Bikes up to 60% offWe monitor over 40,000 bikes daily to find the best prices
Today’s Deals2016 Rocky Mountain
Thunderbolt 770 MSL
A 27.5″ carbon frame full suspension trail bike with high-end components.
Compare the full range
Manufacturer Price
$5,499| Weight | 27.8 lbs |
|---|---|
| Frame | Carbon |
| Suspension | Full, 120 / 120mm |
| Fork | Fox Float 32 |
| Shock | Fox Float DPS Performance |
| Wheels | 27.5″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 2 × 11 |
| Groupset | XTR, XT |
| Brakes | Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
5'1" – 5'6"
5'4" – 5'9"
5'7" – 6'0"
5'10" – 6'3"
6'0" – 6'5"
🐐 Estimated
None yet.
Do you have this bike? Help other riders make a decision about which size will work for them by sharing your own size and fit notes.
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
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
Oct 2014
“The Thunderbolt has made my time climbing far more enjoyable than before, and I get a small sense of satisfaction by simply cruising past people on the way up the hill with a smile and a wave…”
Lightweight (27 lbs) with low rotational mass wheels
Excellent climbing efficiency and agility
Comfortable upright seated position
Effective CTD remote suspension lockout
Zero frame issues during 3-month test
Progressive rear shock prevents bottom-out
Top tube slightly short for 5'10" rider
No dropper post (fixed on 2015 models)
XT brakes with small rotors fade in extended technical terrain
Fork deflection in aggressive terrain (XC-oriented Fox 32)
Limited in technical, chunky descents
Stock tires poor in wet conditions
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 | Smoothwall Carbon. BC2 Pivots & Grease Ports. Pipelock Main Pivot. Press Fit BB. RIDE-9 Adjustable Geometry & Suspension Rate. Di2 Ready. BB Standard: BB86/BB92, Press Fit |
|---|---|
| Fork | Fox 32 Float Fit4 Adjust. 120mm. Rebound / Firm - Medium - Adjustable Open Settings / Tapered Steerer Travel: 120mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | Fox Float DPS Remote Custom Valved. SmoothLink Design 120mm. Rebound / Remote Firm - Medium - Open Settings Travel: 120mm |
| Bottom Bracket | Race Face Cinch 30mm BB92 Pressfit |
| Headset | FSA Orbit C-40: IS42mm Top / 52mm Bottom Tapered |
| Stem | RMB 35mm 7° x 60-80mm |
| Handlebar | Race Face Turbine 1/2 Rise 35mm x 740mm x 9° Sweep |
| Saddle | WTB Silverado Race |
| Seatpost | RockShox Reverb Stealth 30.9mm x 355-420mm Type: Dropper |
| Grips | Rocky Mountain Lock On XC |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano XTR Shadow Plus Direct Mount 11spd |
|---|---|
| Front Derailleur | Shimano XT E-Type Mount 2x11spd |
| Crank | Race Face Turbine Cinch 170-175mm 38/28T 2x11spd |
| Shifters | Shimano XT Rapid Fire I-Spec II 2x11spd |
| Cassette | Shimano XT 11-40T 11spd |
| Chain | Shimano XT 11spd |
| Brakes | Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc 180mm Type: Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | Shimano XT I-Spec II Shifter Mount |
| Rims | Stan\'s ZTR Crest Incl Tubeless Kit |
|---|---|
| Spokes | WTB 2.0-1.8 Butted |
| Front Hub | Shimano XT / Centerlock / 32H / 15mm Axle |
| Rear Hub | Shimano XT / 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 1,880 days