2023 Rocky Mountain

Element Alloy 50

Fast on climbs and descents

Beautiful seated climbing ergonomics

Stable at speed

Suspension balanced and competent

Lightweight build with component swaps

Clean finish and easy to live with

Stock tires have poor traction (front pushes in corners)

Long wheelbase feels lazy in tight uphill switchbacks

Pushy front end in some geometry settings

Short travel limits for jumping or very chunky terrain

Well-engineered Ride-4 flip chip offers perceptible shifts to dial in the geometry (and fit) to your liking

Massive frame triangle space is great for a big frame bag or two bottles and doesn’t sacrifice dropper post space

The bike handles and descends well beyond its XC category

XT build isn’t overly expensive (compared to other bikes in this class)

Ridiculously lightweight for a bike of this caliber

Rides really well when loaded with a minimal bikepacking kit

The Element is kind of a clumsy climber, even when Ride-4 chip is in the neutral position, but it gets better in the steep position

It also doesn’t feel as fast as one would expect on rolling terrain or while climbing

Build kit has a few poorly picked components, including one-piston brakes, a handlebar that’s too narrow, and an odd front tire

Press Fit bottom bracket began creaking after a couple hundred miles of use; it came and went depending on temperature

Low weight gives an efficient feel

Suspension and geometry make it very capable for its travel

Expensive

Front end feels harsh compared to the rear