Biketest: Rose Granite Chief 650B 2014

In these times of enduro racing, Enduro World Series, and Strava, we sometimes forget what mountain biking is all about: riding fun, action, nature, and sheer pleasure. We had all of that and a lot more in Lermoos, Austria.

Together with Petrick Brückner and Joost Wichmann we painted the trails red around Lermoos and the local bathing lake! Everyone who knows these two riders also knows that they can really turn it on. But even for them, true speed requires the utmost concentration and a certain level of stress – which is something you do not really want from an everyday ride. ’Trail cruisin’ and enjoying nature were the name of the game during press camp. Fortunately, the Granite Chief was a perfect fit for this purpose! Why? You will find out here:

The Granite Chief can be individually tailored by Rose’s on-line bike configurator, which is why we will not go into detail regarding the components. The developer Max Sistenich equipped the 2014 models with a few new features:

Compared to the 2013 models, the kinematics of the 145 mm rear suspension has been changed. Now, the rear works with a lower leverage ratio and correspondingly less air pressure, reducing stress on the shock and the bearings.

In addition, the Granite Chief was adapted to industry standards by fitting a tapered steerer tube and a direct mount for the front derailleur. In another significant update, the bike now rolls on 27.5” wheels.

These alterations are immediately noticeable on the trail. In comparison to the rather progressive rear suspension of the 2013 model, the 2014 model provides a very plush feeling and, thanks to the new chassis kinematics and larger 27.5” wheels, generates more traction.

At a comfortable pace, the chassis provides good performance: it sensibly offers a lot of traction on ascents, whereas on downhills and in corners it absorbs hits due to its rather linear spring rate curve, making use of the entire travel range without bottoming out.

We would appreciate a more ‘robust’ and a more progressive suspension for aggressive riders, staying in the higher range of the travel and offering more feedback. When crossing larger hurdles or steps, the rear tends to ‘get stuck’, leading to a reduction in speed and momentum. Playing with the terrain or actively speeding ahead makes the rear suspension blow through the middle travel. An undefined handling in such situations is the result.

With 434 mm chainstays, the hard numbers would suggest they are rather short. Unfortunately, these measurements (by themselves) are not the measure of all things when it is about maneuverability and agility. A by-product of the rather longer reach of 420 mm and the high stack is that more pressure is required to push the bike in and around tight corners. Furthermore, the high standover height slightly reduces the subjective feeling of safety. Overall, the Granite Chief presents itself pretty substantially and tends to stay plush and calm on the trail.

As can be noted from its setup, and also from its rear suspension characteristics, this bike is not aimed at being the fastest, but instead offers great comfort and capability. For the custom setup, we would choose either one or two chainrings instead of the three mounted to the test bike, as well as a wider cockpit. Still, these are not points of criticism, but rather observations of personal preferences. And that is why we stopped at a nice mountain lake – after all, the focus was on the fun factor. At least in our case – as mentioned before, personal preferences come first. As we know, these never fall short at Rose either, thanks to the bike configurator!

Read more stories in our ENDURO issues – free & digital, of course!

Words: Robin Schmitt | Photo: Petrik Brückner

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.