First ride review: 2022 Rossignol Heretic XT – When snow becomes loam

French winter sports brand Rossignol make their debut in the mountain bike market. The Heretic enduro bike comes with different wheel sizes, depending on the frame size, 160 mm travel front and rear and good components at a fair price. Can Rossignol transfer their snow know-how to loam? We found out in our first ride review.

By definition, a heretic is a person with an opinion that differs from that which is generally accepted. So, can the new Rossignol Heretic XT offer a completely new approach to enduro bikes? What can we expect from the French winter sports brand’s debut in the mountain bike sector?

Rossignol have a storied company history and are currently one of the world’s largest winter sports brands, offering skis of all kinds as well as boots, bindings and snowboards. For 2022, the company are expanding into the mountain bike sector, launching a trail, enduro and eMTB. The enduro bike was developed with the help of an EWS team led by Clément and Estelle Charles, providing the first spy shots. Depending on the frame size, the Rossignol Heretic comes with 27.5″ or 29″ wheels, offering 160 mm travel front and rear and theoretically ticking all the right boxes with good components at a fair price. At first glance, the bike appears rather inconspicuous, so it’s not a revolution in terms of looks, but how does it ride?

The 2022 Rossignol Heretic XT in detail

When you first see the Rossignol Heretic, the word that springs to mind isn’t heretical but, rather, conventional. An aluminium bike with a classic Horst-link rear triangle, skinny tubes, a large brace on the seat tube and a raised lower shock mount. The front triangle is spacious enough to accommodate a water bottle and there is a tool mount on the top tube. A closer look reveals little weaknesses in the workmanship: the weld seams look a bit thick, especially on the rear triangle. The colours of the front triangle and rear end don’t match, and a clear edge at the top of the seat tube reveals that the entire frame is covered in a thick layer of clear coat. There certainly is room for improvement here. The drive-side chainstay is covered with a generously sized rubber protector that does its job well and keeps the bike nice and quiet on the trail. However, the down tube is unprotected – apart from 3 cm of clear coat – leaving it exposed to the stones and dirt being flung at it from the front tire. Rossignol are aware of this, promising to fit rubber down tube protectors on the next batch of bikes to be produced.

All cables are routed through the front triangle and exit the frame through a small plastic cover by the bottom bracket. From here, the cables are routed externally and tied down with cable ties. It’s functional but not the neatest looking, adding to the bike’s somewhat outdated look. The same applies to the dropper post cable, which also emerges from the plastic cover on the down tube and is then fed back into the seat tube just above it.

Components and models of the 2022 Rossignol Heretic

The Heretic is offered in three configurations, all of which share the same aluminium frame and are equipped with Shimano components for the gears and brakes. All models feature RockShox suspension and the same MAXXIS tire combination. However, only the flagship Heretic XT model uses the more robust EXO+ casing on the rear wheel, although we believe this is the more appropriate casing for all the builds. The bikes can be ordered online, are priced between € 2,799 and € 4,699, and primarily aimed at beginners and budget-conscious riders.

Components of the 2022 Rossignol Heretic XT test bike

We tested the 16.0 kg flagship Heretic XT model. As the name suggests, it comes equipped with 12-speed XT drivetrain components throughout and four-piston XT brakes. The XT groupset has proven itself in the past and performs just as well on the Heretic. The brakes are paired with Shimano’s 200 mm ICE-TECH rotors at the front and rear. Shimano’s ICE-TECHNOLOGIES rotors and brake pads are supposed to provide better heat dissipation and thus less fading and more consistent braking performance. We like that Rossignol have paid so much attention to braking power. Keeping the chain in place is an E*thirteen chain guide. The SRAM UDH derailleur hanger ensures that spare parts are easy to come when necessary.

The suspension is provided by RockShox and consists of a ZEB Ultimate fork and a Super Deluxe Ultimate air shock. The fork features the high-quality Charger 2.1 damper, allowing you to adjust the rebound as well as the high- and low-speed compression settings. The shock comes with a lockout function and gives you the option to adjust the rebound and low-speed compression.

Rossignol rely on E*thirteen to supply the cockpit, made up of an aluminium bar and stem measuring 800 mm wide and 50 mm long. The shifter and dropper remote are attached to the brake clamps via the I-SPEC standard, keeping the cockpit tidy. However, the 150 mm KS LEV INTEGRA seat post doesn’t offer much freedom of movement on the bike when you hit a descent. Due to the unusual cable routing by the bottom bracket, you also have to make sure to feed the cable through while adjusting the saddle height. That said, the Shimano dropper remote requires little effort to operate.

The Heretic we tested rolls on aluminium E*thirteen LG1+ Enduro rims laced to Shimano XT hubs. However, the production model will come with E*thirteen LG1+ Trail rims instead. For the tires, Rossignol rely on MAXXIS models featuring the MaxxTerra rubber compound. You’ll find a 2.5″ ASSEGAI with the EXO casing up front, and there’s a 2.4″ Minion DHR ll with the updated EXO+ casing on the rear. The tread profile is fit for the purpose, but we’d recommend upgrading to tires with a thicker casing such as the MAXXIS Doubledown variant. The more affordable builds rely on the same tires, but with the thin EXO casing at the rear too. In that case, upgrading the tires makes even more sense. We’d also like the softer MaxxGrip rubber compound at the front for more cornering traction.

Geometry of the 2022 Rossignol Heretic

The Heretic is offered in 5 sizes from XS to XL. In sizes M to XL, the bike rolls on 29″ wheels, while the XS and S models come with 27.5″ wheels. In addition, the chainstay length is reduced by 10 mm and the handlebars are 40 mm narrower on the two smallest sizes. The reach measures 477 mm on the size L frame, which is normal for a modern enduro bike, albeit on the shorter side of the spectrum. The seat tube is quite long at 460 mm, further restricting freedom of movement in combination with the 150 mm dropper post. The 64.5° head angle is on the more conservative side too.

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL
Top tube	570 mm	580 mm	606 mm	635 mm	661 mm
Seat tube	380 mm	390 mm	430 mm	460 mm	490 mm
Head tube	100 mm	100 mm	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm
Head angle	64,5°	64,5°	64,5°	64,5°	64,5°
Seat angle	77°	77°	77°	77°	77°
BB Drop	20 mm	20 mm	30 mm	30 mm	30 mm
Chainstay	435 mm	435 mm	445 mm	445 mm	445 mm
Wheelbase	1180 mm	1190 mm	1225 mm	1257 mm	1284 mm
Reach	422 mm	432 mm	450 mm	477 mm	500 mm
Stack	585 mm	590 mm	620 mm	630 mm	640 mm

The 2022 Rossignol Heretic XT on the trail

You’ll feel comfortable the moment you swing your leg over the Rossignol Heretic XT. The riding position is nicely centred on the bike, keeping you upright while placing minimal pressure on your hands. However, the rear suspension bobs heavily when you start pedalling. On climbs up woodland paths, you’ll want to reach for the lockout lever, which is easily accessible. The riding position remains comfortable on moderate inclines, making the bike suitable for long tours. The Rossignol performs inconspicuously in these situations, allowing you to stay relaxed as you gain altitude, albeit leisurely due to the bike’s heft. However, you’ll find yourself positioned too far over the rear wheel on steep inclines, forcing you to actively lean forward to keep the front wheel planted.

Once you arrive at the trailhead and start the descent, you can feel the suspension responding sensitively. When you pump the bike, the rear suspension uses its travel generously, which makes for a plush ride and provides lots of traction over roots or through open corners. At the same time, it retains enough reserves to absorb bigger hits or drops to flat.

One of the disadvantages of such sensitive suspension is that the bike doesn’t feel playful, requiring a lot of effort to catch air off small lips or quickly change direction. You can also feel the suspension sag through g-outs and absorb a lot of your energy when you want to sprint. Even trying to manual the bike requires a lot of strength. On the other hand, the Heretic distributes your weight evenly between the front and rear, making for intuitive handling.

Unlike the name suggests, the Rossignol Heretic XT relies on a simple design and leaves a lot to be desired regarding the details and workmanship. However, it’s robust and mostly well-specced considering the € 4,699 price point. The Heretic offers intuitive handling on the trail and is an interesting option for beginners who will benefit from the grip and reserves offered by the plush suspension. Aggressive riders or those who want a playful bike will find the suspension lacking in support.

For more information on the new Rossignol Heretic, visit rossignol.com. You’ll find our review of the Rossignol Mandate Shift eMTB in our sister magazine.

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Words: Simon Kohler Photos: Mike Hunger