Submitted by
ridelikeme
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2008
Strengths: Frame design, big hit capability, weight, climbing prowess,no bob whatsoever with propedal on, looks, durability, neck snapper, geometry, small bump absorption... the fox RP23 (wow propedal)
Weaknesses: bobs pretty hard with propedal turned off.. thats honestly it
Bottom Line:
This bike is unreal. It climbs just as well as the blur i took out, and definitely better than my bullit or heckler. The components are bomb proof. Going downhill the bike is just as plush as my bullit, without the brake jack.. the frame is stiff, and completely inspires confidence, and for a complete Saint component spec it only weighs in at 30.5 pounds. I have only had this bike for a month and i love it, this is definitely the best bike i have ever owned. I also have a 2006 Honda CRF250R, and it has been completely neglected ever since the slayer took its place in my garage... I’m getting rid of the heckler, and already got rid of the bullit... This bike does a better job of XC and freeride, then either of those bikes did individually... I finally get why people that ride RM stick with RM. Anyone who is looking for an alternative to Specialized and Santa Cruz, check out this bike.. wow.. just f*c*ing wow
Similar Products Used: i have owned: Santa Cruz bullit, and heckler, Brodie Diablo
I have tested (before buying this bike): Santacruz blur lt and 4x, transition bottle rocket (i dont get the hype behind this bike), specialized enduro, giant reign
Bike Setup: Limited edition slayer canuck frame, custom build.
Full Shimano Saint components, XTR front Der', 8 inch saint discs, Race face cockpit, Easton stem, Mavic rims, chris king headset, Marzocchi Z1 FR SL ETA
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2008
Strengths: Great Bike! Offers all that I could have ever asked for. The freeride feel combined with the cross country climbing ability has given me the rides of my life. Allows for so much diversity. Best one bike you could ever buy.
Weaknesses: Can't put a rear shock with a piggy back on it to provide more big hit ability. But really does fine without due to the great rear shock link up.
Bottom Line:
If you want one bike that can do it all- Get the Slayer. The 06 model offers more of a freeride feel (more fun) while the newer models will be better on the climb, but do yourself a favor and go for the fun ride and sacrifice on the climb-it'll only make you get in better shape and you'll have way more fun on the downhill.
Strengths: Awesome geometry and ride. Handles everything i can throw at it and still climbs as well as my old ride.
Weaknesses: Suspension bearings and parts is garbage
Bottom Line:
Broke my frame 1 month after i bought it and it took rocky 4 months to get me a new one so i have barely used the bike. Started having suspension problems on the very top pivot linkage. It started going loose and the cause was a bad bearing. replaced that and about 5 rides later im riding down and the bolt that goes through the top linkage sheared off on one side and and let the suspension rattle around. Had to walk to the bike down a few miles as it was unridable. I would love the bike had it not had these problems. I will probably sell it and get a Santa Cruz as i dont wanna get stranded any more from it.
Strengths: talas 36 w/ 20 mm axle, 8 inch rotors front and rear, frame, tracks well, climbs well, descends well. suspension and frame just eat it up. all in all, awesome bike!
Strengths: Excellent all around bike. Burly enough for some downhill abuse, and climbs well too as long as you don't overuse the front derailer.
Weaknesses: Bottom bracket is too close to the front derailer, which causes the chain to get sucked up and stuck between the two, which jams the drive train. Easy to fix with a quick quarter rotation backwards with the pedals, but it can throw you off when you need to quickly downshift for steep section.
Bottom Line:
Even with the front derailer issue I still love the bike (who really uses their front .
Submitted by
Bart Zawacki
a Cross Country Rider
from Pukalani, Hawaii 96768
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2007
Strengths: The bike is awesome and has needed no service besides riding and lubing up the parts. I ride the bike in Hawaii on awesome single track in the forest of Makawao. My bike handles like a dream, like being in the star wars movie and flying through the forest. Evolving with cross country bikes by many manufactures through the years, I knew instantly on my first ride demoing this bike in Fruita Colorado at the spring Fat Tire Festival, that this was my new bike. The Slayer 90 did everything I was looking for in my new bike. Pedal efficiency with the light drive train. The bike handled like a motorcycle on helium. Suspended the terrain like a billy goat. This bike is awesome, powerful and fun!
Weaknesses: My friends always want to ride my bike which leaves me riding their old technology bikes. Also I ride where there are many downed trees and branches, and so the aluminum derailer hanger kept breaking. The company has now come out with a stronger aluminum hanger which has fixed the problem (I haven't broken of these new hangers yet).
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike I have ever ridden. It suits my needs and desires. I don't race except the occasional ego ride with my friends. The bike tracks perfectly, corners like it is glued to the trail and brakes with complete control making it a fun all around trail bike. The bike climbs very efficiently because of the light drive components.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz, Superlight/Blur; Rocky Mtn., Element; Specialized
Bike Setup: Slayer 90 2006 Right out of the box
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Andrew Pratt
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellingham, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007
Strengths: This is for a Slayer70. This bike feels bottomless with the variable spring rate. The 36 is unbeatable with a solid feel on both small bumbs and bigger hits. The talas version is essential for making this bike work on both cross country trails and downhill tracks.
Weaknesses: The wheels were the first thing to go but I'm 240 lbs so that's no surprise. The BB sinks significantly through the stroke which took a little getting used to.
Bike Setup: Still fairly stock save hand built wheels, nokon housing, and phil wood BB bearings. Also it has 22/36t/bashring gearing which helps with the BB sinking.
Strengths: really nice frame, very good components (quality - price - wise)
Weaknesses: I weigh 190lbs and bought a 22" frame. So I guess I am pretty much average weight for my size. However, the rear suspension (even with slightly more than recommended max pressure) too soft for "all mountain" riding. One of the first things that broke on my bike was the deraillure hanger (replacement 25$). If you have a look at how the hanger is designed you will realize it is not very well though through. Next thing that broke was the seat quick release. The bearings of the frame are very sensitve to bad wheather riding. I met other riders who had the same problems with this bike.
Bottom Line:
A very nice bike for "all mountain" riding. Not robust enough for more extreme free riding. Some more attention to the detail would make this one of the best bikes in the market.
I love the way this bike handles, but I just cant stand the stock fork (Marzocchi Dropoff III) when I'm climbing, and the stock wheels just plain suck (Alex TD17 rims to Shimano M525 hubs). I'm still really happy with the bike, but I can't wait to get the new fork and wheels. My biggest complaint is the fact that my 18" slayer weighs 35 pounds, which can be a burdon on the climbs.
Similar Products Used: Tested Giant Reign, SC Heckler, Spec. Enduro
Bike Setup: Stock, except for race face bars, and Crank Bros. Mallet pedals. This winter I will be upgrading to a Marzocchi AM1 SL fork, and Mavic Crossmax SX wheels, Race Face downhill cranks, and an e.thirteen DRS chainguide
Strengths: Bike is good on the DH. I am getting GREAT service from the Retailer. They too are a bit puzzled with some of the problem.
Weaknesses: This is a a very creaky bike. It sounds aweful. I have gone through ... 3 sets of front brakes, 1 bottom bracket, and a front and rear hub. Thanks goodness for Warranty! Not the greatest on climbs, but that might be me.
Bottom Line:
If I could just keep it out of the shop I am ok with the purchase. It sounds like my problems are being experienced by alot of other slayer owners. Rocky Mountain has to figure out these problems. They are on the right track with this bike.
