Submitted by
Nick
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Monica, CA
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2002
Strengths: Versatile, light, strong, beautiful
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
This bike is amazing! What really impresses me is the stability at high speed. It holds a line with such sureness! It outdoes my downhill rig. I'm not sure how or why, but I can almost let the brakes go on steep descents. I'm no speed freak, but I've found I enjoy going about 40mph over some steep, rocky, treacherous terrain. It hangs like a magnet. Furthermore, it jumps and drops nimbly. Climbing was hard at first till I learned to dial the rebound to the slowest position. Now it climbs as good as my hardtail. Best of all, with a straigh, non-interrupted seat post tube, I can raise the seat way up for the climp and drop it for the descent. This is the reason I went for this frame. Now I have the best of both worlds. If you like freeriding and want to be able to climb, get this bike. It will blow you away.
Similar Products Used: FSR Extreme Ground Control, Cheeta Prowler
Bike Setup: Marzocchi DJ2, RynoLites, Margura Louise, Kore Freeride Bars, Kore B52 Stem, Chris King Headset, Raceface Prodigy cranks & BB, SRAM shifting
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Submitted by
Justin Swanson
a Weekend Warrior
from Smithers BC Canada
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2002
Strengths: Nice for big drops. On the fly adjustable rear travel. Easy to handle.
Weaknesses: Rear swingarm flexes a lot if you land a drop just a little bit wrong. Short headtube (3.5inch) doesn't look like it could handle much more than a 5 inch fork.
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike for freeride and urban. Easy to bunnyhop on too. I'm going to sell it; only because all my friends are riding hardtails now.
Strengths: rock hard front end....canadian....cheep....light for the travel....
Weaknesses: well my rear disc snapped the dropout and the disc mount!!! this not only annoyed me but Rocky did nothing about it! and i cant seem to get a new rear end the company just isn't big enough oh and no way near enough tire clearence at back
Bottom Line:
this bike kicks it can also handle big stuff well (considering it uses an old URT design) looks nice. but it uses a dodgy removable disc mount (well mine does) and it brakes and it also brakes the frame so watch out!
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from North Attleboro, MA
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2001
Strengths: Front Fork, Stability, High pivot that stays out of the wet slop of the north east.
Weaknesses: Seat Post...replaced with a Thompson Elite, Narrow saddle
Bottom Line:
I am a cross country rider looking to play a little more. Was not sure how I would like a longer travel free ride bike that rolled in at 31.5 lbs. Right out of the gate the bike made me feel more confident in my downhill and rock hopping ability. Extremely stable on rocky decents. Not a bad climber for 30+ lbs if you stay seated. Cannot find any fault with the bike so far. It just make me want to go riding all the time and quit my job! I have been very happy with Rocky Mountain as a bike company as I also own a RM Element Race for 3 plus years...been riding for 10+ yrs.
Strengths: 2001 Rocky Pipeline Great Frame, Adjustable Travel (geometery), Unbeleivable stability on the nasties terrain. Speced with Hayes and Race face, what could be better
Weaknesses: Tire are weak, Maxxis Mobster 2.1 and,the saddle sucks
Bottom Line:
No brainer, Out of the box it is an amazing rig, change the tires and the seat and you are ready to hit some hard DH sh_t. I ride urban assault and this bike is great for it. Big drops, stair drops, it takes it all in stride. Can't wait for the snow to melt and start ripping some big DH runs. Oh, yeah change the travel setting and get ready for an XC epic (30lbs is a bit much for XC but you will love the Downhills). I don't think there is a more versatile bike on the market.
This bike is a great ride for anyone who wants to start freeriden or even some mild DH. It can handle drops and it can climb (to an extent) its got a light weight. The forks work great low meintenance and all.
Favorite Trail: Whos Your Daddy, before it got ripped out
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$1300.00
Purchased At: store
Similar Products Used: havent used too many doolies
Bike Setup: basicly stock but with rokko tires
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Submitted by
Martin Daris
a Weekend Warrior
from Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2000
Strengths: Pedals well Suitable for XC (short rides) Plush for an URT It can climb almost everything it can descent! (except drops!) Very good at what it's intended to do: Have FUN...
Weaknesses: A rear disk brake can break the frame near the drop out.
Bottom Line:
This is a fun bike. It takes everything you throw at it. Buy it if you want a good bike you can ride in everyday life. Urban assault, DH, go to school, XC rides, drops, name it! A very good bike!
Bike Setup: Full LX Drivetrain Jr T (very plush and reliable fork) Easton monkey bar Mavic 321 Disc front (hugi hub), Sun ryhno lite rear with XTR V-Brake with full lenght XTR uninterrupted brake line attached with tie-wraps.
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Submitted by
Matt Mcwop
a Weekend Warrior
from Baltimore, MD USA
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000
Strengths: Solid Frame, Marzocchi Fork (even at the low end these blow others away), rear shock, Race Face cranks, Sun Ryno lite rims
Weaknesses: SRAM grip shifts they are nice for some mild cross country rides but SUCK for drops. Handlebars.
Bottom Line:
I searched long and hard for a solid bike for freeriding and downhilling. I had it narrowed to the Kona Stinky group and then came across the Pipeline. The price was right and the mix of parts was decent where it counted. Like other posters I must take issue with the the stated rear travel limit of 6". I might believe something short of 5".
The rear QR adjustment on the travel is a plus for XC rides with the wife. This bike tracks real nice over some pretty rough stuff. It handles very well. You only need turn the front wheel a bit to redirect the bike. The unified rear triangle design is quite nice. It allows the back to have a big fat pivot, which in turn makes rear flex non-existent. The back feels plush over the big stuff and I don't feel a need for more travel. The back did manage to fit a 2.5 tire, but it is tight and probably the max size you want back there.
I am very happy with this bike so far. Now I just need to learn the bigger drops and jumps. Buy this bike if you want something that can handle tough riding, but don't want a downhill machine. If you don't mind riding up on 31-33 lbs, which ain't bad on this bike, you will enjoy the ride down. 4 Chilis across the board --it would get a five if spec'd with disk brakes.
Bike Setup: Stock except for a new set of Profile bars, my banged up flat pedals, and Maxxis high Roller tires 2.5's front + rear
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Submitted by
Mike D
a Weekend Warrior
from California USA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2000
Strengths: Its rocky mountain Its canadian
Weaknesses: replace all the rocky mountain parts, very weak!!! needs a better front suspension it DOESNT GIVE 6 INCHES IN THE BACK, THATS WHY RM MADE THE RM6!!!!!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
This bike just cant handle extreme free riding. first of all it doesnt have enough travel on the back (only like 4 or something). The parts are too weak for that stuff. If you want a good rocky mountain free ride bike, look at the reaper and rm6, those bikes can handle the BIG STUFF.
Similar Products Used: kona stinky and element race
Bike Setup: Z3 qr20(soon a Z1 qr20) Xtr ,xt and race face components.
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Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from Harleysville, PA USA
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2000
Strengths: A lot of travel, will handle anything. It's a Rocky.
Weaknesses: NONE.
Bottom Line:
This bike is for everyone. You can adjust the amount of travel from 4 to 6 inches. At 4 it is stiff in the rear and good for XC and at 6 it is good for downhill and the nutty stuff free riders like to do. Dropping off 5 footers the rear soaks it all up and you don't feel a thing.
Submitted by
Michael Larouche
a Downhiller
from St-Augustin,QC,Canada
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2000
Strengths: Un bike vraiment actif sur la suspension de plus sa grande qualité d'être ajustable pour le shock arrière.Beaucoup de bonne qualité ce bike de plus tout est prévue pour les freins à disques.
Weaknesses: Je regrette un peu l'ajustement pour le shock avant(BOMBER Z3 QR. 20) mais elle est quand même bien. Aussi il a le chiftage et le levier mais ces juste des petits détails.
Bottom Line:
Je vous dis quelque chose: si vous pensez acheter ce bike et vous ne le prenez pas juste parce que sur la photo ya dlair laite ben vous vous trompez parce qu'il flash vraiment moi aussi j'ai eu cette impression la!
