Submitted by
Erik carlson
a Downhiller
from marquette, MI usa
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2005
Strengths: LOOKs like a burly frame. smooth. perfect geometry. rips the single track, and hauls the down hills. very comfortable in the air
Weaknesses: doesnt pedal well
CRACKED FRAME.
Bottom Line:
bottom line is the more i ride this bike the more i like it, can handle just about anything. a good bike for a mild free ridere whol like to keep the wheels off the ground and going fast. very nimble.
BUt this was all before the frame cracked on me. right where the rear shock mount is. so no lover for this bike any more..
Similar Products Used: coiler , numerous hardtails, jekylls, faith ,.
Bike Setup: fox 36 rc2, vanilla rear, sun s-type wheelset
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Submitted by
Ted H
a Weekend Warrior
from Pasadena
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2004
Strengths: Frame hands down the one of the strongest frames ever. The term to best describe this freakish thing would be OVER ENGINEERED. Crazy Canadians! Suspension should be an actual (pay specialized their royalty) 4-bar to link to keep the nay sayers away. It's spec'd well not great but I'd rather spend more on a great frame then upgrade later. Not get an xtr'd bike with a spaghetti frame.
Weaknesses: Product knowledge only the few freeriders know this bike exists.
Bottom Line:
This bike will be my all-around urban assault, free, DH & XC. I have no doubt all my mt bike dreams will come true with this bike. It wheelies like a dream, suspension travel is fluid for air shocks, handles big hits without complaint, 5" curbs no need to lift at speed :) can't wait for the first trail ride this weekend MT. Wilson toll rd action & Red box to Switzers on afternoon run.
Similar Products Used: demo'd specialized fsr big hit, enduro, giant ac1-2, intense 5.5, my beloved Foes Zigzag sold for new Rocky Mountain :(
Bike Setup: Was stock day 1, The next day xtr shift pods, deraileurs, 34-11 cassette, funn pedals, odi grips, easton seatpost, stem, handlebar, hayes nine 8" rotor ft. 6" rotor in back, mavic rims xt hub rear, fox AVA Float RL, marzocchi qr150 sl 20mm thru axle & hub, dt spokes, Maxxis tires, velox rim tape.
Strengths: solid frame, great fork, looks really beutiful, great wheelset, bombproof, brakes and every other component, everything that isnt mentiond in weaknesses
Weaknesses: fork only has room for a 2.6 tire. mud gets built up on the chain stays, seat stays, and fork (but i was riging on the muddiest day of the year so normally it shouldnt be a problem). Tires are bad for riding in mud.
Bottom Line:
I have a 2004 and it is the best bike ever, the spring on the shock is a little stiff but nothin 25 dollars cant fix, it has a jeally solid feel to it. as soon as you start movin you can feel how solid it is. it doesnt have ANY flex AT ALL. the welds look perfect, but you have to see that in person to appreciate it fully, even my neighbor who doesnt know anything about bikes noticed the welds immediately. the wheelset is solid, and that is really one of the reasons you should by a rocky beacause the spec the best wheelsets availible. even though alex rims isnt a huge brand these rims are incredably strong. the bike pedals REALLY well. ALSO: if you live in the DC area you really should buy from pedal n spoke they offer lifetime warrantys, free tune ups for life, but the best thing is they WANT to sell you a bike and are really konwledgeable about any type of riding, from road biking to downhill and freeride. BOTTOM LINE: the Switch is the best bike in its price range and the hand building process is worth the small extra price you pay. oh ya this bike will match your abilitys no matter if your a pro or a begginer , and you will never exceed its abuilitys, and you can huck this thing all day and it will keep coming back for more.BUY THIS BIKE.
Similar Products Used: cannondale gemini (ugly and very weak,)specialized big hit (nice but didnt feel as good or look as good as the rocky), kona stinky (looks cool but doesnt feel as solid) santa cruz bullit (just as nice but too expensive)
Bike Setup: stock
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Submitted by
Riley Morrison
a Downhiller
from Alberta canada
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2003
Strengths: Every thing Rocky Mountain Built it
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I only rode this bike for a day but i loved it you can huck this thing off of 6foot drops to flat landing. and it doesnt even flinch it is so solid.i also liked the paint job on this bike . If you are a serious or begginer free rider this is an awsome bike for you.
Weaknesses: Price, some stock parts (tires, seat post, brakes, rear shock spring)
Bottom Line:
I think Rocky Mountain bikes are as close to a custom bike as you can get. The build quality, attention to detail, customer service are all excellent. I wasn't too happy with the stock Hayes HFX 9 brakes (read the reviews) so I changed to Avid mechanicals. The Avids work really well...except on this frame. The rear brake cable routing has so many bends that I can feel the friction in the lines. Will have to go back to hydraulics. The stock Titec seatpost bent while "just riding along" a 6' drop to flat. Replaced with a Thompson and have had no problems since. The stock Maxxis Mobster tires had to go. The sidewalls were too thin causing too many pinch flats. Rode IRC Kujos and now put the Tamashi's on. Great sidewall protection and can run low pressures with no problems. Lock on grips are a must on any bike. Changed the stock rear shock spring to a heavier one for my fat 170 lb. azz. Contacted FoxShox for the correct spring rate. The ride is more firm but still plush enough to match the Sherman Breakout. The Sherman rocks. I tried a 2003 Boxxer but the Sherman just felt better, more stiff and plush. It is easy to balance the front and rear suspension with the adjustability of the Sherman. The rebound adjuster is very sensitive and works well. The compression adjustment is a little more vague but does the job. The travel adjustment is subtle but helps on climbs. Test ride this bike before you buy it. The cockpit feels cramped at first but you will get used to it. The head angle is a little steep but a triple crown fork will rake it out a little and give more stability at speed. This is not a downhill race bike, it's a freeride bike. If your riding consists of fast, tight, rough, big, steep technical trails than this bike is for you. Let's put it this way, Wade jumped that huge 65' double in Superheroes on this frame. No, your skills will not exceed the capabilities of this bike. You suck.
Bike Setup: Avid mechanicals, lock-on grips, IRC Tamashi's, Thompson post
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Submitted by
Trevor
a Downhiller
from Edmonton, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2003
Strengths: Soaks up everything you can throw at it...10, 12 footers no prob.
Weaknesses: The Manipoo (umm..manitou) fork didn't even make it out the showroom door. Replaced the Sherman with a Junior T. With the new fork its ready to rock. Had some problems with the crank arm, but 12 footers to flat will do that to an aluminum crank.
Bottom Line:
With my big fork on, this bike is a beast. I'm a big guy at 6'5 230lbs and need a solid platform underneath me. There is no substitution for weight. As speced, the Switch weighs in at a healthy 42 lbs. This is a lot of girth, I grant you. But, for an aggressive rider that likes to huck and drop steep chutes, the weight is a blessing. You will find no twitchy tendencies when ripping the Switch at high speed. It flows straight through nasty rock gardens, and hunkers down in the corners, railing like no other bike that I have tried.
Peddling is about as efficient as one might expect from a 42 lb dually. However, with a little leg strength and some walking, you will get to the top! And that is what this bike is all about: Gravity. You wanna race dual-slalom or bikercross? Go ahead. The Switch's appetite for berms, coupled with its straight flying frame, make for a wicked weapon. You're into skinnys and the whole North Shore huck scene? Bring it on! The suspension is up to the task. Six inches of rear travel is the perfect amount for taking the edge off the huge hits, while still leaving you with a bike that you can peddle. Love downhilling on the weekend? Lets rock! The Switch is a downhill demon! With the Jr. T soaking up nearly everything smaller than a Volkswagen, one can assault a downhill trail with almost reckless abandon. The Switch is the shiznit! Give 5 chilies to this bad boy!
Strengths: i have the switch not ltd,same frame as rm7, sherman by far the best fork ever! dual crown travel with single crown manouverability!(i like doin x-ups) race face cranks, goes up as well as down and cool yellow and black colour
Weaknesses: bars are a bit to long for my liking but nothing that a hacksaw can't fix i found i was hitting the seat with them when doin x-ups, also saddle,i bent the rails after my second ride i was doin some dirt jumps missed a no footer and landed sat on saddle and it just folded! the rear brake hose would rub on the tyre when i got about 4 inches of travel so i took the guide of the linkage plate and zip tied it to the swinging arm and no problems since
Bottom Line:
this is my first full sus bike so obviously iam goin to love it! but it just feels so good i have the 16.5" frame and is almost as good in the air as my hardtail (dmr rhythm singlespeed 24" wheels) i have ridden a couple of my mates bikes and this just feels 'right',also onepointfive makes me feel indistructable!
so if you want a bike that can do it all (british)downhill,freeride,street,dirt jumps and skatepark this is your bike,5 chillis good!! now im off for a ride :)
Strengths: * climbs crazy good for a 39 pound (size 16.5) bike * dirt jumps really well * handles better then my 13 inch piece of a hardtale * Weelset is beastish, so strong (basically why bike weighs so much) * 1.5 Headtube * I got a good price on it, CBE rules * This bike is all strengths
Weaknesses: *I weigh 120 pounds, someone weighing 30-40 pounds more than me would have to put stiffer springs in the fork, not really a weakness *havent found any other yet and prabably wont
Bottom Line:
The bike I have is a 2003 switch not the 2003 switch ltd, there are only minor differences (the switch ltd has a little bit nicer part spec). So far this bike is awsome. It rides trails and climbs so much better then I thought it would. I have taken it off 5.5' drops and it doesnt even stress the bike (for a 6 front 6 rear travel bike you can go big). It is a shore bike so in the tight sections this bike really shines, the handling owns. The fork is awsome. If you think the fork is a let down dont, it rules. All in all so far this bike rules and I recomend it for anybody who likes to ride everything and wants a strong bike.
Bike Setup: stock, pimped out stock bike, got all the big names and nice parts
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Submitted by
Ryguy
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, B.C.
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2003
Strengths: Extremely solid and stable ride. Almost the same ride as the RM7 but feels much tighter. 4 bar linkage in the back makes the bike feels soooo solid. Pedals very very well for a bike of this size. I have it spec'd out to the tune of about 42lbs. I find it pedals much better than my RM7. Also, it feels like it has a much shorter wheelbase and is extremely easy to muscle this bike around. This is THE PERFECT FREERIDE BIKE. Can't say enough good things about this bike. Go try one yourself and you will never go back. All the goodies that the RM7 has but with an inch less travel and a tighter ride. THIS BIKE IS ALL STRENGTHS
Weaknesses: I can't give the bike enough abuse. I drop 6 footers and the bike is like... is that it??? I guess price would be a weakness. For 2003 you have no choice but to get a 1.5" headtube. This basically means you are stuck with the Manitou Sherman - Unless you do what I did and get a reduced headset that will let you put a std fork on there! Yeah BABY!
Bottom Line:
This bike rings in at 42 pounds of pure freeriding excellence. I have yet to see a better complete package. I was shocked to realize how well you can pedal this badass machine. I would always grimace at the sight of an incline with my RM7. Now, I say bring it on! Super T fork puts the finishing touch on this baby. The stock Sherman in good - But the 7" Super T is the cherry on top. That's it! Gotta go Ride!
Weaknesses: I only demo'ed, so i have not found any during my short trial
Bottom Line:
from testing this bike, i decided to spend over 4grand on the Rocky mountain Rm7, so this alone should tell all of you how unbelievable this ride is!!!
Strengths: Light enough so that you can climb with it and has the agility to do big hits and ride skinnies.
Weaknesses: the price i can't afford it.
Bottom Line:
Buy it if your a free rider who has to peadal around to get to your trail head. don't buy it if you are the type of rider who takes chair lifts to the top of the hill. This is a great bike you should go demo one for your self and you will see that it can take you almost any were.
Similar Products Used: big hit comp, banshee scream, norco launch
Bike Setup: stock, platform clips
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Submitted by
Ben McDaniel
a Downhiller
from Salem,OR USA
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2002
Strengths: this bike is great i got the bike the day before thanksgiving and went urban that night and on thaksgiving and have since gone trail riding and stunt riding and have had no problems with it at all its the best trail/street/freeride i have ever ridden
Weaknesses: non at all
Bottom Line:
the bike handles better than any of the other bikes ive ridden it doesn't matter what the terrain and it sucks up every bump along the way. Who ever did the wright on the sherman breakout fork in FLOW magizine is wrong the fork is super plush and super responsive to everything on the trail i work at a bike shop so ive ridden alot of different bikes and forks and nothing compares to this bike ROCKY MOUNTAIN KICKS ASS with the 2003 SWITCH ltd.
Ok, first post here.
I have a Switch Ltd -03, which I got almost unused in Fall -04.
I rode the bike pretty hard the whole last season, average two rides a week (from may to Read More »
I have a RM Switch Ltd, I was riding a technical downhill piece where i live (Wilson Canyon, Jackson Wy.) and i thought i had the front fork open not locked out. I kept Endoing :ma Read More »
