Submitted by
Dennis
a Weekend Warrior
from Holland
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2001
Strengths: Great looks and finish since it looks like an ordinary bike. Just enough travel for XC. It's not 'made in USA' (sorry guys).
Weaknesses: Have to remove the cranks to service the lower bearing. The rear discbrake mount seems flimsy and flexes a little. Only one year warranty? Decals on my bike are not covered by a clear coat. Subsequently, they are in bad shape now. While I'm nitpicking: The cables run over the top of the top tube.
Bottom Line:
I like the way the bike looks like a normal hardtail. Other fully's look like something a 5 year old has drawn in kindergarten. It's just not a bike. Rides good too and I especially like the Fox Float RC shock, which can be adjusted according to the terrain. Soft for rough terrain, hard for racing, 'off' for road-riding. (The 'off' setting should not be used on rough terrain) The bike climbs very good, especially when it gets technical. This bike has turned me from an average climber that hated to go uphill into a good (not great) climber that actually likes to go uphill as long as it's technical. I still don't care for asfalt-climbs. I recently added discbrakes and I must say that I hope that the rear discbrake mount will hold up as it flexes a little. Only time will tell I guess. And why the decals are not covered by a clear layer of laquer is beyond me. After a year, they don't look so good anymore, especially the one's on the top tube.
Similar Products Used: Proflex 865 (very bad), Scott G-zero (very good). Otherwise only hardtails
Bike Setup: '99 limited edition paintjob (cool), SID XC, XT/XTR, Syncross revolution cranks, Chris King headset and DiscGoTech hubs, Hope Enduro discs, Synross Ti seatpost, Extralite bars and stem.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, Az, USA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2000
Strengths: Wt, Performance, Style
Weaknesses: Suspension bolt backed out, price
Bottom Line:
Excellent ride, I am 6ft and over 200lbs and this bike is great. It smooths out the ruff stuff and takes big hits with ease. By far the best bike I have ever owned. I built it up with some new stuff some stuff from my old bike. The only problem I had was with the pivot bolt backing out. I took it back the the bike shop, where they retourqued it to the proper specs and I have'nt had a problem since. The only other down side is price. I do use the bike quite a bit and plan on keeping it for awhile. I feel I got what I paid for, and excellent bike.
Bike Setup: XT/XTR, Cane Creek, Easton handlebars, Mavic rims, Fox Vanilla RC shock, Marzocci
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brock
a Cross Country Rider
from The land o' oz(F*#@ Toto!)
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2000
Strengths: Sweet suspension, light frame, That hideous/beautiful maple leaf paint job.
Weaknesses: Little flexy in BB area, Plastic bushings. All the Missouri mullet headed turds that think my bike is so cool these days because of the "north shore" mecca/freeriding marketing campaign when they used to look at it like what the hell is that turquoise secretion!
Bottom Line:
Re-reviewing this bike. Got it in Dec of 99 it was one of the first batches I guess. Have rode the hell out of it since then....living in KS kinda sucks but the trails are actually good and CO is only half day drive away. Anyway, have had many complications, the main one was with the bb pivot. Backed out at first, tightened and torqued to spec and it was fixed. Developed a creak in that area, so I assumed it was the pivot. Sent it back to B.C., turns out I managed to nail a rock so hard that I knocked my bb shell out of round. They fixed it and sent it back no questions. GOOD Service. I felt stupid. Everything has been great since then except for the fox vanilla float RC. This thing sucks. Blew out once, had it rebuilt and it was never the same. The new ones have a better seal, but I suggest a lizard skin. Switched to coil, to hell with air. Coils are it. This is a damn good bike, super tight handling for the curvys, takes the street riding wheelie drops no sweat. The whole "3D" link lineup is right on. Buy one, you'll love it.
Similar Products Used: Ridden my friends bikes, Mountain Cycle, Santa Cruz, Kleins etc.
Bike Setup: All custom, bought as frame: Z2 bam, hayes front disc, XT XTR, the whole race face collection.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chuck E.
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, Pa.
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2000
Strengths: looks, ride (when it works!)
Weaknesses: see below
Bottom Line:
My letter to Rocky Mtn: To whom this may concern: I purchased, from Chris at Speedgoat, an Element T.O.. I am reasonably mature for my 41 years, fairly small (145 lbs., 5'6" tall), Yet I have experienced MAIN PIVOT PROBLEMS almost immediately with this frame. I know that you are aware of this problem - that the drive side main pivot bolt will not stay tight, backing out against the chainrings, rendering the bike unrideable, and also severely working the rear triangle because of the introduction of gobs of sidewards play. Of course, as you know, the crank must be dropped in order to retighten this bolt - something I am not prepared to do in the middle of a ride, miles from the truck! I tried to remedy this with locktight, to no avail. Chris took this bike back into his shop, we waited almost a month for you folks to get him a certain "reamer" so it could fixed to your specs. I did not ride this bike for a few months, due to all the rain we've had this summer. The past three weeks have been somewhat drier, so I started riding this bike again - and you can guess the rest. Yesterday, my bike, my dog, and I took an unplanned 4 mile walk back to the truck. As I have conveyed to Chris, and he agress, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Apparently, this problem is quite widespread through your bike line, not just with the TEAM frames. You people have a serious design/manufacturing problem on your hands, and I would assert that the bike industry is too small for you to ignore this problem anymore, and not take better care of your consumers. Unless you have radically redesigned your main pivot, I do not want any part of your bikes! It looks great, it feels great, but when you least expect - your bike leaves me stranded. Kind of like a girl I knew in high school, and getting far away from her was the best thing I could do!
I will update when (if) Rocky Mtn. gives me a suitable reply.
As you can see from the build, I wanted to build an awesome XC racer, sparing no expense. I am totally blown away with this bike. It climbs great, descends the rough stuff as well or better than any of the FS XC bikes out there, and can be built very light if you are careful. Mine weighs a hair under 25lbs. with disks, and I have had it as low as 22.75 lbs with 'V's and other parts.The handling is superb. It is balanced and does everything well, tight or fast, it's on the line you aim for.The rear never feels like it is slowing you down, in fact it allows you to ride a gear higher in most cases. I ride it HARD, I weigh 175 and the pivots are solid and quiet after a full year of pounding. The only negative I could say is the der. hanger is soft. I am on my third hanger this year! Otherwise, if you consider a "Truth" or "Superlight", make sure you check out this bike too. Forget the over-hyped FSR XC, its not in the same league.Also Best paint job in the business!
Similar Products Used: FSR xc, Catamount, Jekyll, Mantra
Bike Setup: Built up from frame ($1400 cdn.) '00 Sid XC custom painted to match team paint on frame, Grimeca System 8 discs, Chris King Disco Tec hubs/317 wheels, Kooka cranks, Ti bb, Raceface XY, Flite Ti Gel saddle, Profile carbon bars, XTR fr/rr der, Remote shifter, XTR shifters. Sweet!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Trevor
a Cross Country Rider
from Delta, BC Canada
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2000
Strengths: Canadian made, 3km from my house! / Great paint / do anything, ride all day full suspension / no "ghost" shifting / very solid rear triangle
Weaknesses: Occaisionally sqeaky rear shock pivot / I have seen one other rear swingarm broken through on left chainstay at the weld vent hole (disc brakes and lots of wheelie drops!). RM replaced next day!! I have used up three replaceable deraileur hangers (a good thing) but they seem "soft"
Bottom Line:
This bike is nothing short of amazing! It is an excellent technical climber, fantastic at all types of local fast/slow/tisty/technical/steep single track and is a great bike for loooong all day rides. Probably not the best choice for big drops and jumps, if that is your thing. I have had no pivot problems at all other than having to re-lube the rear shock mount now and then, although the left rear swingarm pivot seems to be wearing because of the disk brake. No bolts have backed out and all the other pivots have been quiet and no lube has been applied. I have experienced no 9-Speed problems at all even though I am 205lbs. and do alot of steep technical climbing. I would recommend that anyone who buys this bike moves up one size, as Rocky's seem to be sized slightly small. I was reluctant to move up to the 20.5" size, but John at Tailwind was right-on - it's just right! This bike may not have the latest full suspension design, but Rocky Mountain has been evolving this type over 5+ years now and it works just fine. Don't get caught up in all the magazine hype.....
Bike Setup: Purchased as frame & shock w/: XTR 9-Speed w/ RR and a rare 5-arm, 26/36/48 XTR crankset / Hayes Hyraulic Disc Brakes / Hugi-Hayes Hubs w/ Sun DS1-XC Rims / Z-2 Bam / Easton Monkey-Lite Riser / Race Face Stem & Headset / Syncros Ti Post / around 26lbs. in a 20.5" size w/ 2.1 tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chef
a Cross Country Rider
from New York, NY
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2000
Strengths: The 4-bar linkage design provides excellent all-around riding ability. It climbs extremely well as long as you stay in the saddle, and the descents are handled very well. The bike handles excellently in tight, twisty singletrack where you practically have to nose-wheelie-turn around obstacles, and handles the road with equal aplomb. The '99 is the last year that RM put disc brake tabs on the rear triangle, too.
Weaknesses: None so far, although I tend to worry overmuch about whether or not I'll break it. Suffice to say that it has taken abuse that has put me in the hospital, and laughs. Also, you can't put any more suspension than 80mm on the front, or you will void the warranty.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It does everything I need it to, and does so with style. It's very, very expensive (mine has cost me about $4K, with the parts I've used), but if you build it up light, it's a fantastic race bike; yet, you can still beef up the parts (as I've done), and have a good all-around bike. I wanted to get the Element Race, but there were none left in my size... I have not been disappointed with the T.O.
If you're looking for a bike that can climb and descend (I've taken mine to South Mountain in Phoenix, Mt. Snow in Vermont, and Bromont in Quebec, Canada, and it handled them all easily), yet still be light enough to race at a very high XC level, then this is your bike. If you are more into "free-riding", go with the Element Race, and save some money.
Favorite Trail: From Canada to North Carolina, down the East Coast - plus South Mountain, Phoenix, AZ
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mountain Element Race, Voodoo Bantu (rigid)
Bike Setup: 16.5" frame, Manitou SX-R fork, Stratos Helix Expert rear shock, Magura H-33 brakes, RaceFace cranks/rings, Black Spire RingGod Trials bash ring, full SRAM ESP drivetrain, XTR hubs front and rear, Mavic F519 front/Bontrager Mustang Ceramic rear rims, Bontrager Crowbar, ODI Lockjaw grips, Time ATACs. My bike won a prize for being the ugliest bike in AZ.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Todd Ourston
a Cross Country Rider
from San Anselmo, Calif.
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2000
Strengths: Comfortable, fast, light, steady handling, looks cool. Good climber (rear shock lockout helps). Rips through bumpy descents. Seems to take quite a beating, although I know someone who broke his frame after only a few months.
Weaknesses: A little long for tight, single-track switchbacks. Somewhat high maintenance. Expensive. Not meant for big air.
Bottom Line:
This bike is fanatastic. It is the most comfortable ride I have ever owned. I thought the rear suspension would be a little slow and inefficient, but it rarely has that effect and often allows me to blast through conditions that would otherwise cause me to slow down a bit.
Climbing into a very tight, bumpy switchback is the only thing this bike does not do well. The longer wheelbase makes tight turns more difficult and the rear suspension can do a sort of squat when one stands on the pedals to get over a bump in low gears.
As others have noted, the bushings can be a problem. I had trouble with the right side bolt that connects the right chainstay behind the bottom bracket. It kept coming out, which required me to remove the crank to tighten it. The problem turned out to be that the inner diameter of the tubing into which the bushing was seated was too small, so the axle the bolt screws into was getting turned when it shouldn't. I managed to fix it myself with a round file and some sandpaper coupled with a new set of nylon bushings that Rocky Mountain supplied for free. I am not sure how R.M.'s QC people missed that.
I was having a trouble with squeaking around the shock. The problem turned out to be that I was tightening the bolts that hold it in place too much. I also had trouble with some of the allen heads of the small pivot bolts hold the rear triangle together getting rounded out for the same reason. I finally asked Rocky Mountain about that and they said to tighten the small bolts to 110 inch/pounds, and the large ones to 20 ft./pounds. That, coupled with some locktight, seems to be working fine. No more squeaking or bolts coming loose!
Using petroleum lubricants on the nylon bushings definitely causes them to swell and become too tight. Don't do it. Use some teflon lube if you must, but consider just replacing the bushings (which has worked well for me).
Someone mentioned a lubrication port on the main bushing's shell. I asked Rocky Mountain about that and they said the hole is actually for a set screw to hold the axle (spindle) in place while one tightens the large bolts. If everything is clean and fitting properly, it should not be necessary to lubricate the bushings in the middle of the shell.
Other than the maintenance and the cost, this bike is nothing but pure happiness. I went with one size larger frame than I used to ride (I am 6 feet tall and bought a 20-inch frame) and I have been very happy with the fit and handling.
Bike Setup: 1999 frame, Fox Vanilla Float RC, Marzocchi Z.2 BAM, WTB New Paradigm wheels, Avid 5.0 brakes, Gripshift Plasma 8-speed shifters, XTR deraileurs, Race Face LP cranks, Time ATAC carbon pedals.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Peter Abele
a Cross Country Rider
from Gauting, Germany
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2000
Strengths: handling in any condition, weight, looks like a bicycle
Weaknesses: pric, squeaking
Bottom Line:
the best bike,i´ve ever ridden. Even downhill, uphill or cc, the handling is nearly perfect. But to have always great fun with it, you have to treat it like a woman after your ride... Its the perfect stuff for racing or short rides ( up to 5-6 hrs). if you want to cross europe or the states, it takes a lot of your power, because it has a hardcore geometry.
Bike Setup: XTR, Tune/Mavic, SID, RaceFace, Selle,
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
danK
a Cross Country Rider
from Idaho
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2000
Strengths: paint price (relatively speaking) handling in any condition
Weaknesses: main pivot bolt backed out at first rear shock squeaked at first
Bottom Line:
Great handling at any speed! The pivots were durable and the paint was of the highest quality. I also thought the price was relatively inexpensive considering other frames such as a Truth cost hundreds upon hundreds more; the TO sells for about 1100 mailorder. The rear shock is adjustable infinitely it seemed and the bike climbed marvelously about 99% of the time. It's a rising rate setup and once in a great while the suspension would settle into its sag and then ramp up quickly which I wasn't always too fond of. Also, adjusting the rebound effects the compression rate! Speed up rebound (fast) and it compressed faster. But there was very bobbing while climbing and the suspension remained active at all times. Also handy was the lube port on the main pivot. I really can't think of any complaints on this frameset.
Similar Products Used: everything it seemed at one point or another
Bike Setup: 99 Element TO frameset
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
a Cross Country Rider
from Woods Hole, MA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2000
Strengths: Light. Stiff. Cushy. Fits me.
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
I bought a 98 element TO (the red one) through this website for 1200 shipped and really love it. I dont have the lockout on the rear shock, but i dont really need it here on cape cod. It has just the right amount of travel for me. i can definitely ride faster for longer periods of time (maybe move up a rating at the races this year??), but this is my first FS ride. this is also my first XTR bike. i wouldnt spend the extra cash for it again, though. the Ti post and bars are certainly worth it,though, they are light and dampen the vibrations so you can run the shocks a bit stiffer. i weighed it at the LBS. the Ti-hardtail snob working there looked at my bike and said, '29'. it weighed in at 25.5. This bike also fits me really well without any freaky post/stem/riser bar combos. just straight up. and my butt doesnt hurt after long rides anymore. no creaking, but the previous owner replaced the bushings. i anticipate having this bike for a long time. i was worried about maintenance, especially on used bike, but it's so smooth and most people say they service the bushings like once a year or less without problems. it smooths out the trail, but doesnt suck up too much power. i cant bunny hop as high over obstables on downhills anymore, though. i give this bike a 5 because it is so much nicer than the brand new fsr xc i tried at the lbs. it feels better and just seems like nicer quality. BTW. the element race is the same without the lockout - same tubing and geometry, but different components and colors. i'd buy it again for the price i got. new they are too spendy for me, though.
Submitted by
Ralph
a Cross Country Rider
from Berlin
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2000
Strengths: suspension-work, weight, look
Weaknesses: price, finish
Bottom Line:
It works - perfectly. Not that much time needed to find out the perfect setup, after that just smiling. Very fast on small trails, perfect handling - not nervous, not slow.
The products finish is -for such a price- not perfect. The bearings (? - sorry about my english) are not lubricated - the manufacturer doesn't recommend. Using Teflon-Butter helps a lot, the bike is much smoother, and there are no probs at all with the lifetime of the bearings. No squeaking, just silence. Unfortunately, the bike is damn expensive - but it's worth it. Now it's really perfect.
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from Oakville,Ontario,Canada
Date Reviewed: December 12, 1999
Strengths: Weight,looks,fantastic handling and race worthy xc suspension
Weaknesses: Initial problems with the Fox shock and a squeaky rear shock bushing.
Bottom Line:
After testing this bike head to head with an FSR XC the decision was easy. It handles absolutely perfectly, inspiring confidence. I had the main bushing replaced after the first ride due to a tolerance problem, and the Fox shock needed service to correct a faulty valve that knocked on every rebound stroke. At this point I was afraid I made a bad purchase but amazing customer service rectified these things quickly and now I am sure that I am on the finest XC full sus bike out there. The Catamount was a great race bike but this one is way ahead in suspension performance, light weight, and OH THAT PAINT! Dont let the initial problems stop you from owning one, you won't regret it and the problems are probably out of the system now. Happy trails!
Bike Setup: Atom Bomb,XTR rapid rise drivetrain with remote shifter, Kooka cranks,CT2 carbon post, carbon bar, Kore stem, Spox wheels,Mach SS SK tires, Fox Air Van Float RC 24.5lbs(honest)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dennis
a Weekend Warrior
from Holland
Date Reviewed: November 10, 1999
Strengths: Great looks, nimble handling, climbs like a mountaingoat.
Weaknesses: Shock pivot makes some noise.
Bottom Line:
The Element is very confidence inspiring. Although I crashed it three times already, they were both crashed not due to the bike (once I got stuck in the new Tima ATAC pedals, once I ran over a stray dog and once I hit a wet log that I didn't see). The Shock pivot made an awfull noise, but the RM dealer fixed that by installing the new bearings. Overall, this bike is great, I really like it.
Similar Products Used: Scott GZero, Klein Mantra, GT XCR 4000.
Bike Setup: I have the LTD version, which has a different paintjob (red and silver) than the T.O. Fox Float RC. shock, VOTEC GS4 fork, XTR, Mavic rims.
Strengths: Light, fast, responsive, very well engineered, tough.
Weaknesses: Had several problems with the rear shock, and shifting. All fixed under warrenty.
Bottom Line:
Best bike I've ever owned, by far. It will make you a better rider, very fast, excellent handler. Light, very light. Excelent company to do business with. Great looks. I don't regret my decision for a second. Clibms and decends excellent. it will pull you through things that will surprise you. It pays to look further than what the big companys have to offer. Had it built by Speedgoat, had a few glitches in the process, but overalll would have them build another bike for me.
