In this article, we use so-called affiliate links. With every purchase through these links, we receive a commission from the merchant. All relevant referral links are marked with . Learn more.
The endurance racing bike Rose Reveal was and has been for many years in the road bike portfolio of the Bocholt-based manufacturer and mail order company what the Golf used to be for VW: a robust, unpretentious, somehow classless bike with which more or less every road cyclist can do more or less everything you can do with a road bike: training, exploring the area, taking part in everyman races, a mountain pass tour with friends.
However, the Reveal's great advantage - its uncomplicated versatility - may also have been its biggest disadvantage. Or to put it in the words of Jonas Tenbrock, Brand Manager at Rose: "We realised that many customers preferred to buy the Xlite, even though the Reveal would have suited their requirements better. For them, the sporty bike simply looked better."
>> Marathon bike & race all-rounder: The new Rose Shave and Shave FFX on test
>> The Endurace variant: The new Rose Shave in a single test
>> The competition version: The new Rose Shave FF in an individual test
Sharpened character
The successor model Shave, which the bike manufacturer presented in a double pack at the beginning of 2026, can definitely no longer be accused of this. With the name suffix FF, the Shave characterises the clearly race-oriented approach and follows on from the Xlite; without the name suffix, the Shave is the successor to the endurance racer Reveal, but also has a decidedly sporty look and aerodynamically sophisticated lines.
At the same time, it serves other trends in current road bike development, such as tyre clearance: the Shave leaves room for tyres up to 36 millimetres wide in the fork and rear triangle, whereas the Reveal stopped at 32 millimetres. The Shave has also become a little lighter, as a complete bike with Shimano's 105 Di2 components it weighs 8.3 kilograms according to the manufacturer, while the Reveal is 200 grams heavier with the same equipment.
Geometry and seating position in comparison
In terms of the riding position on the bike, the Shave follows the family tradition of the Reveal as a long-distance racer, but is now more orientated towards the sporty branch of the family. The Reveal is characterised by an emphatically upright riding position, predestined for long days in the saddle.
However, the Reveal is also recommended for cyclists who haven't been doing the sport for so long - or for those with a more relaxed attitude. The STR quotient ("stack-to-reach") as an indicator of the riding position is clearly at the more relaxed end at 1.61 (for frame size 57), while the new Shave is a little more sporty with an STR quotient of 1.55 (in frame size M/L).
Both frames feature carbon seatposts with a D-shaped cross-section; although you can't reliably deduce the technical properties of carbon components based on their external shape, the seatpost in the Shave with a significantly larger cross-section fits in with the fact that the bike is rather moderately comfortable on the saddle compared to the Reveal and in the competitive environment of other endurance racers.
One major difference lies in the cockpit: while the Reveal is equipped with a classic stem/handlebar combination, the Shave comes with a new one-piece carbon cockpit, which according to Rose also contributes to improved aerodynamics and is fitted to all model variants.
Equipment and components
Documenting the equipment Reveal and Shave Continuity; both models are available with Shimano's 105 and Ultegra component groups as well as the Rival and Force ensembles from SRAM. However, the discontinued Reveal model is no longer available in all equipment variants or frame sizes.
On the new Shave, all versions are equipped with a one-sided power meter as standard, while only the Shimano models are fitted on the Reveal. For the wheels, the Reveal 04 uses the in-house Rose R25 or RC42, while the Shave rolls on the Rose R30 wheelset in the cheaper versions. The two higher-end versions with Ultegra Di2 and Force AXS are fitted with Newman Advanced A.50 carbon rims.
Rose Shave (2026) & Rose Reveal (2025): Model variants & price
As a discontinued model, the Reveal, which has always been model-maintained and developed, so to speak, is a real Occasion at Rose. The following variants are currently on offer, but are no longer available in all frame sizes or colours:
The new Rose Shave comes at these prices:
Thomas Musch
Publisher
