Get out of the city and into adventure: test ride with the Rose Hobo Dropbar

Note: Rose provided me with the test bike at my request. Thanks again!

With the Hobo, Rose has an interesting bike concept to offer that is somewhat overshadowed by the gravel trend. The Hobo is actually intended as an everyday & leisure bike. It comes with a flat bar and a variable front wheel carrier, which is well suited to the needs of urban environments. But the Hobo can do much more, because with a few modifications it can also be a steel adventure bike.

An overnighter here, a longer tour there or a short holiday on your bike and just get out and about? The Rose Hobo Dropbar is ideal for this and lives up to its name.

Hobo is an American term used to describe a migrant worker or tramp (mostly/mainly men) who travelled through the USA in the first half of the 20th century, often hitchhiking or on goods trains.

The name of the Rose Hobo Dropbar picks up on this idea of free travelling and adventure. The bike is designed for long tours, independent of fixed routes – just as a classic hobo travelled without a fixed abode.

And it is actually very well suited for this.

Differences between the Hobo and Hobo Dropbar

The Rose Hobo and the Rose Hobo Dropbar are based on the same steel frame. The urban Hobo is equipped with flatbar handlebars, which offer an upright and comfortable riding position.

The Hobo Dropbar has a Ritchey Venture Max Dropbar handlebar, which enables a sportier and more aerodynamic riding position and is therefore better suited for longer tours and higher speeds.

There are also slight differences in the gearing: the Hobo comes with a Shimano or SRAM Rival groupset, either 10-/11- or 12-speed, and is designed for urban use.

The Hobo Dropbar works with a Shimano GRX 810 11-speed rear derailleur, with a 40-speed front cassette and an 11-42-speed rear cassette.

At first I had doubts as to whether the gearing would be sufficient for off-road riding with luggage, but it does this without any problems. And it shifts smoothly and precisely.

For the tyres, Rose relies on the 47mm wide WTB Venture in 650B/27.5 inch. These are mounted on Rose’s own G25 aluminium wheelset, which have an inner rim width of 25mm.

If you want it wider: I think that 50mm (for 650B/27.5 inch) wide tyres are possible. Maybe even 55mm.

Signature Look Hobo front rack

The front rack on the Hobo immediately catches the eye. As far as I understand it, this can be extended on the urban Hobo. This means that an extension can be attached to the narrower version, which also has the drop bar, turning it into a mega pizza rack. But I don’t know whether you can do the same with the Dropbar. And the front carrier is not automatically included with the normal Hobo, but has to be ordered separately.

But I received the following information from Rose:

The Hobo Dropbar comes with the Hobo Base Rack front carrier as standard – and can also be removed if required. According to Rose, the rack can carry a maximum of 5kg, which is more than enough for bikepacking. Two straps are included, but unfortunately I couldn’t find them on my bike. However, a normal luggage strap also fulfils its purpose here. There are also plenty of mounting points for the front light and other items on the underside of the carrier. A mudguard can also be attached.

In terms of price, however, there are a few hundred euros between the urban Hobo and the Bikepacking Hobo.

The Rose Hobo starts at around €1,400, while the Rose Hobo Dropbar is priced at around €1,900.

Essentially, the two models differ in that the Rose Hobo was designed for comfort-oriented use in an urban environment, while the Rose Hobo Dropbar with its specific equipment and geometry is better suited for longer tours away from paved roads. This also makes the Hobo Dropbar an interesting alternative to the Rose Backroad.

Differences between the Rose Hobo Dropbar and Rose Backroad

I got on the bike with the expectation that it was ‘just’ a beefed-up version of the urban Hobo and was therefore curious to see how it would ride.

But no: the bike is far too good just for the city! The Hobo Dropbar belongs out in nature, on forest and gravel paths.

And it’s just as fast as it is comfortable. You immediately notice the steel frame and the comfortable geo. And the propulsion was remarkable in the forest as well as on tarmac.

By the way: I am an avowed fan of artificial intelligence, especially in combination with human intelligence.

That’s why I had the AI adjust the handlebars and saddle height on the Hobo Dropbar based on my body measurements. It fitted perfectly. And also for the Fargo and lo and behold: the AI determined the same values as the bike fitting.

Hobo Dropbar robust, Backroad sporty

After I shared a video of the Hobo Dropbar on Instagram, I was asked a few times about the difference to the Rose Backroad.

In my opinion, the Hobo Dropbar is a good alternative to the Backroad, also – or especially – because there are fundamental differences.

Firstly, the wheel size: the Hobo has 650B/27.5 inch wheels, the Backroad has 700cc/28 inch wheels.

Then there’s the frame material: the Hobo has a robust frame made of 25CRM04 chrome-molybdenum steel and a carbon fork. The weight is around 11.9 kg including the front rack (weighed 12.5 kg, including bottle cage and pedals). Rose also states a weight of approx. 2900g for the frame in size M, the carbon fork is said to weigh 530g.

The Backroad relies on a lighter carbon or aluminium frame.

The differences become clearer in the geometry: the Hobo has a very large frame triangle, which is great for bags and bottles. I like the tidy design thanks to the internally routed cables. This is often a contentious issue among bikepacking fans, but I think it’s quite good, also because the panniers can then be fitted neatly. What I do miss, however, are eyelets on the top tube for attaching the top tube bag, but that’s bearable.

In addition, the Hobo Dropbar has a longer chainstay length and a slacker steering angle, which provides more stability on long tours. The Backroad, on the other hand, is more compact and aggressively cut, which makes it more agile and responsive.

This results in a more upright riding position on the Hobo, which increases comfort on long journeys and offers stability when travelling with luggage. The Backroad has a sportier, more stretched riding position that is designed for agility and speed.

In short, the Rose Hobo Dropbar is ideal for anyone looking for a robust and versatile gravel bike for adventure and bikepacking. The Rose Backroad, on the other hand, is ideal for those who prefer a light, agile and sporty gravel bike – which can also be used for bikepacking.

Riding characteristics of the Rose Hobo Dropbar

I had the Hobo Dropbar in size L for testing. That was ok, but I would also try the size M. I am 1.84m tall and have a stride length of 81cm. According to Rose, size M would have been better here. With the L, I only lowered my saddle slightly, but a saddle bag still fits.

I have ridden the Hobo Dropbar for 400 kilometres, training on my gravel routes and also on an overnighter. As mentioned above, it is very agile and rides very quickly. Even if the ride took longer, I always had the feeling that my power was being transferred very well and resulting in propulsion.

The saddle was surprisingly comfortable. I would probably have lowered the handlebars a little more to accommodate my body measurements and take the strain off my shoulders. The Venture Max dropbar is very comfortable and the ergonomic shape of the lower handlebar is pleasant and relieving. As standard, the Hobo Dropbar comes with a handlebar width of 42cm. I would probably go for a 46cm, which is more in line with my shoulder width.

Off-road, it’s also fast and tracks well. It’s really fun to ride through the forest. But be careful: with 269mm, the bottom bracket of the Hobo is not particularly high, which is why the pedals can touch down on ambitious turns. And off-road, you can easily hit an extra branch or stone.

Handling with luggage

When loaded, the difference is hardly noticeable. To be honest, I had expected the steering to be slower. But the opposite was the case. I had the tent and food pouches attached to the handlebars and a sleeping bag and sleeping mat on the hobo carrier. A half-frame bag in the frame and a 9-litre saddle bag in the back.

The whole thing wasn’t noticeable at all during the ride. I’m used to the fact that a loaded bike is very different from an unloaded one when riding. The Rose Hobo Dropbar is different and therefore a clear recommendation for Bikepacking.

With two pairs of eyelets in the frame triangle and one on the down tube, the frame also offers plenty of options for bottle cages. The carbon fork also has three eyelets on each side that can be used for bottle cages or bag holders.

As the Hobo and Hobo Dropbar share the same frame, the frame also has a perforated plate in the bottom bracket area for installing a kickstand. So if you don’t want to do without the comfort of a kickstand despite all the sportiness, you can fit one here.

Conclusion

The Rose Hobo Dropbar is ideal for anyone looking for a comfortable and stable gravel bike for long tours and bikepacking. It’s a decent speedster with a pleasantly sporty geometry. Long distances are predestined for this bike and if you are looking for a nice steel gravel bike with a front rack, the Rose Hobo Dropbar is the right choice.

That sounds a bit sober, but I was really impressed by the bike. And when I think about it, it’s the inconspicuousness of the Hobo Dropbar that I appreciate so much. The bike does what it’s supposed to – with or without luggage. It’s fast, pleasantly agile and the components just work. The geometry is a successful mix of sporty and comfortable. It just fits!

I am honestly surprised that there has been so little discussion of it in the media and blogs as an adventure bike suitable for travelling and a sporty gravel bike. There are only articles summarising the manufacturer’s specifications and no real tests.

The price is also very attractive at just under 1,900 euros. For this you get a good specification that promises carefree gravel enjoyment. It is also a steel alternative to the Backroad and doesn’t need to hide in its performance.

The Hobo Dropbar is available in the colours Pine Green or Mali Blue.