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Today’s Deals2016 Rocky Mountain
Thunderbolt 799 MSL Frame
A 27.5″ carbon frame full suspension trail frameset.
Manufacturer Price
$2,899| Weight | 5.3 lbs (frame) |
|---|---|
| Frame | Carbon |
| Suspension | Full, 120mm rear |
| Shock | Fox Float DPS Performance |
| Wheels | 27.5″ |
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
Sep 2014 · Don Palermini
Rocky Mountain’s Thunderbolt 799 MSL an electrifying XC rig with a shocking price tag. - Mtbr.com
| Frame | Smoothwall Carbon. BC2 Pivots & Grease Ports. Pipelock Main Pivot. Press Fit BB. RIDE-9 Adjustable Geometry & Suspension Rate. Di2 Ready. |
|---|---|
| Shock | Fox Float DPS Kashima Rear Remote Custom Valved. SmoothLink Design 120mm. Rebound / Remote Firm - Medium - Open Settings Travel: 120mm |
| Bottom Bracket | Press Fit BB92 (not included) |
| Headset | IS42mm Top / 52mm Bottom Tapered (not included) |
| Seatpost | 30.9mm (not included) |
| Front Derailleur | E Type Low Direct Mount S3 (not included) |
|---|
First added September 9
Last updated April 14
Not listed for 1,886 days