Submitted by
ridelikeme
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB, Canada Date Reviewed: June 10, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
Private
Strengths:
Frame design, big hit capability, weight, climbing prowess,no bob whatsoever with propedal on, looks, durability, neck snapper, geometry, small bump absorption... the fox RP23 (wow propedal)
Weaknesses:
bobs pretty hard with propedal turned off.. thats honestly it
Similar Products Used:
i have owned: Santa Cruz bullit, and heckler, Brodie Diablo
I have tested (before buying this bike): Santacruz blur lt and 4x, transition bottle rocket (i dont get the hype behind this bike), specialized enduro, giant reign
Bike Setup:
Limited edition slayer canuck frame, custom build.
Full Shimano Saint components, XTR front Der', 8 inch saint discs, Race face cockpit, Easton stem, Mavic rims, chris king headset, Marzocchi Z1 FR SL ETA
Bottom Line:
This bike is unreal. It climbs just as well as the blur i took out, and definitely better than my bullit or heckler. The components are bomb proof. Going downhill the bike is just as plush as my bullit, without the brake jack.. the frame is stiff, and completely inspires confidence, and for a complete Saint component spec it only weighs in at 30.5 pounds. I have only had this bike for a month and i love it, this is definitely the best bike i have ever owned. I also have a 2006 Honda CRF250R, and it has been completely neglected ever since the slayer took its place in my garage... I’m getting rid of the heckler, and already got rid of the bullit... This bike does a better job of XC and freeride, then either of those bikes did individually... I finally get why people that ride RM stick with RM. Anyone who is looking for an alternative to Specialized and Santa Cruz, check out this bike.. wow.. just f*c*ing wow
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah Date Reviewed: April 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Any Wasatch Alpine
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3300.00
Purchased At:
Fisher Bike Shop
Strengths:
Great Bike! Offers all that I could have ever asked for. The freeride feel combined with the cross country climbing ability has given me the rides of my life. Allows for so much diversity. Best one bike you could ever buy.
Weaknesses:
Can't put a rear shock with a piggy back on it to provide more big hit ability. But really does fine without due to the great rear shock link up.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Bullit, Heckler. Specialized Eduro SL, Stumpjumper.
Bike Setup:
06 Slayer 90-31.7 LBS.
Bottom Line:
If you want one bike that can do it all- Get the Slayer. The 06 model offers more of a freeride feel (more fun) while the newer models will be better on the climb, but do yourself a favor and go for the fun ride and sacrifice on the climb-it'll only make you get in better shape and you'll have way more fun on the downhill.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a
from Montana Date Reviewed: July 15, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Bozeman
Strengths:
Awesome geometry and ride. Handles everything i can throw at it and still climbs as well as my old ride.
Weaknesses:
Suspension bearings and parts is garbage
Bottom Line:
Broke my frame 1 month after i bought it and it took rocky 4 months to get me a new one so i have barely used the bike. Started having suspension problems on the very top pivot linkage. It started going loose and the cause was a bad bearing. replaced that and about 5 rides later im riding down and the bolt that goes through the top linkage sheared off on one side and and let the suspension rattle around. Had to walk to the bike down a few miles as it was unridable. I would love the bike had it not had these problems. I will probably sell it and get a Santa Cruz as i dont wanna get stranded any more from it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
stefan matza
a
from breck co Date Reviewed: July 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
colorado trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
sports garage
Strengths:
talas 36 w/ 20 mm axle, 8 inch rotors front and rear, frame, tracks well, climbs well, descends well. suspension and frame just eat it up. all in all, awesome bike!
Weaknesses:
little bit of chain suck.
Similar Products Used:
giant reign, specialized stumpy
Bike Setup:
factoy build(x-9, juicy 5, fox talas 36, fox rp3, mavic 317, maxis minions, race face....)
Bottom Line:
absolutly love this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cory
a
from LA Date Reviewed: May 11, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Strengths:
Excellent all around bike. Burly enough for some downhill abuse, and climbs well too as long as you don't overuse the front derailer.
Weaknesses:
Bottom bracket is too close to the front derailer, which causes the chain to get sucked up and stuck between the two, which jams the drive train. Easy to fix with a quick quarter rotation backwards with the pedals, but it can throw you off when you need to quickly downshift for steep section.
Bike Setup:
Slayer 30
Bottom Line:
Even with the front derailer issue I still love the bike (who really uses their front .
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bart Zawacki
a Cross Country Rider
from Pukalani, Hawaii 96768 Date Reviewed: May 5, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Makawao forest
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
Bike Shop
Strengths:
The bike is awesome and has needed no service besides riding and lubing up the parts. I ride the bike in Hawaii on awesome single track in the forest of Makawao. My bike handles like a dream, like being in the star wars movie and flying through the forest. Evolving with cross country bikes by many manufactures through the years, I knew instantly on my first ride demoing this bike in Fruita Colorado at the spring Fat Tire Festival, that this was my new bike. The Slayer 90 did everything I was looking for in my new bike. Pedal efficiency with the light drive train. The bike handled like a motorcycle on helium. Suspended the terrain like a billy goat. This bike is awesome, powerful and fun!
Weaknesses:
My friends always want to ride my bike which leaves me riding their old technology bikes. Also I ride where there are many downed trees and branches, and so the aluminum derailer hanger kept breaking. The company has now come out with a stronger aluminum hanger which has fixed the problem (I haven't broken of these new hangers yet).
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz, Superlight/Blur; Rocky Mtn., Element; Specialized
Bike Setup:
Slayer 90 2006 Right out of the box
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike I have ever ridden. It suits my needs and desires. I don't race except the occasional ego ride with my friends. The bike tracks perfectly, corners like it is glued to the trail and brakes with complete control making it a fun all around trail bike. The bike climbs very efficiently because of the light drive components.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Pratt
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellingham, WA, USA Date Reviewed: January 24, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Evo-Cheech and Chongs
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
This is for a Slayer70. This bike feels bottomless with the variable spring rate. The 36 is unbeatable with a solid feel on both small bumbs and bigger hits. The talas version is essential for making this bike work on both cross country trails and downhill tracks.
Weaknesses:
The wheels were the first thing to go but I'm 240 lbs so that's no surprise. The BB sinks significantly through the stroke which took a little getting used to.
Bike Setup:
Still fairly stock save hand built wheels, nokon housing, and phil wood BB bearings. Also it has 22/36t/bashring gearing which helps with the BB sinking.
Bottom Line:
The bike is sick.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gerald
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston Date Reviewed: December 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
lynn woods
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2900.00
Purchased At:
Dedham Bikes
Strengths:
really nice frame, very good components (quality - price - wise)
Weaknesses:
I weigh 190lbs and bought a 22" frame. So I guess I am pretty much average weight for my size. However, the rear suspension (even with slightly more than recommended max pressure) too soft for "all mountain" riding. One of the first things that broke on my bike was the deraillure hanger (replacement 25$). If you have a look at how the hanger is designed you will realize it is not very well though through. Next thing that broke was the seat quick release. The bearings of the frame are very sensitve to bad wheather riding. I met other riders who had the same problems with this bike.
Similar Products Used:
Norco Shore Two, Specialized Enduro
Bike Setup:
see rocky mountain website
Bottom Line:
A very nice bike for "all mountain" riding. Not robust enough for more extreme free riding. Some more attention to the detail would make this one of the best bikes in the market.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: November 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Clayton Park
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Strengths:
This review is for the 2006 Rocky Mountain Slayer 30
Bombproof frame, great shock(Fox RP3), descends like a dream, climbs pretty damn good too
Weaknesses:
Stock wheels, fork, cranks+bottom bracket
Similar Products Used:
Tested Giant Reign, SC Heckler, Spec. Enduro
Bike Setup:
Stock, except for race face bars, and Crank Bros. Mallet pedals. This winter I will be upgrading to a Marzocchi AM1 SL fork, and Mavic Crossmax SX wheels, Race Face downhill cranks, and an e.thirteen DRS chainguide
Bottom Line:
I love the way this bike handles, but I just cant stand the stock fork (Marzocchi Dropoff III) when I'm climbing, and the stock wheels just plain suck (Alex TD17 rims to Shimano M525 hubs). I'm still really happy with the bike, but I can't wait to get the new fork and wheels. My biggest complaint is the fact that my 18" slayer weighs 35 pounds, which can be a burdon on the climbs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Slayer
a Downhiller
from Ontario Date Reviewed: September 3, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Highway
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Brauns
Strengths:
Bike is good on the DH. I am getting GREAT service from the Retailer. They too are a bit puzzled with some of the problem.
Weaknesses:
This is a a very creaky bike. It sounds aweful. I have gone through ... 3 sets of front brakes, 1 bottom bracket, and a front and rear hub. Thanks goodness for Warranty! Not the greatest on climbs, but that might be me.
Similar Products Used:
Reign II and Heckler. Should have looked at the Heckler a bit more.
Bike Setup:
Its a Slayer 30 with the Maz. AM2 fork. Everything else standard.
Bottom Line:
If I could just keep it out of the shop I am ok with the purchase. It sounds like my problems are being experienced by alot of other slayer owners. Rocky Mountain has to figure out these problems. They are on the right track with this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
josh cunningham
a Weekend Warrior
from courteny bc canada Date Reviewed: August 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
mt.washington
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
plush suspension good fork (on the 30) good at every thing tough
Weaknesses:
a littel bit of suspension bob and it has shimano stuff on it
Similar Products Used:
nomad coilair enduro
Bike Setup:
stock exepte for bash ring
Bottom Line:
great bike buy it now if you want a 50 pound 10 inch travel bike that still go up hill like a 20 pound hard tail
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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