Rose File Plus review - my antithesis to the Avinox

The first balmy spring afternoon passes. I look at the Rose File Plus in front of me, the color is called Dusk, and I see the sunset on the coast of California, the Sixties; I see myself, somewhere between Silicon Valley and San Francisco. No, this isn't a scene from GTA San Andreas, the whisper-quiet TQ60 motor doesn't have 1,500 watts that would let me flee from the police. I don't need superlatives, just a suitable bike to wander through the Redwoods in my mind. It smells of pine needles, it smells like home — it could just as well be Bad Vöslau. Suddenly I'm back in the here and now and I realize what fascinates me so much about this bike.

The TQ-HPR60 is a motor just to my taste. It may not have the punch of a Bosch SX, which as a lightweight motor can briefly deliver a few extra watts uphill, but it impresses with its whisper-quiet performance. Subjectively, it’s one of the quietest motors I’ve ever ridden and definitely one with sensational control — especially for riding uphill or for getting going on a slope. During our photo shoots it’s inevitable to ride in circles, ride off uphill or push it back down. And it’s precisely here that you can clearly feel how smoothly and yet powerfully enough the motor engages. Even without a launch assist there is hardly any wheel slip in steep terrain or the feeling of losing control because the front wheel rears up. The geometry of the Rose File Plus does the rest.

The XTR Di2 shifts butter-smoothly and the levers are arranged exactly as my thumb wants them. Using an app, you can set modes such as Hold-Down-Multi-Shift, Click-Through-Double-Shift, or Locked-Out-Single-Shift; the shifter also has a programmable third button that, for example in combination with a Garmin, lets you scroll through the training pages at the press of a button.

The 580 Wh battery is the second big star in the interplay of components. While I have always perceived the smaller TQ HPR 290 and 360 as a good compromise, the large 580 Wh battery on the Rose File Plus feels like an energy monster. Admittedly it doesn't seem huge compared to some full-e-MTB batteries, but thanks to the high efficiency and the relatively modest peak power of the TQ‑HPR60, the 580 Wh lasts what feels like an eternity. The TQ display in the top tube not only looks elegant, but is also extremely clear in terms of layout and provides information about the current status, such as motor and rider power, battery capacity, range and so on.

Even in downhill riding, the low weight of the Rose File Plus makes a positive difference. The bike is really lively. If I had to position it between my Mondraker Foxy (bio) MTB and my photo bike (Rose Root Miller Plus), it would sit noticeably closer to the Foxy. The reduced travel of 140 mm up front and 130 mm in the rear only comes into play in really rough terrain and at higher speeds. For the majority of our trails in the south of Vienna, the File Plus is just right when it comes to the suspension.

A ride on the singletracks and jumpline of the Wexl Trails was also great fun on the File Plus. I like e‑bikes that demand a somewhat more active riding style without overwhelming you. The Rose exactly fits that bill, provides good feedback, can be impeccably controlled in all situations and thrown into corners. The visually very successful and, above all, stiff cockpit certainly contributes to the good handling. Nothing rattles, nothing creaks, and the XTR brakes slow things down well, although the discs (rotors) themselves are the only criticism of the bike I found.

Intended use

The Rose File Plus XTR is, to me, a prime example of a lightweight e-MTB and shows how relaxed, agile, and natural these e-bikes ride nowadays. The TQ motor doesn't provide a brutal shove. You do have to contribute a bit of effort yourself, but you're still supported with enough power — and above all rewarded with huge range and riding enjoyment.

Far more important than continually pushing the power limits of e-bikes, in my opinion, is bringing well-tuned, quiet, and smart e-bikes like the File Plus to market, so as not to completely dilute the authentic mountain-bike experience. Uphill, the TQ is a motor you can barely hear and it feels like you've had a solid serving of spinach for breakfast — not like you've instantly become Popeye.

On the descents, the weight, travel, and tuning of the Rose File Plus are spot on and provide exactly the fun you'd expect from a capable, modern trail bike. With the Rose File Plus XTR, development is heading exactly in the direction I envision for modern e-trail bikes.