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The newest iteration of Rocky Mountain’s iconic enduro bike takes a dramatic, if not distinctive, change after all for this redesign.
The Rocky Mountain Altitude is again, with the objective of enduro glory within the EDR sequence, and a spot among the many greatest enduro bikes in the marketplace. To assist on this endeavour, Rocky has employed an ‘all-new’ suspension design, described by the Canadian model as a Low Centre Counter Rotating (LC2R). However trademark infringement apart, everyone knows it higher as a counter-rotating, twin-link, digital pivot level system, related in format to Santa Cruz’s VPP and Intense’s JS-Tuned design. Actually the brand new 160mm journey Altitude is a doppleganger for Intense’s Tracer enduro bike, proper all the way down to the concentric BB decrease pivot.
The brand new Rocky Mountain Altitude in its pure habitat.
Rocky Mountain Intuition must know
- Enduro bike with 170mm journey entrance and 160mm rear
- Decrease-link pushed digital pivot suspension design
- Full 29 or MX wheels on measurement M-XL, and 27.5in entrance and rear on the small
- Measurement-specific swingarms to tune weight steadiness
- Attain regulate headset cups and Trip 4 chip permits additional measurement/geo tuning
- Inner body storage
- Alloy and carbon body choices
Desire a VPP-style enduro bike with a decrease hyperlink concentric to the BB, and inner storage? Nicely now you will have two choices; the Intense Tracer or the Rocky Mountain Altitude.
Tracing Intense’s homework?
At first look, it seems to be suspiciously just like the Intense Tracer that we reviewed earlier this 12 months, and on nearer inspection it seems to be much more related. Clearly that doesn’t imply that they’ll journey the identical, as there are quite a few small modifications to geometry, body lay-up, and kinematics that can have implications on the dealing with and suspension efficiency. However to say that this Low Centre Counter Rotating (LC2R) suspension design is one thing it used again within the mid-noughties on the Flatline and Slayer is stretching issues. The counter-rotating hyperlinks solely acted on the shock – the bikes had been truly single-pivot designs and totally different to digital pivot programs because the axle path was mounted.
Remi Gauvin’s Rocky Mountain Altitude on the current launch of Fox’s new forks and dampers.
So, what are the benefits (and downsides) of this technique? Nicely, Rocky Mountain claims its LC2R has ‘a number of key benefits’, particularly small bump management, predictable assist, elevated bottom-out resistance, and low centre of gravity. The primary three of these are hardly distinctive to LC2R, as any variety of suspension designs might declare the identical issues. A low centre of gravity is definitely one thing the Altitude can boast over designs the place the shock is positioned greater up on the body, however decreasing 700g or so by round 300mm goes to have a minimal impact on the centre of gravity of a system weight of 80kg upwards.
Anybody bear in mind this location from the Collective movie?
In distinction, the decrease hyperlink being concentric to the BB means the hyperlink itself is normally a heavy, chunky solid lump of alloy with giant diameter, heavy bearings. The Intense Tracer will not be a light-weight bike, regardless of the carbon body, and though Rocky Mountain makes no point out of the bike or body weight within the press launch, we’d be shocked if it was mild. Then you definately’ve bought the problems relating to servicing and changing such huge bearings when the time comes. So transferring to this design will not be a mattress of roses.
Rocky Mountain Altitude particulars together with the adjustable headset cups and PenaltyBox inner body storage.
Extremely adjustable
Rocky has made a giant effort to make sure the Altitude is adaptable as potential for various preferences and conditions. Whereas the small measurement makes use of 27.5in wheels entrance and rear, the medium by way of to XL might be run as full 29ers or with combined wheels. The conversion might be made with the built-in flip chip, though Rocky doesn’t specify whether or not this has any influence on the geometry. In the event you do wish to change the geo, there may be the Trip-4 chip on the ahead shock mount. Basically a sq. flip clip, altering the orientation of the insert provides 4 totally different shock positions, with corresponding modifications to geometry (and kinematics). There are additionally two offset headset cups providing +/-5mm of attain adjustment both facet of a impartial place. Full particulars on the claimed geometry might be discovered within the chart beneath. Lastly, Rocky Mountain says is makes use of three totally different swingarms throughout the scale vary to tune the load steadiness. Checking the geo chart these seem to offer a 427mm rear centre on the small, 440mm on the medium, and 450mm on the massive and XL.
Rocky Mountain Altitude geometry and sizing chart
Pricing and fashions
Right here’s the total listing of bikes and costs (though we haven’t bought GBP pricing simply but):
Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 99 with RockShox Flight Attendant
- Altitude Carbon 99 / $10,999 USD / $15,499 CAD
- Altitude Carbon 90 Rally Version / $9,999 USD / $12,299 CAD
- Altitude Carbon 70 / $6,899 USD / $8,899 CAD
- Altitude Carbon 70 Coil / $7,199 USD / $9,299 CAD
- Altitude Carbon 50 / $5,699 USD / $7,299 CAD
- Altitude Alloy 70 Coil / $5,699 USD / $6,999 CAD
- Altitude Alloy 50 / $4,799 USD / $5,599 CAD
- Altitude Alloy 30 / $3,999 USD / $4,799 CAD
- Altitude Carbon Frameset / $4,099 USD / $4,999 CAD
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