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As an early convert to 29er's and haveing gone through far too many 29er bikes to bear thinking about from 5" Lenz to ti rigid, I found the ultimate itch was a short travel, fun & fast, FS, efficient peddler...
So, after a few test rides I went for the Rocky Mountain. It's a well thought out design, with short CS's, a rear suspension that not only does what it says ('SmoothLink' - really is smooth with no sense of transition), internal cable routing, and with the rest of the geo making for a bike which is saying something - it has a personality...
Much of this I put down to a HA of 70.6°. I've long been a fan of slack, which I put down to making things easier on the trail, along with giving confidence. Slack and ultimately steamrollering however does not make for a long-term fun and this is why I think the Element felt immediately more stimulating. I had demo'd a similar geo Whyte the previous week which HA was much slacker and that really wasn't saying anything.
So, here are some pics
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The bike retails for £3K and was on sale at Evans for 2. Came with good spec from R1 brakes, XO 2x10 drivetrain, Fizik Gobi - all the stuff I like
All the reviews nocking about are pretty much spot on from brilliant climber to fast & fun
Nice colour matching of the shock. Like.
Looks like a very slack seat post angle. Wouldn't want much more than that showing.
Lovely looking bike there. Unfortunately I couldn't quite make the leap to a 29er so went for an 120mm Element 50 MSL. Looks to be a beautifully built thing, though unfortunately I'm yet to hit the trails with it.
I know a chap who had one and the bearings & bushings were virtually impossible to get hold of.
"internal cable routing"
Such a shame one side looks great then the other side is ruined by the brake hose. Perhaps a white hose would have looked better.
I have always had a thing for Rocky Mountain, the old Vertex and Element were great and I loved my ETS-X so I know this will ride beautifully. It just hasn't quite got the look of those old bikes. I would still have one though.
Mal-ec - Member
Nice colour matching of the shock. Like.
Looks like a very slack seat post angle. Wouldn't want much more than that showing.POSTED 35 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
Actually quite steep - 74°. It's something which adds to climbing attributes.
The seatpost has quite alot 'in' the tube
Looks lovely, I do like these RMs. The new BC edition looks really nice, slightly slacker too although not too much.
Actually quite steep - 74°. It's something which adds to climbing attributes.
Must be the perspective on the pics. 74 is pretty steep which is generally good IME. Ta.
Is that a 140mm rotor on the back there?
MicArms - Member
Is that a 140mm rotor on the back there?
😆 yo Mic - 140 is the new 160 you know (it's actually a 180 😉 )
Over braked there then...
Doing wyre wed night if you're interested.
Looks so nice... I can't bring myself to go short travel though, I need a skill compensator me 😉 Haven't entirely decided what I am going to go for as I dip my toes into the 29er pond... probably the Kona Satori unless something catches my eye imminently!
If it's any help, for my woodsy, odd trail centre riding, my favourite goto bike for the last year or two is a rigid (29er steel, and now ti frame/CF fork).
For the times I want to go fast (or wnat more confidence on unfamiliar trail), HT or FS is my choice. I have a 120 FS which is a little too much bike and doesn't get used, even for trail centres. The 100mm will sit better, get more use, and make a the best all-rounder
It is a thought... i tend to ride in the Lakes (live here) and solo so like a bit of get out of jail free! I may replace the hardtail 26er at some stage though, possibly with a rigid 29er....
Had a look at one of those Satori's, they're frikkin massive even in medium size!!
I think it's the 140mm forks and the big wheels, they do however look like they'd steam roller almost an trail you care to mention. In fact the rad fast as **** former 4X racer who works in the shop said he'd love to take ti somewhere really rocky and let fly as it looks like it'd be exceptionally fast
I love my rocky mountain, they are much under appreciated in this country. I have had my altitude since it was first launched and i've found it eat everything up i have thrown at it, it gets hammered in the lakes, scotland, numerous trail centers, it's been raced and i even did the coast to coast on it.
The geometry is sorted and is more or less the same as the element just with more travel.
Evans aren't going with them again next year, and something happened with them and Silverfish last year... that leaves no UK distributor...
That's well lush!
I quite fancy one, I was considdering an Epic but after the ball-ache that's been getting the Pitch in working order (i.e. replace everything spesh underspec'd, i.e. everything) I'm not too keen on another bike with similar components.
Evans aren't going with them again next year, and something happened with them and Silverfish last year... that leaves no UK distributor...
Bugger. Was very tempted by next year's carbon ones. Wonder if the Evans 2012 prices will get gouged even lower if they are dropping them ...
Thisisnotaspoon, my Element was a replacement for my Epic. At RRP the RM is both cheaper and better spec'd. Then factor in Evans' end of season sale and a bit of haggling and it's a no brainer. @gary, if you're still thinking of one Evans seem happy to do a deal… though its a bit worrying that they've dumped RM.
My second hand 930 frame arrived today so excited now
Black frame with white decals, after riding my 26er yeti after several weeks on a scandal 29er I am fast becoming a convert!
vondally - be sure to post pics 🙂 Enjoy!
bonesetter - what size is it & how tall are you?
A few reviews I've read refer to '20" Large tested' but seen the 18.5" listed as large.
I've seen mention of folk discussing ETT and RM somehow making the cockpit geo somehow different.
You must get the ETT right for you and the clever geo RM have made will follow.
I am a shade under 6'3" and always go for Large 29er size, 630 mm ETT on the RM sizing which is the 20 fits me very well