Backroad Plus
Origin
ROSE Bikes is a German family-run manufacturer founded in 1907 in Bocholt, North Rhine-Westphalia, and one of the pioneers of the direct-to-consumer bicycle model in Europe. The Backroad is ROSE's flagship gravel platform and earned a strong reputation in the analog gravel scene for its comfortable endurance geometry and versatility. Around 2021-2022 ROSE electrified that platform to create the Backroad Plus, fitting Shimano's compact EP8 drive unit and a 360 Wh battery fully inside a carbon frame so the bike keeps a clean, near-stealth silhouette. Rather than build a single e-gravel bike, ROSE offered one motorised frame in four personalities - gravel (drop bar), fitness/flatbar, urban and randonneur - to reach a broad audience of commuters, tourers and newcomers, positioning the Plus as an 'assistance for everyone' companion rather than a race machine.
Specifications
- Frame
- Carbon (all Backroad Plus trims)
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- 1x11 Shimano; varies by trim: GRX RX600/RX810 Di2 (gravel), Deore/SLX (flatbar/fitness), GRX RD-RX812 on EQ
- Brakes
- Shimano hydraulic disc, 180 mm front / 160 mm rear (GRX or Deore-level by trim)
- Wheels
- 700c / 28" tubeless-ready gravel wheels
The verdict
- Powerful, beginner-friendly Shimano EP8 mid-drive (85 Nm) that climbs and covers distance effortlessly
- Stable, comfortable endurance geometry with plenty of mounting points - excellent for commuting, touring and light bikepacking
- Clean, stealthy full-carbon integration; the EQ trim comes fully equipped with lights, rack and fenders
- Only a 360 Wh non-removable battery - modest capacity for such a strong motor, and it must be charged with the bike indoors
- Stiff carbon frame with no suspension gives a rough ride on genuinely rough gravel
- Long chainstays make it stable but 'not very playful' - sluggish and less agile on tight, twisty terrain
Generations
2021-2023 launch generation
- Original Backroad Plus rollout - gravel, fitness/flatbar, urban and randonneur builds on one carbon frame.
2025 EQ / current
- Fully-equipped commuter/tourer trim: integrated lights, rack, fenders, kickstand; heavier (~17 kg) but turn-key. Battery capacity unchanged at 360 Wh.
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | Backroad Plus GRX RX810 Di2 | Backroad Plus GRX RX600 | Backroad Plus Flatbar / Fitness | CurrentBackroad Plus EQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2022 | 2022 | 2023 | 2025 |
| Drivetrain | Shimano GRX RX810 Di2 1x11 (electronic) | Shimano GRX RX600 1x11 (mechanical) | Shimano Deore/SLX 1x11 (flat bar) | Shimano GRX RD-RX812 1x11 |
| Brakes | Shimano GRX hydraulic 180/160 mm | Shimano GRX hydraulic 180/160 mm | Shimano hydraulic disc 180/160 mm | Shimano GRX hydraulic 180/160 mm |
| MSRP | €5,699 | €3,999 | €3,999 | €4,999 |
| Purpose | Flagship | Value | Balanced | Balanced |
Tags
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