rose the Bonero Plus fitted with a TQ HPR50 motor. It’s not often you find a high-quality carbon mountain bike without an electric assist at such an affordable price.

Conclusion

The deal for the Rose Bonero Plus is almost ridiculously cheap. The bike impressed us during our test and is a real bargain in the current sale. The fact that Rose is even undercutting its own non-electric bikes with this model gives you food for thought. We’re living in crazy times – good for e-bike customers and bad for the classic mountain bike – Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

Rose Bonero Plus vs. Rose PDQ

When we first tested the Rose Bonero Plus for BIKE, our verdict was: “This is what makes e-hardtails fun! The Rose Bonero Plus impresses with a really well-rounded design, a high-quality and well-engineered frame, and excellent handling. The TQ drive is as unobtrusive as can be and brings this lightweight Rose so close to a classic trail hardtail that the Bonero Plus is actually fun to ride off-road again. A clear recommendation for anyone who doesn’t necessarily need a full-suspension bike.” So, a really good e-hardtail. But what about that “classic hardtail”? Doesn’t Rose have one in its range as well?

The Rose hardtail with the carbon frame goes by the name of Name: PDQ, a lightweight carbon racer with progressive geometry and a modern look. Up until now, the PDQ has also impressed us with its value for money. However, in a direct comparison with the Bonero Plus, this may have just changed for some prospective buyers, as the PDQ without a motor currently costs more than the Bonero Plus with a motor.

Of course, the PDQ race hardtail hits the track with a weight-optimised carbon fibre frame. Rose quotes a weight of around 10.9 kilos for the model fitted with Shimano’s XT Di2. The top-of-the-range Bonero Plus also features wireless shifting via the SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, rides on Newmen wheels, but – unlike the PDQ mentioned above – comes with a dropper post. Oh, and a motor system. The small, lightweight TQ HPR50 and a 360Wh battery are housed in the bottom bracket area. Rose quotes a weight of 16.5 kilos for the Bonero Plus 3.

The real shocker is the price: The The Rose PDQ XT Di2 costs a cool 3,000 euros. The Bocholt-based retailer has now completely phased out the Bio-Bonero without a motor. There was never a carbon version of the trail hardtail without an electric drive and with a carbon frame. The price of the Bonero Plus 3 is currently on offer at Rose for 2,799 euros. In fact, the e-hardtail with the same spec still cost 5,800 euros in 2024. This means that, in just two years, the new bike has effectively become a good 3,000 euros cheaper and now costs as much as 200 euros less than a comparable bike without a motor.

Rose Bonero Plus 3

• Intended use: Trail e-hardtail
• Suspension travel: 140 mm
• Wheel size: 29”
• Motor: TQ HPR50
• Battery: 360 Wh (built-in)
• Frame material: carbon
• Weight: approx. 16.5 kg
• Price: 4,000 euros >> Currently reduced to 2,799 euros here
• Key features: RockShox Lyrik Select+ fork, SRAM GX Eagle AXS drivetrain, Newmen wheels, E-Thirteen dropper seatpost, SRAM Code Stealth brakes

Rose PDQ XT Di2

• Intended use: Race hardtail
• Suspension travel: 120 mm
• ​Wheel size: 29”
• ​Frame material: carbon
• Weight: approx. 10.9 kg
• Price: 3,000 euros >> available here
• Key features: RockShox SID Base fork, Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain, Newmen wheels, Shimano XT brakes

That’s why some e-bikes are so cheap

The price comparison from Rose Bonero Plus and PDQ could well be just the tip of the iceberg. Some e-mountain bikes are now undergoing a faster development cycle than was ever the case with non-motorised bikes. New motors and smart solutions are being unveiled every day. TQ has long since followed up the HPR50 with the HPR60: more torque, smoother integration of the display and other features. What was, for us, one of the most well-balanced e-hardtails on the market two years ago now comes with an ‘old’ drive system. But is that a tragedy? No, we’d say. Of course, technical progress is good and important. For the vast majority of mountain bikers, however, an extra ten newton-metres is unlikely to be a make-or-break factor.

Every child knows the principle of supply and demand. In 2025, only one in 15 mountain bikers in Germany bought a model without a motor. The market significance of the classic ‘organic’ mountain bike is steadily declining in this country. For manufacturers of bikes without electric motors, this means high development costs coupled with falling demand. Cutting back on high-spec, classic hardtails? That’s particularly painful, as they’re also losing ground to trendy gravel bikes. They are the big losers in the current market trend.

What do you think: given these prices, would you rather buy a mountain bike with or without a motor? Let us know in the comments!