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Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from Van City
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | looks great! plush, progressive, strong front triangle, geo's perfect, got mine with a pretty good build (kinda beat up though), brakes are great, drivetrain is great (on paper...mine skips), is the most fun piece of...bike i've ever ridden, and much much more! | | Weaknesses: | lots of rear end flex, dogbone has play in it already, loses chain pretty frequently, non lock-ons slip way 2 much, square taper is pathetic, rims are weak, saddle is big and painful, and doesn't go low enough on my medium (and i'm ~6'2"), brake lever blades bent, and hacked my middle fingers (the best ones) 2 bits, seatpost doesn't tip the saddle foreward far enough, grips are too fat, and there's probably more (c how long i've owned it). | | Similar Products Used: | a friend of mine let me ride his '01 RM7 with RM6 linkage b4 i even thought about buying this, so that's pretty damn close | | Bike Setup: | mostly stock, but shifters, cranks, bashring, and some other junk r upgrades from previous owners (there were 2, that's why it was so beat up when i got it). | | Bottom Line: | from what i've already said, even i think i should give this bike a 3 chillies, but there's one line that keeps me from doing that: "is the most fun piece of...bike i've ever ridden". plus i got it 4 $900cad (with completely worn to the bone brake pads and tubes, and other stuff already beaten down). i love it, and i'm gonna take a bullet 4 the bike and give it full marks just 4 that!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Downhiller
from Edmonton Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Revolution Cycle | | Strengths: | - suspention that dosent bounce that much when you pedal hard
- slick look
- takes drop-offs really well
- even with the heavy weight it climbs really well
- can still take jumps pretty well even though its a dh bike
- really smooth on small bumps, & can take big drops comfortably at the same time (with out adjusting the suspention) | | Weaknesses: | - on rainy days the pivot point for the rear suspention will start to creak loudly
- even though it climbs well how it is still a little heavy
- marzocchi bombers arnt really downhill forks
- grip shifts suck because when you try to lift up it shifts | | Similar Products Used: | kona bear
kona stab primo
some mountain cycle downhill | | Bike Setup: | stock with a few changes
- raceface northshore cranks
- rapid fire shifters
- shimmano dx 1 sided clipless pedals
- raceface chainring 22-36-50
- marzocchi monster forks | | Bottom Line: | it is a really really good bike for all kinds of riding, with the setup i have. I think any one who wants to do some freeriding, or downhill riding should buy this bike if you can find it any more because its discontinued this year. It is all out the best downhill bike i've ever riden. The only really problem for me it the creaking sound in the rain (because i do alot of riding in the rain). That just might be a problem in my model.
!!RIDE ON!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brock
a Downhiller
from Kansas City
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Some guy | | Strengths: | Perfect forgiving geometry, awesome suspension feel, climbs well for a heavy bike, looks cool. | | Weaknesses: | Suspension linkages are weak, shake the bike and the rear wheel wobbles like jelly. Derailleur hangers are flimsy and weak also. | | Similar Products Used: | Ridden a bullet, San Andreas, Stinky, Giant DH | | Bike Setup: | Stratos Helix DH, and vertially nothing else stock except the brakes and front wheel. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rides excellent and the geometry is very confidence inspiring. I have grown leaps and bounds since I purchased this bike. Since I live in an area that is very rocky and with rolling terrain, this bike is fun because I can climb with it. This bike rides better than any other frame I have tried so far.
Negatives: I break the swing link bolt by the shock once every month. I have upgraded to all needle bearings, and it does feel nice but the bike just can't seem to handle punishment. I realize that I ride the piss out of this bike but that is what it is for. I shouldn't have to carry extra pivot bolts around with me. I only weigh 160 pounds and I break my bike more than my 200+ pound friends. I have a difficult time keeping this bike up and running. If I weighed any more I don't think I would trust this bike in the slighest amount. I don't see how guys from BC are not experiencing this problem too. All the RM 6's and RM7's use the same bolts. I guess I'll talk to Rocky (very nice company to deal with) and see if they have any explaination for this. But I have given up and am beginning the search for a new frame that I can trust on big drops. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BOB
a Downhiller
from TAMPA FL
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | URBAN | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | some kid sold it to me | | Strengths: | Great suspension, does drops well, parts spec is good except for gripshift, hayes brakes | | Weaknesses: | Gripshift sucks | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC2, and AC 1, And norco launch | | Bike Setup: | stock with XTR shifters | | Bottom Line: | An awesome bike for urban riding and light trailriding, (here in florida we have barely any hills so climbing is not an issue). I've done up to a 12 foot drop on this bike and it held up (Although I only weigh in at 135). On North shore type stunts it is a little unstable because it is a pretty high up bike. I'd say it is a great deal for 300 but I guess the kid I bought it from was not the smartest in the world. He kind of looked like he couldn't fit on the bike to save his life. The hayes brakes work very well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cody Robinson
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary AB Canada
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | none | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | the bike shop | | Strengths: | Strong Frame and head tube | | Weaknesses: | Can't go factory with it, you gotta build it up | | Similar Products Used: | As many as you can count | | Bike Setup: | Hanebrink LT10
8INCH in rear (avalanch) | | Bottom Line: | I love it.
Don't buy it unless you are willing to build it up.
-bearing kit
-bigger fork
-3.0 tires, front and back (24inch in back) Goz
-8inch roder in front
-better seat
-race face BB
-race face northshore cranks
-fat BMX platform peddels
-rapid shifters
The bottom line, the bike shops in calgary said I was nuts, it would never work. Well wake up, a 10inch shock is not that big. It rides smooth and the chicks love it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CODY SCHRODER
a Downhiller
from KITIMAT B.C. CANADA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | THE BOGGIE MAN (NORTH SHORE) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | LOCAL BIKE STORE | | Strengths: | THIS BIKE LITTERALLY KICKS @$$.THE STRONGEST SON OF A B#@CH I'VE EVER RIDDEN.THE FRAMES A WORK OF ART,AND THE HEAD TUBE ANGLE IS JUST RIGHT.A PERFECT BIKE FOR EVERYTHING.DIRT JUMPING,DOWNHILL YOU NAME IT....AND IT'S ONE HELL OF A CLIMBER TO.THIS THING CAN PICK UP SPEED LIKE NOTHING ELSE,AND CAN RIDE OVER ANYTHING.
| | Weaknesses: | THE ONLY REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS THING IS THE FACT THAT THE SWINGARM LINKAGES CAN GET SOME SLOP IN EM'.SO YOU HAVE TO WHATCH OUT FOR THAT. | | Bottom Line: | A great all around bike....GO OUT AND GET ONE !!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Tors
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Elden | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR | | Strengths: | Looks cool | | Weaknesses: | Rocky Mountain Factory sucks!! they wont help you out when you need them. The swingarm is garbage, It WILL Break! Too many pivots. once again...factory support blows | | Similar Products Used: | Super-8 | | Bike Setup: | DH-2 Race-face,Twin clicker | | Bottom Line: | Do not buy one of these. It will be a good bike for your wife too ride around the block. If you weight more that 160lbs, the swingarm will break in @ 6 months! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
glen
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary, alberta
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shop | | Bike Setup: | Race Face everything, axiom flats, 2001 Jr. T fork, Irc kujo dh r/mofo front, xt discs, | | Bottom Line: | Another update after riding at Fernie Alpine Resort in british columbia and after installing the new 950lb spring from mountainspeed. Awesome ride!! The bike's rear end is perfect now. Nice and stiff, yet I am able to pedal without it having to bob continously. Very good on all sized hits. Haven't bottomed out at all. The frame is holding up pretty well. The der hanger seems a bit weak after I bent it. The Irc kujo dh 2.3 rear tire rocks. Very good in corners, and accelerating as well as braking and carving. I could lean the bike farther now without the rear washing out. ONe thing with this bike is that I have to be in a real neutral position when carving or else the front slides. I don't have to lean back much anymore and let the JR.T take most of the hits. The fork has broken in very well now. It feels too soft even with preload all the way to the max. I think I might need to put stiffer springs in. The rear linkage held up very well after the dust and dirt and grit of 8 hours of riding at fernie. The suspension felt active all the way down the mountain. Even had the chance to catch some air on the DS course and it felt very stable. Easy to maneuver in mid air, landings are soaked up by the suspension easily. the kujo didn't give at all on rear first landings. flex was felt in the swingarm a little bit but not much. i found that my fork was bottoming out easier now since it has been broken in. a few scratches on the stanchions were discovered but did not hinder performance at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a
from CT, USA
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | secret for now | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | lcl RM dlr | | Strengths: | plush as hell FREE RIDE for the right rider, comfortable cockpit for take-offs, tough! | | Weaknesses: | half pipes shifters (cover too much of the bar), weak hanger (make the damn thing out of steel) | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky Five | | Bike Setup: | 16.5 frame, stock. Took the 9.0 halfpipes off and put on SRAM shorty's. | | Bottom Line: | I love this FREE RIDE bike! You buy this bike to FREE RIDE but you can do xc and dh with it thanks to the tripple up front. If you want to do xc or dh more specifically then buy another bike. I see these reviews of these guys that are pushing 200lbs complianing about the wishyness of the rear. Dudes, you either need to lose weight or buy a bigger bike. I'm 5'7", weigh 155 and I never have a problem. I'm launching 6 footers and not bottoming out. I climb anything the ht's climb except I have to stay seated. That just makes my legs stronger and my lungs bigger. I blow thru rock gardens like I'm on a motorcross bike doing woopdeedoos and there are a ton of rocks here in the east. This bike rocks! Did I mention descents.....Good Gravy!!! That's right, just like good gravy, covers the nasty stuff and makes going down nice and tasty.
If you are not a behmoth and want a real sweet ride and you're willing to put up with a 35lb bike, then this FREE RIDE is for you. Like any bike, you're going to have to get used to it especially if you're coming from a ht. The cockpit position is much more upright, but that's because you need it for launch'n the big'ns.
I gave 4 chilis for each because I haven't ridden much to compare it to but I eff'n love this thing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Wright
a Weekend Warrior
from Bellingham, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | 911, Woodlot, Chutes and Ladders | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Just bought the frame off a guy | | Strengths: | Magical bike, very plushy, takes big drops like they were nothing | | Weaknesses: | climbing? Hah!, I don't think so | | Similar Products Used: | K2 Proflex 3000, Santa Cruz Bullit, Kona Stinky Deluxe | | Bike Setup: | Weird setup, you don
Weird Setup, you don't want to know | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike, the rear shock never bottoms out and for some magical reason the bike seems to save your ass when you really need it. It wheelie drops on its own and makes you a better rider. Climbing hills doesn't really work, but is that the reason you bought the bike. If you really wanted to climb hills you would have bought a pair of spandex and a little hard tail. Just think of climbing as a time to kick back and hang with your other retarded friends who bought bikes with 6 inches of travel | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
glen co
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary, alberta
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | see review below | | Weaknesses: | see review below | | Bottom Line: | This is an update after 6 months of riding this beast. This thing is still alive and breathing. I'm just starting to get back into biking again after my accident. Started hitting up a local mtb park with ns stunts. Maybe it's just my riding improving, but this bike rocks on skinnies. Very stable cockpit with the all race face set up. The 2001 jr. t's are awesome. Seals are still good, no leaks. The fox vanilla r shock is still kickin. No oil leaks, but the preload adjuster is becoming harder to turn even with a lizard skin. Tight turns are not recommended. you have to throw this bike around corners and lean so far. The head tube angle is a little steep I found. It's got a wide turning radius. There is a bit of lateral flex, but I weigh 200lbs. The spring is also too soft but I just ordered a set of speed springs from mountainspeed.
The xt discs rock. The torque and the stopping power is huge that it managed to loosen the rotor from teh hub. sweet. nothing else much to say other than this bike is actually surviving. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lukas Jaeger
a Weekend Warrior
from Wiesendangen
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | bmx-trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Strengths: | great rear suspension, allways active | | Weaknesses: | weak rear end | | Bottom Line: | unless the weak rear end a great bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Thompson
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | National | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR | | Strengths: | Looks cool, Rides nice for about 3 months. Climbs nice (even better with a twin clicker) | | Weaknesses: | swingarm is made from feces. | | Similar Products Used: | Super 8, BUllit, San Andreas DH | | Bike Setup: | DH-2, Fox twin Clicker, Upgrade all factory components | | Bottom Line: | This frame is a PILE! anybody that has one will be lucky to get 5 or 6 months out of it before it breaks. If you do own one, watch your back wheel when you ride off of ANY size drop. You will notice that the wheel tilt one way or the other. This swingarm idea is good, but it flexes, and twists like a Twizzler! Get rid of while you still can! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate Warner
a Downhiller
from Helena, Montana
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Dead Man's Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3468.00 | | Strengths: | Clever rear linkage design, and rising rate travel. | | Weaknesses: | Breakable Swing arm, too light of a spring | | Similar Products Used: | Super 8, Bullit, RM-7 | | Bike Setup: | DH-2 7" travel fork, MODO wheelset, Race Face XS isis cranks, 2.4" Intense tires, XTR shifters, XT disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rules, what can i say. I am very picky about my gear that i have and usually am dissapointed when i ride something better than what i have but surprise, i have not found anything that compares at all. First get ATLEAST a 6" travel fork if not 7 or 8, the stock fork is just not matched well, and the rear outperforms it noticably. I was riding around on a 850lb spring, i weigh about 175 and it is way way too light, but it still pedaled with the best of them in the same travel class. there is no feed back in the pedal stroke at all. Now i have a 1050 lbs spring and it is perfect, and pedals like a dream. I have platform pedals on it now and still pedal up most everything the cross country guys do, those of you thinking that you can't pedal a big bike need to come on over and see what is possible. this bike weighs about 45lbs and i ride it every where, urban, commuting, dh racing, free riding. Get the main pivot bearing, it is a huge difference, i would skip the needle bearings for the other linkages for 2 reasons, 1. there is very little friction in those parts any way, most if it is in the main pivot, and 2. Rocky's kits are somewhat inconsistant which results in a sloppy rear end - when you pick up the bike the rear end clunks down a tad bit. supposedly it does not effect riding but i talked to a mechanic and he said that the "tightest" bikes were the ones with a bearingin the main and standard bushings in the upper pivots. Get this bike, throw the widest bars you can find, a short stem, and watch your skills skyrocket. the rider position kicks butt for enabling jumping, wheeling, and other such mayhem. I have ridden tons of other bikes and this is the one that i stick to. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Flowrider
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR | | Strengths: | Decending, drops, drivetrain, suspension. | | Weaknesses: | Suspension linkage (needle bearing upgrade on order), rhyno lites, RM componants | | Similar Products Used: | Psycle Werks Wild Hare, Schwinn Straight 6 Brodie Devo, Norco VPS 2&3, Pipeline, Kona Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Full XT, Z1 QR20, Hayes 6", Ryno Lites, Vanilla R, Raceface Cranks, Kooka Crankcase, 36T middle ring. | | Bottom Line: | Out of all of the bikes I tried this is my favorite. I was fully aware of the linkage issue when I bought the bike and haven't had any problems yet (biggest hit so far was only 6ft to flat on pavement). I ordered the upgrade anyhow and will update you when it's installed. It decends awesome and I feel it offers a great balance that is perfect for freeriding. My biggest complaint are the Rhyno Lites which will be the next thing to be replaced, they are out of true after every ride and are stating to look more like squares then circles. The Rocky Mountain comps seem to be strong enough and listing them as a weakness is based on looks. Overall I give the RM6 5 flaming chillis all around. This bike will not disapoint you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
atrokz z
a Downhiller
from toronto,canada
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything gravity assited | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Frame,suspension geometry(unless you xc),looks like it rides,rides over everything,most of the components.Canadian made and built(no tywanise crap) | | Weaknesses: | that stupid sram halfpipe shifter. I got a blister in just half an hour! Shop said they would trade it for an xt system as it "is the equivilant" | | Similar Products Used: | pipeline,bighit(both models),san andres,ac 1,bullit(badddassss) | | Bike Setup: | stock. | | Bottom Line: | It is imposible to tell about the duribility of the bike but the way it rides is just perfect. it's not an allout DH rig so you can ride it around for urban assults or short xc treks, but throw on a double crown(work out a deal w your shop to trade the stock shock for a double crown, it'll ony cost you a couple hundred buks) and a chain guide and race at an amature level. all around a perfect DH bike if your not in the world cup and want a bike to ride durring the week. buy this bike cuz the suspension geo. is perfect and it is upgradabe to an (almost)RM7 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joey Bananas
a Downhiller
from New Brunswick
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | LTJ, Claimer.... | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | Ski wolf | | Strengths: | Plush at high speeds, good off the drops, disk brakes. Forks, looks, price. | | Weaknesses: | Shifters, rear derailler, bushings (gotta have mine replaced), poopy front end set up, ie headset, stem. Rear derailler hanger (wont shift into smallest cassette thing cause derailler bonks into frame, nice job engineers....) Pizza cutter tires... | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Stock (Couldnt afford anything after I bought it. I dont have tons O' cash like the rest of these product reviewers) | | Bottom Line: | All these Canadians that said they paid less than three grand for this bike are flat out lying, unless they got it second hand. Come on people. Dude at the bike shop sold it to me at cost and it still cost 2900 canadian plus tax, which brings it to about 3200 in New Brunswick where we pay 15% on top of everything. Anyway... I like this bike alot, dont get me wrong. A friend and I bought our bikes at the same time, he being a more agressive rider than me. He blew the bushings that hold the swingarm in a week, it took me about 4 months...and I wasnt really riding it in true downhill fashion. Everybody knows that gripshifters suck arse so I am not going to go there. I love how the bike handles at high speeds and on steeps. All you have to do is hang on and it takes control. The main problem with this bike is the bushings that hold the swingarm on. Rocky told me that 5mm of play was allowable?!! What is that? I am thinking of selling it, if there are any takers, my email is up there... Good bike, needs a little refining though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stinky Wizzleteats
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC baby...
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | pr0n | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Looks fly, that machine work is nice! Good value but you'll need a stiffer spring. | | Weaknesses: | Stock spring is way to plush, the damn bike pogo's and simply can't stay still (even with decent pedalling technique) | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit, RM7 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I'm not trying to knock anyone here who has this bike. But I will say at 180# I'm a bit too heavy for the 500# stock spring (I don't care what the manual says, the 550# or stiffer is the way to go) While testing the bike I couldn't stop the feeling that the rear end was too flexy, it bobbed up and down with relatively little effort. The Bullitt was much stiffer and more suited to my weight, so I chose that bike over this one. The RM7 had the same problem with the rear being too flexy for my liking. Other than that I think the bike would have rocked had I been able to try a stiffer spring on that sucka!
Peace. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
glen co
a
from calgary, alberta
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | full suspension w/ bearing kit
stiff frame
easton tubes
killer looks
| | Weaknesses: | main pivot bolt comes loose after every ride
too many little nooks for mud to get into
cable stops are dangerously sharp(got stitches on legs)
| | Bike Setup: | rm6, 2001 jr. t, maxxis mofo fr./mythos xc r., Rf cranks, headset, stem, bar, xt discs, funn pedals | | Bottom Line: | This bike can do it all. Stairs are no problem. I don't even feel a thing. Very stable in the air. Very big confidence builder. The 2001 JR. t kiks ass. Stiff even for a normal axle version. The only thing is that if bottoms easy and a lot of brake dive. The easton frame is nice to look at and the geometry is perfect for urban and mild dh. The suspension i found doesn't work very well when leaning all the way back over the rear tire. Not good in steep, rooty, rutty stuff. Not a good trail bike either. On flat singletracks sure, but when it comes to tight trails, it doesn't do very good. Excellent for urban though. Can handle almost anything. It's also not a very good bike to ride in muddy conditions. The Maxxis mofo front tire deosn't shed mud easily but the mythos xc I have on the back does very well. The frame has too many nooks for mud to get into and hide. The Sun Rhyno lite rims and xt disc hubs are nice lightweight freeriding wheels. They haven't gone out of true yet after numerous jumps and drops and hitting curbs at high speeds.
This bike isn't made for technical riding at all. It's made to ride over anything and for jumping off of obstacles. Wheelieing is a pain because the rear soaks up the force exerted when you lean back. Lifting the front end over obstacles is also the same, but I've got it down. I also feel that the rear is super active. I tend to bounce up and down more than goin forward(stiffer spring perhaps??). The swingarm pivot bolt comes loose too often. After 4 days of having this bike, I've had to tighten it 3 times already. Plus the bolt is hard to tighten since you need to allen keys, one on each end. The cranks just get in the way. The rear also isn't active when braking. you tend to bounce off of obstacles instead of soaking it up.
the Sram drivetrain is so precise. Very easy shifting up and down and fast front shifts comes from the lx front der too. The chain skips in the middle cog though from hard pedlling but that's about it. It's a nice light shifting system. A good change from shimano.
the xt disc brakes are not the best performers after 15 hours of riding. The front has completely broken in, but the rear is a little weak. The lever feel is great and has better modulation. The stainless steel hoses i haven't had problems with yet. the braking is just weak on the back.
I'll post up another review in a few months. this is my impression after only 5 days of riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marvin Misty Mathison
a
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction | | Strengths: | Frame and rear suspension, Hayes disc brakes. Prodigy cranks are all right. | | Weaknesses: | Stock rims, handlebars,tires,grip shift, Qr20 bottoms out to easy, seat. | | Bike Setup: | D321's hutchinson jumbo Dh,xtr deraileur,titec berserker seat,hell bent 90deg handle bar | | Bottom Line: | This is a dam good bike, all the stock crap is gone. Those rhyno lites shouldn.t be put on any kind of bike that,s free riding. I cruppled the front rim in 20 minutes. i still give props to the frame and rear supension. I don.t care what anyone says it is a strong bike. I am puttting tripples on the front,Qr20s don't have enough travel. The back feels great but the frony bottoms out to quickly. I give this bike 4 flame, minus one for the stock componets. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kellen
a Downhiller
from west vancouver B.C.
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Amble Cycle | | Strengths: | Almost everything, great price, nice frame, and a great mix of components. | | Weaknesses: | Everyone is complaining about the frame breaking, that is a bunch of crap, no one can break this frame. Wade broke the TEST version, not the final product. If you are planning to do huge hucks, 10 feet or more, you will soon need to purchase new rims, the ryno lite's can't even stand a 14 set of stairs, they bend like crazy. Another problem is the Race Face cranks, I have used this bike for about 6 months, and just recently the cranks became stripped, luckily Race Face warrantied them. They say that is you want them to last you have to tighten them after every 15 minute or longer ride. Oh great, how fun! Also the z1's compression rod broke and had to be repaired. Other than that, I love this bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Devinci Banzai, Kona Stinky DEE-LUX, Rocky Mountain pipeline and slayer. | | Bike Setup: | stock rm6, planning to upgrade z1's to Monster Tripple's. | | Bottom Line: | If your looking for a great, all around, cheap bike (cheaper than Norco vps 2) you can't look anywhere else than Rocky. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
josh smith
a Weekend Warrior
from edmonton
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | -all good | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Strengths: | strong bike, rides good in the trail and is great for urban
its a smoth ride looks great | | Weaknesses: | the bike is a little heavy the sram shifters suck i went to
xt rappid fire and xtr RD it was so much better, The rear deraler hanger breakes to much i had my deraler brock off and cought in my spokes and bent them. | | Bike Setup: | rockey mountian rm6 xtr Rd and xt rappid fire | | Bottom Line: | Its a great bike to have it can do it all. not the best for up hill but goes like hell down hill. I would of liked a triple crown fork but the z1 qr 20 is great, its plush it will take the big bumps and drops. Sram shifters where a joke i could not stand them. I didnt like the bike in tight
tech trails its kind off a beast to move around. The bike is worth its little pricy but i recomend people to go and ride you will be impressed. the kind off guy how would buy
this bike is a guy who wants to have fun and do it all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cliff Ridley
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria BC Canada
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Riders | | Strengths: | it looks cool, and feels good | | Weaknesses: | well "apparantly" they break, haven't had any probs yet, but you never know....oh yea and the Sram halfpipe shifters i don't like, i want to get some shimano rapid fire shifters or something else, maybe the sram shorty's | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock 1999 RM6 | | Bottom Line: | it's a good bike i reccomend all thoes ppl that badmouth them to take it for a spin and maybe they will like it
what's the worst thing that can happen?
YOU MIGHT LIKE IT
so anyways i'll give it a 3 dead flaming horse for value, cause i think for 3800 canadian it could be a little better for parts, and 5 dead flaming horses for overall cause it's a cool bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Downhiller
from Vancouver Canada
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | urban portables | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Cove Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Beefy Frame, Plush, Strong frame, Marzocchi QR.20 was good, shiver is better | | Weaknesses: | Rims. Rhyno lites suck. untrued first two rides, flat spots after a week. Haven't folded up....Yet | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky 1999 Pipeline, Cove Stiffee, Santa Cruz Chameleon | | Bike Setup: | Yes. Nice. All factory except Kooka cranks, shivers, axiom pedals, Mavic 321 fr. rim (excellent), doublewide (pretty good) rear. | | Bottom Line: | The frame would be great with another inch or so travel (RM 7). I blew the rear shock within a month, and still haven't gotten a new one from the factory.... It's still on back order. Luckily Cove gave me a loner shock. The Qr. 20 is strong and medium plush, but alittle flexy on a dh course, or high speed corners. Switching to Shivers... very nice. Race Face Prodigy cranks suck... Rhyno Lite Rims sucked for the first month or so, but after getting the flatspots, has held up nicely. Still changed to 321 disc and double wide, now I run into curbs at full speed to see if I can throw it out...unsuccessful as of yet.
Overall Great frame, and medioker parts. When will Rocky learn how to make a real derailleur hanger!!! Broken close to ten now.
4 Chillis for Value
4 chillis for Overall | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
christian
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | ***** | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | trailheadonline.com LBS | | Strengths: | Awesome rear end plushness, beautiful Easton tubing, welding is top notch, the "freeride man" brace for the rear shock mount on the main frame is a cool little touch, stable weight distribution (feels like a BMW...50/50), SWEEEEEET paint job - the red 'holographic' flake paint is way trick! Sealed bearings for 2001 (the only way to go...forget bushings), an original and beautiful frame that turns heads like you wouldn't believe on the trails. Oh yeah, seems like most RM6s get bought by locals in Canada...it was friggin' hard for me to get one because all the frames were picked up by locals, but my bike shop was lucky to beg for the last one in the Rocky wherehouse for 2001 until they start production again this year...it is an extremely rare bike here in my area nonetheless, which is fine by me. Heck, most people around here don't even know what it is! (Santa Cruz, GT, Treks, Gary Fishers, Marins, Specialized are the major brands around here...most ppl are like "Rocky whuh??")
Beefy frame, I don't think I can ever break it, but then again I actually ride on dirt, not off of roof tops 8) | | Weaknesses: | Daaaaammn, this bike is heavy! I mean, I know it is super strong and all, but damn, a 9lb frame! Also, I notice the black powdercoat on the frame gets scratched easily. Also, the rear linkage has sooo many nooks and crannies to get mud stuck in. Also, get a shock boot for the rear because if you ride in the muck, your shock is gonna suffer! New out of the box, the rear linkage/swingarm was very slightly crooked as far as chainline goes, but fortunately it doesn't seem to affect shifting. Also, since day one, I notice a slight amount of "play" with the rear linkage. Oh yeah, Daaaammn the frame was expen$ive!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Cycle San Andreas DHS (bombproof, pretty light despite burly looks), Mountain Cycle Moho CXS (My other bike, I love it, very light, unique), Specialized FSR (sweet, but a dime a dozen), Kona Stinky (that rasta paint scheme...i dunno....) Intense Tracer, GT I-Drive (kinda mushy) | | Bike Setup: | 2001 RM6, Easton Monkey Lite CT-2 low rise, 2000 Marzocchi JR-T, King rasta headset (with a black king topcap, so it has the black lower and red/gold upper...matches the bike - LBS was cool about swapping the green cap), FUNN head huncho stem, XT shifters, Hayes brakes, Race Face XY seatpost, Titec Berzerker DH saddle (comfy!), teflon cables, Race face crankset, 545 pedals, xt front/rear derailleurs, Atomic Laboratories 24" trailpinps wheelset (XT hubs, 14g DT spokes, IRC 2.35 Kujo DH, some heavy ass DH tubes), THE front fender | | Bottom Line: | What can I say, the bike is the SH1T! I really wanted the 2000 black and silver paint scheme (I didn't even know what color I was ordering because no catalogs on the 2001 were available, but my LBS said whatever it was, it would be sweeeet), but when I saw the 2001 red and black scheme when it finally arrived it was ALL good!
Obviously this bike isn't supposed to be light, but it would be nice if they can drop the weight of the frame by two pounds. Crap, after building the bike they way I wanted it, it is now almost 42lbs....(and I thought the fully built version @ 35lbs was heavy).
Ok, about the bike. It pedals extremely well considering how much travel it has. I can actually ride it XC (although it hurts like a mofo). The rear is just way toooo plush! I must say i thought a Bomber would be a great match, but it makes the JR-T seem harsh...maybe i have to step up to a Stratos superstar 6.0. Anyway, the bike handles trailriding very well considering it is pretty much a DH/transitions-type design. It has a long-wheelbase...next to my friend's stumpjumper damn the RM6 is long. Switchbacks are hairy!
Pointing it down however, you get to see what the engineers were striving all along. The bike is amazing, it tracks superbly, just look ahead where you want to go and just go. The bike has got your back if you pick a bad line. I am finding I am going way faster than i did on my DHS, and I know the bike can go faster...it's just me who is scared sh*ttless to go any faster 8)
Doing bunny hops is interesting...most of ypur energy pushing down is absorbed nicely by the suspension...doh! Clipless definitely helps.
Cornering is absolutely beautiful. Credit goes to the Kujos too, but the weight balance is perfect. Drifting through the corners seems effortless, and if you do get squirlly, just lean back a bit and the front comes back in place with the rear swinging-out just a bit, but in control.
The bike turns heads. This is good and bad. Good because it makes you feel all fuzzy inside when people stop and gawk because they only hear about the RM6, not expecting to see one in person. However, it brings too much attention. I have had people follow me on the freeway for miles in my blindspot looking at my bike on top of my SUV. Annoying! Now I try to put the bike inside my SUv so ppl can't see it when i am driving.
The bike is fantastic, I absolutely LOVE it! It is everything I was hoping and then some. It is like owning a sportscar you always wanted.
As with anything, nothing is perfect. When I got my frame, the rear end was ever so slightly crooked...seems the rear swingarm was slightly off in chainline. Enought to measure, but not enough to see. Fortunately this doesn't seem to hinder shifting. Also, I have slight "play" in my linkage. When I pick up my bike I notice it has a little give, not a 100% tight and together feel. Possibly the bearings are not precise in fit to the shaft. I have talked to other 2001 RM6 owners and some also have this. One of the guys said Rocky knows about this and is manufacturing a re-fit kit for 2001 owners to alleviate the slight play. i am going to let my LBS know so i can get the kit. Also, there are way too many places on the rear linkage to get mud stuck. If you do not clean your frame right after a muddy ride, be prepared for an hour of arduous chiseling. Also, get a lizard skin or other boot for your shock, it WILL get messed up if you run in the mud or dust. The rear can also use a little bit more tire clearance side to side. I have 24 inchers and even with 2.35's, it is a close fit side to side. I can imagine 3" tires being an interesting fit.
If anyone is hesitating on getting the RM6 because of what they hear about the linkage breaking, it looks like the 2001 has been beefed up. Also, I honestly don't think you can break this bike unless you ride unreasonably ("drops" are fun and all, but c'mon, you are begging for frame failure if you go big like this all the time).
I am going to give it 4 chilles for value as it is expensive, but 5 chillies because it is a thrilling ride that brings a smile ear to ear....both when riding it, and when just thinking about it! It may be a burden to climb with, but it is a beast to finally go down with 8)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh
a Weekend Warrior
from Minneapolis,Mn
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lutsen Mt trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2350.00 | | Purchased At: | the hut | | Strengths: | Great ride, decent componets, so far nothing broke.(rare for me) | | Weaknesses: | The gripshifts, the seat, and the rear main pivot seems to have developed some slop. I had the shop swap me XT shifters, and I took apart the pivot and evert thing seems fine. The bushings just seem to be wearing, so I'm going to get new ones. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn straight-8 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for the shifters,seat,bars and pedals | | Bottom Line: | I think its a good bike so far. I'm usually really hard on bikes and this one is holding up. True its winter and I havent rode it alot so I'll report later after some harder riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jer
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Plush like a sofa.
Economical (relatively speaking).
Makes you look and feel more "Moto" (Wait, maybe that is a weakness.)
Can save your phat azz on the steep and freaky (whatever that means.) | | Weaknesses: | OEM Spec is a little hurting. More tire clearance in the back would be nice. I've gotten used to the gripshift, although it took a while. Some wag in the rear swingarm. | | Similar Products Used: | none, really. | | Bike Setup: | Not too different from factory, less the things that have
busted (see the dis about OEM spec). Phatter tires. | | Bottom Line: | I can't believe the number of reviews of this thing. I guess since apparently everyone who has bought one, (and a bunch of people who haven't) need to spew about it, I can throw my hat in here. Yes, if you ride it off your roof, you will probably break it... but then, if this is what you want, you can buy something heavier and pricier. But if you want to actually ride it on a (gasp) trail, it is comfy and crudely effective... the rougher the trail, the more worthwhile it is to haul all that travel along with you, and more so if gravity is one your side. A few minor gripes hardly worth mentioning, but no major structural failures so far. Not a bad deal at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kellen Voyer
a Downhiller
from Vancouver B.C.
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3100.00 | | Purchased At: | Ambleside Cycle | | Strengths: | Awesome paint job,full Hayes,Rocky quality,quick and realy not that heavy. | | Weaknesses: | well, the Rocky components could be replace with brand name parts. | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit, Bansai, Slayer, Pipeline, stinky, element. | | Bike Setup: | Basically a stock setup. | | Bottom Line: | This is the number one bike for DH racing and urban assult. I use this thing for clearing 20 sets and doing 20 foot drops. For the big drops the fork is too weak, and you would need to upgrade to boxxers or monster T's for a softer landing, I know I will. Overall if you want a cheap, upgradable DH/freeride machine, this is it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Mass
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lynn Lynn city of sin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Plush!!!Ability to do it all [climb, descend, jump, drop]
Design and workmanship. | | Weaknesses: | Some stock parts suck (surprise surprise)
| | Similar Products Used: | Many single pivot bikes similar in nature | | Bike Setup: | Many parts have been changed to better suit my riding and more to come, but the stock set up is good enough to keep you happy for a long time. | | Bottom Line: | This is an excellent bike. The frame is strong and plush. The suspension action is very smooth, but not overly power sapping. I've been on 6 hour rides with this bike (equipped with much heavier parts than stock) and have been able to keep up with all of the hardtail holdouts. Don't let the whiners give you the wrong idea, this bike can handle it all at a price that is a bargin considering its competition. Oh, and if you like drops and technical riding this is all I like do and I couldn't have picked a better bike for it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Juan
a Downhiller
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Milstream | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | covebike | | Strengths: | super smooth and very fast in its element, goes down very well and does drop in super fast, realy well techically. | | Weaknesses: | little squeaky, the fork isn't very well suited to six foot drop ins or dh racing | | Similar Products Used: | 97 element race | | Bike Setup: | stock, except for the race-face north shore crank and dh bb | | Bottom Line: | super fast ike on dh's and drop ins realy fun urban assulting bike. I also like to take it to resorts with me or when I go freeriding, I went on a group ride with it my first ride and got whooped on every climb but on the dh's my buddies with the 22lbs hardtails were just getting killed and I flew past them in total control when they were almost out of control. lately I leave my 22lb hardtail at home and go ride stunts and the most technical trails I can find and this fork is super nice but on some even 7 foot experiment drops it realy dosen't do what I want, I might get a monster T for it in the very near future. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kev
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver Isle
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | not the sandpits! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Riders | | Strengths: | Looks cool (except when you get the bland grey frame/swingarm as a replacement for the cool looking grey/black frame). Feels nice to sit on. | | Weaknesses: | Not very durable, in fact I'd go so far as to say disposable. Breaks every 6 weeks or so (2 frames, 3 swingarms, and counting). | | Similar Products Used: | Norco VPS 3, Santa Cruz Bullit | | Bike Setup: | Got a nifty upgrade on my cranks at time of purchase. Comes stock with excellent components (excluding half-pipe shifters which lick sack). Could use a dual crown fork. | | Bottom Line: | The bike should be called the RM-SUX. Because it SUCKS. On the upside, the people at Rocky have been excellent about honoring warranty claims. They have even gone so far as to give me a 2001 frameset with the bearing kit. I think the 2001 will be much better if the bugs are worked out. The bike is really fun to ride, but I can't ride it when it's broke! This bike would be great for people that like to ride rough technical stuff super fast. It's rising rate of travel in the back soaks up the small and large bumps very capably. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl Hungus
a
from Butte, Mt
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Oregon Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Strengths: | it makes you able to go off curbs no problem, ive even been known to take it off 3 foot drops !!! | | Weaknesses: | frame broke after 3 mo., parts suck, rear end about as stiff as arbor mist flavored wine | | Similar Products Used: | huffy dh2, royce union slammer | | Bike Setup: | bombshell fork, custom OE 800 ice 40 oz. holder, all alevio parts | | Bottom Line: | This bike sucks, if you have ridden this bike anywhere near hard take apart the main pivot bushing and check out the pivot shell on the frame, if it is cracked you get a 2001 frame like me for free! ha ha. oh yeah if you buy a 2000 RM6 be prepared to replace the bushings about every 2 mo. if you ride it like a man. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan r
a
from coquitlam
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Fat B-stard, Flying Circus | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Cove Bikes | | Strengths: | Swallows seven footers no problem, great shifting, great specs | | Weaknesses: | Bad derailleur hangers, broken 3 the first week, plus torn off derailleur. Needs tougher rims, pancaked front rhyno Lite, broke rear | | Similar Products Used: | Pipeline, Cove Stiffee (both great) | | Bike Setup: | Stock, with Rokko tires, Mavic 321 rims, soon boxxers on front | | Bottom Line: | The bike does drops, dirt jumps, urban riding, and dh great. Hates uphills, I walk. Fork and bike bail you out of almost everything. Front end surprisingly lite, and Rocky components hold up nice. Easy to fish hop, or Dolphin hop. Launching doubles is actually quite easy with the lite front end. Bottom line is I love this bike, and anyone interested in the whole freeride dh scheme should take a look at this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scorch
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Strengths: | lots of travel
unstoppable | | Weaknesses: | half pipe shifters
too soft on stock springs | | Similar Products Used: | Gt XCR, Rocky Element race | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great. I did not feel a thing goin down stairs, which is great. It's a pain goin up but sweet goin down. almost impossible to jump higher than hardtail cause the sus sucks it up. The stock spring needs to be stiffer for me cause i'm a big guy. I would swich the half pipe shifters cause they shift when you bunny hop or wheely drop. They suck altogether. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Pickering, Ontario
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Rouge Valley/ Seaton trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | Trail Blazer | | Strengths: | GEOMETRY, Looks good, rides great,rocky's own components are holding up well,
suspension unbeatible*, climbs amazingly for a FS bike, LOVES TO GO DOWN ,great
brakes......lovible
oh yeah, it's CANADIAN | | Weaknesses: | The SRAM half pipe set up from the factory was TOO WEIRD for me.I tried for
a week and ended up getting XT shifters and a new XT rear deraileras well, much better | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Mantra, Giant Warp,Intense tracer | | Bike Setup: | Factory, other than the XT shifters and derailer and I replaced the big ring with a Kooka
Crank Case rock ring and I replaced the 32 tooth centre ring with a 36 tooth to regain some of the lost top end | | Bottom Line: | Really a great ride all in all, climbs and hops well for a F/S and mine is standing up very well, a FUN bike and all posturing and name dropping aside, FUN is the best reason to own and ride a bike, NO?
After riding a hard tail since 18 speed was state of the art, it took a while to fully realize what this bike is capible of, Now I boldly go where this man has never gone before....and look...I'm back to 18 speeds... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MikeD
a Downhiller
from Kamloops
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Milstream | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeShop | | Strengths: | -super fast
-the suspension is intense
-price I got it at a bit of a deal
-the overall ride
-I've pushed it hard and it's never washed out yet | | Weaknesses: | -I got a squeaky pivot already
-taking it uphill | | Similar Products Used: | -rocky mtn hammer race 97
-rocky mtn vertex t.o. 98
-rocky mtn element t.o. 99
-rocky mtn vertex t.o. 2000 | | Bike Setup: | everything is stock except the tires I got the red hot s's and I put some xtr rapid fire on with an xt rear deraileur | | Bottom Line: | I race xc as well not very competitively though and I took a real liking to the freeride scene so I bought a freeride bike and I'm glad I did. I got my @ss wooped today by all my hardtail buddies on the xc trails but that's because I wanted to ride my fs not my ht ( normally I keep up ) but when we hit stunts or resorts I school them on this bike, while they still have there hardtails. The technical manners of this bike are amazing and this bike has serious dropping potential more than any rider on this bike except Wade Simmons. I'm still working on the seven footers and it seems like the bike laughs at me everytime, or mabye that's the squeaky pivot. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitchel Egli
a Downhiller
from Gold River
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The Doctors Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2999.00 | | Purchased At: | Trail End Cycles | | Strengths: | it is a great down-hill bike with all the performance of the element t.o, with half the price. | | Weaknesses: | the suspension is a little stiff, i had to upgrade to a bomber monster t fork with a buttery smooth 9" of travel. | | Similar Products Used: | nothing can compare | | Bottom Line: | This bike is an awesome deal I would recommend it to anyone who is reading this. I have all ready hooked 3 of my friends up with this bike. The bike may cost an arm and a leg, but it is deffinatly worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al.
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any Urban/Freeride | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | -Plush
-Heavy (means strong!)
-sweet spec (except SRAM parts)
-yet again, plush
-looks super b1tchin' | | Weaknesses: | -SRAM Half-Pipe rotates backwards of other Grip Shift, so it's kinda hard to get used to at first (but it shifts awesome)
-plush, but not as plus as Kona Stinky 5 (which has an inch less travel too)
-tires are too thin for gnarly off roadin' | | Similar Products Used: | K2 Beast, Marin Rock Springs, FSRs, Trek VRX 300, Santa Cruz Super8, Kona Stinky Five, Kona Stinky Deelux, | | Bike Setup: | Stock: SRAM 9.0/XT, Prodigy cranks, Hayes disc brakes, Rocky Mtn/Sun Ditch Witch wheelset, Marzocchi Z1 QR20 5" | | Bottom Line: | This bike is super nice.
First of all, the six inches of travel are enough for the sickest urban and froridin'. If Wade Simmons can do 15 footers on it, so can you. Of course, he has a Monster T.
Second, the parts spec is sweet, with the exception of the SRAM goods (change for XT or XTR) and tires (buy Tioga's or Spec's). The fork, even not broken in, feels really plush.
Also, this bike is amazingly cheap for what it is (at a certain Toronto shop). Bottom line, this bike is alllll that and a bag of chips. 4.5 flamin FSRs for overall rating, but round up to 5. And 10 for value, but round down to 5. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from CANADA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Plush plush plush. Huge travel. Rad fork.Strong frame. | | Weaknesses: | Are you Joking? (its a little pricey up north) | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Big Hit | | Bike Setup: | Mr. T QR20, full XT Hayes Hydro discs Race face prodigy crankset | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the ultimate free rider. (6 inches front and rear) If you want a hardcore candadian made rig that you can pound until the cows come home this is it! I have ridden this thing hard for all season and not so much as a sqeak has come out of this thing. It is a definite 10. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bret
a
from Reston, VA USA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any urban assault, drop off or stairs | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | the bike lands drop offs like butter. it feels great in the air. the marzocchi rules. what more could you ask for? | | Weaknesses: | this bike should not come with 4-bolt prodigy cranks. get real. | | Similar Products Used: | stinky dee-lux, stinky five, norco vps-3, intense uzzi-dh, psycle werks wild hare, santa cruz bullit | | Bike Setup: | pretty stock except for changing to a tioga dh front tire, azonic pdw bar, turbine lp cranks with shimano dx platforms. a mr. t is in the future. | | Bottom Line: | the bike is outright rad. lands drops better than anything. if you go big, go RM6. I know three other RM6's in this area and two of those guys tear it up with no problems. have no fear...the fro is here...
and to the guy who had his rotor bolts come loose...dude your shop put the disc on, not rocky, so blame them for no loc-tite. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
-Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Pink Starfish | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Frame, Components, Suspension, Brakes, Fork, everything!
The Race Face Prodigy cranks are great
Climbs well for FS, not DH specific, everything is strong
Those Michelin Hot S Tires!
The cool look of the RM6 | | Weaknesses: | No Lock-tite on rotor bolts!
You can't load it on a rear car rack as is - I had to buy a Y-Bike adapter that attaches to the seatpost and stem | | Similar Products Used: | Tested/Demoed:
Norco VPS 2 / VPS 3
Kona Stinky Five / Stinky
DaVinci Banzai
Rocky Mountain Pipeline
Cannondale 1999 SuperV2000
Specialized FSR Enduro
Schwinn 4-Banger | | Bike Setup: | Well, the Halfpipes/9.0 Derailleur were awesome, probably the best-feeling GripShift I have ever used, but I personally prefer rapidfire, so I switched it out to XT. I didn't feel comfortable having only half a grip to hold on to. I also replaced the 3rd chainring with a bashguard. | | Bottom Line: | What can I say, this bike is sweet. The way it comes stock, it's an unbelievable descender, but it's also a bike that you can ride around on and climb on easily. It doesn't feel spongy or anything. Rocky really got the pivot right on this bike. Of course, with a few small changes, this bike could easily be a DH racer. I think the versatility of this bike is the strongest point. I mean, you obviously wouldn't take it in a XC race or anything, but it can be used for so many different kinds of trails - not just "take a shuttle up and ride down" kind of riding.
Everything on the bike is great, as well as the frame itself. I haven't had any problems, except that on maybe the fifth ride, ALL of the bolts holding the rear rotor to the hub came loose, and I had to walk the rest of the trail. They were easy enough to tighten once I got the right tool, but you'd think that for something like this Rocky would've put locktite on them or something. I know that other people with Hayes have had this problem.
I think the best way to describe this bike is as an all-around fun bike. It gets you a bike that works as well going downhill as any other DH-specific bike, while sacraficing as little pedalling/climbing ability as possbile. As for the price tag, I'd say that the cost was high, but so was the value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wade Schmidt
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta, CDN
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Blank, | | Weaknesses: | Everything except the Hayes disc brakes. That is the only thing I kept from stock. | | Similar Products Used: | I have never owned a bike this F*@#&@G crappy before. | | Bike Setup: | "WAS, now it is a frame", RaceFace DH Stem, RaceFace Head, Easton Monkey Light Bars, Complete XT shift kit, Hayes Discs, QR20's, RaceFace North Shore Arms/Rings, Black Spire God Ring/Brake Arch, RaceFace BB, Tioga Factory 2.3's front and rear, RaceFace XY Post, Time pedals, RinoLite crap Rims, Rocky's crappy hubs. | | Bottom Line: | Well I said I would respond again once I dealt with warranty on my first FAILED RM6. First of all I have to say that the local bike shop in Calgary (Bike Shop) did help me within a 24hr time period, excellent job. The bad news is that I was able to kill the second RM6 as well. Since the time I bent the second swing arm and sent it away, I have purchased a SantaCruz Bullit. This bike is REAL! After three weeks being sent away, I got a call saying my "new" bike was in. Returning to the shop I discover I have half new bike and a missing shock. If this is the way other Rocky owners are going to be treated,,, well good luck. For some of you that think this bike is "Excellent"?? I have one for sale. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J Q
a Weekend Warrior
from Aiea, HI
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Peacock Flats, North Shore HI. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Frame will take all the punishment you can dish out. Climbs awesome, lands soft. Well balanced in fast turns. | | Weaknesses: | Grip Shifters ?????? I hate those things. Would like an RC shock in the rear. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky Dee-Lux | | Bike Setup: | stock, swapped grip shifters for rapid fire and lock down grips. Took off that homo fender. | | Bottom Line: | I took this bike on a variety of trails on the island and it is still standing tall. Works well in mud and dirt. No problem with all the rock and roots out here. Got a lot of air on mild jumps, this bike is the lightest 30+ pounder I have ridden. If you want a great all around F/S bike, I would recommend this for sure. And Rocky's come with a great reputation. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adrian D
a Weekend Warrior
from South Delta, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Climbs reasonably well
Canadian, B.C. made
Good price | | Weaknesses: | Hit your arse on back tire if you lean back to much off a drop or anything. | | Similar Products Used: | 2000&99 VPS1,RM9,2000&99 Pipeline,Rocky Mountain DH-Race Kona UhU, | | Bike Setup: | RM6, TruVativ Firex SL Crankset, '99 Monster T's 2.4 WTB Motoraptor tires, Rhyno Lite RM wheeltech rims, 6' rear 8' front Hayes Discs, Sram drivetrain 9.0SL rear der,XT Front Der, XTR casette, Race Face BB, Kooka box stem, Shinripper pedals (size of a bmx pedal and sharp) | | Bottom Line: | The RM6 is an awesome and very capable bike, I hear people B**tchin about the RM Thrust Link. You gotta go try the bike before making assumtions of the bike. The RM6 flexes, but yes... all f/s flexes, including my other bud, has a Gary Fisher F4, the F4 has more rear link play than my RM6. Anyways he got a Cannondale 900SX with lefty.
The Monster T's are a dream they are so strong and build confidence. Although with the monster T's it raises the front end a bit more, when you land big hits, you must land almost both tires the same time because the Monsters don't work well at a steep angle.(Z1 QR-20's will be okay though)
*** Thrust Link Breaking? As seen in NSE3, that was a prototype Wade was paid to ride and test and bash it. and no rider is like wade in ways.
The reason the link breaks, is when the bike gets dirty and people wash the bike with a hose, and sorta wipe it down... The dirt and mud crap gets into the bearings and especially the 1 main pivot. The mud hardens and when riders take huge hits like wade etc. the mud locks the supension up. SO the bike is like a hardtail, well then forsure the swingarm is going to snap. Keep your bearings and bushings clean, clean them once every 1-2 months depends on riding type. and replace bushings and bearings every year.
I got this bike, got new bushings in and bearings better than the ones that come with it. =0)
This bike will last!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Downhiller
from Roseville, Ca, Usa
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | north star | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Bang 4 the buck!!!Beefy frame, great set-up. Great bike for those getting into "froridin'" and downhillin'! | | Weaknesses: | Who thought that half-pipe shifters were a good idea for this bike? Ditch 'em! Richy headset "blew UP" at Downieville just yesterday, what's up with that? | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit, Kona Stinky Deluxe, Specialized Big Hit | | Bike Setup: | White Brs. DH-2 forks; XT shifters & r.d.; Azonic Love Seat, Shorty Stem, Bars, IRC Kudo DH 2.35 tires | | Bottom Line: | A 6 inch travel bike for under $3000.00 that can handle some knarly trails right out of the store - can't beat that! I really liked the Bullit (a friend has one in Cal-Trans orange - MK) but the RM is just too good of a deal. The Marzochi's are nice & plush but a little too squishy - I'll run 'em on my next hardtail. After reading "Mountain Bike"'s review, I decided to switch to a dual crown fork & ran the White Brs. (an unreal fork by the way). Could not get rid of the halfpipe shifters fast enough; tried 9.0 Gripshifts, then decided to run a complete XT drive train. Everyone that has ridden this bike has freaked, even a couple of M-1 guys. Wish that it came with a Fox RC, but the R works great none the less; I'm 205 lbs. & have not bottomed it out yet. What more can I say - just go check one out!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Rempel
a Weekend Warrior
from nelson,B.C.,Canada
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | gymp,urban | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Everything its frigin canadian! | | Weaknesses: | stem a little long for my taste, would be better with a double crown fork. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona stinky dee lux,rm6dh | | Bike Setup: | z1qr20,stock | | Bottom Line: | Its a great bike I cant wait till I get enough money for one. EXELENT! the bomber is just about perfect it would be better with a double crown fork. To me the stem was a little to long. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Death Dropper
a Weekend Warrior
from BC , Canada
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any man made trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | The z1 qr 20
the frame
not very hard to climb with
SUPER PLUSH!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | When ever it takes a drop the derailer and chain gets screwed up (i dont know why). | | Similar Products Used: | NONE!!!!!! maybe the stinky delux and bullit. | | Bike Setup: | mostly stock except for the handle bars, pedals and seat post. | | Bottom Line: | I try to ride the shore alot but i cant, so everytime im up there i just go crazy. I taken this bike off 10 ft drops and its just simply the Best for that kind of stuff. It is also great for climbing. I think rocky mountain got the swingarm problem fixed because every thing is fine on this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Dowswell
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | ITS CANADIAN!!!!
PLUSHEST BIKE EVER MADE!!!!!
fork and frame
can handle any drops on the shore!!(been there 3 weeks ago)
just looks so damn cool!
| | Weaknesses: | hated the sram 9.0 so changed it and the seat post. | | Similar Products Used: | none, this bike is the best. | | Bike Setup: | z1 qr 20,vanilla rc, and race face seat post | | Bottom Line: | this bike is simple the best. It is the most PLUSH BIKE around and ever made!!!! It is also good for downhill. If you want a good free ride bike that can handel the drops the best, this is the bike for you | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
the_creature
a Weekend Warrior
from Fredericton, NB Canada
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | claimer (Canmore) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | fork, shock, frame(so far) | | Weaknesses: | Goddamn grip shift. Shifters. Crank tends to make crack noise when i peddle uphill | | Similar Products Used: | FSR | | Bike Setup: | stock, changed pedals to BMX style platform | | Bottom Line: | So far this bike has performed well for me. It took a while to get the suspension broken in but now it is dialed. I haven't really had this bike going yet since I am stuck out here on the l'EAST coast till school is over. A friend bought one and the bushing on the swing arm went almost immediately. I figure it was defective cause mine hasn't gone yet. Rocky was giving him a hard time about it, which doesn't please me. I think he finally got the parts, but after a good hassle. He also pancaked the rims the first month, but Sun hooked him up real nice. I will submit another review after I take this thing on some real downhill. So far so good though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bubble
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, California
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Everything but the shifter pods. | | Weaknesses: | Sram Grip Shifts. I hate them. If i come off a jump and land wrong they will shift. Plus you only have a little piece of actual grip to hold onto. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock, but hoping to add XTR shifter pods. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome. It can take everything and still keep going. They really need to switch to at least XT shifter pods and a XTR rear derailleur(much smoother ride). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shaun Hamilton
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada, BC North van
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Boggey man | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | SUPER!!!!!!!!plush and can handle any drops
went off a 12 FTER on the shore and everything was fine
BEAUTIFUL frame and fork. | | Weaknesses: | maybe some of the components could be better , other than that, this bike is the best. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit,Norco VPS 2 and RM Pipeline | | Bike Setup: | Jr T, hayes , mavic 521's and other parts that came with it | | Bottom Line: | This bike is for riders who are looking for a bike that CAN TAKE DROPS(maybe only the newer production runs). it is a awesome shore bike. I got a vwry good deal on this so if you get one BUY IT!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Storey
a Downhiller
from Vancouver BC,
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything on the NORTH SHORE | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | super plush bike, especially when I get my hands on a bearing kit. It climbs surprisingly well, even without changing the damping on the shock. An excellent 'North Shore' bike, takes the big hits really well. | | Weaknesses: | C'mon guys, stone-age bushings on such a technologically advanced frame? Oh well, inside sources tell me there will soon be a needle bearing upgrade kit for the 2000 frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Dare(my friends), Aeon Joker, '97 Element Race(I broke the head tube off that), Pipeline, many others | | Bike Setup: | Hope disc brake in the rear, Magura rim in the front(I'm saving for the front Hope still), Race Face Turbine LP cranks, Race Face headset and seatpost. Club Roost risers, Mozo Pro 4.5 fork (soon to become a Monster T), WTB disc hubs and Maxxis 2.35 Mofo DH tires | | Bottom Line: | A sweet bike! Handles big drops without complaint, yet can also climb and cruise singletrack. With the proper set-up, it can be raced, or used for serious 'freeriding'or Floriding as it's called on the Shore. Since I got such a smoking deal on it, I can't givee it anything but 5 chillies! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fast Bacon
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | So far, everything! Super plush, great climber (surprisingly!!) and controlled descender. Nice weight for all the benefits of a "do all" bike. | | Weaknesses: | The little tolerence that the Hayes have does cause drag at times; GripShift half pipes are solid, but too long under the grab; tires are pretty slick in the muddiest of muds. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried many F/S rides...too many to list. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with heavy springset in the Z1's and a heavy coil on the rear shock. | | Bottom Line: | I've ridden this rig for close to 3 months now, and have grown to appreciate and understand a lot of its behavioural tendencies in varying conditions. The bike is truly amazing as far as climbing goes, very surprising for a 35+lbs bike. For all my riding, including fireroads, urban, technical singletrack and fast and gnarly downhill, dry and dusty, wet and muddy, the bike is truly an excellent "all'round" ride! It may be a little overbuilt for typical XC and ST, and maybe a little underbuilt for full-on downhill, but for the middle ground, it kicks! I found the saddle's rails weak, granted it's not a top-notch saddle. The Hayes can be fragile, as I've warped my rotors and whacked the housing in one spill (that wasn't even that bad) which was a disappointment. The fender? So soft that it'll bend all over the place - either fortify it with some extra brackets (soldered on), or pitch it. GripShifts barrel is just too long, half the size would've been dandy. Bottom line is this - it is a truly rockin' bike with lots to offer to the hardcore crowd that wanna ride their steed everywhere, and not push it uphills only. Forks are like "buttah", and it smokes on the DH. Use "Finish Line" Dry w/ Teflon on all the joints and bushings of the linkage; and some Prep-M under the dust covers of the fork - REGULARLY. Follow this and the bike runs like hot damn. Pay attention to the spoke tension as well, the wheels take lots of punishment that the rider isn't at all aware of due to the buttery suspension! Enjoy it - the RM6 gets my vote for the best all'rounder out there! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
racer x
a Downhiller
from ak
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | I don't understand how someone could break this bike. I'm at an even 200lbs and am trying my hardest to find out, but the things takes all the punishment I can dish out. Death drops, steeps, logs, street, dirt jumps, you name it and so far this bike has taken it with ease. Even the really hard crashes. The hayes brakes are bomber, as is the Z1 up front(so far). | | Weaknesses: | O.K., some of the components just flat out stink. The sram half pipes and components are junk, as were the bars, and especially the seat(was that saddle some kind of sick joke?) | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz bullit, kona stinky delux | | Bike Setup: | new bars, fat platforms, sdg big boy saddle, | | Bottom Line: | This bike is bomber, aside from a few easily replaced components. I don't know what the deal is with everyones rear end busting up, but it hasn't happened to me yet and I hope that it doesn't. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Combat Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Burlington
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bear Claw-The Ruler | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Shocks - front and rear, frame and swing arm (I've had not problems, Hayes | | Weaknesses: | SRAM Halfpipes (pretty stupid for a freeride rig), 9spd rear - too sensitive for use on this bike | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for switch to SRAM 7.0 (the shorties), Titec Bizeker saddle (Italian racing saddle?? No need for a Sella) | | Bottom Line: | Unlike several folks who have had bad experiences, I have few complaints. The minor ones are mentioned above. Although I'm not the heaviest rider in the world (145 lbs), I do ride hard! Lots of urban and technical downhill. I can't say anything but this bike kicks ass! I've ridden in mud, rain, sand, etc. Just about everything I can get my hands on and no frame/swingarm problems. I make sure to put some silicon lube on the forks and bushings every couple of rides and it continues to ride like a dream. Much of the riding I do requires a lot of climbing, much of it technical, and the RM6 does a fantastic job. Then the reward...point and shoot!! This thing loves to go down! 7'-8' wheelie drops, big airs at high speed... NO PROBLEM!!
I sucks that others have had bad experiences with the RM6. I hope Rocky comes through on the warranty. Admittedly, I'd love some cooler components, some of the Rocky stuff is the most aestetically pleasing, but that's just looks, so fat they've worked extremely well. The bottomline is this bike has worked for me and inspires the confidence to ride or fly down at top speed! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mainframe
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Plush, when it works. | | Weaknesses: | frame | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit | | Bike Setup: | stripped at the moment | | Bottom Line: | The frames are breaking, bottom line!!! I don't care what Rocky or anyone else is telling you, but I saw three busted framesets at my local dealer over the weekend (mine being one of them). Two of them with stress risers on the front triangle and mine with a busted swingarm (my second). No lie. Let's face it, the bikes are an underengineered version of the RM9 and Rocky has not got them dialed in yet. Perhaps in another year they will hit the mark, but right at the moment, I can't give them much praise. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
manuell
a Weekend Warrior
from Van Isl
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Great frame, great climber, great suspension, great brakes. | | Weaknesses: | Grip shift. Rings are a little flimsy. | | Similar Products Used: | see my review from May. | | Bike Setup: | XT Rapidfire, Shimano 545's and an Azonic "lounge" seat. | | Bottom Line: | It's been one month and no problems. I can't imagine how one would destroy a rear swingarm or frame unless you had the old bushings that weren't replaced. I got my bike at the end of May and have done lots of drops, had lots of crashes and no problems. Everything is holding up well. I feel for the guys who forked out alot of cash and don't have a ride, but I still think the bike rock's. Ride one and see. If ther is any inherant problems in the linkage I havn't been able to find them. I Guess I'm just not riding it like "Wade"(go figure). If you can find a make and model that has never broken buy that instead. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tristan Sames
a Racer
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything Canadian | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | This bike just plain rules. Granted, the stock setup could use a few changes, but I can't imagine anyone ever having complaints about the frame. Plush, plush, and more plush. I landed a simple 5 foot launch off balanced, and could barely even feel the landing, I love it. I can never imagine going back to a hard tail. Awesome brakes, and, well, the fork also rules. Something more substantial would be nice, but definately not a nessesity. | | Weaknesses: | Like I said, the stock model needs work. The SRAM shifters and not any good for downhilling, or free riding, or any sort of aggressive riding.
The cable routing was less than perfect, aand a missed hole cost me a severed cable. I like being able to run a full length cable housing though. | | Similar Products Used: | A hell of a lot of other Rocky bikes | | Bike Setup: | Went to a Black Spire Duel Slallom chain guide up front, XT/LX shifting components, Intense 2.35 front tire, Tioga DH 2.3 rear, Amoeba Handle bar, wellgo platform pedals. Other than that, the rest is all stock | | Bottom Line: | Awesome value. With a few small changes, this bike is an awesome racing/freeriding bike. A real head turner on the trail, and the bike can practically take on anything without the slightest brake. Brakes are well spec'd for this bike, and Hayes lives up to it's name. Fairly light for a freeride bike with so much travel (only 37 poounds for my baby). Would recommend this bike for anyone who loves trying crazy stuff. Canadian stuff rules. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Cameron
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | lots | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Feels very nice | | Weaknesses: | Too manyt o list. Components are cheap plastic and break constantly. The entire swingarm assembly is a terrible design. Feels nice until you actually ride the thing. I've been through 4 arms, 1 frame (cracked) and countless other parts. Until this bike is refined enough to withstand actual riding, just enjoy sitting on it in the store and buy another bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona | | Bike Setup: | stock - except switched to shimano components and boxxer fork | | Bottom Line: | wade from calgary was right | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wade Schmidt
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB, CDN
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | To many to list | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | I used to have good things to say. Now I don't. This will be part one of many reports on the road of warranty. I guess I can't diss the Hayes brakes. | | Weaknesses: | Frame design! Bent the entire rear end, twisting the swing arm, making this bike look like a JOKE!! This bike does not live up to it's image of a "Free Ride" bike nor a serious downhill bike. It has been only two months on the 24th of May and I managed to destroy this bike. EVERY component that comes with this bike SUCKED! I had to completely strip this bike down to the frame and rebuild it with real components. This bike off the floor is an insult for the price. I can not comment about the warranty just yet, remember this is only "Part One". | | Similar Products Used: | Name it, I have friends that own it. | | Bike Setup: | RaceFace DH Stem, RaceFace Head, Easton Monkey Light Bars, Complete XT shift kit, Hayes Discs, QR20's, RaceFace North Shore Arms/Rings, Black Spire God Ring/Brake Arch, RaceFace BB, Tioga Factory 2.3's front and rear, RaceFace XY Post, Time pedals, RinoLite Rims, Rocky's crappy hubs. | | Bottom Line: | Buy something else! I was gauranted from the Rocky dealer that if anything happened I would be covered ASAP. This isn't the first time I have had problems with Rocky. I all so own a 99 Element T.O. which has a wierd top tube bend that the dealer claims is normal?? I ride hard but have seen harder, and I expected this bike to hold up longer that 40 days! If you ride even a bit serious this bike will FAIL you. I ride with lots of friends that own SantaCruz, Kona, you name it, and I can only recommend something else. Remember "Don't let friends ride junk". | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Plush as my couch, Frame, fork, brakes | | Weaknesses: | Shifters, rear derailleur, rings, no cup holder | | Similar Products Used: | Various hardtails, Kona Stinky-D | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for...XT shifters/rear derailleur, SDG grand prix saddle, RaceFace turbine crankset, Race Face bb, XT cassette | | Bottom Line: | The verdict is still out on the house-brand parts (seatpost, stem, bars and hubs). The stem seems poorly made, as the two upper face plate bolts enter the body at a strange angle. The post is a Kalloy piece, which really aren't 'bad' posts. The parts that I listed as weaknesses don't belong on this bike. The shifters encourage mis-shift over anything but the smoothest terrain. The SRam rear derailleur snapped its composite self in two. The rings on the Prodigy cranks have a fraction of the density of a doughnut (Mmmmmmm, doughnuts). The fender is enormous.
The frame is a work of art... the paint rivals Mercedes... the welds are flawless. The fork is a Marzocchi... A big one... 'nuff said. The Hayes brakes work every bit as well as they're written about. Other nice touches like the well designed/placed cable guides and full length derailleur housing.
The bike rides like a dream. It does indeed climb like a bike 3/4 its weight. I'm not just just saying that because I paid am arm and a leg for it either. Wrecked a wheel one week into my ownership and it cost me a kidney to replace it because of the QR20 hub. I was way too anxious to wait to have it relaced. I busted the rear derailleur two rides after that.
To sum it all up, I'm happy about my decision to pass up a heavily discounted 2000 Kona Stinky Dee-Lux and pay full retail (ouch!) for my RM. Some poor component choices, but such is life.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Gretchen
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lumps n' Bumps (Millstream), No Horses (Hornby Island), any singletrack. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Plush, plush, plush.
Climbs well for a long travel bike, as long as you stay seated.
Strong. | | Weaknesses: | none that come to mind. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Sweet Spot, Klein Mantra, Rocky Mountain Pipeline | | Bike Setup: | Manitou X-vert DC, Hayes, Chris King, Rolf Dolomites, LX/XT/XTR. | | Bottom Line: | This is a longer term report of my RM6. I have been riding a new swingarm with a new bushing/pivot axle kit after my original one siezed up after two weeks of riding during the past winter. Rocky was extremely good with the warranty and sent two techs over from Vancouver to install the new swingarm. Ever since then I have had no problems and the bike has been a dream. Talk about a machine which you can just point and shoot down the nastiest descent without worrying about the consequences... this thing is awesome! I cannot give it enough praise. If you can get your hands on one, do it. Better hurry though as I hear that Rocky has sold out of the 2000 bikes already!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Raymond
a
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | pick one? why?! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Very impressed w/ the frame and shock. The linear rate through the first 3/4 of travel range w/ the rising rate for the last 1/4 works really well for me. They did their homework with their iteration of the beam suspension. | | Weaknesses: | Only problem I have had has been the lower spring retainer plate. Mine had a perfectly round hole punched through it where it sits on the lower shock pivot, and snapped the rebound adjuster off during one of my pre-run sessions before the DH event at Rocky Hill. One phone call to Fox $78 in shipping, and 1wk later (to the day, and 3days b4 the race) my replacement shock was in. Thanks Fox.
Fox initially tried to blame the failure on over preloading the shock, but after I explained that I weigh 130lbs & had the shock set up w/ 25% sag, and manage a bike shop, they gave me no grief. | | Similar Products Used: | many many many a bike. | | Bike Setup: | Raceface Riser & DH H/S; Azonic DH Shorty stem; XTR crank, rr.der & shifters; XT fr der; MrT fork; Hayes, XT disc/rhynolites; Shim. MX30 pedals; Titec Berserkr DH-KTi & Thomson post. | | Bottom Line: | The RM6 is a very well balanced bike fore & aft (at least in my configuration). The balance of the bike makes it effortless to guide mid-air, which makes for an easy bike to style jumps & drops.
I would highly recommend this bike to anyone considering a fun bike to ride. My bike weighs in at 40lbs even, but rides lighter than many other 30lb bikes. But, if you are weight conscious then you shouldn't even be considering bies in this category. These bikes are made to take more than the above average Joe can dish out. Believe me mine's been through a lot, in just the 5mos or so I've had it.
As an aside to all of you who are pointing to the scene at the end of NSX3, I will re-iterate what my peers here have said & point out that it was a pre-production bike. And that Wade Simmons' job is product testing, that is to find the products' weaknesses so that they can be addressed prior to full production. And also add that though many people like to think that they are capable of the same level of riding such as Wade simmons, Brett Tippie, Andrew Shandro, Richie Schley, et al...the simple truth is that if that were true, no one would ever watch the videos. Just a dose of reality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Downhiller
from Denver
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | plushest thing i have ridden in a long while | | Weaknesses: | climbing..... deal with it | | Similar Products Used: | pipeline, bullit, san andreas dhs | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | i got the chance to ride a friends down somw crazy stuff, i am no wade simmons but this is more bike than i could evr use. shut up about wade breaking the frame, it was a prototype with crap wleds and HE GETS PAID TO SCREW STUFF UP!!!!!! i ride some nasty stuff and i have done bad damage but if you are bending off cranks like rubber bands like wade, stop riding that hard and get a motorcross bike. soon as i get the money, i am getting one, minus the in house stuff (nothing wrong with it though) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manuell
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver Island
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | PLUSH! Canadian! PLUSH! Does not feel like a 30lb bike when climbing, but it descends like one.Workmanship on frame and paint is unreal. Excellent components for the money. Hayes are as good as stopping gets in any weather condition. | | Weaknesses: | The wait (It was worth it). | | Similar Products Used: | RM Hammer(3yrs+). Norco VPS3( My wife's).Marin Wildcat Trail,Team Downhill and Mount Vision.Kona King..and lots of hardtails. | | Bike Setup: | XT Rapidfire, Shimano 545's, and Azonic DH Seat. Everything else was out of the box. | | Bottom Line: | I guess I took a leap of faith because I couldn't get my hands on a demo. I was lucky that I have a great bike shop that gave me dibs on the bike without having to commit if I didn't like it. While waiting for the stork to fly my RM6 over the Straits I was bombarded with propoganda from other bike stores and from some of these reviews (I've read all of them more than once)telling me that the bike will self distruct before I get it off the car rack(Yes, I saw NSX3). Having owned Rockies before and knowing others that ride them (some who have had to deal with the warranty department) I know that I won't be left high and dry if something does happen. I also e-mailed the warranty department and even though I knew they were not going to slander the bike they did mention that the company has a pretty good reputation that they wouldn't risk on a high profile product. As for the bike, I can't speak highly enough about the ride. It's only been a couple of days, but I'm sold, Self-destruction or not. I have to admit that I was impressed with the Marins, but only going down the trail, not up. The RM6 is a better climber descends as well, if not better,has better components and costs less. It just rides way lighter than it is. It is the perfect free-ride(for want of a better catch phrase) bike. I'll be sure to submit more in the following months and I'll try my best to be impartial (it's just soooo nice!). I know there are hundreds of bikes to choose from and I've only ridden a small sample of them, but the RM6 is definately the best I've tried. More later.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Cushy, Hayes discs are awesome. Good components for the money. | | Weaknesses: | main pivot bushing, half pipe shifters, seatpost | | Similar Products Used: | I have only test ridden (not real riding)a few others Rocky DH Race, Kona Stinky, Brodie diablo, bullit | | Bike Setup: | Stock with RF turbine cranks, Easton carbon bar | | Bottom Line: | Yesterday my rear swingarm broke at the main pivot. Here's explanation I was given: On early production run RM6s, they (RM) used the wrong type of bushing in the main pivot. When it gets really wet (which it was in January when I started riding it), the bushing swells and causes the swingarm to seize up (not fully, but I could definitely tell that it was stiffer). This seizing causes too much stress on the swingarm clamp because the pivot doesn't work properly. The clamp could then break (the little tab that the bolt goes through snapped off). I know that at least two other people that have had this problem at the store I bought mine from, so I don't beleive Rocky has had only 2 returns (unless they mean a Wade style break). This is the only type of break I have heard of and is does not mean the swingarm is too weak to take a big hit. Anyways, I beleive that they have it fixed now, but if you bought your bike early, take it in and make sure you have the right bushings!
As for the shifters, I find I mis-shift a lot when trying to yank the front end around.
The seatpost bent on my first ride.
This is the first full suspension bike I have *really* ridden so I can't really compare it to anything else, but if you're looking for a nice cushy ride at a decent price (for what you get), definitely try out the RM6.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Combat Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Burlington, VT, USA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Too many to list | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | It's a Rocky! Plenty-o-travel - no air is too big. Great balance. It's a couch on wheels! A freeride dream! It Climbs! Hayes are nice, and contrary to what those at Mountain Bike magazine claim, you can adjust the levers closer to the handlebars. | | Weaknesses: | Gripshift Halfpipes? Foreign to me. Have a tendency shift unwantedly on big airs. Not a big deal as I'm getting used to them. | | Similar Products Used: | My 99 Schwinn Homegrown, no a freeride hardtail. Tried Gary Fisher's Sugar, Schwinn 4 Banger and miscellaneous others | | Bike Setup: | RM6 stock, except for platform pedals | | Bottom Line: | This bike RULES! It's sole purpose is extreme terrain. The hell with those who complain about some pedal feedback when climbing, it's a freeride dually, what did you expect. Stay seated and it climbs beautifully. No air is too big! Triple crown fork? Then what would you do on the tight single track? Bottomline is I can ride all but the most vertical uphill trails with this bike. Did I mention that no air is too big? I'm pleasantly suprised at how light the bike feels when throwing it around corners and over logs. The RM6 makes you want to ride, and air big. The Big Squishy is a couch on wheels (which is great for my bad back!). It inspires courage and breeds adrenalin! And all this for $2500. No other bike compares! Oh and by the way. I'll proudly ride the next revision of any bike that Wade breaks! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fast Bacon Mojo
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere gnarly... | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Plushness and stability; great ride position; nice weight-to-performance ratio; excellent spec'd parts (Rocky IS A GOOD MAKER OF PARTS GUYS!!!) | | Weaknesses: | As I'm getting my new RM6 this weekend, I've asked that they (Cove Bikes, N. Vancouver) put the heavy springset for the Marzocchi Z1, and a heavy coil for the rear to compensate for my 210lbs stature. That's it really... A personal thing only. | | Similar Products Used: | Still use my Rocky Mountain Element Race - totally done up for hardcore and XC....probably a "keeper" regardless. Demo'd the Kona Stinky-Dee-Lux (what??? $4G for that?!?!?); Klein (nice, but too delicate); Cannondale (bottom heavy) and Specialized BigHit (Hmmmm, not bad, but made in Japan and spec'd with atrocious parts for the price). | | Bike Setup: | Stock RM6 with heavier springset and coil; my Element, well, that's a hot rod on its own (read: LOTS of major upgrades...super cool ride!). | | Bottom Line: | I had only tested this ride - and from testing it, amongst others in its "apparent" class, there was no contest, the RM6 rules. There have been some reviews talking about the broken swingarm - strangley enough, Rocky Mountain has only received 2 publicly purchased RM6's with this problem...but yet I read about 5 or 6?!?!?! Guys, stop watching NSX3 and get a life... I spoke with the head R&D cat at Rocky, I mentioned every one of my concerns, and he assured me, being a "new design and hot commodity" the company would stand behind their product 100% indefinitely. They even re-tempered the yoke on the latest release (last week) of new RM6's - not that there was a problem, but moreso, just "in case". This is a great ride, and yes, it's expensive, but you are buying a quality bike with (at least for me) the R&D team a phone call and ferry ride away. I get it this coming Monday, and will ride it for about a month SOLID, and will re-insert a new review with more test based facts. All in all though, the test rides I took, and the discussions with RM's R&D department made me feel 100% like this was the perfect ride. There's a lot of conjecture based B.S. going on out there, and NSX3 (the video) has to be blamed for some of it; realize that the RM6 that Wade is riding isn't at all spec'd like the floor models - it was a prototype - he was contracted to kill it so that RM could improve... They have indeed done so, and do yourself a favour - get off the computer and test ride one before "guessing" about how good it is! My "chilli rating" is based on the above, and will review this bike again in about 5-6 weeks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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