Marathon bike and race all-rounder: The new Rose Shave and Shave FFX on test

New pro team, new racing bikes, new look: manufacturer and mail-order company Rose is starting 2026 with a bang. The Bocholt-based brand was already in the cycling headlines a few months before the official launch of the revised road portfolio. In October, it was announced that Rose was joining the UCI pro team Unibet Tietema Rockets as a supplier, which has since been called Unibet Rose Rockets. With the signing of Marcel Kittel as sprint coach and the Tour de France stage winners Wout Poels, Victor Lafay and Dylan Groenewegen, the project demonstrates professional ambition. At the end of January, Groenewegen promptly took his first victory on a new Rose bike. The stated goal is ambitious: Team and supplier want to go to the Tour de France - and win stages there. However, the racing team had to bury this plan for 2026.

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Rose's new growth strategy

For the Bocholt-based company, the really big cycling stage is new territory; until now, it has focussed on smaller teams and a lot of commitment to young talent. However, the deal is no coincidence, but part of a new growth strategy, as Brand Manager Jonas Tenbrock explains to our sister magazine TOUR. "We no longer want to limit ourselves to the German-speaking and Dutch markets. Our aim is to become better known throughout Europe and beyond, and to capitalise on our strengths in new markets," he says. In this respect, the opportunity to join the Rockets as a supplier following Cannondale's withdrawal came as a surprise, but not inconveniently. "We didn't actually have a professional commitment as a goal until 2027. As we already had prototypes of the new model, we applied for sponsorship - and came to an agreement," reports Tenbrock.

Rose Shave and Shave FFX

A lot of work has therefore been going on at the company headquarters in Bocholt over the past few months. The launch originally planned for late spring was brought forward to February, and the new platform is now available in all variants, colours and sizes on the Rose website and in stores. Strictly speaking, there are two different models: the Shave, as the new name suggests, is available in two versions. On the one hand, it replaces the Reveal comfortable marathon road bikewith the addition FF ("Fast Forward"), it is also the Successor to the Xlite competition model.

Rose is thus following the nomenclature already introduced for the Backroad gravel bike: Here, too, there is a Versatile, comfortable backroad and the exceptionally sporty, aerodynamically designed Backroad FF. But while the Backroad and Backroad FF are visually very different, you have to look very closely at the Shave to distinguish the comfort racer from the racing bike.

The most important information about Rose Shave FF

• Prices: 5600 to 8500 Euro >> available here
• Weight of complete wheel: 6.6 to 7.1 kilogrammes (size M)
• Frame/fork weight: 795/370 grams (FFX, size M)
• Aerodynamics: 205 watts (TOUR test method)
• Stack/Reach/STR: 567/400 millimetres/1.42 (size ML)
• Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 630/595 millimetres/1.06 (size ML)
• Max. tyre clearance: 35 millimetres
• Frame sizes: XS, S, M, ML, L, XL

The frames of the Shave versions are almost identical in form: the same silhouette, the same tube shapes, the same handlebar combi and aero bottle cage are fitted to both bikes. The main differences lie in the seating position and equipment, which are tailored to the respective target group. The idea behind this is to boost the sluggish sales of the endurance category, reveals Jonas Tenbrock: "We realised that many customers preferred to buy the Xlite, even though the Reveal would have better suited their requirements. For them, the sporty bike simply looked better. We now want to take this into account with the Shave concept."

The most important information about Rose Shave

• Prices: 3600 to 5200 Euro >> available here
• Weight of complete wheel: 7.7 to 8.3 kilograms (size M)
• Stack/Reach/STR: 602/388 millimetres/1.55 (size ML)
• Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 666/572 millimetres/1.16 (size ML)
• Max. tyre clearance: 35 millimetres
• Frame sizes: XS, S, M, ML, L, XL

The geometry of the Endurance Shave is much more relaxed; there are wider tyres, smaller gear ratios and generally more affordable equipment options. The Shave FF, on the other hand, has a radical competition geometry, the handlebars are slightly longer and narrower for an even more aerodynamic riding position. The most expensive equipment from Shimano and SRAM as well as new wheels with carbon spokes are reserved for the top version FFX, which also has a higher quality carbon fibre.

Whether the performance of the Rockets' workhorse can keep up with the competition in the peloton and what distinguishes the hobby version from it can be found in the test of the two models: TOUR has the Shave FFX with Shimano Dura-Ace and the Shave with SRAM Force AXS under the microscope.

Prices and equipment

Rose offers many model variants of each platform. The race-orientated "Fast Forward" series is further subdivided: the versions additionally marked with an "X" are based on a higher carbon quality (Torayca M40X) and also have lighter wheels with carbon spokes.

The Shave FF and Shave FFX cost between 5600 and 8500 euros, while the Shave is available from Bocholt at prices between 3600 and 5200 euros. All new models are equipped with electronic groupsets from Shimano (105, Ultegra, Dura-Ace) or SRAM (Rival, Force, Red) and come with a power meter ex works.

Shave FF Ultegra Di2

• Drive/gear shift: Shimano Ultegra Di2 (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.; power meter)
• Brakes: Shimano Ultegra (160/140 mm)
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One Aero (28 mm)
• Impellers: Rose RC55 (Carbon)
• Weight: 7.1 kilogramme
• Price: 5600 Euro >> available here

Shave FF Force AXS

• Drive/gear shift: SRAM Force AXS (2x12; 50/37, 10-33 t.; Powermeter)
• Brakes: SRAM Force (160/140 mm)
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One Aero (28 mm)
• Impellers: Rose RC55 (Carbon)
• Weight: 7.0 kilogramme
• Price: 5900 Euro >> available here

Shave FFX Dura Ace Di2

• Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.; Powermeter)
• Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace (160/140 mm)
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One Aero (28 mm)
• Impellers: Rose RC55CS (Carbon)
• Weight: 6.6 kilogrammes
• Price: 8000 Euro >> available here

Shave FFX Red AXS

• Drive/gear shift: SRAM Red AXS (2x12; 50/37, 10-33 t.; Powermeter)
• Brakes: SRAM Red (160/140 mm)
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One Aero (28 mm)
• Impellers: Rose RC55CS (Carbon)
• Weight: 6.6 kilogrammes
• Price: 8500 Euro >> available here

Shave 105 Di2

• Drive/gear shift: Shimano 105 Di2 (2x12; 50/34, 11-34 t.; power meter)
• Brakes: Shimano 105 (160/160 mm)
• Tyres: Continental Grand Prix (32 mm)
• Impellers: Rose R30 (aluminium)
• Weight: 8.3 kilogrammes
• Price: 3600 Euro >> available here

Shave Rival AXS

• Drive/gear shift: SRAM Rival AXS (2x12; 46/33, 10-33 t.; Powermeter)
• Brakes: SRAM Rival (160/160 mm)
• Tyres: Continental Grand Prix (32 mm)
• Impellers: Rose R30 (aluminium)
• Weight: 8.3 kilogrammes
• Price: 3800 Euro >> available here

Shave Ultegra Di2

• Drive/gear shift: Shimano Ultegra Di2 (2x12; 50/34, 11-34 t.; Powermeter)
• Brakes: Shimano Ultegra (160/160 mm)
• Tyres: Continental Grand Prix (32 mm)
• Impellers: Newmen Advanced A.50 (Carbon)
• Weight: 7.8 kilogramme
• Price: 5000 Euro >> available here

Shave Force AXS

• Drive/gear shift: SRAM Force AXS (2x12; 46/33, 10-33 t.; Powermeter)
• Brakes: SRAM Force (160/160 mm)
• Tyres: Continental Grand Prix (32 mm)
• Impellers: Newmen Advanced A.50 (Carbon)
• Weight: 7.7 kilogrammes
• Price: 5200 Euro >> available here