Rocky Mountain has a mountain biking pedigree that goes back more than three decades and the Canadian brand knows what riders want.
With its new Instinct range, Rocky Mountain has taken the Altitude enduro bike and trimmed its travel numbers down to 150mm upfront and 140mm at the rear.
The upgraded Instinct rolls 29er wheels for most of its frame sizes, with the two smallest sizes giving the option for 27.5-inch, but most importantly: it replaces the Thunderbolt in Rocky’s range.
With an array of spec levels and choice of either carbon-fiber or aluminum frames, potential owners are spoilt for choice. But there is one derivative in the new Rocky Mountain Instinct range, which sets itself apart: the Carbon 70 Coil.
Giving riders a coil option, front and rear
Rocky Mountain has clearly been listening to customers and evaluating feedback, regarding the potential for a 140mm 29er bike, with coil suspension.
Larger riders, and those who frequently run punishingly long enduro descents, know the value of coil versus air-suspension. The more linear feel, lower maintenance burden and fade-free enduro descending performance, are all coil suspension benefits.
With its Instinct Carbon 70 Coil, Rocky offers a factory-built coil-suspension bike. It features a 150mm Cane Creek Helm Coil fork, supported by the Carolinian suspension brand’s DB Coil In-Line shock.
Rolling this hardcore trail bike Instinct along are RaceFace ARC 30 rims, shod with Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR II tires, sizes 2.5in up front and 2.4in at the rear.
The Instinct Carbon 70 Coil uses Shimano’s 1x12 XT drivetrain and matching four-piston trail brakes. Touchpoints are provided by WTB, with its Volt Race saddle, and framing the house brand 780mm handlebar, are Ergon GE1 EVO grips.
Mountain bikes with coil suspension are never going to be lighter than an equivalent build with air dampers. Rocky Mountain claims that its new Instinct Carbon 70 Coil weighs 14.56 kg (32lb) in a size medium. Pricing comes in at a premium $7,629.00.
