Root Miller

mtb2299–5999 EUR

Origin

2014. The Root Miller is ROSE's flagship trail/enduro full suspension MTB — the 29" counterpart to the 27.5" Granite Chief (now discontinued). It's always been alloy — ROSE has consistently not offered carbon MTB frames in their direct-sales line. The Root Miller's value proposition is consistent: Fox Factory or RockShox Ultimate suspension on an alloy 29er at prices that retail brands can't match through dealer channels.

Specifications

Frame: 6061 aluminium, four-bar Horst-link suspension. No carbon option in ROSE MTB range. Frame approx. 3020 g.
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: Shimano SLX / XT 12-speed (Root Miller 2). Root Miller 1: Shimano Deore 12-speed. Root Miller 3/4: SRAM GX/XX Eagle AXS or Shimano XTR.
Brakes: Shimano XT 4-piston, 203 mm rotors (Root Miller 2). Root Miller 1: Shimano 4-piston. Root Miller 3/4: Shimano XTR or SRAM Code RSC 4-piston.
Wheels: DT Swiss M1700 Spline 30, 29" (Root Miller 2). Root Miller 1: Sun Ringle Düroc SD37. Higher builds: DT Swiss EX 1700 / premium alloy.

The verdict

+Strengths

bike-test.com 2025: 14.8kg at €2,699 — 'price joker in enduro market.' Genuinely exceptional value.
RockShox Lyrik with hi/lo compression on €2,699 bike — suspension spec punches well above price
64° HTA and 485mm reach (Gen 3 L) — 'exactly where you'd expect an enduro bike to be in 2025'
Conventional Horst-link = active suspension under braking — 'rear suspension fully active when braking downhill' (bike-test.com)
Anti-squat above 100% up to 30% sag — comfortable pedalling without lockout on climbs
5 sizes S–XXL — good range for varied rider heights
Root Miller 4 with electronic suspension (Live Valve/Flight Attendant) — rare at this price tier
Custom spec at order time — choose fork, shock, drivetrain upgrades via configurator
Pinkbike: 'Impeccable on climbs — high BB great for rooty trails, few pedal strikes. Steep STA efficient position.'

−Weaknesses

Long 470mm seat tube (size L) — severely limits dropper post compatibility. 'Worst part of the bike' (Pinkbike community). Enduro MTB: 'Limits choice of dropper post length.'
Alloy frame only — no carbon option in Root Miller or any ROSE MTB. 14.8kg vs 12–13kg for carbon competitors at similar price.
Gen 2 (pre-2024): cable rattle from inlet routing (fixed in Gen 3 with headset routing)
Enduro MTB 2020: 'At high speed, suspension not capable of absorbing everything — geometry lacks composure in rock gardens.' Gen 2 criticism, Gen 3 may be improved with 64° HTA.
Near-linear suspension (low progression) — requires volume spacer addition for aggressive riders / jump lines
Slight frame flex under extreme loads noted (bike-test.com 2025) — within acceptable range but detectable
BB drop of only 28mm (Gen 2) = high BB — good pedal clearance but different feel from lower-BB bikes
Direct-to-consumer only — no test rides, sizing uncertainty especially given seat tube length issues

Did you know

01Root Miller uses a conventional Horst-link 4-bar suspension — Rose deliberately avoids exotic suspension designs. bike-test.com 2025: 'No unnecessary bells and whistles. While others reinvent rear suspension, Rose stays consistently moderate.'
0214.8kg at size L for the Root Miller 2 at €2,699 — bike-test.com called this 'impressively low for alloy in this category and price range'
03Root Miller 4 is one of the most affordable ways to get electronic auto-suspension (Live Valve / Flight Attendant) on a production MTB
04Long seat tube (470mm on L) is the most consistent criticism across reviews — limits dropper post compatibility and forces sizing decisions
05Pinkbike community criticism (2017): 'Medium recommended from 173cm with 470mm seat tube — horrible sizing for most of the population'
06ROSE allows custom spec upgrades at point of purchase — riders can upgrade fork, shock, drivetrain, wheels via configurator when ordering
07Cable rattle on Gen 2 (2020) was flagged by Enduro MTB Magazine — 'cables clamped at inlet but not exit.' Gen 3 (2024) added headset cable routing to fix this.
08Main pivot sits directly over the BB — a deliberate kinematic choice for chainstay stiffness (pivot spacing widened with Boost transition)
09Anti-squat above 100% up to 30% sag in most gears — prevents pedal bob without lockout needed on climbs

Who it’s for

Trail and enduro riders wanting Fox/RockShox spec on a budgetAll-mountain riders who want one bike for trail and occasional bike parkRiders upgrading from hardtail wanting proven suspension kinematicsValue-focused buyers who want to configure their own spec via online tool