Submitted by
Chris Kauth
a Cross Country Rider
from Pacific Grove, CA
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2002
Strengths: Decent weight, great design, quality of the build. NO BOBBING
Weaknesses: none YET
Bottom Line:
I have only ridden this bike 6 times since I have gotten it and I don't want to rush to judgement. My initial impression is that it is extremely well made. The frame is light, tracks well and is designed to minimize bobbing. It takes a little adjusting to get the fox air shock set up correctly. I set my sag between 10-15% of total shock travel and am very pleased with the performance. You don't know you are on a Full suspension bike until big hits or big downhill. JUST what I wanted.I'll rate it high today and review it again in a year with updates.
Submitted by
nathan goldsmith
a Cross Country Rider
from sacramento
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2001
Strengths: nice paint, handles well, good quality frame
Weaknesses: weak derailer hangers, poor shifting, never able to get it fully dialed.
Bottom Line:
I really like this bike, after a year i jones after no other, save perhaps a ellsworth. I am really writting this to let all you r.m. owners know about a little mod i came up with to increase your rear wheel travel! It involves making a new rear 3d link out of aluminum plate.It will be a little longer sort of like a slayer. It wasnt easy but with a little careful calculation I was able to increase rear travel to about 4.5 or so inches without altering b.b. height or head angle so the bike rides the same just a little more active and compliant. this sacrifices a small amount of efficiency as does any increase in usable rear wheel travel but if you dont like it you can always put the stock links on. you can reach me by kliking on my name in blue at the top of the screen and Ill give you the geometry i used. by doing this you will also be able to drill a few holes in the new plates where the shock mounts to give yourself adjustable travel. everyone Ive shown my custom setup too was stoked.
Bike Setup: avid discs, Rolf dolomite wheelset, easton monkey lite bars, speedplay pedals, xt cassete, xl frame 28 lbs
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ricksom
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2001
Strengths: - Confidence inspiring - Active suspension that doesn't annoy you - Handles technical situations well - Shines when riding deep forest Ontario single-track - Frame doesn't feel like a wet noodle - Can deal with less than delicate situations
Weaknesses: - Like all full-suspension bikes, heavy - Paint job a little too "conservative"
Bottom Line:
If you love your hardtail but want a full-suspension bike to supplement your advanced XC riding requirements, buy this bike. It has a fully active rear suspension that handles ALL the bumps, unlike the popular Gary Fischer Sugars and others these days. It handles the really rough and technical trails well, where your hardtail will start hurting you too much. You will especially notice the improvement at high speed, and up technical climbs. I don't notice any suspension bob, except for the front (which is the same with my hardtail). I have a lockout for the rear shock, which I rarely use. I don't notice any traditional rear-end flexing common with full suspension bikes.
The bike manages gnarly, twisty single-track really well; but not as well as my Rocky Vertex hardtail. When it comes to all out agility and responsiveness, my Rocky Vertex is still the best. Leaning the bike to turn through tight corners still works better with the Vertex. I guess all full suspension bikes have a more forgiving and "damped" ride without the "racy edge" of a full race-on hardtail.
At 26 lbs. (my scale), and my Vertex being 23 lbs., the extra 3 lbs. is really noticable (I don't care what the "blind, deaf, and dum" reviewers say). The extra weight comes in handy when going downhill, speeding through level rough sections, and flowing more through technical obstacles. However, uphills are more of a drag, carrying the bike is a pain in the shoulder, and the extra weight contributes to why the bike doesn't handle with that snappy "racy edge". Apparently these are issues with all full suspension bikes (except the ultra-light ones).
For the price of the frame ($1,200 CAN including a sweet Fox shock with pump), this bike is the best you can get if you live for challenging single-track and avoid fire roads.
Bike Setup: Instinct frame with custom components like Marz Atom 80 fork (coil), SRAM throughout, Mavic wheels, Shimano XT crank
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Justen
a Cross Country Rider
from Dayton Oh
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2001
Strengths: Bike has a solid feel. butter smooth ride.
Weaknesses: None as of yet.
Bottom Line:
It would be virtually impossible for me to complain. I feel a big part of this is because i choose and set up all the componets myself, so i am only using the rockey mountain frame. If your looking for a solid dual suspension frame then the instinct will more than fulfill your demands.
Bike Setup: Hope pro dics brakes, race face cranks, xtr 9 sp., Kore elite, Marizochi shock, chris kind headset
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jerry Bourck
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2001
Strengths: Since my initial pains highlighted last year (see other review), RM did replace a biting granny gear Raceface and all my chain suck woes faded. I've also tried various FS bikes since and the rear suspension on the Instinct is perfect for XC, It's solid for hammering but absorbs impacts just right.
Weaknesses: Cost me $70 for a full replacement set of pivot bolts. Robbery for any components. But the bike is king.
Bottom Line:
Contrary to my last damning review, I would buy another Instinct. Have you seen the Element Team - Sweetness.
Similar Products Used: GT I-drive, Specialized FSR Expert
Bike Setup: Added Hayes discs - heavy but could never go back now.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
"Big" Phil
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakewood, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2001
Strengths: Great handling, climbs better than my previous Bianchi hard tail, good down hill, accurate feel of the trail, not a mushy FS, good component setup, well balanced between front and rear suspension. I'm a Clydesdale class rider and very clumsy and for the most part it has held up, thank you for putting a separate rear-d mount.
Weaknesses: The Atom 80 is a little twitchy on fast fire roads and washboards, but is fine, plush, and accurate on single track. I had some chain suck with the race face cranks at first, but they seem to have broken in and it's no longer a real problem, I like them better than my old XT's. The Mich. Wild Gripper Comps SUCKED, at least for my application in Colorado (dry, sandy, rocks big and small, and lots of gravel). The stock peddles Shimono 513's were defective. The front end seemed squirrelly at first, on climbs, but I got used to riding a little more forward and that disappeared.
Bottom Line:
If you are a cross country rider, have some spare change, and want a full suspension bike, this is a fantastic ride. With the Fox RC with lockout, hardtailers will be happy. It has a long top tube, so short torso'ed riders should really test it. I would not recommend it for downhill mashers, not enough of a heavy-duty frame and not enough travel.
Similar Products Used: I tried 15 FS bikes before buying the Rocky Mountain. The bikes that didn't feel mushy or had poor handling were the Titus (same component package was quoted $400 higher) and the Schwinn Rocket 88 (a friend had one and the rear suspension literally fell apart).
Bike Setup: Changed from stock: went with straight handlebar, XTR brakes, heavy duty springs in front. I broke the rear-d in a crash and went with XT, XTR being a little pricey for something that WILL get bashed. Put my own Shimono 747 peddles on.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Doug
a Cross Country Rider
from Dupont
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2000
Strengths: Excellent balance between front and rear suspension. It really rocks over everything downhill.
Weaknesses: Ritchey headset gave out early. Geax tires had poor traction. Bolt holding on rear suspension backed out into small chain ring and sheared the heads off the bolts.
Bottom Line:
I'm a 220 pound rider that has enjoyed riding the bike over muddy terrain in the forests of the Puget sound for over 500 miles. The bike configuration is excellent and can take me anywhere that my intermediate skills limit me. The bolt problem was solved with some lock tite even though the chain ring had to be replaced. I think this is a great bike for someone who likes to ride moderate to hard over rough terrain who doesn't mind upgrading/replacing components every once in a while. Don't buy this bike if you have to have the best of everything.
Similar Products Used: PROFLEX full suspension, K2 razorback
Bike Setup: Atom 80 front shock,Fox RC Vanilla rear shock, XT/XTR/derailleur, race face crank.SRam brakes
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Seth
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Gatos, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2000
Strengths: This bike, the 2001 Rocky Mountain Instinct, is an absolute cross country/ free riders dream. The Z2 shock in the front and the fox in the rear are perfectly matched. The rear end on this bike is not slopy in the super technical sections like most of the other bikes in the market place.
Weaknesses: 3d link!! After 20 hardcore rides on some of Nor Cali's most brutal trails i managed to snap the rear drop out into two pieces!!! (this is not a fault of Rocky Mountian design, However just a bad piece of tubbing and some serious hardcore riding!!!!!)
Bottom Line:
For those of you looking to buy a totally trick custom bike from the factory look no further than Rocky Mountian. Whether you are a DIE HARD Cross Country free rider like my self you will find the Rocky Instinct far superior to all of the competitton out there. Lastly, for those of you loking to buy a bike i reccomend working with TRAILHEAD CYCLERY. The TRAILHEAD staff takes time to fit each and every bike that comes through their doors to the rider that is buying it. I do not work for TRAILHEAD or have I been payed for this testimonial, a good shop makes the world of difference for riders of all types when setting up a new rig. Lars and his staff will treat you right hopefully they will set you up on this bomber of a bike the 2001 ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTINCT. and as they say
Similar Products Used: specialized stump comp hard tail, specialized FSR, Santa Cruz Heckeler
Bike Setup: my bike was a bomber straight from the factory. However i have changed the pedals to my shimano clipless mountain platform pedals and, I have thrown on new IRC meats for better traction. The magura disk brake system, Race Face Next Lp crank set, sram hubs all work extremly well. You will here complaints from other riders about rust bleeding from the head set and the shocks being sub-par!! It all boils down to where you purchase your bike. My bike was purchased at Trailhead Cyclery. this is hands down the best bike store i have ever worked with. They re-build every bike from the factory before it hits the street to ensure quality and maximum fun for each and every rider.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Res Röthlisberger
a Cross Country Rider
from Switzerland
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2000
Strengths: - superior climbing - great frame (excellent geometry) - handling - great specs (i.e. best tires ever ridden!)
Weaknesses: - chainsucks during the first 15 rides
Bottom Line:
this bike makes you a better rider, it's just that easy. after some years on my c'dale and some weekend test rides on the above rigs, my dealer gave me a '99 instinct for a ride. despite the wrong frame size, i was instantly sure, that this was the one to buy. now, that i've ridden it a lot (really a lot!), i can only recommend to anybody out there looking for a new bike: TRY THE NEW RM INSTINCT! only bad thing about mine is that i bought it a year too early. the new ones comes with disc brakes. but other than that i couldn't imagine sth better at this time and i would be surprised, if my next bike wasn't a rocky mountain!!! buy this bike if you: - are canadian (or you would like to be one) - are a xc-rider and want fs that really works - are looking for a proven but not outdated design - like singletracks
don't buy this bike if you: - don't like maple leafs - don't know how to spell 'canada' - are a freerider (skip to the slayer or rm6 instead)
Similar Products Used: - cannondale super v - secialized fsr & enduro - cyclecraft
Bike Setup: stock except wheels (mavic crossmax, bekause of the ceramic sidewalls) and brakes (magura rim brakes, the next best thing to discs).
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2000
Strengths: Sweetest cross-country ride available: front-rear suspension integration (dig that frame), nimble and predictable handling characteristics (dig that frame), takes to the air with noble righteousness (dig that frame), superb lateral rigidity (dig that frame) sweetest paint job out there (dig that frame).
Weaknesses: Well, I bothered to drain the rear shock and measure the actual rear travel, which, it turns out, is 3.75" on both the medium and (my brother's Element Race) small frames, not 3.0" as I said on my last review. That said, I guess I will agree with some of the lower reviews that Rocky should warranty up to 4" forks on this bike, just for the sake of balance. I noticed an earlier review commenting on rear-end flex. Older Instincts, I recall, used different bearing material which supposedly wore more quickly. Newer ones should not have that problem. My Instinct is waayyy laterally stiff.
Bottom Line:
The more I ride this bike, the less I think of the competition. The vast majority of other cross-country designs are just poorly thought-out or poorly executed or just plain suck. Hey, sorry, but I think the real reason there are so many hardtail diehards out there is that they test ride those big-company gimmick-of-the-season designs, see them for the pathetic bikes that they are, and then think all full suspension bikes will ride like that. I'm not going to say this bike is completely void of competition, but so far the Superlight is the only bike I feel is comparable (I can actually say there are tradeoffs). When it comes to rearend dampening, the FSR feels like a sponge, the Cannondale Jeckyll feels like a motor-servo without batteries, and the Gary Fisher Sugar feels like a brick. I could set my Instinct's shock pressure too high to where I'm only getting 2" travel and it still feels better damped, more composed, more neutral than those others. The Intense Tracer felt like it was getting in the ballpark, with a smooth motion and not-too-progressive springrate, but it was way susceptible to ghost-shifting. Handling is obviously dependent on the stem length and rise and fork rigidity in addition to head angle and frame rigidity, so when I say the afore-mentioned bikes also do poorly in the handling department I don't have to feel as guilty. But in comparison to the Instinct, most of the bikes I have ridden or demoed somehow manage to feel both vague and nervous at the same time. I'm trying to figure out just how that's possible. Too-quick steering with flexy forks and rear-ends perhaps. The Instinct's tail is way stiff as is my parts selection (with a long Thompson stem) up front. It feels precise and forgiving at the same time; I can blast through turns with wreckless abandon and can almost always recover when I go too far. I think the only bikes that I have ridden thus far that have the same composed, neutral, unflappable feel are Rocky's own Pipeline and Slayer, both dedicated freeriding bikes with weights to match. The Santa Cruz Superlight, the only cross-country full-suspension that rides overall comparably to the Instinct, is lighter, quicker steering (but not too nervous), with a more progressive spring rate and somewhat flexier rear-end. The front to rear integration does not feel as seamless as the Instinct's. The Superlight does not feel as composed on descents, technical riding, or in the air. Landings and stutter-bumps are a bit harsher which adds drama at speed. The Superlight does do a bit better climbing, particularly on acceleration, and feels more at home than the Instinct on stretched-out singletrack. Basically, the Superlight feels like it was made by a California fire-road bike that aspires to downhill while the Instinct feels like a BC freeride bike that aspires to cross-country. Which is what these bikes are, respectively. When it comes down to riding style, I like the Instinct more. Actually, a lot more.
Similar Products Used: Same as my last review, but now add Santa Cruz Superlight, Intense Tracer, and Rocky Mountain Pipeline and Slayer.
Bike Setup: Same as last review, though I forgot to mention the Frog pedals and Terry Fly seat.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
MikeD
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2000
Strengths: -super nice handling bike -very fast descender, not bad climber -you'll burn any hardtailer who thinks they can rip on the dh's -very nice versatile bike, can do almost anything
Weaknesses: -the brakes kinda sucked in the wet sloppy rides, so I bought magura rim brakes -I needed new pedals so I went with time atac's with the grey body
Bottom Line:
This is a very versatile bike, it can ride xc for a long time and keep you feeling fresh and it dosen't ive you a beatingat all when you ride it. It can play on some mild north shore stuff but not too much because it is an xc bike and it will break, BUT I did find myself looking at a 6 foot drop one day out on the trail so I took it and bike didn't seem to mind, but my wrists did. All in all I believe that hardtails are the ultimate but I wanted a more comfortable bike that was amazing on dh's yet still climbed fast so I picked this and am not at all regreting my decision, but I will always own a hardtail.
Bike Setup: stock except for tioga factory xc's and the pedal and brake thing
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ken Masi
a Racer
from Hamilton,On.Can.
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000
Strengths: The Fox RC and marzocchi Z2 are a nice plush feel that needed minor tuning. The frame paint is durable and looks great (blk/gry). Bushings are holding without any problems. Raceface cranks. Smooth ride in the bumps, climbs well and fast downhills.
Weaknesses: Some Stock Stuff: Michelin comps had fats and suck in the mud (put on IRC's) Headset bled rust (had to regrease). Sram 9.0 were lame (put on my XTR brakes). Mavic x221 rims needed truing a number of times.(also used my other wheelsets instead). I also interchanged the XT shifter combo with my XTR shifters and levers. Not that the XT was a problem , just because XTR rules. Everything else seams ok. Except the weight 26+lb
Bottom Line:
This bike with some changes has been alot of fun, fast and fun! Isn't that what it supposed to be - fun. right?
Similar Products Used: Specialized FSR and Cannondale Demo
Bike Setup: Stock but changed some parts as above.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Kelsey
a Cross Country Rider
from Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2000
Strengths: Every thing except tires Marz Z-2 really great, rear shock is matched very well to front.
Weaknesses: Wild Gripper Comp S tires. I had 9 flats in a couple of weeks with lots of pressure and no hard driving.
Bottom Line:
I am not a cross country rider but there was no other choice, I really like diving on any thing, except pavement.
Every one should buy this bike, take off the pedals and the tires, put on some new ones and go where ever you want. Disk brakes might also be a good investment from the start, trade in the wheels, shifters, brake levers etc and go hydriodic. Don't pay attention to anyone who tells you it is a crappy bike, if mine got crushed by a garbage truck today (just an example!, I would never let this happen) I would go out and buy another one tomorrow. In my opinion after the tires there is not a single bad part on the bike. Also the blue and silver paint job is by far the better choice!
Similar Products Used: Not many. some junk GFishers...
Bike Setup: stock except, platform peddals.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2000
Strengths: Suspension design and integration, Frame structure and geometry, gorgeous and durable powder finish
Weaknesses: Deceptively plush, probably sit and spin oriented
Bottom Line:
I rode a Proflex 756 for three years and loved it. Except for lateral stiffness, all the new suspension bikes that have come out don't seem like much of an improvement over the 756 design, so I had no plans to replace. One day I walked into Canyon Bikes (my fave) and Mike gave me a grin and told me "This is the bike you gotta have". He knows what a finicky, picky, hard to please, frustrating customer I am, so when he said that so convincingly I knew I would be sold. Test rode it down the stairs and was blown away, turned around and rode it up the stairs and that was that. I was so convinced I went all out custom and spoiled myself on the parts selection. Yeah, I'm happy. Dialed in right, the front and rear suspension are seamlessly integrated. It's plain unbelievable to me that such a plush, linear, predictable ride exists on 3" of travel. More, that the front and rear behave in exactly the same perfectly aligned, damped and sprung manner throughout the travel despite the front being coil-over-oil Marzocchi and the rear air-sprung-and-damped Fox. It's easily the most perfect front and rear union I've ridden. The lateral and torsional rigidity all around is excellent. I'm picky about handling, and this bike is spot on. Just point and shoot. Nimble but not nervous, always composed, precise, unflappable, fluid. At any speed. Like a BMW 5-series. Combined with the suspension I feel like I can recover from anything. Downhill, uphill, I don't care. I am a mellow cross-country mountain biker that also happens to be pretty good and I blast and slash when I want to. I can't fault anything this bike has done thus far. Now, a lot of what I have said depends on picky parts selection and riding style. It is a bike after all. The stem had to be just the right length and I worry about how precise the steering will be when I go back to steel spokes up front instead of the carbon fiber Spinergy. Ultimately this is a 3"-travel cross-country suspension bike. I think the plushness can fool you into thinking it's an all-out 6"-travel free-rider, but it's not. It bombs wonderfully but be real. If you ride serious cross-country for the sheer pleasure of it, you should test ride this bike. It has done everything so right for me that I pretty much take everything for granted already. For me, it's Absolut perfection.
Similar Products Used: FSR, Super V, Fisher Joshua and Sugar, Trek Y, Proflex, GT LTS and i-drive
Bike Setup: Z2 Atom 80, King headset and rear wheel, Spinergy front, Precision billet brakes/levers and derailleurs, XTR shifters, XT cassette, Thompson seatpost and stem, Continental Survival and Explorer tires, waiting on splined RaceFace Next cranks and King front wheel. Everything is black and silver and gorgeous.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Don
a Weekend Warrior
from Corte Madera, CA
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2000
Strengths: Nice, solid x-country rig. Very stable on descents and reasonable climber given the weight. Beautiful metallic paint on the grey/black combo. Love the Atom 80 front shock.
Weaknesses: Fox shock blew in the first month but replaced under warranty (probably an isolated incident). Not as light as Santa Cruz Heckler and Superlight.
Bottom Line:
A good,all round x-country machine with a touch of free ride stability for beginner (me to advanced riders.
