Submitted by
ridejohnrobie
a Cross Country Rider
from bay area, ca. u.s.a.
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2009
Strengths: excellent stock spec, sick handling and efficiency
Weaknesses: none so far. high bottom bracket took some getting used to
Bottom Line:
as advertised, this bike does it all well. sweet parts for the price, great spec. really efficient,i'm 225# and this bike never needs lockouts and can handle drops of 4-5 feet without complaint, not really designed for that, but nice to know. 35+ mile days in the saddle? yup. the adjustable bit is really nice, and works well. i used the stock wheels for a project bike and they are holding up great.as a long time shop employee, i have access to many bikes, and i put my coin into this. a great long travel cross country bike that can really hold it own with the all mountain rigs.
Similar Products Used: spec, santa cruz, trek, fisher, klein, maverick, yeti
Bike Setup: stock except for mavic crossmax xl's, tubeless, and cockpit mods (stem, bars, etc...)
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Submitted by
daffy165
a Cross Country Rider
from england
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2009
Strengths: looks the bollocks, rides perfectly
Weaknesses: whats up the the front mech cable routing and how the hell do you adjust the limit screws on the front mech with ease
Bottom Line:
i bought frame only, so far all seems perfect, i got a bit confused wiring up the front mech as the cable seems to rub on the suspension welds so i have used a spare bit of cable outer to prevent cable rub, i have heard its a design fault?.
but i love the frame so the weaknesses i can live with
I was deciding btwn this and Specialized Stumpy Comp, Enduro/ Santu Cruz Blur, etc..Loving this bike. Ergonmics, stock setup. It is a perfect bike for those in btwn hucking it and XC. Climbs like none other I have ridden. Front and rear lockouts are quick, easy and very efficient. Dial this baby in instantaneously for your exact riding style.Fast, comfy and can handle bomber downhill with ease. Quality bike worth every cent. 101% satisfaction. I was being steered towards a more "plush" freeride 6"-7" bike but for me- this was a more realistic ride. Does it all beatifully.
Similar Products Used: Coming off of '98 Homegrown hardtail. That was a nice bike. This is a whole different animal.
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Submitted by
Gus Allen
a Cross Country Rider
from Steamboat Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2009
Strengths: cool graphics, exellent suspension, very smooth, climbs like a machine, decends like a dream, cornors well, very versitile, I have done some local races with it and preformed better then I could of expected, great go anywhere do anything bike,
Weaknesses: nada
Bottom Line:
Great bike for expert and intermediate cross country riders, as I said before you can go anywhere and do anything with this bike. The high price is the result of high quality.
Similar Products Used: nothing I have riden can compare
Bike Setup: Stock except for tubeless rims/tires and crank bros egg beater pedals
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Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Bozeman, Montana USA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2008
Strengths: Best climber around. Hand built frame. I can tell how much time went into the building of this bike. great service from Rocky Mt.
Weaknesses: I am 220 LBS so I get some ghost shifting from the rear derailer.
Bottom Line:
I bought one of the first ETSX's in 2001. After 4 years of hard riding I broke the frame. After the abuse I put the bike through I cant believe it lasted that long. What I don't have in ability I try to make up for in sheer aggression. Rocky Mountain was awesome they got me a new frame in no time at all. Bottom line is that after 7 years I am still unbelievably stoked to get to ride this bike.
Similar Products Used: Not many, I have been ridding this bike for sooooo long.
Bike Setup: Chris king hubs and head set, Mavic rims, Thompson stem and seat post, Marzocci xc 600 sl fork, Hayes disk brakes, and XTR every where else.
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Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2008
Strengths: Frame/shock: sturdy, well developed smooth design for any off road terrain. 3D hinges, and Rear Carbon adds an awesome touch to the design
Weaknesses: -Price. -Thin tubes on frame make it easier to dent :( -Noticed on a few occasions that my heals were rubbing against the bike on the way up.
Bottom Line:
Built a bike around this frame, and was extremely satisfied! I'd recommend this frame for sure!
Submitted by
Javier
a Cross Country Rider
from Burgos, Spain
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2008
Strengths: Los acabados, la geometria ideal para subir y bajar por cualquier lado. Una bici para muchos años.
Weaknesses: El cable del desviador roza en el basculante, hay que proteger la zona(funda de cable o de boligrafo bic.)
Bottom Line:
Bicicleta ideal para hacer largas rutas en plan competitivo. Peso contenido, unos 11,6kg lo cual la hacen apta para competir en circuitos duros de xc o si tu forma no es la mejor tapará muchos errores.
La trasera absorve muy bien todas las irregularidades y es muy difícil hacer topes.
Una bici que puedes llevar a donde quieras sin preocuparte por nada mas que disfrutar, da igual el terreno.
Bike Setup: Hygia, Kent Ericksen, SRP, MSC, Electra, Chris king, SLR AQUA, REBA, XTR 08 cristal gold tuned, HOPE, Mavic, ritchey V4 pro
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Submitted by
Jeremiah Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Saratoga Springs,UT
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2007
Strengths: This is a terry efficient climbing machine. It also descends with the best trail bikes and is very small bump complaint.
Weaknesses: None so far???
Bottom Line:
This is the best performing bike I have ever ridden. It handles great and feels very efficient. It feels like 100% of your energy is propelling you forward, just the way it should be. Many people complain about the high bottom bracket, 14 inches to be exact. I like it that way, although I am on my tippy toes with the saddle at riding height, pedal strikes are few and far between. The higher center of gravity can easily be compensated for with minor adjustments to ones riding style. It's a pricey devil but it is worth the money.
Submitted by
Joe Programmer
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX, US
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2007
Strengths: Great attention to detail. beautiful finish on paint and frame components. No weak components. Well thought out geometry. Frame is nicely updated from previous years.
Weaknesses: decals are still easily scratched off. A whole lot of adjustments take time to learn. Bike is faster than me!
Bottom Line:
This review is for the 06 model. This is a great bike for anyone beyond beginner or someone who can take the time to figure out all of the adjustments. The talas RLC fork has 5 external adjustments and the rear suspension has 3 adjustments. This is in addition to the usual adjustments such as bars, seat, tire psi. Expect to be fast after you learn what is right for you. The best setup I got was similar to the base setup fox recommends for the fork and adjust the ride height for preference. Rear suspension is different for 06. It now moves 4, 4.5 and 5 inches and the frame is a little beefier in the lower, upper bracket and the linkage is a little beefier too. I prefer the 06 over the 07 as Rocky used a lot of Race Face parts and the 07 model uses more shimano part, a slight downgrade. Still learning the bike, but I haven't enjoyed riding this much in a long time. The tubeless wheelset gives me a little more traction and a smoother ride, so, it was a good upgrade. I prefer this bike of titus, trek, Giant, specialized.
Similar Products Used: Stumpjumper FSR, CDale Scalpel
Bike Setup: stock except for mavic tubeless wheelset.
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Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Anns,Ontario,Canada
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2006
Strengths: This bike has incredable handling with firm but smooth suspension. The bike has no brake jack and climbs like a goat. Great bike for racing or trail riding. The suspension is very ballanced.
Weaknesses: Had some creaking problems. Check your bearings near the seat tube, they were dry to the point that damage was done. Also had problems with the race face crank. Replaced the chainring bolts with steel ones and that solved the problem.
Bottom Line:
Allthough I had a few initial problems I love this bike and it has been great all summer. Best bike I have ever owned.
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mountain Slayer 50 Rocky Mountain Element
Bike Setup: Kenda Navagals with Stan's No Tubes
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Submitted by
Brett
a Cross Country Rider
from Steamboat Springs
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2006
Strengths: construction, rolling ease, climbing ability
Weaknesses: What!!!!!!
Bottom Line:
incredible all-around bike that climbs like goat and rolls like you have a wind at your back. It shows that the engine (you) have to be in shape otherwise the bike is too much for you. This bike is for intermediate to expert riders and it is just a fantasic bike
Similar Products Used: every over competitor nothing even comes close
Bike Setup: stock, except for Maxxis tires, IRC are worthless
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Submitted by
Carlos Cadavid
a Cross Country Rider
from Bogota, Colombia
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2006
Strengths: This bike climbs like a hard tail, descends like a free ride bike. The adjustability options when you combine the three travel settings and the platform settings on the shock gives you 9 different setups. Very versatile.
Weaknesses: one year of abuse, no complaints.
Bottom Line:
I'm an international distributor, and have the chance to ride every bike out there, and I have. Hands down, this is the best bike in its class. Which class? The all mountain, hand made, ride all day bike class. If you can spend that extra amount on a hand crafted bike, go for the ETSX, this bike rocks and so will you!
Bike Setup: sram X0 front, middle and rear. Thompson masterpiece stem and post, chris king headset, race face carbon bar, race face deus cranks, crank bros 4 ti pedals, spinergy wheels, xtr cassette, wtb rocket V ti saddle, Marzocchi marathon XC fork, magura Marta SL brakes, kenda nevegal tires
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Submitted by
James K
a Cross Country Rider
from blacksburg, VA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2006
Strengths: durable, reliable, smooth, well balanced - a good backwoods all day rider. It's been very easy to maintain and a pleasure to drive around the forest as fast as my legs - or gravity - will allow me.
The bike has excellent ground clearance to get over stuff, and yet I did not find it to be cumbersome in its height.
I also like the all-metal construction (no carbon) for durability in rock gardens, etc.
Weaknesses: I am annoyed that the ETSX 10 bike retails for less than the ETSX 70 frameset, even though the frames are identical.
The frame is a big chassis, and while it generally handles really well, there are times when its girth and slack head tube really come to the surface. Specifically, when manging hairpin turns around trees or rocks, the bike needs some coersion. I wouldn't call the front end handling snappy, but I don't know that I could expect a bike with 4" front and rear to be very snappy.
Bottom Line:
i purchased the frame and added some unglorious, reliable and easily servicable components. The bike rides very smooth, handles great and is a pleasure to ride. It weighs 29-31 lbs, depending on what tires /wheelset I put on.
It's not a race bike. It's a perfect all day, backcountry bike that I feel confident riding over wicked rock gardens and burning down mountain sides with. Owning this bike furthered my technical skills 10 fold.
I'd guess with the lighter team version and a large dose of XTR type stuff, one might have a potential race bike especially for longer races, as the design does not seem at all naturally sluggish. Afterall, RM markets this as a marathon bike. On the same hand, I wouldn't call this bike a super fast accelerator, but I think that can be said for a majority of dual suspension rides. It's slower than a fuel, for instance, but it sure makes up with its superior plushness and longevity.
Bike Setup: SRAM 9.0, hayes nine, marzocchi marathon 120, XT 6 bolt hubs, trail bear tires...blah blah...
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Submitted by
Jeff Mikaelian
a Cross Country Rider
from SLC , utah usa
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2006
Strengths: It is an efficent climber , with a plush ride. Adjustablity. You can shorten the awesome TALUS fork for steep climbs. Or shorten the rear travel for mellow rides.
Weaknesses: What?
Bottom Line:
Great cross country trail bike. You can set it up to comfortably ride any trail. It is great for long rides , such as the E100 in Park City that I used this for the past 2 years.
Similar Products Used: Have not tried anything similar
Bike Setup: Stock,, I just put on some Nevagal's. Great traction.
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Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2006
Strengths: Not only does this bike look good, it´s amazing in what it´s designed to do...kick ass on the trails!
Weaknesses: Problems with XT rear derailer.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike for regular weekend rides and the odd marathon race. You´ve got to love the way this bike rides, from steep technical climbs, to single-track to fireroad with speed. This bike has swallowed everything I diced up. Icing on the cake was having this ride for our Transalp last year. Everyone in the group was just dying to try it out and for a good reason...it´s by far the most kick-ass set-up on the market!
There is a local guy selling etsx-70 for $1250. It is 19" and I was just wondering what approximate height the average rider is for this bike? I'm 5'9.5" btw and here is the the l Read More »
I have the Shimano XT dual action shifters and I'm not sure I want to stay with them. The action is inconsistent. Sometimes I have to press really hard to get any corresponding der Read More »
Just ordering a new seat for ETSX build project.
Is the seat post a 26.8 or 27.2? I measured 26.8, but just want to check before I part with my hard-earned cash. Read More »
I'm looking to pick up a new bike soon.
If I go with the ETSX, I'm trying to decide between the 50 or the 70. The 50 is obviously a lot cheaper, comes with the Formula ORO K24 Read More »
In no way is this a thread implying anything other than the question being asked:
I'm considering selling my 2008 ETSX-70 frame (18.5") but have no idea about pricing. Any though Read More »
