ROSE THRILL HILL 3 27,5″ Review
For years, the Bocholt company have been known at the forefront of direct sales for their great value for money, offering bikes (especially enduro ones) that have the performance to match. But have ROSE’s XC bikes received the same care and attention too? We’ve put their cross-country model, the ROSE THRILL HILL 3 27,5″, through the wringer to see how it fares.
The ROSE THRILL HILL is a featherweight! At just 11.05 kg, the ultra-light weight is down to the carbon frame, the lack of a rear pivot, and the fact that even the rear stays and rocker arm are made from carbon fiber. The spec helps to keep the weight down too: a SRAM XX1 groupset, Mavic Crossmax SL wheels, and MAGURA MT9 brakes leave no wishes unmet and deliver precious precision.
But weight isn’t everything, you might shout – what about handling? Well, on the trail the THRILL HILL is a nimble whippet, but almost to the point of twitchiness. The long 90 mm stem and steep 69° head angle are partly to blame here, and you’re going to need your wits about you on steeper, more technical sections. The tyres dig in with grip, and the KS dropper post can be added through ROSE’s online configurator. On climbs, the bike competently grinds its way upwards, keeping the front wheel planted even on tough gradients.
While ROSE kitted the RockShox SID fork out with a remote lever, they left the RockShox Monarch rear shock sans lever – and we’d have preferred this to be the other way round. On the open setting both suspension units are pretty firm, soaking up mid-sized hits, but not in an overly forgiving manner. On rough sections, the suspension and geometry are likely to see you hit the brakes and slow down as their limits are exceeded.
Details of the ROSE THRILL HILL 3 27,5″
Specification of the ROSE THRILL HILL 3 27,5″ 2016
- Fork: RockShox SID RLT 100 mm
- Shock: RockShox Monarch RL
- Drivetrain: SRAM XX1
- Brakes: Magura MT8
- Seatpost: KS LEV 150 / Ritchey WCS
- Stem: Ritchey WCS Trail
- Handlebar: Ritchey WCS 2X Trail
- Tyres: Schwalbe Nobby Nic Evo
- Wheelsize: 27,5″
- Wheels: Mavic Crossmax SL
- Weight: 11.04 kg
- Price: € 4,709
Conclusion
A rocket on the climbs, the ROSE THRILL HILL has steep geometry and a long cockpit, so you’ve got to ease back on the descents. A shorter stem would be beneficial, so definitely pick that using their online configurator.
Strengths
- Super-lively
- Very agile
- Top spec
Weaknesses
- Out of depth on downhills
- Overly firm suspension = little comfort
- Cockpit too long
More information on the bike can be found on the ROSE Website.
[/emaillocker]About the XC Bike Group Test 2016
Just outside the sprawl of Barcelona, we took out the test fleet onto the varied trails, confronting them with everything from frighteningly steep climbs to challenging descents. All of this occurred with the backdrop and climate of the Mediterranean Sea – and despite it being February, the conditions couldn’t have been better. The test team consisted of four riders, each with their own nuances when it comes to mountain biking, but all with years of experience when it comes to testing bikes.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: XC Bikes Group Test 2016
All bikes in test: Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race | Giant Anthem SX Advanced | Pivot Mach 4 Carbon | ROSE THRILL HILL 3 27,5″ 2016 | ROTWILD R.R2 FS 29 Evo | SCOTT Spark 710 | Specialized Epic Elite Carbon 29 World Cup | Trek Top Fuel 9.8 SL
Words & Photos: Christoph Bayer