Strengths: Very sturdy frame with a pretty deece stock setup, don't really have to change any components until it starts comin' apart. Climbs well for being a FS rig.
Weaknesses: A little problem with dropping a chain here or there but nothing the LBS fellas couldn't tweak
Bottom Line:
Just an awesome bike. I just started getting really into free riding after beating the hell out of my Giant hardtail and this rig has handled everything I have thrown at it and I know I barely have tested its limits.
Submitted by
Andrew Snyder
a Downhiller
from Kitchener Ontario
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2006
Strengths: Good Sturdy frame, lots of front travel with lots of top of the line items stock.
Weaknesses: rear travel is a little shorter than i wanted also a little heavy
Bottom Line:
This bike is a sick freeride/downhill bike which will get you from point A to point B, up the mountain, down it 3 times as fast and home again, and back to point A without any trouble at all.
Strengths: Bomb proof, takes 12' drops with ease, pedals well, great for XC,AM,FR,DH.
Weaknesses: £48 here for front mech adaptor, have had issue with bottom pivot loosening a couple of times.
Bottom Line:
Amazing bike for XC, FR,DH jumping, can be set-up for different riding styles, standard can build up into sub 35 lb hard AM bike, could be built into 32lb XC bike, or 37lb FR/DH bike. I have tried many bikes trying to get the right one, the switch is a great one bike for all situations bike. As with all bikes get a frame and build it up for your riding style as factory bikes always have bits that you don't want or like.
Similar Products Used: Kona Stab, Kona Stinky, Mountain Cycles Fury, Marin Attack trail, Santa cruz bullit, Santa cruz heckler and more!
Bike Setup: Fox TALAS 36RC2, full XTR (ti tings), MAXM DH carbon bars, CK wheels with Stans DH rims, or Hope bulb with 729 rims, Fox DHX5.0 air or coil rear shock, gravity dropper seat post, CK headset.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
chainzo fellov
a Weekend Warrior
from geo mass
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2005
Strengths: me and my bike
Weaknesses: complainers
Bottom Line:
kick`s ass. stop whining u tech geeks ride it love it live it stop analyzing
Submitted by
Jordy
a Weekend Warrior
from Beautiful Britsh Columbia
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2005
Strengths: titec and raceface components, dx32s, big beefy welds on the frame, can do everything from hardcore freeride to dirt jump
Weaknesses: marzocchi makes rad forks but the stock drop off triple just isnt doing it for me. needs to have one more inch of travel and qr20 for sure like the 05 switch
Bottom Line:
sweet ride, relatively light around 37 pounds with my mods, RMs waste all but im definitely going to upgrade the fork to a slider or a 66vf this summer for whistler(ive heard nothing but good things about the 66). better pedaling then a bighit, ligher than the older kona stinkys, overall rad bike. 4 chilis for value becuase of the fork, but 5 overall becuase of everything else
Strengths: Frame, shock, parts mix (mostly.) Fork is lo-brow but pimpable. Price.
Weaknesses: Wheelset maybe, the hubs look a bit weak. Fork is kinda low end, but I'm told that it's upgradable to JrT or SuperT internals since the basic tubes/sliders are the same... so I guess that makes it a strength too in a way.
Bottom Line:
The ride is pretty firm, and the suspension just does not bob when you pedal. The ProPedal Fox shock must help with this. The bike isn't "plush" really, but the travel engages in a very progressive and controlled way as you land larger hits. I've got the preload set up with the recomended sag, so I think I'm pretty close to dialed at this point.
The bike seems beefy, with big fat seatstays and chainstays and an oversized headtube area that is really impressive in it's simple and solid design. The CNC'd and polished shock linkage looks really dope (imho) and the seatstay area is clearly solid and also real tech looking.
Even with all the beef, this bike feels light and nimble for a 6in freeride bike. Compared to the AC2, this bike feels way more solid. The AC has good pedal efficiency, but this bike is a lot better, and the single pivot bikes I've ridden all seem to rob a lot more power than either one.
I've just started riding this bike, and all the so-cal rain has hampered my fun a bit, so this is a preliminary report. I'll write a follow up in six-twelve months with my longer term impressions and any problems that occur. Hope this helps everyone and have good times.
Five flaming turds on value (I got a sweet deal) And a tentative five for overall... barring any major probs with the frame/linkage... (I expect the fork and wheels will be dealt with sooner than later.)
Weaknesses: Fork (Harsh for drops and downhilling plus no rebound adjuster so that solution is out and it has speed sensative valving so changing the oil wont do anything, so you basically have to get a new fork to race downhill seriously Plus it has no thru axle so it is not very stiff)) Seatpost (bolt brakes and seatpoost loosens making seat fall off) pedals (bearings suck and they offer no grip) Tires (terrible for wet conditions get some WTB wierwolfs they have the best grip for any condition) Mud Clearence (mud and 2 inch thick piles of leaves get stuck in it)
Bottom Line:
this is a follow up review just to report on the weaknesess I have found.
Bike Setup: stock except for Mrp slalom chain guide, Odi lock on grips, WTB Wierwolf tires (Best tires ever for any application)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tyler Richman
a Downhiller
from Fairmont
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2004
Strengths: very sturdy suspenion very well built perfect bike for me! the marzocchi fork is awsome! it hperforms very well with the fox rear shox. i love the maxxis tires on the bike.
Weaknesses: had some problems with the rear hub and my rear rotor is rubing the frame!that is not good!
Bottom Line:
the brands were ovisously very well put together. the fox shox,raceface crank,marzocchi fork ,and the titec stem and bars combo are very well thought out for this bike.
Strengths: Very strong, no flex. The 4-bar linkage is tight and close with the bearings on the outside of the pivots minimizing stress. Propedal works outstandingly. Weighs in at 41 pounds so it's possible to take on the trails. Soaks up drops nothing else.
Bottom Line:
Most reliable bike for it's price. Best bang for the buck. the only thing close to this bike is the big hit but previous models have had problems with pedel bobbing. All those canadians do is huck their bikes so i trust the bikes they produce. BOTTOM LINE!
WOW! I was used to a relatively light dual suspension trail bike. Yah it had 4" of travel, but you still had to tippy toe around the rough stuff and hold your breath and pray on drops more than 3ft. high. This ride has changed me. I don't even feel the extra 7(?) pounds. I purposely changed the Drop Off for a lighter and lower FOX 125R to change the geometry to be more climber friendly along with a longer stem and I would have never guessed that it would climb at least as well as my Sugar 2+ and even better on technical, very steep climbs. Everyone talks about the welds on the Rocky's, but not too much mention about the paint. While its not bullit proof it holds up much better than any other bike I have ever owned. This bike makes you a better rider! Much more confident downhill and in the rough stuff. I used to hate ruts at speed, not any more. You just point and pedal....The only trouble I've had is all the bugs in my teeth from the great big smile I have when flying through the wilderness. Oh yah...that Vanilla R w/Propedal is unbelievable. Even when standing and mashing it doesn't noticably move. Any Rider who enjoys moderate to insanely technical trail riding would enjoy this bike.
Favorite Trail: any technical singletrack without pedestrians
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At: Factory Ride, St. Thomas
Similar Products Used: Fisher Sugar 2+, Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, Norco Torrent, Kona Fire Mountian
Bike Setup: Stock except for Fox 125R fork, Triple Chainring, Mavic 321, 100mm Raceface stem, Raceface Diablous Bars
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
the DEANAGE
a Weekend Warrior
from CT USA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2004
Strengths: frame, wheelset, component spec it's freakin' canadien.....say no more.
Weaknesses: rear derailleur hanger Titec seat
Bottom Line:
got the bike in April as a 40th birthday present. TOTALLY ROCKS. After several rides fooling around with the suspension, I have it dialed to my liking. EVEN at my "advanced" age- I find that I am throwing caution to the wind. Leaping off of stuff I would have never even attempted before. Corrections and mis-landings are no problem. Wheels and fork will take ANYTHING. Rode at Mt. Snow a few weeks ago and left the fellas in the dust. Maxxis tires(which i never tried are excellent) Don't be shy, don't even consider anything else. Rocky has a lifelong supporter.
Strengths: It is strong as all get out. You could not try to break the frame. The cockpit is short, as am i, only 5'7'. very easy to pick up. amazing component spec for the price. high bottom bracket lots of clearance
Weaknesses: drop off triple is crap. just swapped it out for an 04 boxxer race. the bomber can handle most everything, but it feels terrible, air assist, not oil and spring. ive gone 10ft with it and it was ok, just not the greatest feeling in the world
Bottom Line:
this bike is brilliant. i started freeriding in march and have since gone up to 10 ft and this bike has taken me all the way. it handles urban, skate park ( not reccomended, very tiring) vermont downhill, ladders. it does it all.
Strengths: XT group set, combined with Talas RLC Fox Fork, Mavic Ksyrium SL 2003, and Kenda tires, with Mx6 handlebar, easton 90 plus san marco barracuda-used to be Alison Sydor saddle. It just look great and strong.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
The bike is great, strong, and handle all kinds of trails. Short drop, long drop, big drop. Very good handling on gravel, slippery trails. Have tried at all trails located at North Shore, Westwood Plateau, Port Moody. Even you are riding on the city street.
Very stable with strong current during crossing the river. Rocky Mountain truly makes a great bike. It is truly handbuilt in Canada.
Strengths: This bike is a beast, the welds are amazing. Even just riding into town, people notice the welds right away. The bike is ridiculously strong and well built.
Weaknesses: none, its an RM!
Bottom Line:
This is just follow up to a previous review. I went urban today and the bike handled amazing. All we rode were drops, the biggest being 5ft to flat pavement, and the bike sucked it up. The propedal is awesome, no pedal bob what so ever, really helps on the climbs. The bike is exceptionally easy to pick up, which makes slower drops a alot easier, and you do not need to wheelie drop much stuff.
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