Tom reviews the Velduro Rogue R
Tom has been putting the intriguing Velduro Rogue through its paces to see what it’s capable of. The bike reveals its true strengths, not so much as an all‑mountain rig, but thriving as a self shuttling, mini e‑DH machine.
Long travel, a powerful motor and a big battery. That’s the e-MTB formula plenty of riders are chasing right now, and judging by the questions I’ve been getting on the trail, the Velduro Rogue has definitely caught people’s attention.
The Avinox motor is a big part of that. Add in a high-pivot layout and an unfamiliar brand name, and the Rogue was always going to turn heads.
But beyond the spec sheet and the hype, the real question is simple: how does it ride?
This photo might give it away, Tom has clearly enjoyed his time on the Rogue. Keep reading to see why.
Velduro Rogue overview
The Rogue we tested came with mixed wheels, 165mm of rear travel and a 170mm fork in the standard flip-chip position. But that’s just one of several possible setups, with multiple travel and wheel-size options available.
Rear travel options (by wheel size, shock stroke & flip chip)
29in rear wheel
- 65mm stroke + STD = 167mm
- 65mm stroke + PRO = 172mm
- 62.5mm stroke + STD = 162mm
- 62.5mm stroke + PRO = 167mm
27.5in rear wheel (MX)
- 65mm stroke + STD = 165mm
- 65mm stroke + PRO = 170mm
- 62.5mm stroke + STD = 160mm
- 62.5mm stroke + PRO = 165mm
The progression flip chip lets you dial in the suspension increasing how the shock ramps up. The Pro setting provides just under 40% progression.
It may be a new brand, but the bike feels well-refined. The high-pivot suspension, built around the I-Track system, rides great (see below for more). As well as having neat finishing touches like the thick chainstay protector and cable port plugs that keep moisture and dirt out. All these little things show a real attention to detail.
Interestingly, Velduro is running a hybrid direct-to-consumer and traditional bike shop model to get its bikes to riders. You can order the bike directly through Velduro, with a list of partner stores that will receive the bike and build it up, ensuring everything is trail-ready. These partner brick-and-mortar bike shops will also be able to assist with warranties and servicing if needed.
Velduro Rogue drive unit & battery
Tom squeezed around 1,400m of vertical out of the 800Wh battery, running Turbo mode the whole ride.
This is the second Avinox-powered bike I’ve ridden in recent weeks, and once again the system impressed. There’s no shortage of power here either, with 105Nm of torque, a 120Nm Boost mode for up to 60 seconds, and peak output of 1000W.
All of that power comes in a relatively lightweight package, weighing just 2.58kg. The Rogue comes standard with a large 800Wh battery, which I found ideal for lapping descents under my own steam, allowing plenty of downhill laps. And really, that is exactly what this bike is built for.
If you’re someone who prefers an ultra-quiet bike, this drive unit might be a little annoying. When the motor isn’t engaged, and you’re bombing through rough terrain, it can produce a noticeable clacking sound.
It’s something that’s been a fairly common trait across a number of e-MTB motors over the years. Older Bosch CX motors, for example, had a similar issue, though that’s largely been resolved in newer versions. Hopefully, in future iterations, Avinox will find a way to reduce that clacking noise on the descents.
We’ll dive deeper into the drive unit’s performance later in the article, but the short version is that it’s an impressive system. The power is the standout feature—immediately noticeable and seriously punchy. By the end of the review, though, what impressed me most was the user interface. The tuning app is intuitive and effective, and the touchscreen on the top-tube display is another thoughtfully designed touch.
Range test
On a real-world test, I squeezed out around 1,400–1,500 m of climbing in full Turbo mode. Dialling back just one power mode is usually plenty for most singletrack climbs, making it easy to stretch the battery even further.
Velduro Rogue sizing & geometry
The Rogue comes in four sizes, with a choice of 29er or MX wheels. At 179 cm, Tom has opted for the medium.
At 179cm tall, I fall into a size medium on Velduro’s recommended size chart. The medium I’ve been riding has a 466mm reach. That’s a touch shorter than my usual 475mm preference, but with the added weight of an e-MTB, a slightly shorter reach and wheelbase can often feel more stable. Initially, it felt a little compact, but after spending some time on the bike, it quickly felt spot on. The medium proved manoeuvrable while still feeling settled and stable.
The Rogue is available in four sizes (S, M, L, and XL), with reach measurements ranging from 440mm to 515mm. All sizes share 440mm chainstays, which might sound short on paper, but at 30% sag, they extend to 450mm. The bike also maintains a consistent 63.5° head angle and 78° seat tube angle across the size range. While there is no built-in geometry adjustment to alter sizing, flip chips allow riders to configure the bike for either mixed-wheels or full 29er setups.
Fit and setup
I found the size medium fit me really well. The only adjustment I made was moving all the spacers under the stem to gain a little extra stack height for the steeper terrain this bike is built for. On paper, the 440mm chainstays looked short. On the trail, though, the way they grow under compression worked well, helping balance the bike’s handling. still playful through the rear end.
Suspension setup
For suspension, I’m very familiar with the Fox 38 and found the setup straightforward. I experimented with adding a second volume spacer, thinking it might help with the extra weight of an e-MTB. In the end, I stuck with one volume spacer and added a few extra clicks of compression. This brought the setup closer to what I’m used to on a lighter, non-powered bike.
On the shock, I stuck close to Fox’s recommended settings but ran a slightly faster rebound to keep the rear end lively. This bike is naturally very composed, so increasing the rebound speed a little added to its responsiveness.
Fork Setup | Fox 38 Factory 170mm
- Pressure | 87 psi
- Volume Spacers | 1 token
- Low Speed Rebound | 6 clicks from closed
- High Speed Rebound | 5 clicks from closed
- Low Speed Compression | 8 clicks from closed
- High Speed Compression | 3 clicks from closed
Shock Setup | Fox Float X2
- Pressure | 162 psi
- Volume Spacers | 1
- Low Speed Rebound | 8 clicks from closed
- High Speed Rebound | 5 clicks from closed
- Low Speed Compression | 10 clicks from closed
- High Speed Compression | 5 clicks from closed
Velduro Rogue price and specs
Many riders will be excited to see the Rogue offered as a frame-only option. You can pick it up without a shock for $7,839 AUD, or with a custom-tuned Fox Float X2 for $8,839 AUD. Frame-only e-MTBs aren’t common, but they’re often something riders want.
For complete builds, we tested the top-of-the-line Rogue R, priced at $15,469 AUD. Below that sits the Velduro X, at $11,469 AUD.
Full specs are listed below.
Velduro Rogue frameset
- Frame | Carbon, I-track Suspension Design, 172mm rear travel (Rear travel: 165–170mm (MX, 65mm stroke) / 167–172mm (29in rear, 65mm stroke) / 160–167mm (62.5mm stroke options), MX wheels or full 29er configurations possible, 12mm x 148mm rear axle spacing
- Shock | FOX Float X2 Factory Performance, 205mm×65mm
- Motor | DJI Avinox, 105Nm
- Battery | 800Wh Avinox battery
- Claimed Weight | 3.5kg
- Price | $7,739 AUD (no shock) or $8,839 AUD (with a Fox Float X2 Factory)
Velduro Rogue X
- Frame | Carbon fibre, rear travel varies by wheel size, shock stroke and flip chip position (160-172mm), mullet or 29″, 12×148 axle spacing
- Fork | Fox 38 Performance Grip, 170mm travel
- Shock | FOX Float Performance, 205mm × 65mm
- Motor | DJI Avinox, 105Nm
- Battery | 800Wh Avinox battery
- Wheels | Velduro e-Enduro Alloy EA-30, Front: 29″, Rear: 27.5″, Hubs: 32H, 6 bolt, sealed cartridge bearing, F: 15×110; R: 148×12, with a 21T HG freehub
- Tyres | Front: Maxxis Assegai 29×2.5 3CG/TR/DD and Rear : Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5×2.4 3CT/TR/DD
- Drivetrain | SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission, 34t chainring, Sram XS-1270 10-52T cassette, and Avinox SL cranks 155mm
- Brakes | Magura MT5, with Magura MDR-C 6 bolt rotors, 220mm front & 200mm rear
- Handlebar | Velduro Alloy 35D, 800mm width & 20mm rise
- Stem | Velduro stem. Length: 40mm. Clamping diameter: 35mm
- Seatpost | Velduro Dropper 31.6 S/M:170mm, L/XL:200mm
- Saddle | Fizik Terra Aidon X5 145mm
- Weight | TBC
- Price | $11,469 AUD
Velduro Rogue R
- Frame | Carbon fibre, rear travel varies by wheel size, shock stroke and flip chip position (160-172mm), mullet or 29″, 12×148 axle spacing
- Fork | Fox 38 Factory Grip X2, 170mm travel
- Shock | 2026 FOX Float X2 Factory, 205mm × 65mm
- Motor | DJI Avinox, 105Nm
- Battery | 800Wh Avinox battery
- Wheels | Velduro e-Enduro Carbon EC-30 wheels, Front: 29″, Rear: 27.5″, Hubs: 28H, 6 bolt, sealed cartridge bearing, F: 15×110; R: 148×12, with a 21T HG freehub
- Tyres | Front: Maxxis Assegai 29×2.5 3CG/TR/DD and Rear : Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5×2.4 3CT/TR/DD
- Drivetrain | SRAM GX AXS Transmission powered by the drive unit battery, 34t chainring, SRAM XS-1275 10-52T cassette, and Avinox SL cranks 155mm
- Brakes | SRAM Maven Silver, with SRAM HS2 6 bolt rotors, 220mm front & 200mm rear
- Handlebar | OneUp alloy bar, 800mm width & 35mm rise
- Stem | OneUp stem. Length: 42mm. Clamping diameter: 35mm
- Seatpost | OneUp Dropper V3. 31.6mm, S:180mm, M/L:210mm, XL:240mm travel
- Saddle | Fizik Terra Aidon X5 145mm
- Confirmed Weight | 23.1kg
- Price | $15,469 AUD
Velduro Rogue weight
At 23.1kg, the Rogue is on the lighter side for a full-power e-MTB with this much travel and such burly components. Better still, it hides that weight well in most situations. It never feels especially cumbersome, and it’s surprisingly easy to get airborne for such a big bike.
That said, e-MTB weight isn’t as simple as the number on the scales, it’s a bit more nuanced than that. As the trail gets steeper, the mass becomes more noticeable. When gravity is really pulling you into a chute, it takes me a little time to adjust to the extra space and braking force required to bring this beast to a stop. For context, I’ve also been riding a Trek Slash+, which uses a lightweight TQ motor and weighs around 20kg. Even though it’s only about 3kg lighter, that bike is noticeably easier to slow down on very steep terrain. That’s worth keeping in mind if the trails you ride regularly point sharply downhill.
It’s not just the number on the scales that matters, but also the terrain the bike is designed to ride. I’ve ridden heavier e-MTBs that feel less affected by their weight simply because they’re more trail-focused and spend more time on flatter terrain, where gravity isn’t constantly trying to drag the bike out from under you.
Overall, though, the Rogue’s weight feels reasonable, and in around 90% of riding situations, it doesn’t significantly impact the bike’s ride characteristics.
What I like about the Velduro Rogue
Straight off the bat, I think this is a great enduro bike. Forget about the motor for a moment; the bike itself rides very well. It’s easy to get along with and, put simply, an absolute blast to ride. Maybe not the outright fastest, but that never really bothered me. On the descents, it doesn’t have that sharp, on-edge feel of some more race-focused bikes I’ve ridden lately, like the Sunn Radical. Whilst it doesn’t feel like the most ‘racey’ bike out there, it is easily one of the most comfortable longer travel e-bikes I’ve spent time on.
There’s a calm, planted feel to the Rogue, yet I was still able to move the rear end around when I wanted to. Coming stock as an MX wheel bike also contributes to this balance, keeping it from feeling overly race-focused. The I-Track suspension felt excellent, and as you’d expect from a high-pivot design, it does a great job of smoothing out rough terrain and soaking up square-edge hits.
What I really loved about this bike was the comfort and confidence it delivered. So much so that I took it self-shuttling on a variety of proper DH tracks. The Rogue is very capable on rough descents, and with the ultra-powerful motor, flying back up the shuttle road is incredibly easy. Rolling straight from the bottom of the track onto the shuttle road and blasting back up in Turbo mode was both efficient and surprisingly fun, especially when everyone else was relying on cars. It cuts out much of the usual faffing that comes with shuttling.
Most of the time, while pedalling back to the top, I was able to stay pretty close to the 25km/h motor-assist limit. Doing your own uplift on DH tracks was where this bike absolutely shone, and it really highlighted just how useful a modern enduro e-MTB can be. Great on the descents and a genuinely compelling alternative to driving a car back to the top.
For this kind of riding, I preferred to run the bike as it comes in mullet form, using the PRO flip-chip setting. This increases suspension progression for more aggressive riding and bumps rear travel up to 170mm. The frame is also compatible with up to a 180mm fork, and while I didn’t get the chance to test that setup, I’d be very keen to try it. I think it could suit this bike extremely well.
Things to consider with the Velduro Rogue
The bike arrived around the same time as the Teewing Turbo Force. Both run the same Avinox motor and offer similar travel figures, but on the trail, they couldn’t feel more different. The Teewing is more of a true trail bike, whereas the Velduro Rogue feels closer to a mini DH bike.
That means on singletrack climbs you’re moving along quickly thanks to the powerful motor, but it doesn’t deliver the same light, lively trail-bike feel you get from shorter travel e-MTBs. It can feel a little numb when climbing, even though you’re covering ground quickly. You definitely rely more on the motor with this bike, which isn’t a bad thing, just something to note for riders who value a more balanced DH versus climbing experience. Some e-MTBs genuinely elevate the climbing experience, with the motor working in harmony with the bike’s geometry and suspension. In this case, though, it feels more like the motor is there to compensate for a lack of natural climbing ability.
It gets the job done without fuss, but the experience isn’t especially engaging. Rather than feeling connected to the bike and trail, you’re more of a passenger being hauled up the hill.
I think it’s possible to coax a slightly more sprightly feel out of the Rogue, but it would require some serious tinkering. You can reduce rear travel by fitting a 62.5mm stroke shock, though that might give you the same overall ride character, just with less travel. In general, shortening a bike’s travel doesn’t always automatically make it feel livelier on the trail.
I reckon you could push the Rogue’s feel closer to an aggressive trail bike by lightening it up by running a lighter 160mm fork, swapping to lighter tyres, and going to full 29er wheels. This would likely make a more noticeable difference. These are significant changes to the stock build, so if you’re thinking of using this bike as an aggressive trail bike, the frame-only option becomes really valuable.
As it comes stock, I wouldn’t really classify the Rogue as an all-mountain e-MTB so much as a mini DH bike. That’s not a negative, but it’s worth mentioning. For riders who aren’t regularly tackling the gnarliest trails, it may feel a bit hefty straight out of the box.
One last thing to note is that rear shock options on the Rogue are limited by clearance, with some shock bodies at risk of contacting the downtube at bottom out. The stock Fox Float X2 avoids this thanks to its compact piggyback design, but it’s worth checking Velduro’s guide before running an alternative shock.
Component Highs and Lows
Tyres and dropper post
Too often in this section, I’m asking for tougher tyres or a longer dropper. Not here. Enduro-specific Maxxis DoubleDown tyres front and rear, plus a OneUp V3 dropper in a 210mm length on the size Medium. Love to see it. It also ships with travel-reducing pins if 210mm is a bit much for you.
Suspension
The Fox Factory suspension is excellent. I’ve been riding both the Fox 38 and the new Float X2 a lot recently, and these components continue to deliver strong performance and a wide range of adjustability. Encouragingly, it also seems from my time riding it that the reliability issues that plagued earlier versions of the X2 have been addressed.
Drivetrain and brakes
The SRAM Transmission drivetrain performed well overall. I did experience a few issues early on, but they were quickly resolved by re-torquing the derailleur to the correct 35Nm. Something that’s particularly important with SRAM’s T-Type systems.
It’s not a criticism of the component itself, just something worth flagging and keeping an eye on.
The wired battery is both a plus and a minus. On the upside, there’s no derailleur battery to charge, but it does add another consideration to overall battery range anxiety. That said, there’s a buffer built in: even when the bike’s battery reads 0%, you still have enough power left to keep shifting gears and get yourself home if it’s not super far. Personally, I still prefer a standalone derailleur battery, but that’s very much a rider-to-rider preference, with pros and cons either way.
Another component that suits this bike perfectly is the SRAM Maven brakes, arguably the most powerful stoppers on the market right now. For a bike like this, which isn’t light and is clearly aimed at gnarly terrain, that level of braking power is exactly what you want.
Flow’s verdict
If your priority is descending hard and getting back to the top without needing a shuttle crew or chairlift, the Velduro Rogue makes a lot of sense. It blends strong downhill capability with a seriously powerful motor and a big battery, and for the right rider that’s a very compelling mix.
The frame-only option is another big plus, especially for riders who already own quality parts and want to build their own premium e-MTB around this platform.
There’s been plenty of early buzz around the Rogue, and after riding it, that attention feels justified.
