Rocky Mountain ETSX-30 2003 Full Suspension
4.6
/5
REVIEWS
4.6
QIKRATE
3.8
WEB
0.0
|
|
Own this? Help your community (Tap a star to rate) |
|
|
|
|
|
USER REVIEWS
OVERALL RATING |
4 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
It's a Rocky Mountain! Flawless detail; solid build
Creaking in rear shock/cantilever area
Sweet ride; awesome climbing; wicked downhill control!
I was a bit concerned when I got the bike as it didn't ride like my old 26lb Stump Jumper. It took two weeks of riding to dial the bike in (and change my old habits) so I could ride the same trails clean as I did on my SJ.
However, once tuned the bike was spectacular to say the least. I completed the 24hrs of Adrenaline in Whistler B.C. this past weekend and really pounded the bike hard. The course had some wicked climbing and lightening downhills which the bike ate up like there was no tomorrow. Definately made me a better, stonger rider. Would highly recommend the bike but like any relationship, allow yourself some time to get to know it. Also unless you've got the dollars to spend on the ets X-50 or 70, the 30 has all you need and performs flawlessly (all have same frame; difference between 30 and 50 is front and rear shocks and cranks); 70 is full XTR grouppo). In fact, I blew by a few 50s and 70s during the race--didn't seem to help them!
BTW. The creaking in the rear has been fixed with some re-torquing by the Bike Shop and a new SID shock from RMB.
Cheers!
Vaughan
Similar Products Used:
None
OVERALL RATING |
4 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
Build, Components, PRICE, PRICE, PRICE!!!
None so far
Copeland Sports WL Village was clearing out their 2004 Rocky Mountain ETSX-30 and I picked up a 16.5 for $499.00 NEW...This is not an error $499.00 NEW!!!! F#$%*! YEA! The components are worth the money alone. So far it is sweet and I am a happy boy!
E-
Similar Products Used:
GT and Trek
OVERALL RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
This bike climbs sweet. My first ride of the season and I could climb every hill that was infront of me and and all thanks to this bike.
Somthing keeps squeeking on the end of the bike but I cant figure out what it is. Other then that none so far
This bike rules even though I havent riden it much this bike is soooo awsome. It takes rocks head on and doesnt stop. It climbs like a goat and goes down hills smoothly.
I highly recomend this bike to anyone who rides trails.
Similar Products Used:
the nearest thing that I have riden is a 2001 Devinci Chameleon which is nothing compared to this bike.
OVERALL RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
4 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
- Rock solid frame
- ETSX suspension design workly flawlessly. Minimal bob, takes both big and small hits well.
- Deore disc brakes are wonderful (and underappreciated by many)
-seating position is awkward at first but once I lowered the seat and forgot about my old flat handlebars, I was in heaven.
a little $$ for the component mix
rock shox SID rear isn't going to last that long
Deore Hubs are not good
This bike just keeps getting better. If I knew that it was going to be this good, I would have paided more for better components (ala etsx-50).
I'm definitely a XC type, and this bike allows me freedom on trails that I didn't have before. Point the bike and start pedaling, you'll be amazed what you can do.
Climbing is unreal. Once you get your weight balanced, the rear wheel grips whatever the terrain might be.
New England is chalked full of rock gardens and this bike eats that stuff up. The suspension soaks up everything, all you've got to do is stay balanced in the saddle and keep spinning. My pedaling technique is much improved as a result of this. There is no doubt in my mind that this bike has made me a better rider.
If you're on the fence or just concerned about the RM "premium" price tag, forget about it. This bike is a value for the amount of pleasure it will give you.
Similar Products Used:
I have owed 2 steel hardtails over the years.
I comparison shopped again Fuels, Sugar's, SC Superlights and Giant VTs.
OVERALL RATING |
3 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
2 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
I am a Heavier rider at 215 and I mainly went with this for the rugged frame. The front for works well for climbs once you get into the habit of adjusting and setting it.
Low spec for 2300. The tires are crap unless you ride on pavement. I had to switch them out after a few days. They dont hold to the ground well and have very poor traction. Seat seems to have a long break in time. The BAR shock isnt built for a rider my weight and isnt easy to set up for the heavier rider.
The bottom line is simple. I have had this bike for a week and have put on about 110 miles on it. I am still trying to find its positives and negitives but so far I am not as impressed as I thought I would be. However I do plan to give it a chance ( Another 200 miles of trails) but if it still is lacking then I will be making a switch to better fit my style. SO if you interested I might have one for sale in a few weeks. If I do switch it will be to a Trex Fuel 100 or Santa Cruz Blur
Similar Products Used:
Trek Fuel 90, FSR, Santa Cruz superlight and some misc. hardtails.
OVERALL RATING |
3 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
3 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
Nice ride on the toughest trail in the world. Handled the nasty downhills fairly well. Excellent braking--that was the best part of the bike.
Crappy tires didn't grip on the uphills. The front lockdown feature is cute, but not practical. If you engage on the uphill, then forget to disengage going down, you wind up over the handlebars. Chain came off bike twice. The frame rides bigger than you expect. I found myself swaggering off the back saddle trying to keep the bike in control on the downhills.
Nice bike, but a bit pricey relative to similar components on other bikes.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized, Trek.
OVERALL RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
Stunning ride, climbs superbly, great confidence builder
It's going to hurt like hell when I come off ...
I looked at the 50 and 70, but apart from the Fox kit, there didn't seem to be any particularly significant differences so I saved some money! As far as I can see, the frame's the same and I can always buy other bits or swap some kit from another bike.
The important bit though is the ride, and I can honestly say that it is like nothing I have ever tried. I expected the bike to be a pig on the uphill, but the suspension just keeps the back end down and the power on. On my hardtail, hitting a rock with the back wheel frequently causes the bike to buck and power to be lost, but with this one the wheel just sticks to the ground while the frame and I go up and down!
As for going downhill, well let's just say that stuff that was scarey before has become rideable, and stuff I wouldn't look at is now becoming scarey!
The original stem was too short, the next I tried was too long, but thanks to Nirvana Cycles, I've now got a Goldilocks one! The too-long stem made the steering very odd, even slightly tight singletrack felt unpleasant and wobbly, and steep downhill felt unbalanced and as if I was falling off the front of the bike, but the new one has resulted in a few seriously cheesy grins at the bottom of the slope!
I would recommend this bike unreservedly to anyone who wants a full suspension bike. The front end looks (and feels) to be geometrically identical with the RM Oxygen (or Vertex) which has wonderful handling (with the right stem!) and while the back end looks heavy (there's loads of ironmongery in there) it doesn't feel like it on the trail.
Similar Products Used:
No full sus, but other bikes include Rocky Mountain Oxygen (it's like driving F1), Scott Purgatory (that was for starters) and Yaccora.
OVERALL RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
Being my first full suspension bike i must say that it rides well
no problems soo far. In the east coast however, it rains a lot and the mud accumalates near the rear tire. not enough mude clearance
Awesome. The only good reason I like Canada is because of this bike. The price kicks ass, and so does the bike. it really rides well going up hill, almost stable platform. However, the marzzochi fork sags down a lot climbing up hills. The adjustable rear suspension is like none other. IF your a person that likes to adjust things a lot depending on the conditions, defiantly get the etsx. The only problem that occurs in doing so is that in adjusting the rear travel, the geometry feels different. With 4.5 inches of rear travel, feels like I’m going to fall forward. So unless I’m off my seat doing downhill, i keep it at 4 inches. Great bike for a great price. Lutherville is awesome.
Similar Products Used:
don have that many bikes
OVERALL RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
Every thing this bike is incredable. i have taken it on the hardest trails and it stood up awsome.
Clipless pedals (I am a beginner a XC but the Clipless pedals are a task to get used to)
I bought this bike as my first XC bike. I am normaly a Freerider but this bike made me Love XC. It is very smooth on rough terrain and handels large bumps very well.If you are looking for a good XC bike This is the one.
Similar Products Used:
Rocky Mountain ETSX-50
OVERALL RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
VALUE RATING |
5 |
★★★★★
★★★★★
|
Everything about the frame - geometry, suspension, strength. Also, the MX Pro fork is very good and the Deore M-525 hyraulic discs are excellent.
Shock bushings - not sure if this is a Rock Shox problem or Rocky's. Would have preferred SRAM to Shimano, but was able to sell the shifters after I swapped...
This is my wife's bike, but I ride it every chance I get! At the clearance price, this handcrafted bike was absolutely unbeatable. It would have quite competitive at list price, too.
This is an amazing bike for technical XC riding, including climbs. It's not as light as my V-Link, but seems to climb almost as well. Buy this if you want a fully adjustable all-mountain type bike with fantastic ride and handling and you aren't concerned about having the absolute lightest thing available (check out the ETS-X50, -70 or -90 for lighter specs on exactly the same frame or go with shorter travel - maybe RM's Element - if 30-ish pounds is too heavy).
We ran the bike with SRAM Rockets for a long time, but I recently took off the problematic XT rear derailleur in favor of older SRAM 9.0SL (with 9.0SL twist shifters). Shimano 9-speed simply isn't reliable enough for me once it gets two specks of dirt on it (same situation with LX on her hardtail). The lock-on grips were a necessity with the twist shifters and the Trailbears have been a big improvement over the stock tires for SOCAL technical XC riding (sand and rocks, mostly). Of course, tire preference is highly dependant on trail surface.
The only complaint about the bike itself is play in the rear shock bushings. We're on our second set and have play again. RM is supposed to be taking care of them again, but this process has been very slow. The bike is completely ridable, however.
Five chilis for the bike itself, but the customer service hasn't proven to be so great. RM contacted me directly after Supergo talked to them, but I had one call and haven't heard anything else (I'm now leaving messages). Supergo handled the first bushing replacement very quickly.
Similar Products Used:
DBR V-Link is the only other FS bike. Lots of rigid bikes and one hardtail.