With its new Backroad AL Plus EQ, Rose is expanding its gravel platform with a sporty, lightweight commuter bike that is also suitable for everyday use. The aluminium frame is based on the well-known Backroad geometry and comes fully equipped with mudguards, a luggage rack and a permanently installed lighting system, making the bike ready for daily commutes or longer tours in all weather conditions.
The bike is powered by Mahle’s proven X35 system. It has been used for years in many slim and lightweight urban bikes and consists of a compact hub motor in the rear wheel that delivers a torque of 40 Nm – typical for this class. The battery is permanently installed in the down tube and offers a capacity of around 250 Wh. It can also be supplemented with an optional range extender for an additional 210 Wh.
Although the X35 system still has to manage without a torque sensor, we were able to give the electric drive system a good rating in various tests with this drive. Mahle has only made this more technically sophisticated solution available for the successor models X20 and X30. Nevertheless, the system impresses overall with a natural riding feel and unobtrusive integration into the frame. In keeping with this, all cables and wires are invisibly integrated into the frame, giving the Backroad AL Plus EQ a super clean appearance.
When it comes to gears, Rose has opted for a clear approach: there is only one model available, featuring a 1×11 drivetrain from Shimano’s latest CUES series. With an 11-50 cassette, it offers a wide range for both everyday use and longer distances. Hydraulic disc brakes ensure deceleration, while a carbon fork saves weight and provides additional stiffness in the front end. Speaking of weight, the Backroad AL Plus EQ is said to weigh only 15.9 kg, which is a pleasingly low figure considering its robust aluminium frame, everyday equipment and electric drive!
Ritchey’s drop bar handlebars are 42 cm wide and are designed to allow for as many comfortable hand positions as possible. They also feature an ergonomic aero tube profile in the upper handlebar area, which ensures balanced pressure distribution thanks to the larger contact surface. The tyres are from Continental, with 40 mm wide Terra Trail, which are perfectly matched to the dimensions of the aluminium mudguards. A rear rack, kickstand, lighting system with Litemove headlight and the Trelock Cob Line rear light with brake light function round off the everyday equipment.
Rose’s Backroad AL Plus EQ is available in two colour options, Mud Grey and Wild Berry, and comes in five frame sizes from XS to XL. It is now available for 3,799 euros and the bike can be purchased directly here in the Rose online shop.
