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Rocky Mountain
2000 Vertex
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Submitted by
Keith
a
from victoria
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Light, stiff, nice ride | | Weaknesses: | Poor long term durability | | Bottom Line: | I have had my vertex for a little more than a year. Generally I have been pretty happy with it. Unfortunately a crack has developed in the head tube. I am 135lbs and have been using this bike strickly for XC riding. The frame shouldn't have a cracked already. Rocky Mountain will probably warrentee it but it is still a pain. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hakan
a Weekend Warrior
from New York, NY, US
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | MTBR CLassified | | Strengths: | Strong and sharp looking frame, excellent balance, awesome Marzocchi Atom 80 shocks, great mic of components | | Weaknesses: | Nothing so far but will make some minor upgrades | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale F2000, Cannondale Super V 900 | | Bike Setup: | Stock (Marzocchi Atom 80, Xt hub with Mavic wheels, XT front der, XTR rear der.,RaceFace cranks, bars, stems, seatpost,Sram brakes, XTshifters/levers | | Bottom Line: | Purchased this 10 month old bike recently for $900 and it handles perfectly. Stiff and strong frame for a large rider like me. Awesome to ride, climbs well and has a great overall set of components. Flawless shifting and the SRAM brakes stop on a dime. Absolutely one of the best bikes out there without spending a fortune. Will upgrade to stiffer springs in the Atom 80 (I weigh 195 lbs.). The shocks handles well but the the preload needs to be adjusted almost at the stiffest level. Will also uograde to a RaceFace BB since I have slight creaking in the BB area. But that's about the only adjustments I will make. The only item that seems a bit weak is the Richey headset but I will use that for a while to see how it holds up. Overall I'm extremely happy with this bike and would highly recommend it | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeffrey Morash
a Racer
from Liverpool,N.S. CAN
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Cow Road | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Source for Sports | | Strengths: | *great look
*light weight
*climbs well
*great components
*fast as f~ck | | Weaknesses: | *grips | | Similar Products Used: | trek 6000, and some norcos | | Bike Setup: | xtr rear der. mavic rims same as stock | | Bottom Line: | I cant even go to the light house with out people staring at it and where i come from im scared some kid will steal it but i never leave it unattended this is a great bike if your willing to pay the amount it cost!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Simons | | Strengths: | The frame is the primary strongpoint on this bike. It climbs like a monkey on coke and holds a line through all of the rough stuff. The bike weighs more than some race only models but will hold up a lot better too. This is the perfect trail/race bike for those of us who can't afford two separate machines. The Zokes aren't butter smooth but really absorb the big hits and don't bounce all over the place when climbing. The brakes were suprisingly good. The seat is very comfy and it's made in Canada by an actual human being that is getting paid and feeding his family with his wages (okay maybe he's single and drinking beer)...But there is no robots or thrid world slave labour here. | | Weaknesses: | The Shimano 515's that came stock are garbage--very difficult to clip out of. The Michelin tires are nice when new but the casing breaks easily. I got a good price on mine but I know the bike is kind of expensive if you pay something close to retail--but it's worth it, and knowing what I do now about this bike I would have no qualms about dropping some more cash on it. Oh, the grips suck. | | Similar Products Used: | Thin Air, Element Race, Pipeline, Norco Sasquatch, Big Wheel--my first ever ride! | | Bike Setup: | Stock except Panaracer Fire XC Pro's and Shimano 636's for extreme trails and 545's for putzin around. | | Bottom Line: | This is an excellent bike that will improve the quality of your life immesurably--don't let anyone tell you you're shallow if you perue material possessions. I was really tempted to go full suspension because of the hype--and I admit that some of it is warranted--but, there's nothing on earth like the crisp climbing feel of a hardtail. I'm also not replacing bushings and tightening linkage nuts every two minutes like some of the full suspension people are doing. Do yourself a favor and buy it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Durham
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | Literally floats down hills. Light enough in relation to its generally indestructable nature. Practical RkyMtn geometry | | Weaknesses: | Have ridden bikes that climb a bit better, but the Vertex surpasses them in all other areas. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper, GT Zaskar, Shwinns, KHSs,Treks | | Bike Setup: | XT (XTR RearD), Race Face: Cranks, rings, stem, bb, bar, post, SRAM V's, Mavic/XT/Michellin Wildgrippers | | Bottom Line: | What else can I say? I did a lot of research/testing before deciding to buy this bike - the final descision was very easy. The bike came perfect! The sales guy tried to talk me into discs for added stopping umpfh but im interested more in going than sstopping. The bike is expensive because of the Rocky name tag but there are advanteges to buying from the worlds best bike maker - pride is one of them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Durham
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | Literally floats down hills. Light enough in relation to its generally indestructable nature. Practical RkyMtn geometry | | Weaknesses: | Have ridden bikes that climb a bit better, but the Vertex surpasses them in all other areas. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper, GT Zaskar, Shwinns, KHSs,Treks | | Bike Setup: | XT (XTR RearD), Race Face: Cranks, rings, stem, bb, bar, post, SRAM V's, Mavic/XT/Michellin Wildgrippers | | Bottom Line: | What else can I say? I did a lot of research/testing before deciding to buy this bike - the final descision was very easy. The bike came perfect! The sales guy tried to talk me into discs for added stopping umpfh but im interested more in going than sstopping. The bike is expensive because of the Rocky name tag but there are advanteges to buying from the worlds best bike maker - pride is one of them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Durham
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | Literally floats down hills. Light enough in relation to its generally indestructable nature. Practical RkyMtn geometry | | Weaknesses: | Have ridden bikes that climb a bit better, but the Vertex surpasses them in all other areas. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper, GT Zaskar, Shwinns, KHSs,Treks | | Bike Setup: | XT (XTR RearD), Race Face: Cranks, rings, stem, bb, bar, post, SRAM V's, Mavic/XT/Michellin Wildgrippers | | Bottom Line: | What else can I say? I did a lot of research/testing before deciding to buy this bike - the final descision was very easy. The bike came perfect! The sales guy tried to talk me into discs for added stopping umpfh but im interested more in going than sstopping. The bike is expensive because of the Rocky name tag but there are advanteges to buying from the worlds best bike maker - pride is one of them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the don | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | bought it used | | Strengths: | damn bombproof frame, great setup, climbs like a goat on amphetamines, tracks straight at speed | | Weaknesses: | not a single thing - maybe the aheadset (ritchey), but that's a stretch | | Similar Products Used: | an old RM stratos, spec'd stumpy | | Bike Setup: | marz atom up front, mostly race face components, srams, and a bit of xt thrown in for good measure | | Bottom Line: | the vertex rocks. if i ever find the guy who built it (his initials are on the frame, defineately a sign of a quality product) i'd like to buy him a (canadian) beer. if you're at least an intermediate rider who spends more time on the trails than sitting with your bike sipping a double latte at starbucks, this is a bike you should consider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris D
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Powderface / Cox Hill (K-Country) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Damn light and hand made quality you just can't get from frames pumped out by the millions in taiwan. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Old Mongooses (when they used to make good bikes) | | Bike Setup: | XT fron/rear der, brakes arms, Judy Race, Avid 2.0 Levers, race face cranks + head set, pro logic, body geo seat, bontrager bar, mavic 517s | | Bottom Line: | I actually got the frame for $500CAN (about $325US for you southerners) and threw together a bike for a sweet, sweet price of about $2100CAN by shopping around for parts and stripping about $200 worth of brake gear from my old bike (good stuff). The new set up is super fun. Great, snappy frame and all-round smooth ride with the gooder judys. We know damn well up here how to build a hand welded frame right. Oh yah, the paint job is cool too.
DAMN DAMN is this bike light
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pam
a Weekend Warrior
from Sierras
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Antelope Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Strengths: | Awesome bike, made for me. All components are top line except pedals. Very quick & nimble. Good price, special sale. | | Weaknesses: | Shimano m515's, lousy warranty, hope I don't need it. | | Similar Products Used: | Tried out at least 20 different bikes of similar price and quality and none compared to this. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, like the race face. Super paint job, blue/silver. Had to give up my saddle & Race Face stem for a higher shorter stem to get just the right fit. I'm old and spoiled. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. 19.5". Everyone tried to put me on a 18" bike., didn't fit, This one felt like it was made for me. I'm 5'9", 140 lbs.and old. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Shidla
a Cross Country Rider
from Minneapolis, MN US
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hayduke | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Sports Hut, Wayzata, MN | | Strengths: | This bike is beautiful, comfortable, stable, and bomb proof | | Weaknesses: | wheel set (too heavy)
low end cassete | | Similar Products Used: | M4 | | Bike Setup: | I replaced the wheel set with a Bont. Race Lite Ceramic Rims, Hugi Hubs, and Conti. Cross Country Wheels. Shaved 2 pounds. Replaced the Cassette with XTR. Next upgrade will be a murati (?sp) crank. | | Bottom Line: | The best bike I have ever ridden. With a good pair of bike shorts and shoes, you will never want to go home again. I now sit at work and look forward to my next 50 mile ride. I can't brag enough about this bike. Those guys/gals at Rocky Mountain know what they are doing. (even if they are canadian) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoff
a
from Hollidaysburg, PA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali.... | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Strengths: | Perfect race bike, wouldn't trade for anything......NICE PAINT JOB...;) | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized M2 Pro, Cannondale Jekyll 900 w/ discs, Schwinn Homegrown Pro...and yes i have ridden these for long periods of time.. | | Bike Setup: | Stock... | | Bottom Line: | Perfect setup, could be a little lighter than 25 especially for racing, but ill live..yes those stupid decals come off the rear triangle all the time(throw a race face sticker over 'em or something), pick up a wheelset for the bike if you can afford it, it'll lighten the bike up about an extra pound or so...if you are even thinking of buying this bike please drop me a mail...mtnbike876@aol.com | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry
a Cross Country Rider
from North Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Deep Cove Bikes | | Strengths: | Great quality frame construction and paint, Race Face components, light and nimble | | Weaknesses: | I can't use it as my office chair. Seriously if there are weaknesses they are well hidden. | | Similar Products Used: | A string of hardtails, Tech Nova, Mongoose IBOC Pro, Norco Java. | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded with Marz Z2 Xfly Mavic 517 wheels, XTR F&R derailleurs, and... 7 speed bar top XT thumbshifters pure retro. | | Bottom Line: | I love this frame, the Rocky has terrific geometry for the few trails that aren't free-ride like up here, the paint would make a Mercedes jealous, and it's light. I've upped the Canuck ante on it with Syncros and Race Face everything, Time ATAC pedals and the Z2 Xfly which is a plush and stable fork. This bike makes me darn happy to be a Canadian. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rocky Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | High quality welds and tolerances
Cool Paint job | | Weaknesses: | Some little decals are not under the clearcoat and get busted | | Bottom Line: | This review is for frame only.
This Rocky is a beautiful ride. I was choosing between a Kona Kula, Specialized M4, Devinci Desperado, Marin Indian fire Trail and this baby.
The Rocky made in British Columbia (versus Kona).
It's not overpriced (versus Marin).
It's reasonably light (~1600g for 19.5").
The black-silver rainbowy paintjob is PHAT (as one
reviewer said) (versus Devinci).
You don't see a lot of other people riding it
(versus Specialized)
It's comfortable and stiff at the same time.
The frame builder puts their name on the frame
(whatever that's worth to you)
And, last but not least, I just like how it rides and
how my body fits onto it.
Can't go wrong with a Rocky
4.8 Chilis overall because the decals on the seatstays tend to chip off every time you take a dirt sample (they can be bought from RMB again though) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stroker
a
from Winston-Salem
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Westwood Park, Mount Airy, NC | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Paceline Bicycles www.pacelinebicycles.com | | Strengths: | -Light
-Durable
-Longer top tube makes for super handling at speed and in sweeping turns
-Easton tubes are awesome | | Weaknesses: | -Original headset, Ritchey. Had Chris King installed at shop
-Need heavier springs for 200+ lbs. riders
-Not overly hip to the silver/blue paint scheme but I have learned to live with it. | | Similar Products Used: | Bunches | | Bike Setup: | Stock Vertex with Mavic Crossmax Tubeless UST's, Chris King headset, heavier springs in forks, Hutchinson tires (tubeless), Easton carbon riser handlebars. | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike.
Made additions mentioned above and this bike became incredible. For my riding style on the tight, twisting, technical trails, it is fantastic. However, at speed the longer top tube offers tremendous stability.
I am constantly amazed at its "one bike does all" ability. The Easton tubing, frame geometry, and tubeless Mavic/Hutchinsons work super together.
This bike is also one super climber as well.
I have a 98 FSR and a custom hardtail Howegrown that are now gathering dust thanks to the Rocky Mountain.
This is one great bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rocky DeGroff
a Cross Country Rider
from Pocatello, Id. 83204
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | moab | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Excellent frame and quality in craftsmanship | | Weaknesses: | sram v-brakes | | Similar Products Used: | Gt zaskar | | Bike Setup: | outstanding | | Bottom Line: | outstanding value for a great xc bike. Componets are real good. Only dislike on the entire bike are the sram components. Race face rule. Marzocchi fork ir unbeatable.
Enjoy the ride. I ride an average of 1000 plus miles a year right now and plan to buy this bike. A great deal for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ric
a Weekend Warrior
from montreal, quebec, canada
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | bing bang | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Everything and everything | | Weaknesses: | None absolutely none | | Similar Products Used: | Bianchi, specialized stumpjumper, gt avalanche... | | Bike Setup: | Stock everything is perfect in this bike | | Bottom Line: | I choose this bike in black/silver, what a terrible look. At this range of price you have to love the color...I also choose this because rocky mountain is a bomb proof frame and this company put a marzocchi on their bike. It was not the cheaper bike but this company like the best. That was the reason why they put a marzocchi instead of f.u.c.k.i.n. rock shock or manitou...The bike is enough light at 25 pounds not for racing but it depend what you want...I want to ride everywhere and you could'nt have a bomb proof bike at 21 pounds...It's a choice
This bike have absolutely none weakness, excellent frame and geometry. With a marzocchi fork z2 atom 80 the bike is very very very easy to handle everywhere. It descend like a rocket and make me a better climber. You have nothing to upgrade when you purchase this bike, all xt or incredible race face component. At 2800$(canadian money) taxes included it's a good choice if you want an indestructible bike with the best fork and excellent component. This bike do anything well and go everywhere with no problem. I love to ride this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MikeD none
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Louise
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Milstream | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | -the fork is a dream, one of the best smoothies I've ever ridden
-the frame and compnents and how well they worked together
-it's just fast
-the sparkling paint is phat | | Weaknesses: | -the tires sucked, stupid euro racing crap
-the stock shimano bb was swapped straight from the shop because I've always had problems with shimano bb's | | Similar Products Used: | 99 M2 Pro
97 Hammer | | Bike Setup: | 2000 vertex with a syncros hinged 15deg stem ( polished ) with magura raceline's Yellow and a pair of Yellow walled Panaracer Fire XC Pros | | Bottom Line: | this bike isn't as fast of a climber or sprinter as my M2 was. but that M2/SID XC combo was a realy harsh riding combination. This bike is still a great sprinter and it's plenty stiff but it's such a more controlled ride. This bike was meant to be jumped and flicked into corners, then slowed right down to bomb you favourite technical chute. All in all thise is a super fast bike that will do anything you want it to, to a certain extent. It's also a great trials bike and if you ride technical brutally rough trails with lots of roots and rocks then this is your bike. I almost bought the instinct but then I remembered my love for trials riding so I held back and I'm not at all disapointed. five flaming roaches for the vertex. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricksom
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Stiff
Single-track pilot
Smooth
Manoeuvrable
Strong
| | Weaknesses: | Light but not the lightest | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain Hammer '98 | | Bike Setup: | XT, SRAM, USE suspension seatpost, Mavic 517 rims, Marz Atom Bomb (Components are not OEM, purchased only the Vertex frame) | | Bottom Line: | I was really reluctant to let go of my trusty triple butted steel friend (Hammer). But I was finding that my abilities were expanding, and the Hammer was not reponding to my new advanced abilities attained after 3 years.
When I upgraded the frame to Vertex, these were the things that jumped out at me.
- Stiffer frame, especially for improved climbing and technical trail turning.
- Smoother and straighter tracking: This may be attributed to the Marz Atom Bomb and USE suspension seatpost, but the straighter tracking through gnarly single-track was noticable. Turns seem to carve more than jerk through.
- Stronger rear brake action, probably due to the stiffer frame.
Overall, a beautiful piece of performance machinery. Tuned to riding single-track, but can nicely handle gnarly downhill bombing found on XC trails. The single best upgrade I made for $900 Canadian, giving you top of the line, performance Easton aluminum.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
paul frassinelli
a Racer
from jackson, wy 83002
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | super extended phil's,Bend,Or | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | This is the best fitting, most comfortable frame I have yet ridden ( I'm 5'10-11 with a 32" inseam,average body proportion ). The welds are perfect. The Easton tubing makes for a superlight and indestructable frame. Im convinced this is the best frame on the market.Race Face makes awesome components so you will not have to worry about these for a long time. I would trust the wheels, but I have cross-links. This is definately a race-ready bike for the catagory they claim, and a hell of a cross-country machine. Don't change the Michelins.light (540 gr)127 tpi.They hook up on anything and are fast rollers. | | Weaknesses: | The fork. The Marzocchi is a little heavy but does not tweak and bend in turns or rough terrain. Its solid. I replaced the stock medium springs with heavier ones to give me a little less ( hoping for a lot less)movement during hard pedaling, but it did not stiffen up at the top where I wanted it ( I'm 160 lbs. ). I'm just partial to air sprung shocks that I can get super stiff action. For almost $1900 they should give you a xt cluster not an lx, and I would think a Flite saddle would be more appropriate for this awesome bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized | | Bike Setup: | Cross-Link wheels,Sram set up, Race Face Ti Bottom Bracket,Xt cassette,Flite gel saddle,Time ATAC carbon pedals, Easton CT2 h-bar. | | Bottom Line: | At 25 lbs, its a little heavy for a top end cross-country racer. Shelling out 1900 bucks at the start usually doesn't leave you much money to drop some weight. With the equipment I had previously, I dropped down to 23.75 pounds. I was never bent on lightness until I started racing,and every extra ounce can make you crazy. Of course the wheels are the most important place to drop weight. Again, I don't have 700-800 dollars to buy a 1 minute time save at a race.(my cross-links are last years. I picked them up for $200. score.) The stock wheels are nice though. Its to early to tell how well they will hold up. xt- mavic... you can't go wrong. It's really tight and nimble on the climbs; the bikes tubing and the Race Face cranks allows you to climb only as fast as you are. It won't be the bike holding you up. Going down down is incredible. It tracks your line without one complaint. Just relax and let it go. you can almost see the bike itself smiling and enjoying the ride as much as you are. Rocky Mountain is definately on to something with there bikes!The Vertex T.O. would get 5 chilis in the overall rating. It's only 4 because of the Marzocchi.Marzocchi needs to understand that these shocks are for bicycles not motorcycles. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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