With the HOBO, German bike brand Rose has a truly exceptional bike on offer, which with its steel frame is a mixture of gravel and urban bike. The tires, groupset and geometry come from the gravel sector, while the useful front rack or the ergonomically curved handlebars are more familiar from the urban segment. We have already reviewed the bike in detail in a short test here in this article.

Now Rose is following up with the new HOBO Dropbar, an even sportier version that is equipped with the gravel handlebar that gives the bike its name. However, the fact that utility is also a top priority here is demonstrated by the luggage rack fitted as standard at the front — on the other HOBO models, this must be retrofitted as an optional accessory. Equipped in this way, the HOBO Dropbar is perfect for the next bikepacking adventure, but can also be used as a sporty everyday bike.
The equipment largely corresponds to the Hobo GRX 810 flatbar model already available and includes a Shimano GRX 800 series drivetrain with 11 gears. The tires from WTB are still 47 mm wide and in 27.5” format, but the dropbar model is fitted with the “Venture” instead of the “Byway” tire. For increased riding comfort, the fork is also made of carbon and, together with the frame, offers a total of 14 mounting points for additional luggage solutions!



The Dropbar handlebar comes from Ritchey with the “Road COMP Venture Max” model and has a width of 42 cm. The matching shift/brake lever combination is also from Shimano’s GRX series, as is the brake system with hydraulic disc brakes.
Despite the front rack fitted as standard, at 11.9 kg the HOBO Dropbar is around 500 g lighter than the corresponding Flatbar model. However, the pedals are fitted as standard on the latter, whereas they have to be purchased separately on the dropbar model (which is not unusual for road and gravel bikes).
The Hobo Dropbar will initially be available in one version with two different color options: the pine green (dark green) and maliblue (turquoise) known from the Hobo. It is available in three frame sizes from S to L and will cost 1,899 euros at launch. For comparison: the Hobo GRX 810 without the front rack is only slightly cheaper at 1,799 euros. Matching mudguards for the Hobo are also available directly from the Rose Bikes online store.