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Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra 2022

8
£1,499.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Very good versatile bike whose tyre clearance and geometry mean it isn't just limited to the road
Mounts for all the essentials
Good ride quality
Polished finish looks cool
Roadie gearing might be a little high for off-road riding
External hose routing on the fork looks a little old school
Weight: 
10,610g
road.cc Recommends

This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

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The Tifosi Rostra Disc Hydraulic Tiagra fills the gap between the road bike and gravel bike market, 'the perfect all-season bike that is capable of handling year-round British weather' according to Tifosi. I found it a pleasing bike to ride, and versatile enough to take on a range of surfaces.

Tifosi says the Rostra takes its inspiration from the 'ever popular CK7', its aluminium alloy all-season machine, loved by commuters, winter riders and audaxers alike for its ability to take decent tyre sizes and full mudguards.

The main difference is that on the Rostra the tyre clearance has increased by around 5mm overall.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - seat stays.jpg

Coming with a set of knobbly tyres fitted, it's easy to look at our test model and think that the Rostra is a gravel bike, but it's not. The geometry is very much road inspired, with a slightly steeper front end than you'd find on a gravel bike and a shorter wheelbase.

Also, for a gravel bike a maximum tyre size of 35mm would be small, but for a road bike that brings versatility. This makes the Rostra an ideal choice for the roadie who wants the option to venture off-road without the expense of a full gravel bike.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - clearance.jpg

It also has the capability of running full mudguards (with all of the mounting points sat in the traditional place to make fitting easier), a rear rack and three bottle cages, the one on the top of the down tube having three bolt positions to enable you to move your cage to fit a large frame bag for instance.

Fitting full guards does drop the maximum tyre size down to 32mm, though.

Ride

The geometry of the Rostra is very much like an endurance road bike, so the steering is relatively quick without being as fast or as razor sharp as a full race bike, which makes it very easy to ride without feeling in any way sedate or lacking in the fun department.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - riding 2.jpg

At 10.6kg it's no lightweight, although it is in the same sort of ballpark as many aluminium alloy framed bikes for this sort of money.

A fair chunk of the weight is in the Vision Team 30 wheels and Schwalbe tyres, so occasionally it can feel a little sluggish off the line or on steeper climbs, but once you're rolling things are pretty good.

With a chunky looking bottom bracket shell and X44 tapered head tube (most tapered headsets are 1 1/8in at the top and 1 1/4in at the bottom; X44 goes from 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in, or 44mm, which is why it's known as X44) there is plenty of stiffness going on. The Rostra certainly feels tight under hard acceleration, and the front end has a positive feel when you are pushing hard into bends or under heavy braking.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - head tube.jpg

The geometry also works well. This medium model has a 556mm top tube alongside a relatively short 155mm head tube. This meant I could get quite a low-slung position on the Tifosi which really helped on the flat or when tackling a headwind.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - rear.jpg

On the tarmac with smooth road tyres fitted it behaves very well, the steering is direct, and the alloy frame gives plenty of feedback while the 1,011mm wheelbase adds to the stability.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - riding 3.jpg

If I was in the market for a commuter, winter trainer or just a bike to tap out the miles on I'd be giving the Rostra some serious consideration.

All of the stability and 'safe' feel makes it a winner on wet or slippery road surfaces, and the front end remains unfazed when faced with broken sections of road.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - front.jpg

This is what makes the Tifosi work away from the road too.

The 35mm maximum tyres do limit you primarily to hardpacked surfaces such as canal paths, gravel tracks, and some bridleways, but in the dry it'll cope with pretty much anything like mud and grass. It's only on deep, small aggregate that you'll struggle a bit as tyres this thin tend to sink compared with rubber of 40mm plus.

The Rostra's stability and capable handling mean it's not out of its depth on loose surfaces, and its predictable handling means it's easy to control when reacting to slides or the surface moving under the tyres.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - riding 5.jpg

It's a comfortable ride, too, even on the road with the tyres pumped up hard. For what is essentially quite a cheap frameset it has a forgiving ride quality. While not as buzz-taming as a steel, titanium or quality carbon frame, there is certainly no harshness here and I covered many miles on three and four-hour rides without any discomfort.

Frame and fork

At its heart the Rostra has a 6061-T6 aluminium frame and a full uni-directional carbon fibre fork, including the tapered steerer.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - frame detail.jpg
2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - fork.jpg

The frame itself looks to be left raw, as in brushed aluminium with a clear coat lacquer over the top of it and the decals. I like it, and while the welding isn't the neatest I've ever seen on a bike, its style ties in nicely with the finish of the frame.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - seat tube junction.jpg

Tifosi hasn't gone with internal cable/hose routing anywhere on the frame or fork, which does look a little outdated, if simple to work on. And should you want to switch to a 1x or electronic system at a later date you will be left with some redundant cable guides.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - head tube badge.jpg

You do get full cable outers for the front and rear mech, though, so they should keep running smoothly should you ride in the wet or mud a lot.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - downtube.jpg

Another plus is the use of a T47 bottom bracket. If you haven't come across it before, T47 is sort of an amalgamation of a standard BSA threaded BB and a press-fit option.

If your bike uses a threaded BSA BB shell, odds on you'll have bearing cups screwed into the frame with the bearings sitting outboard of the BB shell, whereas press-fit BBs, as the name suggests, means the bearing cups press inside the frame.

Placing the bearings inside the frame means the bottom bracket shell can be wider without affecting the Q-factor (the distance between the cranks) which in turn allows for wider chainstays, down tube and seat tube, bringing increased stiffness to the frame under pedaling loads. The downside is that if the tolerances between the bearing cup and the frame aren't closely matched, water and dirt can get in the gap, resulting in noise and premature wear.

T47 places the bearings inside the frame, but they are screwed in, meaning that tolerances aren't so critical while still maintaining the benefits of that larger BB shell.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - bottom bracket.jpg

As you'd expect on a modern disc brake-equipped bike, the Rostra uses flat mounts for the callipers and 12mm thru-axles for wheel retention.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - front disc brake.jpg

It comes in four sizes from small through to extra-large, which according to Tifosi should suit riders from 162cm tall to 185+ cm.

The medium, as I mentioned, has a 556mm effective top tube, 155mm head tube and a 520mm seat tube. The head angle is 72 degrees, and the seat angle is 73 degrees. Stack and reach figures are 575mm and 381mm respectively.

Groupset

The Rostra is available in a couple of builds and as a frameset only, but this one is based around the majority of a hydraulic Shimano Tiagra groupset.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - front ech.jpg

The gearing is road-centric with a 50/34T FSA Omega MX chainset and a 10-speed 11-34T cassette. For me it's an ideal setup for the majority of road riding, with the 50x11 gear giving enough top end for pedalling downhill and the 34x34 a low enough ratio for even the steepest of climbs.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - drivetrain.jpg

If you are going to be spending a lot of time off-road, though, you might want something lower. Many gravel bikes come with a 48/32T chainset for instance, or even 46/30T.

To my mind it's not a massive deal – the first bike I got serious about riding gravel on was the 2017 GT Grade and that came with a 52/36T chainset paired with an 11-32T cassette, and I completed the 200km Dirty Reiver on it (just...).

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - rear mech.jpg

Tiagra is a great groupset, virtually (but not quite) mimicking the performance of its big brother 105 while having one sprocket less.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - cassette.jpg

The shifting is quick and largely unflustered even under load, and there is plenty of feedback through the levers so you can feel when the shift has been made.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - lever.jpg

Tifosi has gone for a 160mm brake rotor on the front, and a 140mm on the rear, which provides enough power for all kinds of road riding and your detours off-road.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - rear disc brake.jpg

Early hydraulic braking at Tiagra level wasn't great, a lot of that down to the ergonomics of the levers, but this latest version, which closely matches the mechanical STI units, is much improved. The braking is powerful and with loads of feedback you can modulate it depending on the surface or conditions.

Finishing kit

Apart from the Selle Italia Model X saddle, which is pleasant enough, everything else is Tifosi branded.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - saddle and post.jpg

It's basic stuff but works okay, although I would like a bit more girth on the tops of the handlebar. The central 31.8mm diameter section tapers off quite quickly either side of the alloy stem, which means space is limited for fitting lights, computers and so on.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - stem.jpg

The bar does come with about a 12-degree flare each side which gives you a wider stance for control and does help when descending even on the road.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - bars 1.jpg

Wheels and tyres

The Vision Team 30 wheels aren't light but they are durable, and that's what you want on a versatile bike like this. I spent about a third of the time riding the Tifosi on the local gravel tracks and they never missed a beat.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - rim.jpg

They stayed true throughout testing and I had no issues with spoke tension. Stiffness is good as well, and on the climbs I couldn't feel any lateral movement.

They are tubeless ready too, should you want to go down that route.

On the spec list this model should come with 35mm Impac CrossPac tyres, but with parts, especially tyres, being hard to find at the moment it's no surprise to see something different fitted to our test bike, Schwalbe's CX Comp in a 35mm width.

2022 Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra - tyre.jpg

I had a set of these on that GT Grade I mentioned earlier and covered thousands of miles on them. Off-road they offer decent amounts of grip, with cornering helped by the raised tread pattern.

On the road they roll surprisingly well and grip isn't bad either, considering the tread. They've held up well, too: no issues with punctures or damage throughout the review period.

Value

At £1,499, this model of the Rostra compares well with rivals.

Ribble's CGR range is a similar sort of design to the Rostra, offering good tyre clearance and geometry that works both on and off the road. Its aluminium option is available with a Tiagra groupset and Mavic Aksium wheels for £1,199. That version comes with mechanical cable operated brakes, though; if you want hydraulic (you do) then you'll be looking at the GRX400, Shimano 105 or SRAM Apex 1x builds, all £100 more than the Rostra.

> 10 of the best 2022 gravel bikes & adventure road bikes

Giant's Contend is described as an all-rounder and can take up to 38mm tyres. Rob was impressed when he rode the SL1 version last year, although the AR 2 is closer in spec to the Rostra with a Tiagra groupset and hydraulic brakes and costs £1,399.

Conclusion

I really wasn't sure what to expect from the Tifosi Rostra. Would it be a bike trying too hard to be good at everything, with all of the sacrifices that tends to bring?

No, is the answer. This is a very good road bike at this price point for all kinds of riding, and it offers a great balance of speed and comfort.

Using that maximum tyre clearance to fit something knobbly and you can enjoy the local tracks and trails. It's not as capable as a full-on gravel bike on the dirt roads, but it's good enough to bring an extra dimension to your weekend rides.

Verdict

Very good versatile bike whose tyre clearance and geometry mean it isn't just limited to the road

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Tifosi Rostra Disc Tiagra

Size tested: M, 55.6cm

About the bike

List the components used to build up the bike.

Components: Shimano Tiagra 10x

Chainset: FSA Omega MX Chainset 34/50T

Disc Brakes: Shimano Tiagra Hydraulic

Cassette Shimano Tiagra 10x 11/34T

Chain: KMC 10x

Saddle: Selle Italia Model X

Bar: Tifosi Gravel

Stem/Seatpost: Tifosi Alloy

Wheelset: Vision Team 30 TLR Disc

Tyres: Impac CrossPac 700x35c

Tell us what the bike is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

Tifosi says, "The new Rostra Disc is the evolution of Tifosi's ever popular CK7.

It is the perfect aluminium all-season bike that is capable of handling year round British weather, long commutes and fun weekend rides.

A Lightweight 6061 T6 aluminium frame ensures excellent ride characteristics and durability alongside comfort-oriented geometry, while the unidirectional fork with 1-1/8" to 1-1/2" tapered carbon steerer gives precise steering but with the additional comfort that carbon fork blades give.

The X44 headtube works with most modern tapered forks and aids handling, future-proofing the bike for years to come. Disc fitment is flat mount standard for hydraulic or mechanical and 12mm thru-axles keep everything stiff and secure.

Without mudguards the bike can take up to 35mm tyres, when fitted, tyre clearance allows for up to 32mm.

The Rostra Disc also has additional mounts for pannier racks if required."

The Rostra is a very good all-season bike with sensible geometry that enables it to be quick and controllable in all kinds of conditions.

Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options

For the same money you can get a Campagnolo Centaur build with mechanical disc brakes, or a flat bar Tiagra build for £1,249.

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
8/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

The overall quality is very good and I like the look of the raw finish.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

The frame is 6061 T6 aluminium, the fork full carbon UD.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

The geometry is based on an endurance road bike with a well-balanced front end and wheelbase length that contribute to its stability and ease of riding.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

The stack and reach figures are mentioned in the review; there is nothing out of the ordinary in terms of the measurements.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Yes it's comfortable, and the overall ride quality is good.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

Stiffness is boosted by the size of the T47 bottom bracket shell.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Power transfer is good thanks to the stiff frame.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?

No.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Neutral.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

It handles well. The geometry gives you relatively quick steering without any twitchiness regardless of the terrain.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

I'd like a handlebar with a thicker top section for more comfort.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

Wheel stiffness is good.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

If you spend a lot of time off-road on byways and the like you might want some smaller chainrings.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
7/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the drivetrain for value:
 
6/10

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

The setup all works well together and I wouldn't change a thing, though as I said above, if you spend a lot of time off-road you might want smaller chainrings.

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for weight:
 
6/10
Rate the wheels for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for value:
 
5/10

Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so what for?

A bit heavy, but typical of the type of wheels found on bikes at this price. They are durable though, and suitable for riding on and off the road.

Rate the tyres for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for weight:
 
6/10
Rate the tyres for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for value:
 
5/10

Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so what for?

They roll okay on the road and are capable of coping with most surfaces away from it.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for value:
 
5/10

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

It's basic kit but does the job, and the flared handlebar helps descending off-road.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

The price is competitive, comparing well with Ribble's CGR range (£100 less than the equivalent build) and Giant's Contend (£100 more than the equivalent).

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
5/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

A quality all-round road bike that comes with plenty of mounts and decent tyre clearances to allow you to play away from the tarmac. The Rostra comes with a decent spec list for the money, and it is a fun bike to ride. Overall, it's very good.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

Add new comment

11 comments

Avatar
teotron | 11 months ago
1 like

I just ordered a Tifosi Rostra frame. I will build a road bike, hopefully it will weigh less than 10.6kg. A bit lighter wheels, a lighter crankset (that FSA Omega has almost 1kg), lighter kit, much lighter tyres (tyres on the test bike have 450g each)... I'm aiming for the 9kg mark. Let's see how it goes.

Avatar
teotron replied to teotron | 10 months ago
1 like

Ok, so the bike is almost ready. It looks great, frame has a glossy black paint. 105 Disc drivetrain, Mavic Ksyrium 30 wheelset, 30mm road tyres... I can predict the total weight now: The total weight is 9,5 kg / 9,2 kg without pedals and bottle cages... This project set me back for 1600 EUR/USD. All parts new from the store.

Avatar
ShinyBits replied to teotron | 10 months ago
0 likes

Sounds great. I'm considering doing a similar build with the gloss black frameset as an ultimate winter road bike. Can you confirm if the fork is full carbon like the review states? Photos of the frameset online suggest the steerer tube is alu.

It's not the end of the world for me, I'm not a bike snob, just curious as to whether maybe some model years have carbon steerers and some have alu?

Avatar
vthejk | 1 year ago
0 likes

Fact check: Can the Giant Contend indeed take 38mm tires? My 2021 SL2 Disc maxed out at 35mm, and even then the mud clearance was so poor that I had rubbed through the paint on my fork within days of riding through fairly light grime.

Avatar
60kg lean keen ... | 1 year ago
8 likes

In a world of 3k and more bikes, when most are feeling poorer by the day lets see more promo of bikes with a real world price tag on road cc. Yes we can all dream of a wizz bang group set hung off a plastic fantastic sub kilo frame, but for most people there best bike is what they can afford, so lets celebrate that. 

Avatar
mdavidford replied to 60kg lean keen climbing machine | 1 year ago
1 like

I'm not clear whether you're approving of this as a 'real world price tag' (because <£3k), or complaining that it's another expensive one.

In any case, here's a couple at £850, one at £450, another at £380, and a frameset at £450.

I'm guessing bike companies aren't exactly tripping over themselves to throw their cheaper end models at people for review though.

Avatar
60kg lean keen ... replied to mdavidford | 1 year ago
2 likes

In my world over 1k is expensive! I paid £450 for my bike, yes it was two years ago but still when you can spend that on a bling pair of shoes or a head unit today, it all gone a little nuts price wise.  I just was so glad to see a bike that was not silly money get a good review, yes I know you will show Me all the good reviews of cheap bikes to shut me up but my comment was just about being positve.

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to 60kg lean keen climbing machine | 1 year ago
1 like

I think it would be quite fun for road.cc to review some readers' bikes. Not the Giant or Trek they've just brought home from the shop but more unusual bikes with a bit of story behind them.

Not that they're getting their mucky mitts on my pride'n'joy...

Avatar
cyclefaster replied to Dnnnnnn | 1 year ago
1 like
Dnnnnnn wrote:

I think it would be quite fun for road.cc to review some readers' bikes. Not the Giant or Trek they've just brought home from the shop but more unusual bikes with a bit of story behind them.

Not that they're getting their mucky mitts on my pride'n'joy...

That sounds like a great idea. 

Avatar
Welsh boy replied to Dnnnnnn | 10 months ago
0 likes

Reader's Bikes. A bit like Reader's Wives (someone told me about it) but a lot more interesting. 

Avatar
John Stevenson replied to mdavidford | 1 year ago
4 likes

mdavidford wrote:

I'm guessing bike companies aren't exactly tripping over themselves to throw their cheaper end models at people for review though.

That's about right. And it's not because they think those bikes are somehow lacking but because demand exceeds supply. Bike makers feel they don't need the help of a review to sell £1,000-£2,000 bikes.

They send us high-end bikes because those bikes are marketing/tech showcase platforms as much as they're bikes the makers actually want to sell.

Tech editor Mat Brett spends a lot of time trying to get cheaper bikes in for review, but it's like getting blood from a stone.

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