As one of the original U.S. bicycle companies, Ross has outlived Huffy and Schwinn as a family-owned operation. Now selling around 20 million bicycles per year globally, they’re likely the inexpensive bike your non-cycling friend or family member purchased before consulting you. And, if we’re being honest, they’re not bad for someone just looking to get around the neighborhood on two wheels.
Now, they’re reentering the performance bike space with a new brand called W.A.R. It’s an acronym for We Are Ross, a tribute to founder Albert Ross. Now being led by the 4th generation of Rosses, the brand wants to rekindle the spirit that led them to create one of the (if not the) first mass-produced mountain bikes in the world. With W.A.R., they’re bringing modern standards and higher-end components we’d recognize and appreciate to some very, very affordable bikes…
W.A.R Evader GS Gravel Bike
Let’s kick things off with a bike that’s actually in stock; the Evader GS Gravel Bike. This $2,299 aluminium frame 700c gravel bike gets SRAM hydraulic disc brakes and a 1 x 11 drivetrain with SRAM Apex HRD Components. More than just a slacker road frame with clearance for knobbly tires, the Evader GS gets a full carbon fork with multiple rack and fender mounts, so could be a reliable bikepacking companion too.
The W.A.R Evader GS comes with 40c Kenda ALLUVIUM Pro GTC rolling on a set of Alex Rims. It is available in sizes XS-XL with a 500mm to 590mm seat tube length range, compatible with the use of 27.2mm diameter dropper posts. Crank length is adjusted according to the frame size with the XS getting 170mm crank arms, the Small getting the 172.5mm and the larger sizes with the 175mm crank arms.
W.A.R offer a slightly higher spec version of their gravel bike; the Evader GSR. This one retails at $2,499 and is upgraded with a SRAM Rival HRD 11 Speed Drivetrain with 11-42T cassette.
W.A.R Draconic Hardtail MTB
On the mountain side is the W.A.R Draconic hardtail MTB, available at two price points. Its aluminium frame runs on a 29″ wheelset with a 65° head tube angle paired with a slack 73.5° seat tube angle. The budget-option RTC model, retailing at $2,299, runs a 100mm travel fork in the form of the RockShox 35 Gold Air with a 12 speed SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain and SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes.
The frame has internal cable routing with compatibility for a dropper seat post. Boost spacing and long 470mm chainstays provide clearance for tires up to 2.8″ wide.
Availability
All W.A.R Bicycles come with their “Just Ride Easy Assembly”. That means each bike can be fully assembled out of the box within 20 minutes, with all the tools necessary provided. The W.A.R Evader Gravel Bikes are in stock now. The Draconic Hardtail MTBs aren’t however, with no information as to when they will be back in stock.
