From icy ski slopes to juicy loamers: as an established winter sports brand, Rossignol have spent the past few years working on a suitable two-wheeled companion. Their early moves into the MTB world still relied on open-mould frames, but 2025 marks the beginning of a new chapter. The brand-new Rossignol Heretic is the first frame the French manufacturer developed entirely in-house. This aluminium bike with a four-bar rear suspensio pairs 170/165 mm of travel and retails at € 6,200 in the top spec variant. That’s plenty of reasons for us to bring a newcomer into our enduro comparison test and see whether it can hold its own against the established competition.
For an overview of the test field head to the comparison test: The best enduro bike of 2026
Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type: Specs and details
The Rossignol Heretic is available in three spec variants,with oprices ranging between € 3,300 and € 6,200 for the top-spec version we tested, which makes it the second-cheapest bike in this test field after the Radon JAB 10.0. At 17.1 kg in size XL, it’s on the heavier side for an analogue enduro bike. The purple finish is the only colour option, and while the welds are clean rather than smoothed, the internal cable routing with threaded ports ensures a solid, tidy overall look.
The rest of the frame details are just as practical. Generous chainstay and seatstay protection, a mudguard on the main pivot, a tool mount underneath the top tube, a bottle cage on the downtube and a neatly hidden multitool inside the downtube protector all show that Rossignol have really thought this bike through. There is even a little Easter egg on the underside of the non-drive-side chainstay. “May the loam be with you” is just one of more than twenty randomly selected phrases that can appear on the frame.
Solidly built, stable and easy-going. The Heretic gets a lot right, even if it doesn’t quite lead the field in any single discipline.
For the suspension, Rossignol rely on a FOX 38 Factory fork with GRIP X2 damper and a matching FOX FLOAT X2 Factory shock, both offering a broad range of adjustments. Powerful SRAM Maven Bronze brakes with 200 mm rotors do stopping duties, while shifting is taken care of by a wireless SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission drivetrain. DT Swiss supply the aluminium E1900s wheelset, which is paired the ever-popular tire combo of a MAXXIS Assegai up front and a Minion DHR II at the back, both in the medium-soft MaxxTerra compound. If you want a bit more bite, you should upgrade the front tire to the MaxxGrip compound.
The bike comes standard with EXO+ casings front and rear, which are too flimsy for proper enduro use, especially at the rear. We recommend upgrading to the tougher Doubledown version, just as we did on our test bike. The SDG dropper offers 200 mm of travel on the size XL frame, and the Burgtec aluminium cockpit adds a pleasant touch of compliance. All in all, the spec is high quality, sensibly chosen and, apart from the tire choice, ready for serious enduro riding.
Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type
Specifications
Fork FOX 38 FLOAT Factory GRIP X2 170 mm
Rear Shock FOX FLOAT X2 Factory 165 mm
Seatpost SDG Tellis 2.0 200 mm
Brakes SRAM MAVEN Bronze 200/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission 10-52; 32
Stem Burgtec Enduro MK3 42,5 mm
Handlebar Burgtec Ride Wide Enduro Alloy 800 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss EX1700 29
Tires MAXXIS ASSEGAI, 3C MaxxTerra, EXO+/MAXXIS Minion DHRII, 3C MaxxTerra, Doubledown 2.5/2.4
Technical Data
Size S, M, L, XL
Specific Features
tool
Tuning tip: Fit a tire with MAXXIS’ MaxxGrip compound and switch to a tougher Doubledown casing at the rear.
The Geometry of the Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type
The Rossignol Heretic comes in four sizes, S to XL, which according to the manufacturer offers a suitable option for riders between 1.50 and 2.00 m tall. Reach values grow in 25-millimetre increments from 439 mm (size S) to 514 mm (XL). Chainstays are 437 mm across the board, which is on the shorter side of the spectrum in this test field. The seat tube angle measures a slack 73.6 degrees, while the head angle sits at 64.5º, which is a touch steeper average in this test. The 470-millimetre seat tube on the XL frame provides plenty of room for long-travel dropper posts.
A flip chip on the chainstay lets you adjust the head angle, bottom bracket drop and chainstay length. You also need this flip chip if you want to convert the Heretic to a mullet setup.
| Size* | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Tube | 385 mm | 410 mm | 440 mm | 470 mm |
| Top Tube | 570.9 mm | 596.8 mm | 624.7 mm | 652.5 mm |
| Head Tube | 100 mm | 105 mm | 120 mm | 135 mm |
| Head Angle | 64.5° | 64.5° | 64.5° | 64.5° |
| Seat Angle | 73,6° | 73,6° | 73,6° | 73,6° |
| Chainstay | 437 mm | 437 mm | 437 mm | 437 mm |
| BB Drop | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,210.6 mm | 1,237.8 mm | 1,269.2 mm | 1,300.7 mm |
| Reach | 439 mm | 464 mm | 489 mm | 514 mm |
| Stack | 625.9 mm | 630.4 mm | 643.9 mm | 657.5 mm |
*The geometry of the Rossignol Heretic in the High-Setup.
The Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type on the trail
The Rossignol Heretic places you in a comfortable, upright pedalling position. On the climbs, though, you’ll have to put in a bit more physical effort. The suspension bobs noticeably even with the climb switch engaged, and the overall weight makes itself noticeable. On the positive side, the tires roll efficiently, the Heretic maintains excellent traction and the front wheel remains planted even on steeper ramps.
Pointing downhill, the Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type immediately feels well balanced. The weight distribution between front and rear is spot on, although the bike feels noticeably stretched thanks to the long 514-mm reach, which makes it the longest bike in the entire test field. The tall front end underlines the stretched feeling and results in a stable yet very extended position on the bike. With the flip chip in the Attack position, the handling is sufficiently agile, although the Rossignol never feels entirely playful. In tight sections the Heretic needs a more active riding style than the nippier bikes in this test. A bit more pop would really help, as the bike sits on the more demanding side and clearly needs firm rider input when you change direction.
The Heretic favours calm over chaos. It’s a bike that prefers charging straight and steady to dancing through tight corners.
The firm suspension offers a solid blend of composure and traction. It works in a predictable, controlled way, without really shining in any single discipline. The bike’s length ensures excellent composure at higher speeds, while the firmer suspension stops the Heretic from straying into full-on downhill territory. All things considered, the Heretic GX T-Type is a steady, easy-going all-rounder that’s easy to control, and performs confidently in a wide range of situations. It doesn’t deliver any real fireworks on the way down, but instead glides along the trail like a long, confidence-inspiring trail ship.
Who should take a closer look at the Rossignol Heretic?
The Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type is aimed at riders who want a solid, hard-wearing enduro bike that does its job reliably without any fuss. With its sturdy aluminium frame and wheels, plus the similarly tough spec, the Heretic is built to cope with a rough riding style over the long haul. Give the tires a small upgrade and you get a dependable shredder that feels at home not only on singletrack but also on steep and demanding terrain.
Conclusions about the Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type
The Heretic GX T-Type shows that Rossignol can do far more than winter sports. Its sturdy aluminium frame and tough componentry create a stable, no-nonsense bike that really comes into its own on demanding terrain. It may carry a bit of extra weight and the suspension shows some movement on the climbs, but once you point it downhill you get a well-judged blend of composure, control and easy handling. If you are after a reliable, honest enduro bike that delivers on hard trails without dramas, the Heretic GX T-Type is a loyal companion.
Tops
- Balanced, intuitive handling
- Good blend of composure and agility
- Mostly well-chosen kit
Flops
- Not particularly agile in the Attack setting
- Inefficient on the climbs
For more information, visit Rossignol.
The Testfield
For an overview of the test field head to the comparison test: The best enduro bike of 2026
All bikes on test: GHOST POACHA FULL PARTY (Click for review) | Instinctiv Kodiak MX 150 (Click for review) | Lapierre Spicy CF Team (Click for review) | LAST COAL V4 (Click for review) | MERIDA ONE-SIXTY 10K (Click for review) | Orbea Rallon E-LTD (Click for review) | Pivot Firebird Team XX Eagle Transmission (Click for review) | Propain Spindrift (Click for review) | RADON JAB 10.0 (Click for review) | Rossignol Heretic GX T-Type | Santa Cruz Bullit X0 AXS RSV (Click for review) | Starling Mega MurMur (Click for review) | Trek Fuel LX 9.8 XT Di2 Gen 7 (Click for review) | Yeti LTE T4 (Click for review)
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Words: Lars Engmann Photos: Peter Walker
