Trail

The trail bike is the all-rounder among the mountain bikes. Thanks to its low weight and sporty geometry, you can easily tackle epic tours with plenty of elevation gain. However, the trail bike won’t let you down when it goes downhill either, as its powerful suspension allows for control even on rough descents. The trail bike is not an expert in either area, but feels very comfortable in both, which is exactly what makes it an all-rounder among MTBs.

• Intended use: both tours and more demanding trails in mountainous terrain
• Suspension: 130mm to 150mm, Hardtail or Fully, built robust, but as light as possible

Trail or Enduro – What's right for me?

To decide which bike is right for you, you should think about where and what you mainly ride. Here are some criteria for trails and riding style to help you decide between trail and enduro.

Trail

• Forest paths
• Single trails
• Mountain tours
• Rather small to moderate jumps and drops
• Relaxed tours without racing ambitions focusing on riding fun, playful riding style
• Lighter
• Steeper head angle → More manoeuvrable steering behaviour on narrow single trails
• Steeper seat angle → Good power transfer when pedalling
• Shorter wheelbase → More playful riding experience
• Lower crankset → Stable riding behaviour in bends

Enduro

• Single trails
• Downhill trails
• Big jumps and drops
• Less focus on climbing
• Focus on fast and technical descents

Both frame shapes can be found among trail bikes. "Hardtail" and "Fully" refer to two different types of mountain bikes, which differ mainly in their suspension:

Hardtail MTBs

The hardtail has a suspension fork at the front and is particularly versatile. It is suitable to learn the basics of riding technique – only the front wheel has suspension.

• Uncomplicated and low-maintenance
• Lighter than most Fullys
• Often cheaper to purchase
• Suspension fork: The suspension fork is located at the front of the bike and consists of two fork legs that hold the front wheel axle. It is equipped with a suspension system based on either steel spring or air suspension and also has a damping system that controls the rebound of the spring.
• Travel: The travel typically varies between 80 mm and 140 mm, depending on the intended use (e. g. cross-country, trail).
• Setting options: Many suspension forks offer adjustment options for the compression (how quickly the suspension compresses) and the rebound (how quickly it extends), as well as the option to adjust the preload on air suspension forks.

A hardtail mountain bike only has suspension on the front fork, while the rear wheel has no suspension (hence "hard").

Advantages:

• Efficiency: Due to the simpler design, hardtails are often lighter and have fewer moving parts, which leads to a more efficient power transfer from the rider to the bike. This is particularly useful when riding uphill or on slippery trails.
• Low maintenance: Fewer moving parts often mean less maintenance and lower costs.
• Price: Usually, hardtails are cheaper than fullys with similar specifications.
• Versatility: Suitable for cross-country (XC) and trail riding, where efficiency and direct power transfer are important.

Full Suspension MTBs (Fully)

The fully, as the name suggests, is full-suspension – it has a suspension fork at the front and a shock in the rear dropouts. Both the front and the rear wheel have suspension.

What the Fully can do:

• More comfort and riding performance for typical use
• More traction and stability, for higher speeds downhill and better controllability in challenging terrain
• Suspension fork: As with the hardtail, but often with more travel (120 mm to 200 mm), depending on the intended use (e.g. trail, enduro, downhill).
• Rear suspension: Consists of a shock and a rear triangle, which can come in various designs (e.g. four-link, single-link).
• Rear shock: The rear shock can also be fitted with steel or air springs and offers various adjustment options for compression and rebound.
• Travel: The rear suspension travel varies, usually between 100 mm and 200 mm, depending on use.
• A fully mountain bike has both suspension on the front fork and suspension on the rear frame (hence "fully" for fully suspended).

Vorteile:

• Comfort and control: Provides better damping on uneven terrain, resulting in a more comfortable and controlled riding experience. This is particularly important on technically demanding trails and downhill routes.
• Traction: The suspension on the rear wheel helps to improve contact with the ground and increase traction, which is particularly beneficial on slippery or steep tracks.
• Handling: Better handling of obstacles thanks to the additional suspension at the rear, resulting in a more stable ride.
• Adaptability: Suitable for more demanding terrain such as downhill, enduro or all-mountain, where handling and damping are crucial.

The choice between a hardtail and a fully therefore depends on your preferred riding conditions and riding style.Hardtails are often a good choice for beginners or for riders who mainly ride on flatter trails or for training, while fullys are designed for riders who need more comfort, traction and control on technically demanding trails.

Wheels, tyres and tyre size: 27.5" or 29"?

27.5" tyres can give your bike a more playful and agile ride, especially on tight trails or in bends, while 29" wheels provide a very sure-footed feel, especially when things get rough and fast. Your body height can play a role, as a wheel that is too big can appear cumbersome and be harder to control.

Rims

Lighter rims are more likely to be found on trail bikes because they have to take fewer hard knocks and, together with the lighter add-on parts, ensure the good climbing characteristics of the bikes.

Tyre casing

The lighter tyre casings of the trail bike are a little more susceptible to punctures when the terrain gets rougher, but give your bike a lively and agile ride feel because you accelerate noticeably faster.

Trail

• Lighter carcass → Lighter tyre
• Finer tread → Better centre tread = less rolling resistance
• Narrower tyres → Less rolling resistance
• Harder rubber compounds → More durable

Brakes

Disc brakes

Drivetrain

The most common drive system for mountain bikes is the singlespeed derailleur. You shift all gears on the cassette on the rear wheel and only need one chainring on the crank.

Advantages of the singlespeed drivetrain

• Lower weight due to fewer components
• Simple, intuitive operation – one shifter (or shift lever) for all gears
• Less error-prone and high-maintenance
• High gear range of up to 520% – covers both very light and very heavy gears

Seat post

The dropper seatpost offers you a number of advantages, especially when you're heading off-road. That’s why the ROSE trail bikes are fitted with a so-called Vario seat post as standard.

• Can be lowered without dismounting or stopping using a lever on the handlebar
• Creates freedom of movement and safety on steeper or rough terrain and when jumping
• Intuitive operation