A bit of a theoretical question but, with all the latest 'down-country' bikes (Yeti SB100, Pivot Trail 429, etc.) does anyone see Rocky producing either a 'beefier' version of the Element or 'lighter trail' version of the Instinct? I ride an Instinct A70 and love it for the mix of burly trails I ride but I still think I could get away with less travel and a lighter bike on most of what I ride. I have been tempted by an Element a few times now as I am moving more toward XC/Trail and stage race/marathon events, and if I did, i would look to perhaps throw a 130mm fork on front, just for a slightly slacker front end. The 'old "BC Element" used to distinguish itself from the regular model with a longer travel fork but not on the new ones.
Any chance of XC/Trail version of Instinct in 2020?
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No chance unless it comes as an early release 2021. Also, in 2017 Rocky Mountain made all of their bikes going forward "BC Editions". Old platform instincts got overforked and bigger wheels, all Elements except XCO (which wasn't around in '17 anyway) got bigger forks, altitude came out with 36es across the lineup.
New BC editions seem to run longer travel now, which I'm not sure how that would go for an element.
The Element is the original downcountry bike.
So part of the reason I love rocky mountain is you can go down the "super not approved by rocky mountain" rabbit hole. The current Element runs a 6.5x1.5 shock, which is approximately 165x38 in metric. 165x40,42.5, and 45 are all sizes that exist. So, theoretically, you could use an OEM spec rear shock at let's say 165x42.5 and make your OWN BC edition element. You'd be looking at somewhere in the realm of a little over 110 rear travel. Exact number is unknown because you can't 100% math it out as the axle path is unpredictable outside the intended range. IF a big bottom out event didn't cause a reasonably sized tire to slam in to your seat tube, you could totally run a shock like this and not alter the stock geometry given the same eye to eye.
Moveover, Elements run zero stack headsets, meaning that there's a press in cup. What that means for you is that you can totally run a angleset in the frame. Anglesets will slacken the head angle while lowering the BB, shortening reach, and steepening the STA. You can use this as a tool along side fork travel and ride-9 to create a super unique Element that is the epitome of 2019 downcountry.
Given that they've played the longer shock size game with the Altitude, Thunderbolt, AND Instinct, they've probably tested it and maybe their product manager will come in here and tell me I'm an idiot. They do browse this forum.
New BC editions seem to run longer travel now, which I'm not sure how that would go for an element.
The Element is the original downcountry bike.
So part of the reason I love rocky mountain is you can go down the "super not approved by rocky mountain" rabbit hole. The current Element runs a 6.5x1.5 shock, which is approximately 165x38 in metric. 165x40,42.5, and 45 are all sizes that exist. So, theoretically, you could use an OEM spec rear shock at let's say 165x42.5 and make your OWN BC edition element. You'd be looking at somewhere in the realm of a little over 110 rear travel. Exact number is unknown because you can't 100% math it out as the axle path is unpredictable outside the intended range. IF a big bottom out event didn't cause a reasonably sized tire to slam in to your seat tube, you could totally run a shock like this and not alter the stock geometry given the same eye to eye.
Moveover, Elements run zero stack headsets, meaning that there's a press in cup. What that means for you is that you can totally run a angleset in the frame. Anglesets will slacken the head angle while lowering the BB, shortening reach, and steepening the STA. You can use this as a tool along side fork travel and ride-9 to create a super unique Element that is the epitome of 2019 downcountry.
Given that they've played the longer shock size game with the Altitude, Thunderbolt, AND Instinct, they've probably tested it and maybe their product manager will come in here and tell me I'm an idiot. They do browse this forum.
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The standard Element has a 120mm front and 100m rear travel, that with the Ride9 is all you need to slack it out without giving up the pedaling efficiency of a down-country bike. The BC Bike Race is chock-a-block full of Elements as it was developed as an ideal BC down-country bike. The thing with the Rocky Smooth Link suspension is that it does feel bottomless, so unless you're doing jumps and drops, that travel could be enough. Unless you're riding Enduro courses, the Element is likely the thing you want in a 29" bike.
If you want more of a mini-Enduro bike (Enduro country? Cross-Enduro?), then go for the Thunderbolt with 130mm travel F/R.
If you want more of a mini-Enduro bike (Enduro country? Cross-Enduro?), then go for the Thunderbolt with 130mm travel F/R.
Thanks fellas and you're both spot-on re the Element. The BC Bike Race is (fingers crossed - had to cancel twice due to illness first time, then herniated disc?!) the end-game for this potential build so I might just look at that. And yep, rockyuphill, had also thought of the Thunderbolt, mainly due to my local training trails being full of small drop-offs, rock ledges, although nothing that would scare an Element, really.
No, slackening with ride-9 and a longer travel fork will both slacken STA AND HTA as well as a number of various other things (longer fork raises BB, ride-9 lowers it, etc).
Anglesets are kinda odd because they actually pivot the fork in the frame, tilting the top of the handlebars and the top of the seat towards each other. Shortens reach and slightly steepens HTA. It helps to think of the entire front triangle as a single unit. If you had a diagram in front of you it would be pretty clear.
If you combined ALL of these things together you'd end up with a crazy slack element with a tiny little reach. Haha!
Anglesets are kinda odd because they actually pivot the fork in the frame, tilting the top of the handlebars and the top of the seat towards each other. Shortens reach and slightly steepens HTA. It helps to think of the entire front triangle as a single unit. If you had a diagram in front of you it would be pretty clear.
If you combined ALL of these things together you'd end up with a crazy slack element with a tiny little reach. Haha!
As j-t-g mentioned it doesnt, but also the STA on the Element is super steep anyway so even with a 130mm front fork rather than an Angleset the STA would still be close to 74 degrees in the slack setting. (74.2 degrees with a 120mm fork in Pos.1) while giving you close to a 68.2 degree HTA.
The Element is pretty amazing. It rides like it has way more travel than it actually does. I havent tried it, but I reckon a 130mm front fork would make it s pretty awesome All Mountain bike. Potentially the front end could end up a little high, but nothing running a flat bar couldnt help mitigate. I run mine with the 10mm cup from an Instinct and the 100mm front fork (Basically as the XCO is spec'd) and think it rides miles better than with the 120mm fork, Just seems a lot more "planted" and balanced front/rear.
It handles most of the double blacks at our bike park. the bigger drops stretch it a little, and you do have to be a little more conservative speed wis down steeper techy stuff without the slack HTA, but I enjoy riding it down techy stuff more than my Slayer, albeit slower (not much though) and with more concern over line choice.
The Instinct rides just as nice or nicer than 130mm bikes out there. I tried a bunch and ended up picking the Instinct. The instinct climbs great and handles the descends a lot better.
RM already has a XC bike. I'm not sure what people are looking for when they say they want a Trail Instinct. It is a trail bike.
I could see a 120mm version, but the more I think about it, the less sense it makes with how well the Instinct already covers that and more with 140mm.
RM already has a XC bike. I'm not sure what people are looking for when they say they want a Trail Instinct. It is a trail bike.
I could see a 120mm version, but the more I think about it, the less sense it makes with how well the Instinct already covers that and more with 140mm.
Yeah, I agree with Boston_29 re the Instinct being a trail bike already but my question really was a result of all the new 'down-country/aggressive XC bikes coming from other brands and whether RM would follow this trend as well. Santa Cruz is probably the most obvious example re Tallboy, Hightower and Megatower. Not saying Rocky has to 'follow' - its bikes are already great (why I own one I guess) but I reckon j-t-g has it nailed re the Instinct moving to a more aggressive offering - as seen in that since removed social post from our Aussie distributor down here, that showed what looked like the BC Edition being available in a number of model specs - thus maybe (and still a big maybe) making room for a Tallboy/SB100/Trail 429 competitor. Anyway, will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months - a good time to be a mountain biker regardless!
i currently own an element c70 and just recently used it on the BCBR. I also own a Ripley LS and have owned every Tallboy version to date. The element may be my fave bike, and of course this comes down to the type of trails i ride and fit. The Ripley LS is an awesome bike but i feel like the element fits me better etc. Having said all that i am looking at my next bike and it may be an instinct ( unless they go with more travel on the 2020) but if they do introduce a 120mm travel Element i would be all over it. Rocky makes a great bike and the element has approx 2500km on it with no issues or hickups. I also appreciate the way Rocky supports events like the BCBR. The problem i have with some of the newer bikes is the super long reach which does make it tougher on the tight switchbacks where i ride......I rode the SB100 and SB 130 and they just felt a bit new too new school for my liking. I would be super excited to see Rocky make a longer travel element or slightly shorter travel Instinct. if they dont ill keep my element and add an instinct - on sale at my local LBS right now
Well... I was more discussing what's going to happen for 2022, which is when I'm guessing the instinct platform will get an update. 2021 if we're lucky. Given how updates seem to go I'd guess that there's no "BC Edition" and the regular instinct becomes somewhere in between the current BC edition and the regular one. This would give a lot of room for a bike in the 120-130mm realm.
There's a few more options for BC editions in 2020, yes, but it doesn't come at the expense of regular instincts. There's a slight expansion there too.
I'm guessing we'll have to see an element replacement either mid year 2020 or officially 2021, likewise Altitude given the age of these platforms. It's not that there's anything particularly wrong or outdated with either, but you know how people are. I'm sure their sales are declining in these models given their age.
There's a few more options for BC editions in 2020, yes, but it doesn't come at the expense of regular instincts. There's a slight expansion there too.
I'm guessing we'll have to see an element replacement either mid year 2020 or officially 2021, likewise Altitude given the age of these platforms. It's not that there's anything particularly wrong or outdated with either, but you know how people are. I'm sure their sales are declining in these models given their age.
Yep, sorry mate I was agreeing with your comment with that in mind regarding the next round of updates for 2020/21. And you're spot-on: there's nothing wrong with either/any of the bikes we've been chatting about (I love my beefy Instinct A70) but I am also - sometimes - subject to the 'want' factor. Well, at least until i see the pricing!
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Longtime and multiple Rocky owner (1996 Blizzard to 2014 Element), first time caller.
I'm getting the itch for a new ride and think a combo of the two MTB's I currently own would be the sweet spot. I have a 2014 Element 999 that I converted to a BC edition (120mm fork, dropper, 1x11 w/45t OneUp'd XTR cassette) for BCBR. The other ride is a 2014 SC 5010 (27.5", 130r/140f RS Pike, 1x11). If those two made a baby now featuring 29" wheels, 130r/140f, 34-35mm stanchions, 67-68.5* HA (w/Ride9), 75* SA, and 12spd Shimano drivetrain it would sell. Oh, and a red/white maple leaf paint job please. Call it an updated version of a 2017 Instinct BC Edition, an Element on steroids, or a 29er Thunderbolt.
Right now it looks like the new Pivot 429Trail hits closest to that mark. Do any others come to mind?
I'm getting the itch for a new ride and think a combo of the two MTB's I currently own would be the sweet spot. I have a 2014 Element 999 that I converted to a BC edition (120mm fork, dropper, 1x11 w/45t OneUp'd XTR cassette) for BCBR. The other ride is a 2014 SC 5010 (27.5", 130r/140f RS Pike, 1x11). If those two made a baby now featuring 29" wheels, 130r/140f, 34-35mm stanchions, 67-68.5* HA (w/Ride9), 75* SA, and 12spd Shimano drivetrain it would sell. Oh, and a red/white maple leaf paint job please. Call it an updated version of a 2017 Instinct BC Edition, an Element on steroids, or a 29er Thunderbolt.
Right now it looks like the new Pivot 429Trail hits closest to that mark. Do any others come to mind?
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In it's steepest Ride9 setting the HA is 67*, too slack for my liking. If the Ride9 offered 67*-68.5* I'd be on one. The red/white on the 2020 model does look sweet.
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