Rondo has announced the release of the new Ruut CF Gen 2 – its most radical bike to date.

We first reported on the new Rondo Ruut back in 2023, but Rondo has been fine-tuning its soft-tail design until now, and it’s finally ready to go on sale in July.

The design sees the junction of seat tube and down tube move up to just below the bottle cage mounts, in a design similar to Specialized’s Sirrus.

Like Specialized, Rondo claims this creates a parts-free, leaf-spring-like suspension system for added compliance.

The original Rondo Ruut showcased the Polish brand’s unusual design philosophy with its adjustable-geometry fork and kinked top tube.

Since then, we’ve had the versatile HVRT, an aero racer for road and gravel, and the all-roader Ratt. The range is rounded out with the technical, trail-focused Mylc.

Details matter

The frame’s diamond-shaped rear end drops the seatstays low and interrupts the seat tube. This is intended to create a shock-absorbing configuration akin to a leaf-spring.

When Rondo first showed off the design, it was unique, although Specialized launched its updated flat-bar Sirrus not long after.

More recently, Orbea released a new urban ebike, called the Diem, with a similarly soft-tailed back end.

The second-generation Ruut, however, is using the shock-stopping design on a pure performance bike.

Rondo says the Ruut CF Gen 2 is aimed at competitive gravel racers and adventurous riders alike. That means even though the bike is only currently configured in 1x setups, you can run a 2x drivetrain with a front derailleur adaptor arm (available separately).

The frame comes with a T47 bottom bracket shell, using either inboard or outboard bearings.

At the rear dropouts, Rondo has future-proofed the Ruut CF Gen 2 by adopting SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger) standard.

This means the bike can accept SRAM’s latest off-road specific T-Type rear derailleurs, as well as the upcoming Red XPLR AXS, which we spotted at this year’s Unbound gravel race. It can also work with current derailleurs, with the use of a compatible hanger, as found on the launch bikes.

At the front end, an Acros headset system fully integrates the brake-hose routing and a cable-operated dropper post, should you want to fit one. The headset is designed to work with Rondo’s own ICR stem, which is CNC manufactured in Poland.

Geometry updates

The Ruut CF Gen 2’s geometry has been tweaked over the original version.

The head tube angle has been relaxed by one degree, although that’s changeable with the TwinTip fork design. This enables you to adjust the fork offset and head tube angle to suit your riding style.

In its high position, the Ruut CF Gen 2 has a 71.7-degree head angle and 55mm fork offset, and adds 5mm to the bottom bracket drop.

In the low position, the TwinTip relaxes the head angle to 71 degrees, sets the fork offset to 45mm and increases the axle-to-crown to 400mm. This is the optimal setting if you want to add a gravel suspension fork into the mix.

The stack has been increased across all sizes, although it remains low for a gravel bike (594mm on a large size) and the reach has been extended (417mm on a large).

This should give the new Ruut a more race-oriented ride position compared to its Mylc and Ratt stablemates.

Although tyre clearance has been upped to 45mm with 700c wheels and 54mm with 650b wheels, the chainstays remain short at 420mm. Rondo says this helps to retain the swift handling the original Ruut was known for.

650b may not be as popular as it once was for gravel wheels, but Rondo sees the smaller size as essential on smaller bikes. The Ruut CF Gen 2 is available in five sizes – the smallest, XS, size comes fitted with 650b wheels as standard.

The bikes

Rondo has two models available at launch, the SRAM Rival XPLR AXS-equipped CF1 (€4,999) and 1x 12-speed Shimano GRX-equipped CF2 (€3,799).

These will be followed later in the year by the CF0, with SRAM Force XPLR AXS and Hunt’s new aerodynamic Limitless Gravel wheels.

The range is rounded out by a CF2 with SRAM Apex AXS XPLR, and the entry to the range Ruut X with SRAM’s 1x 12 Apex XPLR.

Rondo Ruut CF Gen 2 range details

Rondo Ruut G2 CF0

• Price: TBC
• Frame: Ruut G2 Fly Carbon
• Fork: TwinTip Carbon
• Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
• Handlebar: Easton EC70 AX Carbon 400mm (XS), 420mm (S), 440mm (M, L), 460mm (XL)
• Saddle: Selle Italia Novus Super Boost
• Seatpost: Rondo Carbon 350 X 27.2
• Brakes: SRAM Force AXS hydraulic brakes, SRAM Centerlock Paceline 160F/R
• Drivetrain: SRAM Force XPLR AXS (42, 10-44)
• Wheelset: Rondo X Hunt Limitless Gravel Carbon
• Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 700C X 40 / 650B X 45 (XS)

Rondo Ruut G2 CF2 GRX

• Price: TBC
• Frame: Ruut G2 Fly Carbon
• Fork: TwinTip Carbon
• Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
• Handlebar: Rondo Flare 380mm (XS), 420mm (S), 440mm (M, L), 460mm (XL)
• Saddle: Selle Italia Novus Superboost / WTB Volt
• Seatpost: Rondo 350 X 27.2
• Brakes: Shimano GRX BR-RX400, Shimano SM-RT70 160/160mm
• Drivetrain: Shimano GRX (42, 11-42)
• Wheelset: Rondo Aluminium 622-23, 584-23 (XS), Rondo hubs
• Tyres: Pirelli Gravel ADV H 700C X 40 / 650B X 45 (XS)