[adub78]

My '25 element is now complete. Went with the new xtr (why it took so long to get built up), roval control sl wheels, transfer sl post, next sl cranks, xtr pedals, 2.35 ikons, trail lever with race calipers and the 9-45 cassette. Came in fully built up at 23.5 lbs with mount, pedals, bottle cage, sealant, etc. Pretty stoked on the build. I had a '22 as well and it was great, might have been a bit more forgiving on the rr end as it had a dps and this new one has a float sl. Will change out the air shaft to a 130mm stroke once those are available. 120mm as it is right now.

 

[cwoodffr]

sweet!

 

[mmarkey]

I dig it!

Anyone know if a 210 oneup dropper worked for them on a large 2024/25 frame?

 

[padrefan1982]

I dig it!

Anyone know if a 210 oneup dropper worked for them on a large 2024/25 frame?

Based on the Rocky manual, the 210 One Up wouldn’t fit entirely in the large frame, unless my math is really off right now. It’s gonna depend a lot on your personal preference for saddle height for sure— you should be able to use the the info in the links + your saddle height to get a pretty solid answer/guess.

I’m running a 240 in my XL with some post still exposed. I‘ve run 2 OneUp posts on my two Elements as long as I’ve owned them as the stock Toonie @ 170mm was too short for my leg extension. No problems with either V2 or V3 post—although the V3 seems to be a bit snappier and needs les attention paid to it.

 

[newuser12345]

My '25 element is now complete. Went with the new xtr (why it took so long to get built up), roval control sl wheels, transfer sl post, next sl cranks, xtr pedals, 2.35 ikons, trail lever with race calipers and the 9-45 cassette. Came in fully built up at 23.5 lbs with mount, pedals, bottle cage, sealant, etc. Pretty stoked on the build. I had a '22 as well and it was great, might have been a bit more forgiving on the rr end as it had a dps and this new one has a float sl. Will change out the air shaft to a 130mm stroke once those are available. 120mm as it is right now. View attachment 2150781 View attachment 2150782 View attachment 2150783 View attachment 2150784 View attachment 2150785 View attachment 2150786

This is so cool. How does it compare to the '22?

 

[adub78]

This is so cool. How does it compare to the '22?

This is so cool. How does it compare to the '22?

The 25 is a little snappier, little sharper. The 22 felt like the rr end had a bit more to it, but that version that I had did not have the float sl, so I think that makes this guy a little tighter. The 130mm air shaft will bring the front end up a bit and make it feel closer geo wise to that last version, but everything about this rig so far is coming up thrillhouse. Really like the platform and they weight they've cut is great. I've saved 1.5lbs over the last version and the bike is no less capable.

 

[rfxc]

The 25 is a little snappier, little sharper. The 22 felt like the rr end had a bit more to it, but that version that I had did not have the float sl, so I think that makes this guy a little tighter. The 130mm air shaft will bring the front end up a bit and make it feel closer geo wise to that last version, but everything about this rig so far is coming up thrillhouse. Really like the platform and they weight they've cut is great. I've saved 1.5lbs over the last version and the bike is no less capable.

Did you get a direct comparison of frame weight between your '22 and '25?

 

[adub78]

Yup. 23.5 lbs for '25 model and 25 lbs for '22 model

 

[rfxc]

Yup. 23.5 lbs for '25 model and 25 lbs for '22 model

Frame weights?

 

[adub78]

Frame weights?

Just check the site. I didn't weigh the frame nude but they say 350 grams lighter I think.

 

[rfxc]

Just check the site. I didn't weigh the frame nude but they say 350 grams lighter I think.

I've read the site and the claimed weight improvements... was just looking for a real world actual weight comparison of old vs new frame. Not a big deal.

 

[Sucker Punch]

I'm in a bit of a pickle and would like some feedback from Element users who have gone down this same rabbit hole.

I picked up my '24 Element earlier this year and I have yet to quite find a set up where I get that 'shrink-wrapped' feeling around the bike. I haven't found a setup where I feel truly in sync with the bike. The front end feels a little vague in loose conditions, and it's not as lively a climber as I anticipated. Everyone talks about the climbing traction but I'm not experiencing this feeling. Up steep terrain it's way more work than a 120mm bike should be. I don't feel centered in the bike, but more rearward when seated, even with the saddle pushed forward. Which is odd considering the geo.

I've tried it in all 4 settings, and anything but the slackest setting has me feeling perched on top of the bike, rather than in it. I've tried a 50mm stem and a 40mm stem. Saddle forward and back. I have the stem slammed with a PNW 25mm riser bar and when I'm standing and mashing it feels like the bars are still not where I want them. I'm even trying it out with a 140mm Fox 36 to see if that makes any difference. On the Fox 34 it was set up at (if I recall correctly) at 82psi and the Fox Float shock is at 185. Both get me around 25% sag.

For reference, I'm a tick over 5'11" with long legs and short torso, 165 lbs and ride a large. I have a Kona Honzo with a 460mm reach and a Reeb SST also with a 460mm reach, and both bikes fit just right. Normally I get a bike dialed within a couple rides, but for some reason this bike is giving me fits. I bought it thinking it would be a capable XC bike. I don't know why people keep calling this an XC bike. It's a short travel trail bike.

Anyhoo, feedback appreciated and maybe there's some set up tricks I may have missed.

 

[calgarydave]

I'm 5'11" with comparatively long arms and short legs, riding a large '22 Element. Given your other bikes have a 460mm reach perhaps a medium with the seatpost jacked up would better suit you.

 

[mmarkey]

It’s definitely not an XC bike. It’s a trail bike that can veer into the XC realm if you build it up light and fast.

Either way, most XC bikes I’ve ridden have a bit of that on top and not in the bike feel. The Spur is the only one out of the ‘25 Element, ‘2024 Epic Evo, and Spur that I felt more “in the bike”.

 

[cliclismo]

I’m on an XL (189cm, 220lbs, long torso) and been playing around with lots of different setups recently. Here my take for what it’s worth.

- Neutral or Steep both feel pretty balanced. I’m running Steep for XCM and Neutral (with the seat forward) for every day.

- Slack feels much more disjointed and not that fun tbh. The ST got too slack and I had to run the saddle fully slammed forward. Nice for point and shoot downs, but climbed way worse. I’d also want to change the suspension set up and probably a shorter crank (on 170s) with this setting making it not really usefull as a parking lot adjustment.

- I’m running a 55mm stem and 10mm of spacers on a 10mm rise bar. I’d prefer to run it slammed but the controls would hit the top tube. Overall I found that t rides better with narrower bars (currently 750).

- Balancing the the suspension from and back has been more finicky than other bike I’ve had. I’m running 260 in the rear and 85-90 in the front and still feel like there’s a bit of rearward bias. Probably going to add a rear volume spacer.

I’d say climbing traction has been excellent (in Steep or Neutral) in both Open and Medium shock settings. A bit forward on the saddle helps too.









[/QUOTE]

 

[Sucker Punch]

Thanks for the feedback. I run a 760 bar on all my bikes (even my townie). For some reason on this bike I feel like 760 is too narrow. I've tried the bars higher with more stem spacers, but then I can't keep the front end down on climbs. I'd go with a lower rise bar if I could find another bar with a 10 degree sweep. I love the PNW bars. I tried an SQlab bar with a 12 degree sweep I had laying around but the steering gets way too twitchy with a higher degree of sweep. And I'm already running a 170mm crank.

Maybe I'll try a bit more pressure in the shock in the neutral setting again but move the saddle way more forward. Raising the ride height decreases seat tube angle, so I'm not sure how that will help with balance. It's already a little stiff feeling at 185 psi. I think what @calgarydave said is likely what I'll need to do. Shorter reaches have always been my preference. 460-470 is kind of my jam. In which case I'd need to find a different frame if I can't get this bike sorted out.

I’m on an XL (189cm, 220lbs, long torso) and been playing around with lots of different setups recently. Here my take for what it’s worth.

- Neutral or Steep both feel pretty balanced. I’m running Steep for XCM and Neutral (with the seat forward) for every day.

- Slack feels much more disjointed and not that fun tbh. The ST got too slack and I had to run the saddle fully slammed forward. Nice for point and shoot downs, but climbed way worse. I’d also want to change the suspension set up and probably a shorter crank (on 170s) with this setting making it not really usefull as a parking lot adjustment.

- I’m running a 55mm stem and 10mm of spacers on a 10mm rise bar. I’d prefer to run it slammed but the controls would hit the top tube. Overall I found that t rides better with narrower bars (currently 750).

- Balancing the the suspension from and back has been more finicky than other bike I’ve had. I’m running 260 in the rear and 85-90 in the front and still feel like there’s a bit of rearward bias. Probably going to add a rear volume spacer.

I’d say climbing traction has been excellent (in Steep or Neutral) in both Open and Medium shock settings. A bit forward on the saddle helps too.

[/QUOTE]

 

[DETarch]

Either way, most XC bikes I’ve ridden have a bit of that on top and not in the bike feel. The Spur is the only one out of the ‘25 Element, ‘2024 Epic Evo, and Spur that I felt more “in the bike”.

Agree with this, I've had all 3 of those bikes as well, and have had the same experience of in/on bike feel between them. On the flip side, the Spur was the least efficient of the 3 (though still a very lively bike in the grand scheme of things!).

- Neutral or Steep both feel pretty balanced. I’m running Steep for XCM and Neutral (with the seat forward) for every day.

- Balancing the the suspension from and back has been more finicky than other bike I’ve had. I’m running 260 in the rear and 85-90 in the front and still feel like there’s a bit of rearward bias. Probably going to add a rear volume spacer.

I’d say climbing traction has been excellent (in Steep or Neutral) in both Open and Medium shock settings. A bit forward on the saddle helps too.

Also agree here. Similarly, on an XL and ride almost exclusively in the steep setting. Been considering a larger volume rear shock spacer as well.

 

[Sucker Punch]

In the steep setting it extends the reach even further adding to the vague front end feeling. I have a friend who's only an inch taller than me and has an XL Element, who has no issues at all with front end feel. Everyone is different I guess.

Agree with this, I've had all 3 of those bikes as well, and have had the same experience of in/on bike feel between them. On the flip side, the Spur was the least efficient of the 3 (though still a very lively bike in the grand scheme of things!).



Also agree here. Similarly, on an XL and ride almost exclusively in the steep setting. Been considering a larger volume rear shock spacer as well.

 

[Sucker Punch]

Well this bike keeps vexing me. I made more changes. Went back to the neutral setting, pushed the saddle all the way forward, added 10psi to the shock, backed off the rebound, and with the 140mm fork it feels far better. Apparently this bike needs a lot more support from the shock than any other bike I've ridden. I assumed by raising the rear, along with a longer fork the bike would have me feeling waaaay on top of the bike. Quite the opposite.

It makes sense that it struggled on climbs since it was squatting with the shock set up I was running. Now the front end is more planted and it climbs much better. Even cleaned some tech climbs that usually put up a bigger fight. Total head scratcher, this bike.

 

[newuser12345]

Well this bike keeps vexing me. I made more changes. Went back to the neutral setting, pushed the saddle all the way forward, added 10psi to the shock, backed off the rebound, and with the 140mm fork it feels far better. Apparently this bike needs a lot more support from the shock than any other bike I've ridden. I assumed by raising the rear, along with a longer fork the bike would have me feeling waaaay on top of the bike. Quite the opposite.

It makes sense that it struggled on climbs since it was squatting with the shock set up I was running. Now the front end is more planted and it climbs much better. Even cleaned some tech climbs that usually put up a bigger fight. Total head scratcher, this bike.

Lol this is just classic Rocky leverage curve stuff. They really do need to fix the first part of their leverage curves across all their bikes IMO. There's just not enough mid stroke support. Basically as a rule, if a Rocky feels like **** add another 20 psi and the problems probably go away but at least in my experience, you have to ditch the volume spacers to make the shock run more linear. Otherwise you end up with too small a range of travel. With the element and a DPS, I could never get the combo right. It just always felt like trash until I put a Float X and then a float on. Larger air can, no volume spacers, more linear shock, higher PSI, lots of compression damping, and position 4 (steep) with a 140mm fork and angleset. I swear to god this is the most insanely awesome bike ever. But just took a bit of figuring out. And it's pretty much the same formula with all of their bikes in my experience.