Description
The Roubion has long been Juliana’s premiere all-mountain machine, and this 4th generation bike comes to us with an updated carbon frame that’s built around a mixed-wheel platform. This gives us the confidence and plowability of a 29er wheel up front, balanced out by the quick maneuverability of a smaller 27. 5in wheel out back. The bike has 150mm of VPP rear travel paired with a 160mm fork, which is just enough travel to tackle the toughest black diamond trails without bogging us down on the days we’re riding mellower trails. This Roubion also sees longer and slacker geometry, but Juliana didn’t go too crazy with it and the bike still has that agility that riders loved about the previous model. Our favorite change is the chainstay length that varies per size, ensuring every size of rider gets the same balanced geometry and fit. The reach and wheelbase are longer and the head tube is slacker, providing more stability during high-speed sections and technical descents. Juliana knows that pedaling prowess matters, so they incorporated a steeper 77. 1-degree seat tube angle on a size medium to balance the long and slack geo. Combined with the efficient VPP platform, the bike tackles tough climbs with ease. The geometry is also adjustable via a flip-chip in the linkage, allowing you to tune the handling to suit the trail at hand. This XO1 Reserve build is the cream of the crop in Juliana’s offerings. It’s got top-of-the-line suspension components from RockShox and FOX, along with SRAM’s wireless XO1 AXS drivetrain. Reserve carbon wheels with Industry Nine hubs are a welcome addition, as are the 4-piston Code RSC brakes that feel powerful and smooth. The frame itself uses Juliana’s highest-grade carbon layup, known as Carbon CC, which results in a considerably lighter frame than their entry-level carbon–without sacrificing strength or stiffness. *Due to a high demand in the global supply chain and bike industry since the start of the pandemic, material weight and e…
