Submitted by
Nitzan Papir
a Downhiller
from Israel
Date Reviewed: 9/27/2007 6:30:13 AM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Shokef |
| Duration Product Used: |
6 months |
| Price Paid: |
$4500 |
| Purchased At: |
Rosen&meents and more |
| Strengths: |
this bike has sick angles, gives u massive clearance from the top tube. i'm 1.80m and i got the S size, its excellent for me cause this bike is long as hell. very stable, has great cornering, the ICT is a very active suspension, just like the specilzied FSR but still have a great pedaling abilities. I can do climbs that i could never do with my 6"er. its way lighter then anything else with a 8" travel. |
| Weaknesses: |
when u get used to those inactive suspensions other bikes have, when u try to pull on the bars on this 1 it is so plush it just soaks what u do, so it takes time to get used to it. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Coiler, Eric Carter DH, Black Diamond, iDrive 7. |
| Bike Setup: |
Fox 36 Talas, DHX-5 Coil, Magura Luise FR 2007, Mavic 729, Hutchinson octopus 2.5, Race Face Evlove stem and handle bar, Race Face diablous Headset, sun ringle hubs. |
| Bottom Line: |
this bike is excellent for so many riding styles, all depends on how u set it up. i got it with light yet strong components so i can climb and decend without worring. its good from agressive AM to massive hard DH. |
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Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: 7/19/2007 4:39:15 AM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
The Wall, Afan |
| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$1800 |
| Purchased At: |
Freeborn |
| Strengths: |
Light, different but fast geometry, 4-bar suspension, DHX5, cool anodizing. |
| Weaknesses: |
Crap rear axle, got an alloy 150mm Orange axle machined down to replace the hardware store bolt. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Azonic/Orange XC and downhill models |
| Bike Setup: |
2005 888's with Mojo 999R cart, Chris King, Siant cranks, Hope M4's, XO mech & shifters, D321/Bulb wheels, Thompson post, Bel Air saddle. |
| Bottom Line: |
As I pile down the trails I keep considering building a full downhill spec Rogue but can't make my mind up as the head angle is a little steep and the frame very very light. Fast, techncial trails, Cwmcarn DH, Mountain Ash, normal XC type type trails like Afan etc are perfect for this bike. Mine is 38Ib and riders superbly in most situations, including the slog back up. Well balanced geometry, stiff despite the light weight, wicked fast on the tight technical stuff. The bike only really struggles on rock gardens and really harsh roots. For the price, the brand, the warranty and the function the Rogue is offers best value to the hard XC/Freeride/Light DH market in 2007. |
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Submitted by
Drew Earle
a Downhiller
from Fallbrook, San Deigo, USA
Date Reviewed: 6/17/2007 8:25:21 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Whistler, BC |
| Duration Product Used: |
Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: |
$2250 |
| Purchased At: |
Beyond Bikes |
| Strengths: |
8 inches of travel, really stiff, smoothe, smoke anodize is sick |
| Weaknesses: |
not much |
| Similar Products Tried: |
RMX, Demo 8, |
| Bike Setup: |
Manitou travis, Fox DHX, Race Face Evolve, Avid Code, Mavic wheelset, Syncros stem/bars... |
| Bottom Line: |
The rouge is stronge stiff and an all around nice bike... |
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Submitted by
Jamie Roberts
a Racer
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: 6/16/2007 12:44:04 AM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
billy t, Whakarewera, Rotorua |
| Duration Product Used: |
6 months |
| Price Paid: |
$3000 |
| Purchased At: |
Bikesmith |
| Strengths: |
Light, fast and stable in the air. Really stiff and pedals well. Very tidy anodised smoke finish. Did I mention the plushness? |
| Weaknesses: |
Doesn't affect me at 5'11" but the small should be labled Medium as it has a 23" top tube. If the blue bottom out adjuster on the fox DHX is fully out, it very very slightly touches the frame on full bottom out. I've just taken the blue adjuster off. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Orange 223, Foes Fly, Scott high octane, Giant Glory, Ellsworth Dare |
| Bike Setup: |
888 SL ATA, stans freeride-hope-DTrevolution tubeless wheels, Avid codes and Race Face diabolus finishing kit |
| Bottom Line: |
This thing loves to fly. It took me a few rides to learn 4bar after so long on a single pivot, but now you can't keep it on the floor. Stable at speed and good on the turns, this bike is real fast. Mine only weighs 38lbs so pedals the flat bits easily.
Good balanced bike but get the longest fork you can to slacken the angles. |
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Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Munich
Date Reviewed: 5/22/2007 5:46:21 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
3 months |
| Strengths: |
plush, plush, plush - awesome climbing and also FR abilities.
great finish, very good craftmanship. attention to detail. |
| Weaknesses: |
rear end could be stiffer - but it works! |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Intense Uzzi VPX |
| Bike Setup: |
Totem, Hadley wheelset, King headset, Chromag Fubar, Chromag Cutblock 002 stem, Chromag Minimalist seatpost,e-thirteen DRS, XTR shifting,Yeti Lock On's,Crank Brothers 5050xx, Truvativ Holzfeller cranks, Michelin C16,Maxxis Minion DH 2.7,Hope Mono M4 with floating discs,Salsa seat clamp. |
| Bottom Line: |
This bike is hell - always active on the trail and easy to climb, a great no nonsense trail weapon! |
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Submitted by
Ron Burnham
a Downhiller
from Seattle, Wa
Date Reviewed: 4/9/2007 1:31:42 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
CBC |
| Duration Product Used: |
Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: |
$5500 |
| Purchased At: |
Richards Bikes |
| Strengths: |
Light and efficient, climbs and decends incredibly well. Great craftmanship. Geometry is spot on. The "smoke" frame is beautiful. |
| Weaknesses: |
It seems too light to be used as a "big hit" bike. I probably won't take it off anything bigger than 4 or 5 feet. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Is there one? If so I haven't ridden it. |
| Bike Setup: |
8", Fox 40 RC2, DHX 5, SRAM XO, Juicy 7 |
| Bottom Line: |
I ride up as well as down and at 57, climbing was getting too slow with the Norco A-line I was riding. At 37#, the Rogue weighs about 1/3 less than the Norco but that is only half the equation. There is also with a big increase in efficiency. (Correspondingly, a big jump in the price, of course) This bike is light and fast. Pedals like my wifes 6" bike. Rode Fromme last weekend without dropping into the lowest gear ON THE BIG CHAINRING. Ok, ok, I'm an old man....don't want to hear from all you guys that pedal your downhill bikes to the top with a 40 tooth chainring.
If your family is willing to eat mac and cheese for a year, its a great way to go. Lightweight, quality, efficiency, beauty and the geometry is spot on. |
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Submitted by
cameron
a Racer
from great falls, mt, US
Date Reviewed: 12/9/2006 9:22:08 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
everything |
| Duration Product Used: |
Less than 1 month |
| Strengths: |
Frame is super light for an 8" travel frame, pedals well, jumps well, excellent all around bike |
| Weaknesses: |
It's a little tough making a rear hub work right. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
nomad, coiler, VP free, reign, big hit, scream |
| Bike Setup: |
DHX Ti spring, Zoke 66SL fork, saint cranks, Chris king/Stans ZTR freeride wheels, Mag/Ti/Carbon hayes, Sram XO brakes, Under 33 lbs |
| Bottom Line: |
This bike really does pedal with just about any 6" bike made and weighs about the same, but you get another two inches of travel. It pedals well enough that my Intense 5.5 stays home for all but the longest of cross country rides. I bought it for super agressive trail riding and some downhilling, and it works better than I could have imagined. It wouldn't be a good bike for downhill racing because of the head tube angle. But for all other forms of agressive riding that 6" of travel just isn't enough, it works great. Bottom line, If you don't have one- BUY ONE, you will not regret it. |
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Submitted by
Ade Bennett
a Downhiller
from Manchester
Date Reviewed: 11/4/2006 2:24:14 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
3 months |
| Price Paid: |
$1360 |
| Purchased At: |
Freeborn |
| Strengths: |
Stunning design that does actually work. Suspension is active in all situations, including braking. Frame is light for the travel, standover clearance is great (mind you I am 6'3"). Great frame for a taller rider - long top tube won't suit everyone, but I find it perfect. Pedals long slog to tops of trails very well, and does climb techy stuff pretty good too. |
| Weaknesses: |
Would like a lighter rear bolt-through bolt/ axle.
Had to find a VERY long seatpost (Thomson elite works superbly) |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Kona Coiler dee-lux, VP-Free, Intense-Uzzi + 6.6, SC-Nomad, Yeti-ASX |
| Bike Setup: |
Boxxer Team(2006), Dual ring+bash, single track rims/ Hope-pro2s, el-caminos, Thomson seatpost (410mm), EA70 bars/ stem, DHX-5 (450 spring) |
| Bottom Line: |
Awesome - really pleased I changed from my last bike (which I actually quite liked, but this is way ahead)
Also, damn sight cheaper than the VP-Free/ Uzzi/ 6.6/ Nomad etc. |
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Submitted by
Rob Jacobs
a Downhiller
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: 9/18/2006 4:56:59 AM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Aston Hill |
| Duration Product Used: |
3 months |
| Price Paid: |
$1000 |
| Purchased At: |
From a friend |
| Strengths: |
Simple yet very effective. Very little peddle bob and accelerates amazingly well. An all round great light use DH or strong FR frame. I use it as my DH bike and I love it, it's fast and nimble in the corners and takes the drops well. It also pedals XC between the DH bits surprisingly well. |
| Weaknesses: |
Low BB height means the pedals hit the ground more than previous DH bikes. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Dare, Joker, and many more..... |
| Bike Setup: |
Rogue with Fox Shock and Ti spring. Stendec'd Dorado MRD X-Works, Deemax Wheels, Chris King Headset, Diabolous Cranks, V12 Mag pedals, Hope Mono 6 brakes, Carbon azonic bars etc etc. |
| Bottom Line: |
An awesome bike, buy one. Strong and light all rounder. |
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Submitted by
Dave Taylor
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: 3/12/2006 12:24:10 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Pleney, Morzine |
| Duration Product Used: |
Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: |
$2000 |
| Purchased At: |
Freeborn cycles |
| Strengths: |
Utterly flawless finish and quality. Proven 4-bar back end. 8" of super plush travel. Light for a freerider (8.5lb claimed by importer, though i've not checked it). Love it or hate it the anodised finish is lighter and a lot more durable than powder coating. Downhill travel with pedalable geometry. Lower b/b than the Dare it replaces. Massively stiff rear with 12mm bolt through. Full travel seat post, fox dhx5. Do i need to go on It's an Ellsworth!!!!!, oh and the warranty! 2 years no quibble! (good to see a boutique brand backing their product)
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| Weaknesses: |
I'm struggling!!!! O.k they USED to be expensive in the U.K. Not any more, i think the Rogue is probably cheaper here than in the States. (Thats got to be a first) |
| Similar Products Tried: |
RM7, Bullit, Shockwave 9.5, |
| Bike Setup: |
888rc2x, race face cranks, bulb hubs, magura louiseFR brakes, e13 srs, sram x9 shifter and mech, 34t ring on front (gets you up most stuff on a single ring). Basically proven D/H Freeride stuff |
| Bottom Line: |
I looked at most stuff on the market VPFree, Uzzi VPX, Enduro SX, Performance came above price, and the Rogue in my opinion left everything else for dead. Just a massive bonus that it's £1250 in the u.k. Thats £50 more than an Enduro SX!!!!! Get real. This frame pedals SERIOUSLY well, i would quite happily ride it all day. If you want a frame which is a massive allrounder with a serious leaning towards gravitational assistance, this is it. Probably not slack enough as an out and out downhiller, but then you can ride this up as well. I like the fact that Ellsworth have stuck to and improved on their designs for years (i.e ICT). No gimmicks, just a suspension system that works on a totally sorted bike. I always felt that the Bullit was THE allrounder, the Rogue has just moved the bar several notches above the competition. |
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