Spoke Magazine Reviews the Velduro Rogue
After featuring Velduro earlier this year as industry disruptors, Spoke Magazine went deeper with a comprehensive hands on review of the Velduro Rogue. Photographer and writer Neil Kerr built and tested a prototype frame across New Zealand's most demanding terrain, and the results speak for themselves.
When Spoke profiled Velduro in their "Disruptors from Down Under" feature, the Rogue was still a 3D printed concept. Now, Neil Kerr had the chance to actually ride one. He built the bike himself, spent six weeks testing it from Wānaka to Alexandra, and provided feedback that directly influenced the final production design.
This is the kind of collaboration that defines how we develop bikes at Velduro.
Tested the Velduro Way
Velduro co-founder Dan Wallace didn't mince words about the testing process. "We're gonna thrash the shit out of it here in New Zealand and find out if there are any issues before production."
Neil received one of four prototype frames, complete with early updates from Rotorua test bikes already on trails. What impressed him wasn't just the carbon quality on a pre-production frame, but the transparency. "That's rare in the industry," he wrote, "and it adds to the sense that this project is being built around real-world experience, not just engineering principles."
DJI Avinox Delivers
Having ridden every major eMTB system, including a 108Nm Dyname motor with delimiter, Neil's verdict was clear. The Avinox was the fastest bike he'd ever ridden, pulling hard until 45km/h.
"The pace was wild," he wrote about his first climb. "The journey to the high point began to feel like a descent, features arriving faster than expected, the line blurring between ascending and attacking."
He was hitting speeds close to Jackson Goldstone's 43km/h World Cup average on regular singletrack. Properly mental!
The Rogue in Action
Neil tested multiple configurations, from 160mm mullet for tight technical trails to 170mm fork and 165mm rear in Enduro mode for rowdier terrain.
"The mullet setup kept the rear end snappy and quick to respond, while the slack 63.5° head angle gave the front end a very composed feel at speed. Zero surprises, zero second-guessing."
The i-track high pivot suspension particularly impressed. "Suddenly, the Rogue felt like a full-blown DH bike, floating down raw and rocky singletrack with ease."
Final Verdict
Neil's assessment gets to the heart of it. "In any configuration, the Rogue is a long travel, rocket-powered superbike. It's not for everyone. But if you're the kind of rider it is for, you'll know and you won't be disappointed."
He positions it perfectly for aggressive riders wanting to smash laps on demanding terrain. At 22.6kg in his lightest build, it's firmly in the "aggressive enduro with a jetpack" category.
Read Neil's full review at Spoke Magazine for the complete deep dive into the DJI Avinox system, geometry options, and what makes the Velduro Rogue work.
