Submitted by
Rqukrawler
a Cross Country Rider
from Orcutt, CA
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2009
Strengths: - Looks sweet, rear carbon swingarm is sick
- Beefed up from earlier models
- Amazing handling
- Adjustable manners via travel adj.
- Reasonably light
Weaknesses: - Broke my first one!
- Kinda pricey if you pay full boat.
- High bottom bracket
Bottom Line:
First off, can't say enough good about RM cust service. Broke my 04' ETSX 40 at the lower shock mount literally one week out of warranty. Didn't even have to beg RM to help. Shipped my new 08' ETSX 70, including a new Fox RP23, without costing me a dime (thanks to CBO for backing me up too).
Loved my 04' and my new ride is even nicer. The rear shock helps a lot and is a good match. Rear carbon swingarm is a piece of art, as are the graphics.
I ride everything from rolling fire road to bomber single track downhill and my RM never holds me back. Just got back from Downieville and I have zero complaints. Floated through the 20 mph baby head sections with grace and was rock solid through the turns and drops of the Divides. The TALAS (comes stock if you buy the bike complete) works well with the frame. Lower it to steepen the steering and quicken things up in slower technical sections, extend to 140 for max stability on screamin' downs.
My only beef is the seemingly high bottom bracket. Held it up to my buddies new IBIS and it was noticeably higher. In slow technical single track she feels a little top heavy.
Who should buy an ETSX? First, hurry up, they discontinued the model in 08'. If weight it the biggest issue, there are lighter bikes. If huckability is your thing, there are stronger bikes out there. If you think 30 miles through the back country with some fire road, lots of single track, a couple jumps to play on and a few hike-a-bikes is a good idea, the ETSX is for you. Great all around bike.
Bike Setup: XT-XTR, Mavic rims, ritchey WCS Carbon stem & seat post, Easton EC90 bar, DT exc150 forks
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
mtb101
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2009
Strengths: Overall ride experience is superb, climbing (propedal on) excellent, descending bike is predictable, you can pedal over anything, bike is well balanced, bike recovers well from errors or unexpected terrain. Bike is firm on trail.
Weaknesses: Slightly heavish (more components than frame etc, some reports of frame cracking, not many local dealers in Australia with passion behind product!
Bottom Line:
Rocky Mountain make bikes that are engineered to ride, this model can take you anywhere, through the evilest rock garden, down the steepest descent, and up the biggest climbs, if you are prepared to go with it, the ETSX will be there with plenty in reserve, on lots of occasions I have backed off, knowing that the bike can go harder, this bike has a spirit that wants to go to the limits of how far you can take it. The classic example is when my ride buddies are descending on some nasty single trail, I can take the ETSX past them through the scrub, in a plow like manner, this bike just doesn't back off! It's mountain breed!
Bike Setup: Mavic Crossland Wheels, XT deraillier, LX Cranks.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
madjh
a Cross Country Rider
from Burgos, spain
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2008
Strengths: La calidad de fabricacion, los acabados y el funcionamiento pues es una bici con suficientes regulaciones para adaptarse a culalquier situación, esceptuando las situaciones mas radicales. Una bici para tenerla durante muchos años
Weaknesses: El precio y la dificultad de encontrar repuestos.
Bottom Line:
Es una bici peculiar en cuanto a funcionamiento, pero ya venia de otra bici con recorrido variable como la sugar y la verdad es que a pesar de los 200gr que pesa mas el cuadro ETSX 70, la suavidad de absorcion es increible y permite ir muy rápido en situaciones donde una de XC tipo epic (probada) o sugar se quedaban trabadas.
El RP3 con propedal medio y posicion de menor recorrido es la mas eficiente pedaleando y absorviendo (se chupa todo y no se percibe interferencias en el pedaleo) si la presion es correcta. Y si ponemos el propedal al maximo en carretera no notamos ningun bamboleo aunque pedaleemos fuerte. De esa posicion podemos pasar a la mas tragadora y sensible y con todas las posiciones intermedias.
En definitiva una bici para todas las situaciones que podemos encontrar en nuestros recorridos.
Una pega podria ser la talla. Mido 1,70 - 1.71m (mala altura para las tallas de bicis, la verdad) y me aconsejaron la 18". No es grande pero si justa pues es alta de pedalier, por lo demas las medidas de tubo H es correcta para mi altura o incluso un poco corta (la sugar es mas larga en talla 17.5") Y si a alguien se le ocurre pillar la 16,5 con 1,70m 1.73m no se lo aconsejo porque le va a parecer que no cabe (tija con retraso y potencia muy larga).
Con 11,3 kg de peso con el montaje que llevo no hay ni subida ni bajada que se resista. La unica pega las cubiertas que son ligeras pero con mucha tendencia a ser mordidas con la llanta en bajadas a alta velocidad por pedregales (schwalve racing ralph 2.1").
Es una bici para tenerla durante muuuucho tiempo, el gasto es importante pero creo que merece la pena.
Bike Setup: Solo el cuadro corresponde al montaje original, el resto es a la carta buscando ligereza y resistencia. XTR, Hygia, reba, ruedas cobalt, ritchey, srp, kent ericsen, selle italia slr aqua etc
