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Today’s Deals2020 Rocky Mountain
Instinct Carbon 99
A 29″ carbon frame full suspension trail e-bike with ultra high-end components.
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Manufacturer Price
$9,999| Weight | 28.4 lbs |
|---|---|
| Frame | Carbon |
| Suspension | Full, 140 / 150mm |
| Fork | RockShox Pike Ultimate |
| Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate |
| Wheels | 29″ Carbon |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 Electronic |
| Groupset | XX1 Eagle AXS, Eagle AXS |
| Motor | hub-drive |
| Brakes | SRAM G2 Ultimate Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
Summary
The Rocky Mountain Instinct is a versatile trail bike that excels in agility and suspension performance, offering a balanced ride with its 140mm travel. It's praised for its responsive Dyname 3.0 motor and high-capacity battery, though some note its weight and battery removal as drawbacks. The bike's handling and comfort are frequently highlighted, making it a strong contender in its category.
Agile, balanced handling
Responsive Dyname 3.0 motor with high torque
High-capacity 48v 14ah battery pack
Great full suspension with 140mm of travel
Comfortable and upright riding position
Notable weight difference compared to carbon frames
Battery removal is inconvenient for charging and storage
Tires lack grip and puncture resistance
Fully integrated battery can be noisy
App doesn’t allow motor configuration
The Instinct is a very fun, capable, and quality electric full suspension mountain bike.
Electric Bike ReviewThe Instinct impresses with a very comfortable riding position in the flats.
E-Mountainbike MagazineOne pedal stroke on the 140mm travel Rocky Mountain Powerplay was enough to remind us why we love Rocky’s bespoke ebike system so much.
MBRThe Instinct was particularly at home on steep singletrack climbs.
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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.
Affordable price compared to other premium brands
Frame shared with Altitude for better part availability
Adjustable geometry (Ride9, wheelbase adjust)
Good climbing performance, high anti-squat
Predictable suspension behavior
Great component spec (XT drivetrain, brakes, RaceFace dropper, Maxxis tires, Ergon grips)
Fox 36 fork had only Fit4 damper, not Grip2
Proprietary derailleur hanger in short wheelbase setting
Ride adjustability may indicate not optimized out of box
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 · June 15, 2021
If you’ve been following the mag over the years you’ll know that Rocky Mountain’s are a definite favourite amongst our staff here at [R]evo. The reason that we’ve been such big fans of the brand for such a long time comes down to a simple fact; they’re bikes kick arse! Trail performance, speed, technology, reliability and frame aesthetics – Rocky always manage to tick every box and each year their ‘new’ bikes come out with a few little unique details […]
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
May 2021 · Knut Nes
We’ve previously ridden Rocky Mountain Powerplay bikes, both the Instinct and the Altitude. Before riding the Instinct we were wondering, was it a less burly and more versatile bike, or a more aggressive bike? It turned out it could be both, thanks to the adjustable geometry. Scroll to the end if you prefer a video review. Geometry The bike on test is called B.C, short for British Columbia. The B.C. name means the bike is optimized for descending. There is …
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 | SMOOTHWALL Carbon. Full Sealed Cartridge Bearings. Press Fit BB. Internal Cable Routing. RIDE-9 Adjustable Geometry + Suspension Rate BB Standard: BB86/BB92, Press Fit |
|---|---|
| Fork | RockShox Pike Ultimate RC2 150mm 42mm Offset Travel: 150mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate RCT Travel: 140mm |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM BB92 DUB |
| Headset | FSA Orbit NO.57E |
| Stem | Race Face Turbine R 40mm |
| Handlebar | Race Face Next R 780mm |
| Saddle | WTB Silverado Team, Titanium Rails, 142 width |
| Seatpost | Rock Shox Reverb AXS Wireless Post Type: Dropper |
| Grips | Race Face Grippler Lock On |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS Wireless |
|---|---|
| Crank | SRAM XX1 Carbon Eagle 32T |
| Shifters | SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS |
| Cassette | SRAM XG-1299 10-50T Rainbow |
| Chain | SRAM XX1 Eagle Rainbow |
| Brakes | SRAM G2 Ultimate / SRAM Centerline 180mm Type: SRAM G2 Ultimate Hydraulic Disc |
| Brake Levers | SRAM G2 Ultimate 4 Piston |
| Rims | Race Face ARC 30 Carbon |
|---|---|
| Spokes | Race Face Straight Pull |
| Front Hub | Race Face Vault Straight Pull 15mm |
| Rear Hub | Race Face Vault Straight Pull Boost 148mm |
| Tires | Maxxis Minion DHF WT Maxx Terra 3C Tubeless Ready 29 x 2.5 / Maxxis Minion DHR II WT Maxx Terra 3C Tubeless Ready 29 x 2.4 |
| Motor | AXS 2 Battery Powerpack |
|---|
First added February 12
Last updated April 14
Not listed for 1,886 days