With the REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2, ROSE present the most affordable electronically shifting bike in the test and want to swim with some significantly more expensive fishes in the performance sea. Does that work out? We tested it against 14 of the best road bikes of the 2021 season. You can find the results here.
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best road bike of 2021 – 15 models in review
The ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2 comes in black with discreet red detailing that creates a high-end look. This is rounded out by the subtle ROSE branding and clean integration of the seatpost clamp and cables. The coherent design is only disturbed by the comparatively clunky stem cover which conceals the cables routed into the frame. The REVEAL FOUR DISC wants to be a comfort-oriented endurance bike. To underline this character and further increase comfort, ROSE swap the standard 28 mm tires against 32 mm Continental GP5000 TL tires which are mounted tubeless to the ROSE R-Thirty LIGHT aluminium wheelset. The rear of the bike does justice to the demand for comfort. The low clamp of the seatpost and the open rear of the seat tube makes significant flex possible, meaning that vibrations and impacts are pleasantly damped. By contrast, the cockpit ends up very harsh due to the stiff Ritchey Road Comp Streem II bars and the wide bar clamp of the ROSE Square stem. Even smaller hits are transmitted significantly more strongly than at the rear resulting in an imbalance in comfort. The ROSE D-shaped seatpost has a good amount of flex and its 8 mm offset makes a comparatively upright riding position possible, matching the marathon character of the bike well.
The seatpost is clamped very low by the chainstays. The back of the seat tube above the clamp is open and covered only by a rubber insert. That ensures a lot of compliance that increases comfort at the rear.
The combination of hefty stem and aluminium bars makes the cockpit very stiff. That means the bike is significantly less comfortable at the front than the well-damped rear.
The carbon fork of the ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC offers enough space for wide tires. The Continental GP5000 TL 700 x 32C tires measure 31 mm wide on the ROSE R-Thirty LIGHT wheels. There’s not much more left in it though.
ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2 2021
€ 3,899
Specifications
Seatpost ROSE individual
Brakes Shimano ULTEGRA BR-R8070 160/160 mm
Drivetrain Shimano ULTEGRA Di2 R8050 2 x 11
Chainring 50/34
Stem ROSE Square AL6061 100 mm
Handlebar ROSE 420 mm
Wheelset ROSE R Thirty LIGHT 12 x 100/12 x 142 mm Thru-Axle
Tires Continental GP5000 TL 32-622 (700x32C) 31
Cranks Shimano ULTEGRA FC-R8000 172,5 mm
Cassette Shimano CS-HG700-11 11–34
Technical Data
Size 50 53 55 57 59 61 64
Weight 8.26 kg
Specific Features
low-position of seatpost clamp
good level of integration
Direct-Mount derailleur hanger
1:1 gearing
A Shimano ULTEGRA Di2 groupset is something to behold given the price of the ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC. To achieve this price point, a Shimano 105 cassette and more affordable disc rotors are fitted. Braking performance is still completely adequate.
Alongside the Storck, the REVEAL is one of only two bikes in the test with aluminium rims. The ROSE R-Thirty LIGHT wheelset’s rims are mounted to NEWMEN hubs and have an asymmetrical profile for more even spoke tension. However, at 1,546 g they’re quite heavy and the 19 mm internal width isn’t ideal for wide tires.
The cables from the bars disappear almost invisibly into the Square stem of the ROSE where they are routed internally through the frame. That ensures a clean look for the bike – only the stem itself doesn’t win any beauty contests.
The spec is excellent for the price and the Shimano ULTEGRA Di2 groupset with 50/34 t chainrings and 11–34 t cassette work well for rides in hilly terrain. The ROSE isn’t made for long and steep climbs despite the 1:1 gear ratio. It’s just too heavy at 8.24 kg in size 57. The ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2 costs € 3,899.
| Size | 50 | 53 | 55 | 57 | 59 | 61 | 64 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 450 mm | 475 mm | 495 mm | 515 mm | 537 mm | 566 mm | 600 mm |
| Top tube | 512 mm | 530 mm | 542 mm | 554 mm | 568 mm | 590 mm | 615 mm |
| Head tubee | 120 mm | 142 mm | 154 mm | 170 mm | 190 mm | 208 mm | 230 mm |
| Head angle | 71.5° | 72.0° | 72.5° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
| Seat angle | 75.0° | 74.5° | 74.3° | 74.0° | 73.5° | 73.0° | 72.5° |
| Chainstays | 410 mm | 410 mm | 410 mm | 412 mm | 415 mm | 417 mm | 420 mm |
| BB Drop | 75 mm | 75 mm | 75 mm | 75 mm | 72 mm | 72 mm | 72 mm |
| Wheelbase | 976 mm | 984 mm | 991 mm | 995 mm | 1,008 mm | 1,027 mm | 1,049 mm |
| Reach | 368 mm | 375 mm | 381 mm | 385 mm | 389 mm | 400 mm | 412 mm |
| Stack | 536 mm | 558 mm | 572 mm | 589 mm | 605 mm | 622 mm | 643 mm |
Jersey GRAN FONDO Shirt | Pants Specialized Men’s RBX Adventure Bib Short w/ SWAT
Shoes Specialized S-Works Ares | Socks VOID Socks 16 | Watch Sinn 556 I
The ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2 in review
While the ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2 damps vibrations particularly well, hits are transmitted too directly, which is primarily due to the stiff front end – it’s the bike with the most pronounced imbalance in the test, leaving the bike in the rear third of the test field in terms of comfort. Only the Storck Fascenario.3 damps impacts worse. The stiff front is also the cause of the almost too direct and nervous response to steering input, which then misses precision in its execution.
Relaxed cruising far from the limit? That’s what the ROSE is ideal for with a high-end spec at a fair price.
This slightly disjuncted-feeling handling isn’t helped by your position on the ROSE. Due to the long head tube and high stack, you end up feeling as though you’re sitting on the bike rather than integrated with it. The limited pressure on the front wheel that results leaves you with enough grip for quick cruising, but when things get more aggressive, the REVEAL FOUR DISC can’t keep up with the sportiest bikes in the group test. Its limited grip and the exposed riding position leave you with less trust in tricky situations than all other bikes in the test. Not even the brakes can change that fact, even though they provide completely satisfactory performance even without the Shimano ULTEGRA rotors. The stability of the bike is fine letting you ride relaxed on the flats or over gentle hills. Here it reveals its efficiency, feels completely at home and can also keep up with the quicker bikes in the test. Only during quick increases in speed is it held back by its wheels, which are heavy for the rim depth. The second heaviest non-ebike in the test can’t shine with its agility on the uphills either.
Tuning tips: carbon bar with more damping could absorb vibrations at the front and reduce the imbalance in comfort. | carbon wheels would give the bike more agility – if you want to spend the money, you should think about upgrading to the ROSE REVEAL SIX DISC Ultegra Di2 (€ 5,299) from the get-go to benefit from a more rounded overall package.
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Conclusion
The ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2 convinces with premium looks and clever integration but can’t contest the win with the best bikes in the test despite the ULTEGRA Di2 drivetrain. It’s a bike for price-conscious pilots who are looking to go on relaxed rides in flat and hilly terrain without pushing their limits. Sporty, ambitious riders and racers will miss some precision while beginners will have to fight the sometimes nervous handling.
Tops
- integration of cable and seatpost results in a clean look
- sufficient tire clearances
- good shifting of Shimano ULTEGRA Di2 drivetrain
Flops
- strong imbalance in comfort between front and rear
- sluggish acceleration due to heavy wheelset
For more information head to rosebikes.de
The test field
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best road bike of 2021 – 15 models in review
All bikes in test: BMC Roadmachine 01 ONE (Click for review) | Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Ultegra (Click for review) | Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 eTap (Click for review) | Cervélo Caledonia-5 Dura Ace Di2 Disc (Click for review) | Mason Resolution Ekar (Click for review) | MERIDA REACTO TEAM-E CUSTOM (Click for review) | MERIDA SCULTURA ENDURANCE CUSTOM (Click for review) | OPEN MIN.D. (Click for review) | Orbea Gain M20i (Click for review) | ROSE REVEAL FOUR DISC Ultegra Di2 | SCOTT Addict eRIDE Premium (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Aethos (Click for review) | Storck Fascenario.3 Comp Disc Ultegra (Click for review) | Trek Domane+ LT 9 (Click for review) | Wilier Filante SLR (Click for review)
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl
