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Today’s Deals2015 Rocky Mountain
Thunderbolt 730
A 27.5″ aluminum frame full suspension trail bike with upper mid-range components.
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Manufacturer Price
$2,499| Frame | Aluminum |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Full, 120 / 120mm |
| Fork | X-Fusion VELVET |
| Shock | Fox |
| Wheels | 27.5″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 3 × 10 |
| Groupset | XT, Deore |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc |
5'1" – 5'6"
5'4" – 5'9"
5'7" – 6'0"
5'10" – 6'3"
6'0" – 6'5"
🐐 Estimated
None yet.
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Summary
The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt is a versatile trail bike praised for its lightning-fast handling, efficient suspension, and customizable RIDE-9 geometry. It excels in climbing and offers a playful, aggressive ride, though some reviews note limitations in more technical or aggressive downhill terrain. The bike's lightweight carbon frame and adjustable features make it a favorite among riders seeking a balance between cross-country efficiency and trail capability.
Lightning-fast handling and precision
Efficient suspension and excellent climbing traction
Customizable RIDE-9 geometry for personalized ride
Lightweight carbon frame with durable construction
Versatile for various riding styles and terrains
Limited travel for aggressive downhill riding
Some models may require frequent maintenance
High price tag for top-end models
This is saying a lot, as the array of bikes we rode in this year’s test was, pound for pound, the strongest bunch in The Bible of Bike Tests’ six-year history.
BIKE MagazineThe Rocky’s suspension is efficient when climbing and offers excellent traction, but it’s active during out of the saddle exertions.
BikerumorEqually at home on long, technical climbs as it is flowy singletrack descents, it’ll have you powering through the rough stuff and popping off every trail feature you lay eyes on.
Dirt MountainbikeFeedback?
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Nov 2016
Don’t let its ‘mere’ 120mm of rear wheel travel or its ‘small’ 27.5″ wheels deceive you – this is a barn-burner of a trail bike.
Sep 2016 · JC Canfield
The second year of the Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt BC Edition provides us a bike that defies traditional spec and provides adjustable geometry, designed for riders who are looking to push the boundaries of XC. This beefed up version of the Thunderbolt begged to be pushed to its limits. So for two months I sought the ends of the bike’s capability on everything from mellow out-and-back loops to terrain some might deem as “a bad idea” with a short travel bike. I was searching to answer the question of whether this is an XC bike with trail chops, or more of a well rounded trail-slayer, ready to take on the whole mountain. Primarily designed for XC riding, the souped up BC Edition spec includes a pair of 2.4” Maxxis Ardents, Race Face Next carbon bars and a custom-valved Rock Shox Monarch RT3 putting the overall build a little over 26 pounds, which is stupidly light for a bike categorized as “trail.”
Jul 2016 · Christoph Bayer
As the trail bike storm brews, it’s time to set the scales and verify if the Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt BC Edition lives up the brand’s high standards.
Mar 2016 · Danny Milner
The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt BC Edition is an aggressively specced short-travel ripper that we tested on home turf in Canada
With so little mass, it’s easy to chuck about. Black on black build-kit is super-slick
Front end needs to grow by at least 20mm. Suspension performance held back by bushing friction
Jun 2015 · Saris Mercanti
A few years ago when 29ers where still as widely misunderstood as fat bikes, there was a trend of building up mini DH bikes out of four inch travel slopestyle bikes. Those bikes were (and are) about the most the fun you could have on a trail, but they were terrible for racking up miles. …
May 2015 · McCoy
It’ll flow through any section of trail with the right amount of finesse and confidence
Jan 2015
The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt proved itself as one of the most capable trail bikes in this year's Bible of Bike.
Aug 2014 · Dirt HQ
Carbon continues to infiltrate every corner of the market, the latest to turn to the black stuff is Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt...
| Frame | FORM™ 7005 Series Custom Hydroformed Alloy. ABC™ Pivots. Tapered Head Tube. Press Fit BB. BB Standard: BB86/BB92, Press Fit |
|---|---|
| Fork | X Fusion Velvet RL2 27.5 Air. 120mm. Lockout / Rebound / 15mm Axle / Tapered Alloy Steerer Travel: 120mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | Fox Float CTD Custom Race Valved. SmoothLink™ Design 120mm. Rebound / Climb (Lockout) - Trail (ProPedal) - Descend (Open) Settings Travel: 120mm |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano SMBB71 Press Fit |
| Headset | Cane Creek Fifteen Series: ZS44mm Top / ZS56mm Bottom Tapered |
| Stem | Race Face 6° x 70-90mm |
| Handlebar | Race Face 3/4 Rise Ø31.8mm x 740mm x 5° Sweep |
| Saddle | WTB Volt |
| Seatpost | Race Face 30.9mm x 375mm Type: Rigid |
| Pedals | N/A |
| Grips | Rocky Mountain XC Kraton |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano XT Shadow Plus Direct Mount 10spd |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Deore E Mount 3x10spd |
| Crank | Shimano M552 170-175mm 42/32/24T 3x10spd |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore Rapid Fire I-Spec 3x10spd |
| Cassette | Shimano HG50 11-36T 10spd |
| Chain | Shimano HG54 10spd |
| Brakes | Shimano M506 Hydraulic Disc 180/160mm Type: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | Shimano M506 I-Spec Shifter Mount |
| Rims | Wheeltech Inferno 23 by SUNringlé |
|---|---|
| Spokes | DT Swiss Champion |
| Front Hub | Shimano 618 / Centerlock / 32H / 15mm Axle |
| Rear Hub | Shimano 618 / Centerlock / 32H / 12 x 142mm Axle |
| Tires | Maxxis Folding F: Ardent 27.5\" x 2.25\" R: Ardent Race 27.5\" x 2.2\" |
First added September 9
Last updated April 14
Not listed for 1,874 days