High speed chunder is the Rogue Sixty’s happy place. This is a true point-and-shoot enduro weapon.
Lowdown: Ellsworth Rogue Sixty
For a quarter century, Ellsworth has been making high-performance mountain bikes for the masses. Along the way, the company has endured its share of ups and downs, at one point enjoying a cult-like following with all manner of mountain bikers, but more recently suffering though a spate of customer complaints that saw the brand fall out of favor.
Meet the Ellsworth Rogue Sixty. Our size XL tester weighed in at 30.6 pounds and retails for $ 6500 with a Shimano XT drivetrain and Fox Factory Series suspension.
But following the most recent change in ownership, which has allowed namesake Tony Ellsworth to return his focus to bike design rather than day-to-day business, it appears Ellsworth has righted the ship. In 2016, they launched a pair of modern-looking mountain bikes, the trail oriented Rogue Forty and the enduro race ready Rogue Sixty.
The Rogue Sixty is a surprisingly nimble climber, thanks in large part to its 74-degree seat tube angle.
Mtbr spent the last couple months testing the longer travel offering. Keep reading to see how things went — and be sure to check out page 2 of this post for an exclusive Q&A with the Ellsworth brain trust. First though here’s a rundown of parts spec on our test bike, plus our review rating, and pluses and minuses.
Stat Box
| Frame: Carbon w/alloy chainstays | Stem: Race Face Turbine 35mm |
| Fork: Fox Factory Series 36 160mm | Dropper post: Race Face Turbine 150mm |
| Shock: Fox Float X Factory 160mm | Saddle: WTB Volt |
| Wheels: DT Swiss M1700 | Grips: Lizard Skins Charger |
| Tires: Maxxis High Roller II 2.3×27.5 | Headtube angle: 66 degree |
| Brakes: Shimano XT | Chainstay length 420mm |
| Rotors: Shimano 180mm/160mm | Reach: 490mm (size XL) |
| Shifters: Shimano XT | Stack: 638mm (size XL) |
| Front Derailleur: n/a | Seat tube angle: 74 degrees |
| Rear Derailleu: Shimano XT | BB Height: 13.74” |
| Cable routing: Internal | Weight: 30.6 pounds (size XL) |
| Crankset: Shimano XT 32t | Sizes: M, L, XL (tested) |
| Chain Guide: MRP | Colors: 3 options including Foxy Orange |
| Cassette: Shimano XT 11-46 | MSRP: $ 6500 |
| Chain: Shimano | Rating:  3.5 Chilis-out-of-5 |
| Bars: Race Face Atlas 780mm |
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Review: Ellsworth Rogue Sixty
Besides the lengthy bullet point lists above, the most important thing I can tell you about the new Ellsworth Rogue Sixty is that it is just what you’d expect from a 160mm travel bike. This is a big bike meant for aggressive riding, and it needs to be ridden aggressively to fully realize its potential. Honestly, I think it’s more bike than most mountain bikers need. But I’d say the same thing for all the other longer travel “enduro” rigs on the market. But if your tendencies lean toward truly rowdy riding and even a little bike park action, your interest should be piqued.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSaxW1N86Io
If, however, you’re actually in the market for a trail bike with equal uphill and downhill capabilities, best give a closer look to the Rogue Forty or one of the many other capable 140mm bikes that have flooded the market in recent years. That is not to say the Rogue Sixty can’t go uphill. On the contrary, one of this bike’s biggest surprises was its ability to claw up techy terrain. Thanks primarily to the frame’s 74-degree head angle, slow-speed seated climbing was not the expected exercise in front wheel stabilization. Instead the front end was fairly well mannered, tracking precisely up and over a variety of step-ups and chunky rock problems. You can definitely ride this bike all day without the aid of a chairlift or shuttle vehicle.
Though not the world’s most playful bike, the stubby chainstays mean it’s easy to snap the rear end around tight turns.
What this near 31-pounder doesn’t like so much is out-of-the-saddle climbing, which activated a fair amount of suspension bob even when the custom tuned Fox Float X Factory 160mm rear shock was in its firmest setting. But again, you’re not buying this bike to chase KoMs. It’s for smashing downhill at reckless speed, thus the 66-degree head angle and burly Fox 36 fork up front.
In straight line attack mode, the Rogue Sixty is supremely confidence inspiring, forgiving all manner of mistakes and encouraging its pilot to push for more and more speed. Indeed, with its well-executed anti-squat properties, you can actually pedal through rough sections that you might normally coast. This is thanks to what Ellsworth calls AEES (Active Energy Efficient Suspension), which aims to provide a supported base while pedaling but remain active for traction. Just remember to keep a sharp eye out for sleeper rocks, as the 13.74” BB height is well within the window for pedal strikes. Get your line right, though, and the back end sucks up all manner of hits, allowing you to maintain and even increase speed through the chunderest of chunder.
The Ellsworth Active Energy Efficient Suspension (or AEES) aims to provide a supported base while pedaling, but remain active for traction.
This steadiness at speed is further enhanced by the bike’s long’ish wheelbase. Our size XL was a rangy 1241mm long, including a generous 490mm reach. This yielded battleship-caliber stability, but also made getting the front wheel off the ground a little tougher. Despite the stubby 420mm chainstays, playful or poppy just aren’t words I would use to describe this bike. It’s almost as though the bike says to rider, “I don’t have time to mess around with such frivolous endeavors. I want to go fast and that’s it.”
But while it wasn’t a manual machine, the Rogue Sixty did a solid job of whipping in and out of corners, the short rear end allowing the back wheel to zip out of bermed turns without extra effort or encouragement. The bike is also 2-by-4 stiff thanks in part to its alloy chainstays, oversized pivot hardware, and boost hub spacing front and rear.
This bike is most comfortable on rowdy terrain, the steeper the better.
Of course, no Ellsworth bike review would be complete without at least mention of the rocker link, which in this case is sculpted aluminum that’s billet machined in Vancouver, Washington. I’m on the fence about the look. On the one hand it’s a truly beautiful piece of metal. On the other hand I question whether its look is up to date by modern mountain bike standards. But at the end of the day, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What I will say is that on several occasions I managed to knock my knees against this wider-than-usual rocker link. This was remedied by scooching the WTB Volt saddle a bit, but remains something you should definitely be aware of.
Component Conversation
For the most part, the spec on this bike was just what you’d expect from a $ 6500 machine, reliable, consistent, durable. Special props to the wide bar/short stem combo, plush Fox suspension, and stiff DT Swiss M1700 wheels. Shimano XT braking was also smooth, predictable and evenly modulated.
Conversely, while I’m a fan of Maxxis High Roller II rubber, the stock 2.3 tires felt a little narrow for a bike with this much horsepower. Instead I’d love to see a slightly wider rim (say 28-30mm) paired with one of Maxxis’ new 2.6 offerings. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the Shimano 11-46 cassette. That last jump is just so big, and shifting was a little sluggish at times. The later issue might have been due to the fact that our test bike definitely had some miles on it before reaching Mtbr’s Colorado HQ. Presumably a brand new bike and drivetrain will deliver crisper shifting performance. But either way the long chain paired with a standard length rear derailleur cage means a little extra chain slap. Thankfully, the Rogue Sixty comes stock with a chainstay protector (and noise deadener).
Up front are a boosted 160mm Fox Factory Series 36 fork and Maxxis High Roller II 27.5×2.3 tires. Obviously you could go a little wider.
Lastly, I have to take issue with the quirky nature of the Race Face Turbine dropper post, which had occasional bouts of won’t-stay-down’itis. This could usually be solved with cable tension adjustment, but that often also meant a little unwanted play at the lever.
Bottom Line
Based on our experience, deciding whether or not to seriously consider buying the Ellsworth Rogue Sixty all comes down to intended use. If your cycling season goals consist of serious enduro racing, or you’re looking for a rig that can bridge the gap between rowdy backcountry adventures and the occasional bike park or shuttle day, make sure this bike is on your test ride list. It’s a terror at speed, is superb at maintaining traction, and climbs better than you’d expect. But if your riding pursuits are more balanced between ups and downs, and you want a super playful bike, something a little shorter in both travel and wheelbase will likely be a better option.
Race Face handles cockpit duties with Atlas 780mm bars held by a Turbine 35mm stem.
For more on the suspension technology that drives this bike, check out this Interbike video featuring Tony Ellsworth himself. And be sure to click over to page 2 for an extended Q&A with the Ellsworth design team.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-P9VcSiwD4
Continue to page 2 for a Q&A interview with the deisgners of this unique bike »
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