Rondo Ratt CF1 in the TOUR single tent test
Striking frame design, extremely wide tyres and adjustable steering geometry: the new Ratt from Rondo is not an off-the-peg bike. And it doesn't want to be. After all, the young brand has made a name for itself in the scene with bikes that break with convention. Just as company founder Szymon Kobylinski did back in the 1990s - albeit in a different role: as the guitarist in a Polish crossover band, which, according to his own statement, gave him "a real rock star career" and even a gold record for 50,000 records sold in the neighbouring country.
Although Kobylinski has since swapped the stage for an office in Gdansk, he - and the Rondo brand - have still been able to celebrate. In 2017, he won the Eurobike Award for the Ruut gravel bike, the young company's first bike. The product range now includes five off-road models with racing handlebars, with the Ratt being the latest addition. In addition to its extravagant look, the all-road bike is designed to score points with its versatility and "does not have to hide in a duel with classic racing bikes", according to the manufacturer.
Rondo Ratt: The question of character
All-road racer or gravel bike? The question of the character of the Ratt is difficult and fits in with the brand's unconventional appearance. Rondo itself places it in the growing segment of all-road bikes. We would rather see it as a gravel bike, with the corresponding consequences for the rating, especially in terms of suspension comfort. The reason for this is the thick tyres.
Right from the factory, the Rondo makes full use of the scope offered by the frame and fork and rolls on 47-millimetre tyres, which even arch out to just over 50 millimetres on the narrow 650B rims in mountain bike format. You rarely see this even on thoroughbred gravel bikes. All-road bikes with 700C wheels usually leave room for tyres with a maximum width of around 38 millimetres. The Ratt could be converted to 700C wheels.
The wide tyres pay off in the bike's suspension comfort. The Ratt swallows obstacles as a matter of course, only on rough terrain with dense root carpets does it come off track. This is where the frame set, which has only moderate suspension despite the low-set rear stays, becomes noticeable, and the voluminous fork hardly has any suspension at all. On asphalt, the Rondo rolls well thanks to the smooth tread in the centre of the tyre, but we wouldn't want to pit it against a road bike due to its weight of just under nine kilos.
Award-winning twin-tip fork
In order to keep the handling as close as possible to that of a classic road bike, Rondo uses a trick like the award-winning Rutt and puts a twin-tip fork in the frame, which allows two positions for the front wheel. In the low position - our measured values (see below) refer to this - the bike presents itself as a stable companion with emphasised straight-line stability. In the high position, the Rondo steers more directly around bends, almost a little unsteady, and is reminiscent of the manoeuvrable handling of a road racer.
The clearly noticeable difference in figures: The trail, an important indicator of steering behaviour alongside the steering angle and fork pre-bend, varies by 16 millimetres between the two positions. A stark difference, as a difference of just a few millimetres can usually change the riding characteristics. What's more, the conversion can be carried out in a few simple steps and, if necessary, quickly on the move.
Rondo Ratt: Rock'n Roll
Of course, the extravagant frame design of the Rondo Ratt is much more eye-catching than this technical gimmick. The top tube with its transverse oval profile and kink just before the seat tube emphasises elements that signal the bike's suitability as a crosser, as it can be shouldered more comfortably - if you want to do that with a nine-kilogram bike. The down tube with trapezoidal cross-section, the massive head tube and the striking kink in the fork crown emphasise the individual, technoid appearance. Simply rock'n roll.
Rondo currently offers the Ratt in two carbon qualities, the CF1 for 4699 euros and the CF2 for 3799 euros, with only four frame sizes available for both.
According to the manufacturer, the CF2 weighs 9.6 kilos with slightly simpler GRX components from Shimano. The new product family is set to grow this year, including in the form of an aluminium model.
The Rondo Ratt CF1 in detail
- Price4699 Euro
- Frame/fork/steering bearing weight* 1201/563/76 grammes
- Frame sizes** 51, 54, 56, 58
- Seat/top tube/head tube 520/550/136 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 564/375 millimetres/1.50
- Wheelbase/caster 1000/58 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/Circuit Shimano GRX 810 (2x11; 48/31, 11-32 t.)
- Brakes Shimano GRX 810 (160/160 mm)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Rondo X Hunt Gravel X-Wide 650B/Vittoria Terreno Zero 47 mm (front/rear: 1590/2079 g)
Measured values & individual notes*****
- Weight of complete wheel: 8,9 Kilo Grade 2,7
- Steering head stiffness: 83 Nm/° Grade 2,7
- Lateral stiffness fork39 N/mm Grade 3,3
- Bottom bracket stiffness54 N/mm Grade 2,0
- Seatpost spring stiffness50 N/mm Grade 1,7
- Spring rate fork42 N/mm Grade 2,3
*Weighed weights.
**Manufacturer information Test size bold.
***Stack/Reach Projected vertical/horizontal dimension from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube;
STR (Stack to Reach) 1.36 means a very stretched sitting position, 1.60 means an upright sitting position.
****Impeller weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/threaded axles and brake discs if necessary.
*****Single noteswhich are weighted differently in the overall grade, are only partially printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated with all decimal places up to the final grade; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are shown with rounded decimal places.
******Aerodynamics Theoretical pedalling power required to overcome air resistance at 45 km/h, measured in a wind tunnel with a pedalling leg dummy.
Julian Schultz
Editor
