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Today’s Deals2020 Rocky Mountain
Instinct Alloy 50
A 29″ / 27.5″ aluminum frame full suspension trail bike with high-end components.
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Manufacturer Price
$3,799| Weight | 30.9 lbs |
|---|---|
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Suspension | Full, 140 / 140mm |
| Fork | RockShox Pike Select |
| Shock | RockShox Deluxe Select+ |
| Wheels | 29″ / 27.5″ Aluminum |
| Groupset | XT |
| Brakes | Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
Summary
The Rocky Mountain Instinct is a versatile trail bike praised for its refined suspension, adjustable geometry, and capability across various terrains. It excels in climbing efficiency and descending stability, making it a favorite for all-day rides and technical trails. However, some models may suffer from brake performance issues and a tall bottom bracket height in certain settings.
Versatile and adaptable to various riding styles
Refined suspension kinematics for more progressiveness
Ride-9 adjustable geometry system
Excellent traction and cornering ability
Super light and easy to pedal
Guide R brakes lack power and adjustability
Tall bottom bracket height can be limiting
Initial rear wheel rattle due to manufacturing defect
Chain slap noise in any gear below 6th
Is it a backcountry scree-slope raider? Is it a big-wheel play bike, a slack-angled couch, a relaxed-fit trail carver, a long-legged marathon racer? Yes.
BIKE MagazineWith 29” wheels, 155mm of travel and a lively rear linkage, this bike rolls over bumps with ease, grabs everything it can for traction and carries downhill momentum like a landslide.
BikerumorThe Rocky Mountain Instinct BC really is an easy bike to get to grips with.
Dirt MountainbikeFeedback?
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Oct 2021 · Seb Stott
The new motor boasts the same impressive power, but with more refinement, less drag and less weight.
Aug 2021 · Travis Engel
This is not a trail bike. When things get real, the Rocky Mountain Instinct can take it. It can be anything. Maybe even a trail bike.
Incredibly versatile
Smart, functional customization
Clean, understated look
Ride 9 flip chip requires some trial and error
Chainstay-length flip chip adjustment not fine enough
Not cheap, but cheaper options abound.
Jul 2021 · Dale Tiessen
If you’re like me, 2021 left you scrambling for a bike this spring. Having sold off my 2020 Santa Cruz Megatower, feeling it was a bit too much bike for me, I had settled on getting a more trail oriented bike for 2021.
Great spec'd out of the box with XT components
RaceFace Turbine R dropper
Maxxis tires
Higher end Ergon grips
Frame design spans two models (Altitude and Instinct) reducing cost
Ride9 adjustability
10mm wheelbase adjustability
Predictable suspension, good climbing and descending
Price tag initially expected to be lower but with upgrades becomes north of $10000
Spec low on some components (cockpit, wheels) leading to upgrades
Fox 36 spec'd with Fit4 damper instead of Grip2
Wheelbase adjustability requires proprietary hanger for short setting
Jul 2021
An ultra-capable trail bike from Canada's own Rocky Mountain Bicycles.
Jul 2021
When it came time to ride my hometown trails, I was able to really see how the Instinct stacked up. I’m not one to use clichés, but as I descended the rocky, technical landscape of the Red Hill Special Recreation Management Area near Carbondale, Colorado, all I could think was “Has the trail gotten easier?” The tread, in fact, was more blown out than usual, and ruts were worn deeper around the rocks. The trail hadn’t become easier; the 140 mm travel Instinct just made it feel easier. “This is what they mean by ‘trail-tamer,’” I thought.
Jun 2021 · Felix Stix
The Rocky Mountain Instinct C70 is one of the hottest bikes of the year. The look and feel of the carbon frame are truly awesome and once you hit the trail, the bike reveals great potential. Unfortunately, this is held back by the spec, which robs the Instinct of its chance of securing the coveted Best in Test title in our big mountain bike group test.
Adjustable geometry and kinematic concept
High-quality and well-thought-out frame
Conveys safety and fun on every trail downhill
Comfortable on long rides
The spec doesn't live up to the potential and rowdy nature of the Instinct
Climbing efficiency
Heavy paint wear on chainstays and top tube
May 2021 · McCoy
A must-have rig for all-day adventures
Mar 2021 · Spencer Astra
I was excited to test Rocky Mountain Bicycle’s new Instinct Carbon 70 model, as it sits squarely in my favorite category of suspension travel. It’s not a sloppy, big-travel brawler, nor is it a wrist-slamming short-travel whip. With 140 millimeters of rear-wheel travel, the new Instinct strikes some perfect middle ground, providing just the right amount of squish to scoot one around smoothly and precisely. Adding to the bike’s versatility is the highly adjustable RIDE-9 system, which allows riders to quickly fine-tune their geometry and rear suspension with a pair of Allen keys. With nine configurations to choose from, the range of geometry helps make the bike more suitable to a broad spectrum of terrain and riding conditions. Even in the slackest setting, the Instinct climbs extremely well, thanks to a reasonably forward seated position. The leverage curve of the rear suspension is ultra-supple off the top, but it ramps up quickly to keep the bike manageable during out-of-the-saddle bursts of pedaling. The adjustable chainstay length of 437 millimeters or 448 millimeters should add to the Instinct’s versatility, but I opted to keep the bike in the 437-millimeter mode for the duration of my testing period, as it already felt long and stable enough for my taste.
| Frame | FORM Alloy. Full Sealed Cartridge Bearings. Press Fit BB. Internal Cable Routing. 2-Bolt ISCG05 Tabs. RIDE-9 Adjustable Geometry + Suspension Rate |
|---|---|
| Fork | RockShox Pike Select RC 140mm 42mm Offset Travel: 140mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | RockShox Deluxe Select+ RT Travel: 140mm |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano SM-BBMT500 |
| Headset | FSA Orbit NO.57E |
| Stem | Rocky Mountain AM |
| Handlebar | Rocky Mountain AM 760mm |
| Saddle | WTB Volt Race 142 |
| Seatpost | Race Face Aeffect R Dropper 30.9mm Type: Dropper |
| Grips | Rocky Mountain Lock On Light |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano XT |
|---|---|
| Crank | Race Face Ride Cinch 32T Steel |
| Shifters | Shimano XT |
| Cassette | Shimano XT 10-51T |
| Chain | Shimano HG8100 |
| Brakes | Shimano XT 2 Piston / Shimano RT66 180mm / Shimano RT66 180mm Type: Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | Shimano XT |
| Rims | WTB ST Light i30 TCS 2.0 Tubeless |
|---|---|
| Spokes | DT Swiss Competition 2.0/1.8/2.0 |
| Front Hub | Rocky Mountain Sealed Boost 15mm Torque Cap |
| Rear Hub | DT Swiss 370 Boost 148mm |
| Tires | Maxxis Minion DHR II WT EXO Tubeless Ready 29 x 2.4 / Maxxis Minion DHR II WT EXO Tubeless Ready 29 x 2.4 |
First added October 4
Last updated April 14
Not listed for 1,886 days