Strengths: looks great! plush, progressive, strong front triangle, geo's perfect, got mine with a pretty good build (kinda beat up though), brakes are great, drivetrain is great (on paper...mine skips), is the most fun piece of...bike i've ever ridden, and much much more!
Weaknesses: lots of rear end flex, dogbone has play in it already, loses chain pretty frequently, non lock-ons slip way 2 much, square taper is pathetic, rims are weak, saddle is big and painful, and doesn't go low enough on my medium (and i'm ~6'2"), brake lever blades bent, and hacked my middle fingers (the best ones) 2 bits, seatpost doesn't tip the saddle foreward far enough, grips are too fat, and there's probably more (c how long i've owned it).
Bottom Line:
from what i've already said, even i think i should give this bike a 3 chillies, but there's one line that keeps me from doing that: "is the most fun piece of...bike i've ever ridden". plus i got it 4 $900cad (with completely worn to the bone brake pads and tubes, and other stuff already beaten down). i love it, and i'm gonna take a bullet 4 the bike and give it full marks just 4 that!!!
Similar Products Used: a friend of mine let me ride his '01 RM7 with RM6 linkage b4 i even thought about buying this, so that's pretty damn close
Bike Setup: mostly stock, but shifters, cranks, bashring, and some other junk r upgrades from previous owners (there were 2, that's why it was so beat up when i got it).
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Submitted by
Jeff
a Downhiller
from Edmonton Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2002
Strengths: - suspention that dosent bounce that much when you pedal hard - slick look - takes drop-offs really well - even with the heavy weight it climbs really well - can still take jumps pretty well even though its a dh bike - really smooth on small bumps, & can take big drops comfortably at the same time (with out adjusting the suspention)
Weaknesses: - on rainy days the pivot point for the rear suspention will start to creak loudly - even though it climbs well how it is still a little heavy - marzocchi bombers arnt really downhill forks - grip shifts suck because when you try to lift up it shifts
Bottom Line:
it is a really really good bike for all kinds of riding, with the setup i have. I think any one who wants to do some freeriding, or downhill riding should buy this bike if you can find it any more because its discontinued this year. It is all out the best downhill bike i've ever riden. The only really problem for me it the creaking sound in the rain (because i do alot of riding in the rain). That just might be a problem in my model.
Strengths: Perfect forgiving geometry, awesome suspension feel, climbs well for a heavy bike, looks cool.
Weaknesses: Suspension linkages are weak, shake the bike and the rear wheel wobbles like jelly. Derailleur hangers are flimsy and weak also.
Bottom Line:
This bike rides excellent and the geometry is very confidence inspiring. I have grown leaps and bounds since I purchased this bike. Since I live in an area that is very rocky and with rolling terrain, this bike is fun because I can climb with it. This bike rides better than any other frame I have tried so far.
Negatives: I break the swing link bolt by the shock once every month. I have upgraded to all needle bearings, and it does feel nice but the bike just can't seem to handle punishment. I realize that I ride the piss out of this bike but that is what it is for. I shouldn't have to carry extra pivot bolts around with me. I only weigh 160 pounds and I break my bike more than my 200+ pound friends. I have a difficult time keeping this bike up and running. If I weighed any more I don't think I would trust this bike in the slighest amount. I don't see how guys from BC are not experiencing this problem too. All the RM 6's and RM7's use the same bolts. I guess I'll talk to Rocky (very nice company to deal with) and see if they have any explaination for this. But I have given up and am beginning the search for a new frame that I can trust on big drops.
Strengths: Great suspension, does drops well, parts spec is good except for gripshift, hayes brakes
Weaknesses: Gripshift sucks
Bottom Line:
An awesome bike for urban riding and light trailriding, (here in florida we have barely any hills so climbing is not an issue). I've done up to a 12 foot drop on this bike and it held up (Although I only weigh in at 135). On North shore type stunts it is a little unstable because it is a pretty high up bike. I'd say it is a great deal for 300 but I guess the kid I bought it from was not the smartest in the world. He kind of looked like he couldn't fit on the bike to save his life. The hayes brakes work very well.
Similar Products Used: Giant AC2, and AC 1, And norco launch
Bike Setup: stock with XTR shifters
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Submitted by
Cody Robinson
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary AB Canada
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2002
Strengths: Strong Frame and head tube
Weaknesses: Can't go factory with it, you gotta build it up
Bottom Line:
I love it.
Don't buy it unless you are willing to build it up. -bearing kit -bigger fork -3.0 tires, front and back (24inch in back) Goz -8inch roder in front -better seat -race face BB -race face northshore cranks -fat BMX platform peddels -rapid shifters
The bottom line, the bike shops in calgary said I was nuts, it would never work. Well wake up, a 10inch shock is not that big. It rides smooth and the chicks love it.
Bike Setup: Hanebrink LT10 8INCH in rear (avalanch)
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Submitted by
CODY SCHRODER
a Downhiller
from KITIMAT B.C. CANADA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2001
Strengths: THIS BIKE LITTERALLY KICKS @$$.THE STRONGEST SON OF A B#@CH I'VE EVER RIDDEN.THE FRAMES A WORK OF ART,AND THE HEAD TUBE ANGLE IS JUST RIGHT.A PERFECT BIKE FOR EVERYTHING.DIRT JUMPING,DOWNHILL YOU NAME IT....AND IT'S ONE HELL OF A CLIMBER TO.THIS THING CAN PICK UP SPEED LIKE NOTHING ELSE,AND CAN RIDE OVER ANYTHING.
Weaknesses: THE ONLY REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS THING IS THE FACT THAT THE SWINGARM LINKAGES CAN GET SOME SLOP IN EM'.SO YOU HAVE TO WHATCH OUT FOR THAT.
Submitted by
Jack Tors
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2001
Strengths: Looks cool
Weaknesses: Rocky Mountain Factory sucks!! they wont help you out when you need them. The swingarm is garbage, It WILL Break! Too many pivots. once again...factory support blows
Bottom Line:
Do not buy one of these. It will be a good bike for your wife too ride around the block. If you weight more that 160lbs, the swingarm will break in @ 6 months!
Submitted by
glen
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary, alberta
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2001
Bottom Line:
Another update after riding at Fernie Alpine Resort in british columbia and after installing the new 950lb spring from mountainspeed. Awesome ride!! The bike's rear end is perfect now. Nice and stiff, yet I am able to pedal without it having to bob continously. Very good on all sized hits. Haven't bottomed out at all. The frame is holding up pretty well. The der hanger seems a bit weak after I bent it. The Irc kujo dh 2.3 rear tire rocks. Very good in corners, and accelerating as well as braking and carving. I could lean the bike farther now without the rear washing out. ONe thing with this bike is that I have to be in a real neutral position when carving or else the front slides. I don't have to lean back much anymore and let the JR.T take most of the hits. The fork has broken in very well now. It feels too soft even with preload all the way to the max. I think I might need to put stiffer springs in. The rear linkage held up very well after the dust and dirt and grit of 8 hours of riding at fernie. The suspension felt active all the way down the mountain. Even had the chance to catch some air on the DS course and it felt very stable. Easy to maneuver in mid air, landings are soaked up by the suspension easily. the kujo didn't give at all on rear first landings. flex was felt in the swingarm a little bit but not much. i found that my fork was bottoming out easier now since it has been broken in. a few scratches on the stanchions were discovered but did not hinder performance at all.
Strengths: plush as hell FREE RIDE for the right rider, comfortable cockpit for take-offs, tough!
Weaknesses: half pipes shifters (cover too much of the bar), weak hanger (make the damn thing out of steel)
Bottom Line:
I love this FREE RIDE bike! You buy this bike to FREE RIDE but you can do xc and dh with it thanks to the tripple up front. If you want to do xc or dh more specifically then buy another bike. I see these reviews of these guys that are pushing 200lbs complianing about the wishyness of the rear. Dudes, you either need to lose weight or buy a bigger bike. I'm 5'7", weigh 155 and I never have a problem. I'm launching 6 footers and not bottoming out. I climb anything the ht's climb except I have to stay seated. That just makes my legs stronger and my lungs bigger. I blow thru rock gardens like I'm on a motorcross bike doing woopdeedoos and there are a ton of rocks here in the east. This bike rocks! Did I mention descents.....Good Gravy!!! That's right, just like good gravy, covers the nasty stuff and makes going down nice and tasty.
If you are not a behmoth and want a real sweet ride and you're willing to put up with a 35lb bike, then this FREE RIDE is for you. Like any bike, you're going to have to get used to it especially if you're coming from a ht. The cockpit position is much more upright, but that's because you need it for launch'n the big'ns.
I gave 4 chilis for each because I haven't ridden much to compare it to but I eff'n love this thing.
Bike Setup: 16.5 frame, stock. Took the 9.0 halfpipes off and put on SRAM shorty's.
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Submitted by
Ryan Wright
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2001
Strengths: Magical bike, very plushy, takes big drops like they were nothing
Weaknesses: climbing? Hah!, I don't think so
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, the rear shock never bottoms out and for some magical reason the bike seems to save your ass when you really need it. It wheelie drops on its own and makes you a better rider. Climbing hills doesn't really work, but is that the reason you bought the bike. If you really wanted to climb hills you would have bought a pair of spandex and a little hard tail. Just think of climbing as a time to kick back and hang with your other retarded friends who bought bikes with 6 inches of travel
Similar Products Used: K2 Proflex 3000, Santa Cruz Bullit, Kona Stinky Deluxe
Bike Setup: Weird setup, you don Weird Setup, you don't want to know
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Submitted by
glen co
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary, alberta
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2001
Strengths: see review below
Weaknesses: see review below
Bottom Line:
This is an update after 6 months of riding this beast. This thing is still alive and breathing. I'm just starting to get back into biking again after my accident. Started hitting up a local mtb park with ns stunts. Maybe it's just my riding improving, but this bike rocks on skinnies. Very stable cockpit with the all race face set up. The 2001 jr. t's are awesome. Seals are still good, no leaks. The fox vanilla r shock is still kickin. No oil leaks, but the preload adjuster is becoming harder to turn even with a lizard skin. Tight turns are not recommended. you have to throw this bike around corners and lean so far. The head tube angle is a little steep I found. It's got a wide turning radius. There is a bit of lateral flex, but I weigh 200lbs. The spring is also too soft but I just ordered a set of speed springs from mountainspeed. The xt discs rock. The torque and the stopping power is huge that it managed to loosen the rotor from teh hub. sweet. nothing else much to say other than this bike is actually surviving.
Submitted by
Jeff Thompson
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2001
Strengths: Looks cool, Rides nice for about 3 months. Climbs nice (even better with a twin clicker)
Weaknesses: swingarm is made from feces.
Bottom Line:
This frame is a PILE! anybody that has one will be lucky to get 5 or 6 months out of it before it breaks. If you do own one, watch your back wheel when you ride off of ANY size drop. You will notice that the wheel tilt one way or the other. This swingarm idea is good, but it flexes, and twists like a Twizzler! Get rid of while you still can!
Similar Products Used: Super 8, BUllit, San Andreas DH
Bike Setup: DH-2, Fox twin Clicker, Upgrade all factory components
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Submitted by
Nate Warner
a Downhiller
from Helena, Montana
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2001
Strengths: Clever rear linkage design, and rising rate travel.
Weaknesses: Breakable Swing arm, too light of a spring
Bottom Line:
This bike rules, what can i say. I am very picky about my gear that i have and usually am dissapointed when i ride something better than what i have but surprise, i have not found anything that compares at all. First get ATLEAST a 6" travel fork if not 7 or 8, the stock fork is just not matched well, and the rear outperforms it noticably. I was riding around on a 850lb spring, i weigh about 175 and it is way way too light, but it still pedaled with the best of them in the same travel class. there is no feed back in the pedal stroke at all. Now i have a 1050 lbs spring and it is perfect, and pedals like a dream. I have platform pedals on it now and still pedal up most everything the cross country guys do, those of you thinking that you can't pedal a big bike need to come on over and see what is possible. this bike weighs about 45lbs and i ride it every where, urban, commuting, dh racing, free riding. Get the main pivot bearing, it is a huge difference, i would skip the needle bearings for the other linkages for 2 reasons, 1. there is very little friction in those parts any way, most if it is in the main pivot, and 2. Rocky's kits are somewhat inconsistant which results in a sloppy rear end - when you pick up the bike the rear end clunks down a tad bit. supposedly it does not effect riding but i talked to a mechanic and he said that the "tightest" bikes were the ones with a bearingin the main and standard bushings in the upper pivots. Get this bike, throw the widest bars you can find, a short stem, and watch your skills skyrocket. the rider position kicks butt for enabling jumping, wheeling, and other such mayhem. I have ridden tons of other bikes and this is the one that i stick to.
Out of all of the bikes I tried this is my favorite. I was fully aware of the linkage issue when I bought the bike and haven't had any problems yet (biggest hit so far was only 6ft to flat on pavement). I ordered the upgrade anyhow and will update you when it's installed. It decends awesome and I feel it offers a great balance that is perfect for freeriding. My biggest complaint are the Rhyno Lites which will be the next thing to be replaced, they are out of true after every ride and are stating to look more like squares then circles. The Rocky Mountain comps seem to be strong enough and listing them as a weakness is based on looks. Overall I give the RM6 5 flaming chillis all around. This bike will not disapoint you.
