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Ross (yes, that Ross) Bicycles launches W.A.R. line of gravel & mountain bikes

war evader gs gravel bike ross bicycles
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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

war evader gs gravel bike ross bicycles

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.

war evader gsr gravel bike

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.

war evader gs gravel bike geometry chart

W.A.R Draconic Hardtail MTB

war draconic rtc alloy 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.

war draconic rtp hardtail mtb
The $2,799 Draconic RTP gets an upgraded drivetrain in the form of the SRAM NX Eagle 12 speed

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.

war draconic hardtail mtb geometry chart

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.

WarBikes.com

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11 Comments
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blahblah1233445
2 years ago

WTH is this gravel sizing? 50cm seattube for XS? That’s like size M for every other manufacturer.

-s
-s
2 years ago

War!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!

nathanb
nathanb
2 years ago

Every picture of these bikes i have seen has had the seat post way to low… it really compliments their direct to facebook market sales approach.

Sevo
Sevo
2 years ago

Would ride a Ross, but don’t want a bike with War written on it.

Seraph
Seraph
2 years ago
Reply to  Sevo

I would ride a bike with WAR on the side, but not a Ross.

King County
King County
2 years ago

For affordable bikes in the NYC area, Ross were very popular at one time. You can still see some out there. I wish them luck.

Greg Golding
Greg Golding
2 years ago

I have to agree with the comments about the photos being sub-optimal. Showing bikes with the low seatposts and reflectors installed does nothing to say “these are high-end bikes” If Ross needs a brand manager / creative director, get in touch. I can help put the shine on.

J Brown
J Brown
2 years ago

This has box chain bike vibes. Not a good look in my opinion. Their marketing team needs some help.

Joenomad
Joenomad
2 years ago

ROSS is apparently building the bikes with the required geometry of a typical department store rider using a too large of frame with the seat slammed to the top tube. Also, if the company is paying attention to the actual gravel market, most are using shorter stems and not copying road setups.

Craig
Craig
2 years ago

Hmm. They need to go back to base with this. And their frontline marketing person needs to be court marshalled for firing out photos of such terribly setup bikes. I wouldn’t be seen dead on a biked labelled W.A.R. This is the dumbest branding exercise I’ve ever seen.

And W.A.R. isn’t new. They tried releasing this a couple of years ago because (if I recall correctly) the actual owner of the Ross brand wouldn’t let the Ross family buy back or re-trademark the Ross name. Something like that anyway. So Ross bicycles as it is currently (even though it’s laying low in a bunker somewhere) has nothing to do with W.A.R. bicycles.

I’m guessing this is all going to sink quicker than a submarine with a hole in it. Seriously, naming a brand W.A.R. is an insult to humanity.

RJ Stone
RJ Stone
1 year ago

Stay away from the Ross Family, you will lose your money. They are not filling orders.

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