Issue #029, Review - September 22, 2017

ROSE Granite Chief 2 Review

If you measure your riding in peaks conquered, if you dream of big adventures and get sweaty palms looking at a technical ribbon of singletrack cutting down a open mountain flank, the ROSE Granite Chief 2 may be the bike you have been looking for.

**ROSE** Granite Chief 2 | 150/150 mm (f/r) | 13.70 kg | € 2,999

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: Seven trail bikes around 3.000 € in review

When it comes to component choices, do you dream of designing your own bike, swapping in this or that to make it just so? Well if so, the ROSE Granite Chief 2 will blow your mind. Using ROSE’s innovative online configurator, you can build the bike of your dreams before checkout. Almost every component can be changed if desired. We tested the stock ROSE Granite Chief 2 with a Shimano XT drivetrain, Magura MT5 brakes, Race Face Turbine 770 mm bars and a 60 mm stem – all killer, no filler. The 7005 aluminium frame strikes an attractive silhouette, while the finish and quality make you double-check the low price. Cable routing is very well worked out, and a vibrant red model is available for those who want to stand out from the crowd. We were also pleased to see a RockShox Pike RC Solo air fork and Deluxe RT3 rear shock, a powerful combo that promises scintillating performance.

It doesn’t take long to realise that the 150 mm ROSE Granite Chief 2 is the sophisticated bike of the bunch, more high alpine than slash-and-burn in the woods; it has some real big-mountain DNA. The linear suspension feels bottomless, giving up its travel smoothly and predictably; while it doesn’t feel at home hammering into hard berms and jumps, it makes easy work of technical singletrack. It’s a bike for rides preceded by the word “epic.” The 456 mm reach (size Large) feels spacious, a comfortable place to spend long days in the saddle. Up front, the 66.6° head angle and RockShox Pike RC provide huge stability and confidence, unshakable over rocky ground.

There’s a Germanic stoicism about the bike, confident, assured, and determined. We are huge fans of the DT Swiss M1700 Spline 2 wheels too, with a fast engagement and 30 mm internal width. However, the thin sidewalls of the Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres did not like more theatrical cornering, as the rear burped frequently during hard cornering (we would change these to something more burly). With 203/180 mm rotors, the Magura MT5 brakes have enough power to stop a charging bull, but we are still not a fan of the big moto levers that feel agricultural after the Shimano and SRAM offerings. Magura do have a nicer lever option available.

**Helmet** Fox Metah | **Shorts** Troy Lee Designs Sprint Shorts | **Jersey** Troy Lee Designs Sprint Jersey

The ROSE Granite Chief 2

Fork RockShox Pike RC 150 mm
Rear shock RockShox Deluxe RT3 150 mm
Brakes Magura MT5
Drivetrain Shimano XT
Seatpost RockShox Reverb Stealth
Stem Race Face Turbine
Handlebar Race Face Turbine
Tires Schwalbe Nobby Nic
Wheelset DT Swiss M1700 Spline Two
Price € 2,999

**Undergunned**
While the Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres do roll well, when riding aggressively they release more air than a UK politician. Thicker sidewalls needed!

**Power Without Feeling**
While the Magura MT5 brakes are certainly powerful, the ergonomics cannot match that of Shimano and SRAM.

**A Bike For Real Mountains**
The ROSE just made us want to explore bigger peaks… the linear suspension makes effortless work of rock gardens and technical trail.

The geometry of the ROSE Granite Chief 2

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	425 mm	445 mm	470 mm	495 mm
Top tube	566 mm	596 mm	621 mm	646 mm
Head angle	66.6°	66.6°	66.6°	66.6°
Seat angle	74.9°	74.9°	74.9°	74.9°
Chainstays	431 mm	431 mm	431 mm	431 mm
BB Drop	14 mm	14 mm	14 mm	14 mm
Wheelbase	1134 mm	1165 mm	1192 mm	1218 mm
Reach	406 mm	433 mm	456 mm	478 mm
Stack	593 mm	603 mm	612 mm	621 mm
Wheelsize	27.5″	27.5″	27.5″	27.5″

Like a mountain goat, the ROSE Granite Chief 2 channels big-mountain DNA and confident handling to tame any mountain descent.

Conclusion

The 150 mm ROSE Granite Chief 2 is a weapon when the trails get big. If your rides regularly take you on long days into the high mountains, then the comfort, stability, and confident handling of the Granite Chief will be a perfect ally.