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The race version of the Shave will be the Unibet Rose Rockets' workhorse for the 2026 season. The commercial version of the Shave FFX presents itself - in contrast to the brightly coloured team bike of Dylan Groenewegen & Co. - strikingly inconspicuous: plain-coloured and almost entirely without lettering, but with clear lines. This new design language is to be continued in future Rose models. The designers have even dispensed with a head tube logo. Compared to its predecessor, the Xlite, the frame only appears to have been carefully revised: The down tube has been given a more pronounced aero profile, the front and seat tube have been made slightly slimmer and longer, and the fork also looks more aerodynamic.
Top in the wind tunnel, but hardly any tuning potential
From a technical point of view, the model caused a stir in the TOUR editorial team long before its use in the professional circuit became an issue. As a prototype, we were able to test the Shave FFX in the wind tunnel last year. We had to keep the results under wraps until the official launch of the bike. The measurements promised a big hit. With 205 watts, the Shave FFX delivers first-class performance in this discipline and ranks among many specialised aero bikes from well-known competitors.
Compared to its predecessor Xlite, it gains more than ten watts. One of the fastest specialists, which like the Storck Aerfast.5 break the 200 watt mark in our test set-up, there is still some room for improvement. There is hardly any room for improvement, because with high rims and special aero tyres from Schwalbe, which are fitted to all equipment variants of the Shave FF, there is hardly any tuning potential left.
Dream weight and dream grade
But Rose promises with the Shave FFX an all-rounder that should also impress with its low weight. Our production model fulfils this promise: a total weight of 6.7 kilograms is a real challenge at this aerodynamic level. The lightweight frame set - Rose communicates 795 grams for the frame and 370 grams for the fork - contributes to this, as do the carbon spokes, both features of the top versions. Only a few models manage a similar balancing act.
Because the frame set is extremely stiff in the bottom bracket, the Rockets are on paper an almost ideal work tool for all types of riders. Well-trained professionals will be able to cope with the fact that the comfort of the bike is not above average. In the TOUR test, the Shave FFX only just missed out on the previous top score of 1.5, which currently stands at 1.5. Canyon Aeroad, Scott Foil, Scott Addict and Specialised Tarmac share.
Aggressive racing geometry
But it's not just in the TOUR lab that the Rose looks more race-tuned than the previous Xlite. The geometry has been significantly sharpened, the handlebars are lower than before and there is a lot of weight on the front wheel. With the offset-free seat post, the rider sits far forward above the bottom bracket and can optimally convert his power into propulsion. The bike is extremely manoeuvrable on the road. A shorter wheelbase and steeper angles, as well as the lightweight wheels, make the bike feel livelier than we are used to from the rather well-balanced Rose racers. Once up to speed, the tyres fitted with TPU tubes roll almost automatically, and the stiff chassis reacts perfectly on steep climbs and fast descents.
Inexpensive top material
Overall, there are hardly any criticisms of the top version tested, as the price-performance ratio is also impressive: With Shimano's Dura-Ace, the Shave FFX available for 8000 euros, some premium brands can charge twice as much for such a set-up. A power meter is included with all variants, with the Shimano variants having a power meter from 4iiii. The cheaper FF derivatives come with a slightly heavier frame set (additional weight according to the manufacturer: 75 grams) and with steel spokes in the wheels. With Shimano Ultegra Di2 (5600 Euro) or SRAM Force AXS (5900 Euro) they should weigh just over seven kilos, with the same aero performance.
Shave FFX Red AXS: TOUR grade and results
- Price: 8500 Euro >> available here
- Weight of complete wheel: 6.7 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, M/L, L, XL (test size greased)
- TOUR grade: 1,6
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 490/550/135 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 549/391 millimetres/1.40
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 616/584 millimetres/1.05
- Wheelbase/caster: 990/56 millimetres
EQUIPMENT
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Red AXS (2x12; 50/37, 10-33 t.; PM) | Grade: 1.0
- Brakes: SRAM Red AXS (160/160 mm) | Grade: 1.0
- Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One Aero 28 mm | Grade: 1.0
- Impellers: Rose RC55CS
- Impeller weights: 1052/1421 grams (v./h.)
MEASURED VALUES
- Weight of complete wheel: 6.7 kilos | Grade: 1.7
- Driving stability: 8.5 N/mm | Grade: 1.7
- Rear comfort: 169 N/mm | Grade: 2.7
- Comfort front: 109 N/mm | Grade: 3.0
- Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness: 71 N/mm | Grade: 1.0
Advantages
- Very light
- Top aerodynamics
- Comparatively inexpensive
Disadvantages
- none
Jens Klötzer
Editor
