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Trail and Enduro Bikes

Rose Soul Fire 2 – First Look

A sorted spec and great attention to detail - another big hitter from Germany

As with the Propain Spindrift, the Soulfire from German brand Rose is almost into DH territory when it comes to travel. How does it compare when it comes to sizing, geometry and spec? Here’s the low down.

Words: Sean White Images: Callum Philpott

Unlike relative newcomers YT Industries, Rose Bikes have been around for some time. With over 100 years in the bicycle business this established brand is a big player in mainland Europe but is still a rare sight here in the UK. You’re buying direct from Rose, as with Canyon and Radon, so value for money is high. With spec sheets that give the big American brands a run for their money these European direct sales brands now seem to be offering the full package though. Dialled geometry, up-to-date sizing and a great finish sit alongside a well thought out component package. It seems hard to go wrong.

Scratch beneath the surface and you’ll see that Rose Bikes take things one step further though. They give you the option to tweak the spec of the bike you’re ordering – you can upgrade the shock, switch the RockShox fork out to a Fox, change the colour of the stem; make it yours. You are almost going semi-custom here but working with the component brands that Rose has available.

Here we take a look at one of the longer travel bikes from this German brand. Park bike, Super-Enduro, Mini DH, Freeride, call these machines whatever you want… What we have here is an aluminium framed 180/190mm travel bike running 27.5″ wheels with a 180mm fork leading the charge…

FRAME AND SUSPENSION

There is no carbon here. A full aluminium frame with a chunky linkage promises durability yet Rose is suggesting that the frame weighs in at a reasonable 3.4kg. A Horst Link style chainstay pivot and a Vivid Air R2C rear shock look fit for purpose and well matched to the 180mm Lyrik fork. The rear shock mount can be flipped to tweak the travel from 180mm to 190mm though. Boost 148mm rear hub spacing, clean cable routing and chunky pivot hardware are pleasing details on the Soul Fire.

GEOMETRY AND SIZING

This Rose is off to a great start with four frame size options. It’s reassuring to see, and with a size ‘Large’ running a reach measurement of 459mm and a 1232mm wheelbase there is still the XL above this for those well over six foot tall. Chainstay length is consistent on all sizes (at 433mm) and the bottom bracket height sits at 355mm. What about the angles? Is the Soul Fire up to date? Well a 64.5 deg head angle looks right for the travel and bikes intentions. Our full bike test to follow will give you the low down on how it rides.

 

 

Schwalbe Magic Mary rubber with Super Gravity casing.
Spank handlebar, Magura MT5 brakes and Ergon GA grips. A good cockpit set up.

SPECIFICATION

There are plenty of well considered component choices here. The Soulfire is bike designed for attacking serious terrain and as such is suitable equipped. We’re pleased to see products that feature in the 2017 Dirt 100 hereRockShox Lyrik, the amazing Magura MT5 brakes (with the right size rotors), XT drivetrain, Ergon grips and Schwalbe’s Magic Mary tyres with a Super Gravity casing. Taller riders may prefer a wider 800mm handlebar but the stock 785mm size should please most. A dropper post could also be a consideration but as this is a bike that’s most likely to be used at an uplift assisted bike park it may well get slammed low and stay there. Add one if you’re going to hit some flowing trails maybe.

FRAME: 7005 Aluminium, 180/190mm travel

FORK: RockShox Lyrik RC 180mm Boost

REAR SHOCK: RockShox Vivid Air R2C

TRANSMISSION: Shimano Deore XT 1×11

CRANKSET:  RaceFace Turbine 34T (Boost offset)

BRAKES: Magura MT5, 203mm rotors F/R

WHEELSET: Spank Spike Race 33 (27.5″)

TYRES: Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Gravity 2.35″ F/R

HANDLEBAR: Spank Spoon 785mm, 20mm rise

STEM: Spank Spike

SADDLE: SDG Bel-Air 2.0

SEATPOST: RaceFace Turbine 400mm

PRICE: £2,572.57 (+ £54 delivery to UK)

rosebikes.com

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