11. November 2025

Endurance test: 2 years of racing for the R.EXC frame with professional cyclist Torben Drach

At ROTWILD, passion for racing is not just a priority, it is ingrained in our DNA. That's why every design solution and every detail in the development of the R.EXC race bike was created with the aim of succeeding on the race track. But how durable is a ROTWILD frame really when exposed to the extreme conditions of professional racing?

To answer that question, we didn't want just lab results. We wanted more, we wanted reality: two complete racing seasons with professional athlete Torben Drach from the ROTWILD Schwalbe Gravity Team. His R.EXC frame wasn't just there at the World Cup, it was put through its paces and had to prove itself on the toughest tracks.

Weltcup Enduro Racing stellt höchste Anforderungen an das eingesetzte Material – und an den Piloten. Zwei Jahre hatte Torben Drach seinen R.EXC Voll-Carbon Rahmen im Einsatz und dem Bike alles abverlangt.

After two years, Torben sums it up – a test couldn't be more honest: "In Enduro racing, so much comes down to trusting your bike. That trust isn't built overnight. It's earned over countless training runs, race weekends, and unfortunately, a few good crashes. Over the last two seasons, this frame has taken a serious beating: crashes, smashing into rocks, and some sketchy landings. You know, just the kind of stuff that's part of the sport. For me, the real story was seeing how this bike just shrugged it all off and kept performing perfectly. That builds a crazy amount of confidence because you know: you can send it full speed on a stage, and your gear can handle it. The fact that after two years of racing the frame is still in such great shape, where the battle scars tell a story instead of being a problem, I think that's seriously impressive! "

ROTWILD Mitarbeiter Lorenz ist die interne Schnittstelle zwischen dem ROTWILD Engineering und dem Team – auf zahlreichen Rennen hat er das ROTWILD Schwalbe Gravity Team begleitet und sich vor Ort intensiv um die Bikes gekümmert.

The bottom line: numbers that speak for themselves.

Trust is important, but hard data is better. Here are the racing stats that make Torben's R.EXC frame the silent hero of two years of professional racing.

Racing stats:

2 seasons (2024-2025) – from start to finish.
13 race days worldwide – from domestic race tracks to international stages.
65 hours of pure racing – 65 hours under maximum load.
22,100 meters of elevation gain in race stages – full concentration, maximum adrenaline levels.
650 km of race transfers & uphill – the often forgotten, exhausting part of the race.
9,600 km of training – daily routine, daily equipment testing.
3 podium places & 2x German E-Enduro Vice Champion – the visible result. Participations: World Championships, E-EDR World Cup, EDR World Cup, Swiss Enduro Series, German Championships – the toughest competition in the world.

Was ist nur ein Kratzer, wo gibt es eventuelle Schäden? Sorgfältig wird der komplette Rahmen untersucht.

Topic: Wear and tear: The true hero story

After the race is before the race. That's why every race day is followed by meticulous checks, dismantling, and analysis with the question: What has broken and what needs to be replaced for optimal performance? The result of two years of tinkering and servicing the frame is the best proof of quality, durability, and the engineering skill behind every ROTWILD frame.

Torben's wear and tear balance sheet after two years:

Frame: 0
Rear triangle: 0
Derailleur hanger: 7 (wear part)
Bearing sets: 2 (wear part)
Screws: 7
Liters of sweat: 30 (unconfirmed, but realistic!)
ml of tears: 36 (joy and pain)
ml of blood: 5 (because passion sometimes hurts)

Langlebige Lagerungen sind ein essentiell wichtiger Bestandteil für die bestmögliche Funktion des Fahrwerks. Zwei verschlissene Lagersätze in zwei Renn-Saisons unterstreichen, wie hochwertig auch diese verbauten Bauteile im R.EXC Rahmen sind.

Conclusion: More than just a frame – an ally

While screws, bearings, and derailleur hangers have done their job as classic wear parts, the R.EXC frame has proven one thing: it lasts. It has not only survived crashes, stone chips, and messy landings, but has transformed them into a unique patina. These marks tell stories from the world of racing. It has built trust. Race after race, year after year. That's what we mean by quality. Not only developed for the world's elite, but also evident in every ROTWILD we build. Because every frame embodies the same passion, the same precision – and the will to pass the toughest test: yours.

Das Rennteam gibt auch wichtiges Feedback zu erstmalig eingesetzten Prototypen-Teilen – macht das Sinn, hält es, wo muss nachjustiert werden?

Gerade im Weltcup zählen oft Nuancen. Um das optimale Setup für die jeweiligen Streckenverhältnisse zu finden, hat Torben die Einstellungsmöglichkeiten am R.EXC in Kombination mit den idealen Dämpfer-Tune immer wieder ausprobiert und verfeinert.

Fast schon Routine, der Check der Lagerungen.

Haben über die Saison die ein oder andere Packung Schlamm abbekommen, Staub hat den Lagerungen zwar zugesetzt, aber alles hat dicht gehalten.

Wenn zwischen den Etappen mal der Akku gewechselt werden muss, dann geht das mit dem Quick Release System besonders schnell und zuverlässig. Ein absolutes Plus für den Renn-Einsatz.

Motoraufnahme am R.EXC – hier wirken hohe Kräfte auf den Rahmen. Dieser Bereich trägt den Motor und das Fahrergewicht in schnellen Downhill-Passagen. Und hier zeigt sich auch die außerordentliche Leistungsfähigkeit unserer Carbon-Technologie. Defekte nach zwei Jahren Renneinsatz am Rahmen? Fehlanzeige!

Rennerfahrung mit Patina – natürlich sieht man dem Rahmen die Belastungen der letzten zwei Jahre an. Er hat diese alle gemeistert und die Funktion ist noch vollständig da.

World Cup Enduro Racing places the highest demands on the equipment used—and on the riders. Torben Drach used his R.EXC full carbon frame for two years and demanded everything from the bike.

ROTWILD employee Lorenz is the internal interface between ROTWILD Engineering and the team—he has accompanied the ROTWILD Schwalbe Gravity Team to numerous races and taken care of the bikes on site.

The bottom line: numbers that speak for themselves.

Trust is important, but hard data is better. Here are the racing stats that make Torben's R.EXC frame the silent hero of two years of professional racing.

Racing stats:

2 seasons (2024-2025) – from start to finish.
13 race days worldwide – from domestic race tracks to international stages.
65 hours of pure racing – 65 hours under maximum load.
22,100 meters of elevation gain in race stages – full concentration, maximum adrenaline levels.
650 km of race transfers & uphill – the often forgotten, exhausting part of the race.
9,600 km of training – daily routine, daily equipment testing.
3 podium places & 2x German E-Enduro Vice Champion – the visible result. Participations: World Championships, E-EDR World Cup, EDR World Cup, Swiss Enduro Series, German Championships – the toughest competition in the world.

What is just a scratch, where is there potential damage? The entire frame is carefully examined.

Topic: Wear and tear: The true hero story

Torben's wear and tear balance sheet after two years:

Frame: 0
Rear triangle: 0
Derailleur hanger: 7 (wear part)
Bearing sets: 2 (wear part)
Screws: 7
Liters of sweat: 30 (unconfirmed, but realistic!)
ml of tears: 36 (joy and pain)
ml of blood: 5 (because passion sometimes hurts)

Durable bearings are an essential component for ensuring the chassis functions as well as possible. Two worn bearing sets in two racing seasons underscore the high quality of these components installed in the R.EXC frame.

Conclusion: More than just a frame – an ally

The racing team also provides important feedback on prototype parts used for the first time—does it make sense, does it hold up, where does it need to be readjusted?

In the World Cup, it's often the little things that count. To find the optimal setup for the respective track conditions, Torben repeatedly tested and refined the adjustment options on the R.EXC in combination with the ideal shock absorber tune.

Checking the bearings is almost routine.

We got a few packs of mud on them over the season, and dust did get into the bearings, but everything held tight.

If the battery needs to be changed between stages, the Quick Release System makes this particularly quick and reliable. An absolute plus for racing.

Motor mount on the R.EXC – high forces act on the frame here. This area supports the motor and the rider's weight during fast downhill passages. And this is also where the extraordinary performance of our carbon technology comes into play. Any defects on the frame after two years of racing? Not a chance!

Racing experience with patina – naturally, the frame shows signs of wear and tear from the last two years. It has mastered them all and is still fully functional.