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Today’s Deals2016 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| Weight | 29.8 lbs |
|---|---|
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Suspension | Full, 120 / 120mm |
| Fork | X-Fusion |
| Shock | Fox Float DPS Performance |
| Wheels | 27.5″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 2 × 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 lightweight design, efficient climbing, and adjustable geometry via the Ride-9 system. It excels in technical terrain with solid suspension performance, though some reviews note limitations in aggressive downhill scenarios due to its 120mm travel. The bike's high-end builds and innovative features like grease ports and Pipelock pivots are highlights, but its premium price and occasional suspension setup challenges are noted drawbacks.
Lightweight and efficient climbing
Adjustable geometry with Ride-9 system
Solid suspension performance
Innovative features like grease ports and Pipelock pivots
High-end build quality
Premium price point
Limited by 120mm travel in aggressive terrain
Suspension setup can be finicky
Requires frequent maintenance for bushings
This bike is built to go fast.
BIKE MagazineThe Rocky’s suspension is efficient when climbing and offers excellent traction, but it’s active during out of the saddle exertions.
BikerumorIt’s designed for our own special blend of XC and trail riders—people who hammer at the pointy end of the pack, but stay aggressive and stylish when terrain gets rougher
Dirt MountainbikePlayfulness and Aggression are the name of the game climbing and descending.
NSMBRocky Mountain has gone all in with 27.5 for 2015 like many other companies
MTBRFeedback?
View all reviews
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
Feb 2016
Every year, one bike earns the distinction of ‘most ridiculously expensive bike,’ and this year the title went to the Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 799 MSL.
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
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 Formed Alloy. BC2 Pivots & Grease Ports. Pipelock Main Pivot. Press Fit BB. RIDE-9 Adjustable Geometry & Suspension Rate. BB Standard: BSA, Threaded |
|---|---|
| Fork | X Fusion Streat RL2 27.5 Air. 120mm. Lockout / Rebound / Tapered Alloy Steerer Travel: 120mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | Fox Float DPS Custom Valved. SmoothLink Design 120mm. Rebound / Firm - Medium - Open Settings Travel: 120mm |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano SMBB52 Press Fit |
| Headset | FSA Orbit NO.57E: ZS44mm Top / ZS56mm Bottom Tapered |
| Stem | RMB 7° x 70-90mm |
| Handlebar | Rocky Mountain Five15 XC 31.8mm x 760mm x 5° Sweep |
| Saddle | WTB Volt |
| Seatpost | Rocky Mountain SL 30.9mm x 400mm Type: Rigid |
| Grips | Rocky Mountain XC Kraton |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano XT Shadow Plus Direct Mount 10spd |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | Shimano Deore E Mount 2x10spd |
| Crank | Shimano M615 170-175mm 38/24T 2x10spd |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore Rapid Fire I-Spec 2x10spd |
| 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 Helix TR25 Tubeless Compatible by SUNringlé |
|---|---|
| Spokes | WTB 2.0 Stainless |
| Front Hub | Shimano / Centerlock / 32H / 15mm Axle |
| Rear Hub | Shimano / 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