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Rocky Mountain
Element 70
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Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange County, CA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Aliso-Wood Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | Adrenaline Bikes (Orange, CA) | | Strengths: | Light, with fork lockout and propedal it climbs amazingly well, it's very responsive and goes where I want it to go, comes equipped with a great selection of components, the carbon fiber seatstay looks great! | | Weaknesses: | The cables running above the top tube are definitely annoying. Other than that I don't have anything bad to say about the bike. | | Similar Products Used: | GT I-Drive, Chumba XCL, Marin East Peak | | Bike Setup: | Fox F100RLC, Fox Float RP23, Full XT, Syncros cockpit, Mavic XC717 wheels, Hutchinson XC tires | | Bottom Line: | This is an amazing bike! I demoed this bike during the Rocky Demo Tour's stop in Orange County was hooked immediately. Thanks to Thane for setting me up with a great ride and letting me know about Adrenaline Bikes. And thanks to Neil and Jesse at Adrenaline for a quick order and a great build. The bike feels very efficient especially during climbs. It also handles technical climbs very well. I've done climbs in deep loose dirt and over sandy rocks and haven't had any problems keeping traction. Singletrack descents are amazing on the element. It corners very well and stops on a dime. It'll hop around a little when you're speeding down a bumpy descent but what do you expect from a 26-27 pound XC bike? Overall I think this is one of the best XC bikes out there and I really enjoy riding it! I definitely recommend checking it out if you're looking for an XC ride. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Soquel Demo | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3400.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Trip | | Strengths: | Super stiff, light, and responsive. This bike climbs like a sherpa on speed! And it corners on a dime. The Propedal and fork lockout are amazingly easy to use and dial in. The Hutchinson Python tires add to the speed and efficiency on packed trails. 26 lbs! | | Weaknesses: | Rocky Mountain customer service is poor and unreliable. The XT shifters catch on thumb and finger release. Loose cable wires on top tube scratch paint. BB clearance seems low. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bike Setup: | All stock at the moment: Mostly XT, w/ XTR Derailleur, Race Face cranks, Easton cock pit. Shifters will need to be upgraded. Tires are sweet, but not for muddy conditions. | | Bottom Line: | Well if you don't mind being blown off by Rocky Mountain's team of misfits for 4 months while you wait for this bike, you'll be happily rewarded. I hope the reason it took so long to get this bike wasn't due to incompetence and unprofessionalism, but that RM is just a small company of riders that hand builds their bikes and they weren't prepared for the demand. However, after getting XC of 2007 they should have stepped up their service. There's no excuse for any company to tell a customer paying a months salary in advance that the bike will be done in Oct. '07 only to have it arrive in late Jan. '08 after endless delays and phone calls not returned.
So that's my long needed complaint, but the sweet performance of the Element is helping me forget about the bad stuff. This bike is so fast and responsive, I felt like I was riding a young gymnast w/wings! This bike zips through single track corners, soaks up hits, and w/ the Propedal and lockout on it climbs the steepest loosest inclines I've ever attempted. Clearance has been a problem. I've bottomed out on some not so big log sections I thought I would clear.
Overall the Element was worth the wait. You might be hard pressed to find a such a performer for this price, but you might have to start looking at the 2009's! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
philip
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium, Vl. Brabant
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Belgium | | Strengths: | Well, this is my 3rd element frame in 7 years. Just bought a 2008 model. Previously owned a 2006 and 2001 model. Rocky added a little bit of weight to the frame again but in return you get a rock solid, beefy rear triangle with bearings that are a lot bigger than the 2006 bearings. After 7 years, I still love the ride. I absolutely love the stiffness of the rear triangle and have never ridden on another full suspension frame that stiff. In addition with the 2008 model Rocky has succeeded in eliminating all pedal kickback! The 2006 frame still had a very tiny little bit of kickback. | | Weaknesses: | The only really negative issues about this frame is that the gear/brake cables run on top of the top tube causing scratches from the cables rubbing on the frame (especially from the brake cable). Rocky should really consider running the cables below the top tube. | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, Chris King, MaxM components, Fox RLC, XTR wheels. | | Bottom Line: | Well, probably still one of the very best XC full suspension frames out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Owen Wall
a Cross Country Rider
from Philadelphia PA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | EMS | | Strengths: | Stiff, solid climber, rolls fast, comfortable for the distance, feels very efficent. | | Weaknesses: | Had some Customer service issues, they came through in a big way in the end. Had to deal with a lot of poor communication though. Like I said it was well made up for. Not in love wit h the IRC marathon tires that come stock. I feel like the Bottom Bracket is really low. Constantly banging my pedals on stuff. | | Similar Products Used: | RM Slayer 50, GT XCR 1000, Titus Moto-X | | Bike Setup: | F-100 RLC, float rp23, XTR rapidfire shifters, XT/XTR drivetrain, XT brakes, Mavic 717s Easton carbon 70 series post and bars. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line I love this bike. I have been really impressed with it thus far and I just have a few issues. I personally would have liked to see tubeless rims, So i'll be switching to Stans z355s eventually, and I hate XT disc brakes. No modulation what so ever, noisey when wet, I just hate them. Carbon on rear triangle scratches easy. Only frame complaint would be that I feel like my ground clearance sucks. I dont know if its a low BB or long cranks, the cranks don't feel long but I constantly bang my pedals into stuff I feel like I should clear easily. Otherwise High speed low drag.
This bike feels really stiff and comes with a great suspension package that can be tuned to however you like to ride. great balance, great cornering bike works for me not against me. Its pretty light, I havent weighed it but I don't think its as light as I expected. I think with a new wheel set I'll be content. The paint is absolutely beautiful, Great looking bike..Really for the price the bike is well worth the money, I'll probably dump a little more into brakes and wheels/hubs by the end of the summer but thats just me being picky. I'm a small guy, 125lbs but I ride this thing very hard, I'm very impressed when hitting multiple small drops consecutively then rising up a steep rooty, rocky up hills over and over all day for hours on end with no issues. I'm happy with the drive train too... about 70 miles of early spring riding before I needed at tune up... I switched to XTR rapid fires and I bang through gears constantly with no drive train faults whatsoever. 4 chilis on value because I had a few months of delay without CS contacting me about the delays. Had to find out by calling them about a week after my bike should have been to me both times.. not cool for a custom order 3500 dollar bike. 200 dollars worth of riding gear was an acceptable apology though. 4 on overall because I personally think XC bikes at this level should come tubeless and I really hate those brakes, I'm seeing a lot of XC bikes with a bend in the top tube to allow them to bring up the BB for better ground clearance, maybe I know why now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dustin
a Racer
from Pemberton
Date Reviewed: October 27, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Cream Puff | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3900.00 | | Purchased At: | Snowcovers | | Strengths: | Suspension that doesn't bob when you climb hills, component selection | | Weaknesses: | weight, could be a little lighter, the 2007 is 3 pounds lighter. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS1 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | sweet bike for the price you pay. Rocky is a great brand and has excellent support if you need it. great climbing bike, altough it could be a bit lighter, it still climbs great and descends really well. i highly recommend this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dustin
a Racer
from Pemberton, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Kill Me, Thrill Me | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | www.Snowcovers.com | | Strengths: | Nice fork set up, wheels are bomb proof, no pedal bob | | Weaknesses: | A little too heavy, but check out next years element, they made it 4 pounds lighter!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS 1 | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except with Maxxis Crossmark tires | | Bottom Line: | Nice bike, climbs like a dream, can handle the toughest downhill trails that you can throw at it. Rocky does a really good job at designing their bikes and getting rider input. No problems what so ever with the bike. Wicked bike!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Strengths: | rides like butter and handles heavy/hard stuff much more than i ever thought an xc racer could. nice and light as well. haven't really noticed much bob either. | | Weaknesses: | tires could be a bit nicer. | | Similar Products Used: | fuel 100 | | Bike Setup: | mine's a 2004...stock, except for a marzocchi marathon sl fork, xtr front der, deore rear, alex vectra rims & hubs | | Bottom Line: | i got a steal of a deal on it and have been grateful ever since. i couldn't have asked for a nicer soft tail for the price. warranty servicing has been perfect and respectable. no complaints here. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesse
a Cross Country Rider
from Selinsgrove, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Blue Marsh Lake, PA & Roaring Creek, PA | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Rides like a dream, pedal bob is very minimal with the FOX RP3. Comes stock with a FOX F100X Terralogic fork, a pretty badass peice of equipemnt. Handmade with great care, great paint job, inhouse handbuilt wheels. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't had any with the bike itself. The XT disc brakes rub when wet. | | Similar Products Used: | Have riden: Cannondale Rush, Prophet, and Scaplel. Titus Racer-X. Titus makes a great bike, but best bang for the buck has to be the Rocky. | | Bike Setup: | Full XT, with disc. Race Face Dues, Fox F100X, Easton EA70 bar stem and seatpost. Fully stock except for tires, usually run Conti Explorer pros, IRC Mythos, Panaracer Smoke | | Bottom Line: | For the price paid the Element 70 offers some primo componentry for the dollar amount. For Pennsylvania cross country this bike is great. Handles decents with ease and rock gardens are a breeze. It also climbs like a dream. I didn't really notice the differance over my hardtail. Granted I could have sold my soul to Satan to afford to build a better bike, but I couln't be happier with the Element 70. 5 Chilis for value, 4 Chilis for overall because I feel like the disc brakes could function a little better (but lets be serious I think all brands of discs could) and I'm still not sure about the Shimano Dual Control. Rocky should offer a model with all non-Shimano components. My Bottom Line is if you are looking for a full suspension cross-country ride at check this bike out. Take the time to review the company to learn about the great care they take in building bikes and the history behind them. www.bikes.com | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Austin
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pinhotti North, Dalton, Georgia | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Sid Cycles, NYC | | Strengths: | Quality of build, Durability of paint, Reliable suspension pivots, Quality suspension travel. Excellent slow speed technical handling traits. | | Weaknesses: | Weak shock to swingarm mount bolt. Broke the bolt an average of 2 times a year x 6 years. Ran pump pressures anywhere from 275 to 180 psi. | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed Pisgah (own it), Klein Attitude Race (own it) | | Bike Setup: | Fox air shock, Marzocchi front fork, XTR/XT. | | Bottom Line: | Rode this bike design for SEVEN YEARS. Mine is called ELEMENT RACE and bought it in 1998, two years after Rocky Mountain came out with the 3D linkage design. I believe my bike is about the level of an Element 90. My faithful frame finally developed a hairline crack at the weld between the headtube and downtube. During my six-year experience the bike had refined suspension travel, good for soaking up fast rock and root hits from aggressive cross-country riding. The bike also excells in slow to moderate speed technical trail negotiations on trails with tight turns and rocky terrain with the bike's low center of gravity. There is definitely still some pedaling bob that's worse during climbs, but not so much as to be annoying, but compared to my hardtail, it certainly takes away from the "crisp" feeling of power transfer. The Element climbs well but not as well as my Litespeed hardtail even in technical climbs, but overall, in rocky rooty terrain, it's the Element is effortlessly faster.
The Element definitely is more fun to ride. I've not rode my Klein or Litespeed for 8 months until I had to because of the crack in the Rocky. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Price
a Cross Country Rider
from Mammoth Lakes
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | John's Trail Park City UT | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Salt Lake City | | Strengths: | Nice and light, strong, customer support, hand made, not made in Taiwan. Great XC race bike, light on uphills able to handle all XC type drops. | | Weaknesses: | Deraileur Hangers are terrible, in my last 24 hour race I bent 2 of them in 20 miles. Several of my friends with RM have had the same problem. The DH are nice and light aluminum, and it probably save my bike, deraileur, but I seem to bend alot of them. Order them in bulk 6 or more at at time from your shop. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale hardtail, Giant Reign | | Bike Setup: | Stock except upgraded easton carbon bars, changed out seat after I wore out the one that came with the bike. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, fast light strong, deraileur hangers are needed in bulk from RM. Little pricey compared to some of the machine made Taiwan bikes like giant. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Conner
a Racer
from Highlands Ranch, Co, USA
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Peaks Trail, | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Pedelar | | Strengths: | Fast fast fast.. My RM has helped me to improve my best times on nearly every trail I train on. This is my second full suspension bike my first is a Gary Fisher Sugar 2+ Disc and I love that bike but it feels slow and sluggish now when I ride it. I know that my RM weighing only 25.5 lbs is a major plus, that is 5 lbs less then my Sugar. The Fox 3p rear shock with pro pedal allows me to get excellent hook up on the trail giving me great power in the climbs and flats. The Fox Forx 100x is light weight and stays locked out when I want it to and becomes fully active and plush when I need it. The full XT on this bike performs so well under all conditions: Dry, wet, Race, recreation I am super happy with this bike. I have to give five flaming chilies to the way the design team set up the RM Element. Thank You RM | | Weaknesses: | The only thing jury is stillout on is the stock tires yes they are light weight but the front tire at least is not my favorit . | | Similar Products Used: | I have road many Gary Fisher Sugar, Specialized M5 and Enduro, Yeti, Titus. I have been able to ride on all of these other bikes and I am still not disappointed I went with RM. | | Bike Setup: | All stock right know I did trim the handle bars and seat post down. Oh yea and I put Time pedals on in place of the egg beaters. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is this bike is a great price point for the quality of the frame and the XT set up. I have lots of friends who paid more and got lesser quality components. Or spent the dough for XTR and XTR is nice but my bike is the same weight or with in one pound of there’s and the paid at least $1000 more. It's up to you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Walker
a
from Sonoma CA
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Skyline Napa CA | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycle madness napa | | Strengths: | Just about everything | | Weaknesses: | Hutchinson tires didn't grip slopes well
Replaced them and got more comfortable seat | | Bike Setup: | Stock
| | Bottom Line: | I used my back up Giant Sedona while the RM was in the shop. It really made the RM shine in every area. Of course older bike and huge price difference. Time to trash the Giant. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Quebec' rider
a Weekend Warrior
from Québec
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | La Gondoleuse | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | The rear supension react so well under many condition. It nerver pump without reason and help me to climb. The suspension is very plush, confortable and racing... it an all-in-one! | | Weaknesses: | Quality of the tire are discutable. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Cake 1Dlx, Specialized Enduro, Trek Liquid | | Bike Setup: | Stock except the tire now Tioga Blue Dragon w/ High Energy!!! | | Bottom Line: | It's a realy great bike. The price is a little bike higher than other companie but the finition is superb. The frame is reacting so well under hard braking, climbong or heavy descend. One of the most complete bike I ever had. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ronald de Jong
a Cross Country Rider
from Ljubljana
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Krvavec, Lago di Garda, Rasica | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | S-Tec | | Strengths: | Rigid Frame, Well balanced, good climbbike | | Weaknesses: | I am 1.71 meter and the 18" was too big, so I got the 16,5" which is much smaller; the difference is too big. I should have a 17,3"... | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 90 Disc, other Treks hardtail | | Bike Setup: | Mavic Crossmax XL, Michelin Comp Pro UST, Fox Forx RLC80, Complete XTR, complete Ritchey WCR, Selle Italia Gel Flow, Ciclosport HAC4 and a black bell | | Bottom Line: | Friends had already the RM Element, the changes on the 2004 frame are a real upgrade (100mm travel, sealed industrial bearings, etc). This was the best option.
The stiff frame (what you can experience when the lockout the shox) makes climbing much easier. However the 100 mm travel gives you enough to downhill a steep rocky trail on full speed. A good combination of Cross Country!
Until now 'my dreambike', didn't let me down yet, but I bought it 2 months ago... With this investment/set up it must last without problems.
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Submitted by
joe reed
a Cross Country Rider
from usa
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Strengths: | EVERYTHING THE BIKE ROCKS CLIMBS GREAT AND IS SUPER FAST | | Weaknesses: | THE PYTHON TIRES REPLACED WITH RICHEY Z_MAX A LITTLE PRICEY BUT WORTH IT | | Similar Products Used: | ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATOS | | Bike Setup: | STOCK XT EVERTHING | | Bottom Line: | FANTASTIC BIKE YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED ROCKY MAKES A FINE PRODUCT GREAT FOR THE NOVICE MOUNTAIN BIKER THAT IS NOT AFRAID OF SPEED. GREAT ACCELERATION SHIFTS GREAT AT ANY SPEED. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glenn
a Cross Country Rider
from Coto de Caza, CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Luge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3900.00 | | Purchased At: | Free Ride | | Strengths: | Efficient cross country bike-everyone who sees the bike falls in love with it-great welds, design and paint job. Light, and climbs extremely well. Fox Propedal shock is great-don't even need the lock out. Upgraded components to all XTR. Fox fork is great-soaks up the bumps and no bob due to Terralogic valve technology. | | Weaknesses: | It's a cross country bike, so it doesn't manage the extreme downhill stuff as efficiently since the bike's angles are a bit steep-but this is expected. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Paragon hardtail. Considered the SC Blur and Ellsworth Truth, but was sold on the Rocky Mountain. | | Bike Setup: | All XTR disk. Fox F100X cross country fork. Laser V Ti seat is great. Easton Monkey Lite carbon bar, Tomson seat post. I'm 5'10", 190 lbs. and the 18" frame with 110mm stem is perfect. | | Bottom Line: | A real fun ride. Handles the So. CA trails well. Light weight makes this an excellent choice for XC and climbing. Downhill capabilities are decent. Tracks the trails great. A beautiful machine that's a blast to ride! Free Ride did a great job of setting up the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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