Brand-new: Rose Reveal Plus

With the Reveal, Rose entered its new, modern design era in 2020 via its new, modern design era. Now the endurance racer once again marks the beginning of something new: it is, if you consider gravel bikes a separate category, the direct-to-consumer maker's first road bike to come to market electrified.
It's Mahle's X20, presented just a few months ago, that is supposed to give Reveal Plus riders more range, power and fun. Accordingly light – the rear-hub motor weighs only 3.2 kg including battery and small parts – and almost indistinguishable as an e-bike, the new development presents itself: according to the manufacturer, the top model equipped with Ultegra Di2, priced at around €6,499, weighs 10.9 kg. The entry-level model equipped with a mechanical 105 groupset weighs 400 grams more at €3,999.

The basis of the Reveal Plus is, of course, the eponymous endurance race bike with a comfortable riding position and good damping. For the integration of the battery & co., a correspondingly modified carbon platform was naturally required.
Thus, on the Reveal Plus, alongside the battery invisibly integrated into the down tube, there is a discreetly integrated control unit in the top tube, a charging port positioned above the bottom bracket and - for that you’ll need a fairly trained eye - the so‑called connector at the rear left dropout, responsible for the wireless connection between the hub motor and the bike.
Beyond that, externally there is virtually nothing to reveal about the E-Power.

Tech Specs

With a reach of 368 - 411 mm and a stack of 537 - 632, the electrified Reveal is within +/- 1 mm of the conventional model, but it distributes this range across only five instead of seven sizes (XS-XL). With regard to the other dimensions, there are corresponding, minor deviations. In general, however, the Reveal Plus falls in the area of a 73° head angle and a 74.5° seat angle, a 1,000 mm wheelbase and 415 mm chainstay length as well as an 802 mm standover height (all figures for size M).
According to Rose, the tyre clearance of the e-road bike is 33 mm, i.e. one millimetre above Reveal level — which is well utilized by the factory-mounted tyres (Conti GP 5000 in 32C).

The endurance genes don't just show in the integrated, swept-back carbon handlebar–stem unit reserved for the top model, which also adorns the conventional Reveal and is intended to combine ergonomics and control with aerodynamic advantages. The low-set seatstays together with the D-shaped carbon seatpost also certainly contribute significantly to a welcome amount of flex and vibration damping — and consequently comfort on long days.

The angular-shaped carbon frame is available either in Borealis Green or Matt/Carbon Gold. Or, as Rose puts the choice between the green–purple shimmering metallic effect and the matte dark grey: funky or plain.

For more range, an extra hit of power on climbs, smaller performance differences in groups and still pure road-bike performance, the Mahle X20 hub motor is supposed to deliver.
Mounted to the rear wheel with a 12 mm thru-axle and installed without cables, this system offers, compared with mid-drive motors, the advantage that the Q-factor does not change and frames can remain as compact as usual. The X20 in particular is also distinguished by a very low weight – only 1.4 kg is attributable to the motor itself. Without having ridden the Mahle yet, we dare to claim that this plus will not noticeably impair the handling.

The X20 basically delivers about 23 Nm at the rear wheel, which corresponds to roughly 55 Nm in mid-drive motors. It is powered by a 250 Wh battery that can be charged to 80% within two hours.
If you need more juice, you can use the bottle-shaped range extender (185 Wh), increasing the range from up to 100 km to up to 170 km.

The motor is operated via the iWoc One Button neatly recessed into the top tube, through which three assistance levels can be accessed. Intelligent technology is intended to provide an individualized riding experience: an elaborate sensor package measures acceleration, speed, torque, temperature and cadence and continuously adapts the drive to the person in the saddle using AI and machine learning.
Via the Mahle app and thanks to BT and ANT+ connectivity, the individual assistance levels can be even better aligned and adjusted to personal preferences. In addition, the app and web solutions provide plenty of other information and configuration options, from consumption management and health data to ride data analysis, battery status and much more.

Available, and partly already now, but at the latest within 9 weeks, are two equipment variants that essentially differ in terms of groupset, cockpit and wheels. While the Reveal Plus 105 is delivered with the eponymous mechanical 2x11-speed Shimano groupset (50/34, 11-34 t.), a Ritchey Comp Streem handlebar plus Rose Square aluminum stem and Rose R-Thirty Plus Light aluminum wheels, the Reveal Plus Ultegra Di2 comes with the corresponding electronically shifting 2x12-speed groupset (50/34, 11-34 t.), the above-mentioned Rose Endurance One-Piece cockpit and higher-profile Rose RC-Forty/Fifty Disc carbon wheels.
Accordingly the price points differ: The entry-level model, weighing 11.3 kg according to the manufacturer, is available for €3,999, while the top model, at a slight 10.9 kg, costs €6,499