Suggestion for a future bike comparison series - provide a graphical representation of which place the bike scored in timed events so viewers can see if the Rocky was 1second slower than the Trek (essentially the same) or 10 seconds faster than the next bike. Similarly, efficiency tests; one might be significant more efficient than the next bike, but only one place apart.
And put probably quantify efficiency in terms of the product of watt hrs x sec required to complete said climb. Lower number = higher efficiency. Or at least publish power data so that we can see how much variance between attempts, really difficult to nail constant power without fluctuation.
Rocky is killing it these days. They’ve come a long way from a few years ago and are now making the best bikes in all categories. It would be nice if they could get their prices down to be more competitive.
LOL that is the one thing they will never change. It is like asking Mercedes to compete on price with Toyota. I would settle just for Rocky Mountain not to need special tools to get the bearing out of the rear shock mount. My local Rocky Mountain dealer does not even have the tool either.
I love the natural style of PB videos. It's not just down to Levy and Kaz, and you can tell in the difference in PB Henry vs GCN Henry. It also feels like the crew has a lot of fun off-camera. Editing, presenting style, presenter chemistry, format, structure are all on point too. Good work PB 👏
This is the video that convinced me to get this bike. I had a budget of $2000 USD and wanted something for trails, and I was able to find this one new for $2100 (A10), and as you described this bike loves to go fast either climbing or going down, although it might be too much of a bike for flat trails
Great review, the smaller brands just nail it time and time again - would love to see this back to back with the Transition Spur and Revolver FS120 and the IBIS Ripley.
I get the comment about the bike goading you into writing checks it (or more often - the rider) can't cash. I have found that to be the case with my own "down country" bike - a Spot Ryve 115. It feels so capable I often feel invincible - until I don't. And the change is rather abrupt. The way I've managed to keep those feelings in check is by running the some really light XC tires. Knowing the tires are not quite meant for aggressive riding keeps my own retired DH racer tendencies in check.
That was something I was going to mention. How will these more capable descending bikes hold up over time when the geo pushes you to ride things the suspension can’t handle.
Super interested to see a comparison between this and the Transition Spur. The response to this bike sounds similar to the response to the Spur in last year's Field Test; low weight, super slack and long, ripper on the descents.
@@kfcnotthechicken The Element is quite a bit lighter, has two bottle mounts, adjustable geo, full internal routing, an actual rear pivot, lower stl and a 130mm fork. Pretty sure I know what I'd pick.
I have the Tallboy, prob around 700 miles on it. I think it’s an excellent climber. The bike likes to climb fast, my fastest club times by far. It also likes to haul as* down hill. Very capable, trail bike.
@@jben4807 Just to help put these comparisons into perspective. I also have a Tallboy, and it is a good climber if you consider how good it descends. But, I come from cross country, I used to have a Scott Spark RC WC. The Tallboy feels like a snail compared to that.
I converted a 2012 Rocky Element Team XC (26er) into a 27.5 rocket. It is still, by far, the fastest bike I've owned. Only problem was low bottom bracket clearance. I now own an Instinct and a Thunderbolt. They do a great job. I've always wondered about their spec though. Sounds like they made this one light at all costs. Other model years, they've added some of their house brand components which don't make sense at their price point. Glad to hear they've hit another one out of the park. You guys shouldn't act so surprised.
Those older XC racer type bikes were so fast going up hill. Not sure what it was, but it still accelerates so well when you give it the gas. I have a 2010 Pivot 429 that to this day still pedals better than anything else I have ridden. But going downhill on the 429 is not nearly as enjoyable than on a more modern steed.
@@lazylearner967 Agreed. It was able to ramp up to high speed rapidly and it made for very fast flowy rides with very little effort. Steep techy downhills were a bit sketchy with the steep head angle, but for the time period, it was manageable. My 2015 Thunderbolt is also fast uphill and super fun downhill, although it is limited to 120mm of rear travel. Big tires with low pressures made it a fun ride. Unfortunately, both of my bikes are two or three generations old when it comes to modern geometry. I'm building up a 2021 Revel Rascal and hope to bridge the gap and bring it in at 28lbs. All the reviews say it's a capable bike which is fun to ride. The supply chain issues are making some parts hard to get. TG for PB buy/sell and eBay. I miss the 24lb flickyness of my Element. Fun to have options and to be able to tell the difference. Stay safe!
I did the same thing. Extremely fast in the tight twistys. Not so much on tech downhills though. Also, at 2400g for a large, the new element frame isn;t exactly light compared to an epic evo, blur tr or oiz tr.
Had a 2018 carbon Element for a week before the chainstays snapped.......hopefully these new one's are designed/built much stronger given their capability.
new subscriber here and mounting bike ridding I have my eyes on her the Rocy Mountain element alloy 30 29 thank you you guys for the review. nobody is changed my mind about her. I have ride bikes when growing up but nothing serious like going to trails these is new to me. I haven't ride bike since I was a kid to boy. am adult now let's keep riding everyone
Do you think it would be good for lightweight bikepacking? It looks like you could get a large frame bag in there. I would like to do the coast to coast in the UK across the rocky mountainous trails of the Lake District and the Moors of Yorkshire. The Element looks like the best bike for the job.
Thanks for this review - based on this a managed to get one the few C70 for the German market. It really feels and rides like you described it - it is by far the prettiest bike on the market and is for me the ideal cocktail of XC, trail and donhill capabilites. As I lease the bike via my employer, I don't feel the sick price in my wallet. 😀
Went to the bike shop today (Rocky dealer) ready for them to take my money and order me an Element. Reply: they can't order, Rocky has nothing to sell, no parts, maybe something in Fall 2022. I am now very depressed. 😞
My opinion, this isn’t a “down country”, or whatever you wanna call this category, bike….it’s just a short travel trail bike, a great one for sure though.
BTW, I'd like PB to do a video on Brakes. I notice a lot of people are moving away from the giants: Shimano and SRAM, and are opting for Magura and other brands. Maybe you guys could do an overview highlighting the pros and cons of the popular models? ( sorry to go off the subject, btw).
I had a 2019 Instinct BC carbon 90 for 2 years, i did ALL upgrades like XO 10-52, etc. I sold it maybe 6 months ago, amazing bike but i really didn't need a full enduro bike and maybe the 25 pound Element be a nice replacement Yeah 10 grand it should have 4 piston and 30 MM DT swiss XMC 1200 wheels not some cheap ass wheels
Is it ok to be convinced that this bike could be my holy grail? So many trail "chads" would disagree and wine about travel length almost as if that is the way you judge how talented a mntBiker is. You said it well, but After have this bike on lone for most of last fall I described like,,, As a 50 yr old homie with a billion old broken bones and sports injuries, if on paper the bike shouldn't go down something than I definitely, likely should not go down it either. But like you said the element would likely rip down almost anything. "confidence inspiring" is the truth.
when a xc bike gets 130mm travel at the front and 120 at the rear with 65(!) degrees headtube angle , you can safely say that it is a trail bike not a xc bike.
So Element or Top Fuel? I’m looking at the XT build (C50 & 9.7). Element is $4,900 compared to $4,230. That $670 is a decent difference. The Element sounds better (lighter, more downhill focused but just as fast up). But is it worth the cost? 130mm vs 120mm front as well.
Can't get a 9.7 in Oz until March next year I was told. Cemented the decision for me - getting the C50. Has better fork and lighter wheels so goes some way to matching price.
@@technovelodos what fork was on the 9.7 for you? Spec sheet shows Fox 34 “Rhythm” for US. Not sure if that is different from 34 Performance on Element.
@@kevinclark9176 The Rhythm is one step down from the Performance in the Fox line-up. Actual performance differences are debatable but the Rhythm is a bit heavier.
It is sort of odd what bike manufactures do today. My Ripley which at the time was Ibis' most conservative trail bike came spec'd with 35MM wheels. I think the more narrow rims on the Element make more sense than the 35mm wheels on the Ripley. It seems wheels are the first place manufactures cut costs.
@@lazylearner967 I would think that at least a 30 mm rims would be placed on these bikes especially since they’re setting them up to take much wider tires and they have in the past. I noticed that the trek top fuel has 30 mm rims. I’m definitely in the mood to buy a new bike in the spring and have been doing a lot of research on UA-cam and on the bike manufacturers sites. All things being even it’s going to be something along the lines of whatever is in stock in April will determine what I get.
@@lazylearner967 I really just wanted a frame, but couldn't find one so I bought a C30 build, stripped it down to the frame, and rebuilt it with parts I've been collecting for a Spur build. Had my first shakedown ride today. Totally blown away. Incredibly fast and efficient climber, but plush and poppy on the way down. Kept expecting to bottom out the rear shock but it sucked up even the biggest hits. Stoked!
Let's just say it now and I cannot believe that it was not said in the video. They should buy Transition a load a beers and thank them for making a bike that everyone wants to copy. It literally is that bike. Slacker in the head tube and steeper in the seat tube, but it's a copy. You know why? Cause it works. and people love it. My spur is amazing. And this bike seems to have all the attributes that the Spur has. I would love to throw a leg over this one day. Great review.
Found the transition fanboi... Similar geo doesnt make a bike a copy. Ride4, internal routing, an actual rear pivot, lower STL and 130 fork are some notable differences.
@@johnr5001 yes those are differences. I don't mean a carbon copy. Its intended purpose is the same and has very similar silhouette. It looks like the transition. Fanboi, no I just really like the bike I bought. If the rocky came out first I would have said the same thing about the Transition.
Which bike is better: Ibis Exie (non-usa deore build $5k) vs. Rocky Mountain Element (C50 build $5k)??? No xc racing, but will be doing marathons and 100 milers. Ride mostly 'blue' trails, fair amount of green as well, just a touch of black. My weight is 120lbs.
I've alway been curious about Rocky Mountain! Considering how affordable the Alloy version is, what would be the disadvantages of buying one compared to a Carbon model ( aside from the Carbon of course!...LOL) ? Also, are 2P brakes really that bad? I been riding 4P SLX and XT for over a year now and am not impressed. In fact, I feel my 2P XT were better......LOL.
Right? I had 2 pot Deore on my last bike that had way more power than my current 4 pot SRAM joke brakes. Carbon frame will translate to a stiffer ride and better acceleration IMO. Apart from that and the weight the Alu would be great.
I switched from 4 pot Sram G2R brakes to XT 2 pot. I will admit I am a Shimano fan, but the XTs seem to stop far better than the G2's. This is on a Ripley AF.
So the 2 piston shimano brakes are great if you buy anything between the really cheap ones and the xtrs. The slx and xts are much better because they feature shimano's servo wave lever, which makes them way way more powerful.
@@Nickubus99 I ride a V1 Ripmo as my one and only bike and been thinking of getting a 2nd bike as backup. This bike would be a good candidate unless I get a Ripley AF...LOL.
@@lazylearner967 I'm a big Shimano fan too and had them on all my bikes. I did have some Level Ts on my Ripmo and upgraded them to 4P SLX - they were ok. I know Levy complains about the bite point on Shimano brakes. I've also heard of people switching to Magura. I don't want to do something that drastic. I wonder how good 2 P XTR brakes are?
And vs. the Ripley, how does it do ? Presumably the Ripley is better at descending and worse in efficiency but tech climb performance might be similar ?
I’m not seen this model whit such components like Fox fork and SRAM cassette . They sell this model whit Shimano and Marzochi fork for the carbon version
Which one would you recommend element alloy 10, Instinct alloy 10, Trek Fuel ex 5 or Davinci marshal, for overall better climbing and handling corners in fast descend?
When the bike is nearly 10 grand you arent being nitpicky to expect more expensive carbon rims or 4 piston brakes. Its unforgivable really given the competition
I think the brakes on Orbea Laufey has two pistons on 180 mm disc, and I love those brakes. About the rims. I think rims on a bike like the Element should hawe width optimized for ca 2.35" tyres.
Seems like a nice bike at 3 times the cost i or anybody i know can pay 😉 The entry level will be almost 16 kg ready to ride. That's interesting because i have a 7 year old alloy AM bike kitted for downhill that weigh less.
I'm Curious too. A LBS in Utah who carries both told me the Spur would most likely climb better but the Element would be "easier" on the downs. Granted he didn't have the Element in stock yet, so take that with a grain of salt.
The crew does some more in depth comparisons in a podcast we launched today, and there's still a roundtable coming up as well. www.pinkbike.com/news/the-pinkbike-podcast-episode-95-field-test-down-country-bike-debrief.html
When are you going to take the rocky element on a tough trail ? Been waiting. Every video I watch with this bike from you guys says “would love to ride this on something more intense” . Give me that video. Put this into something out of its element
How would it compare to the Trek as an XC racer? It is much lighter, and obviously more efficient- but without that fire under your butt… also; which one is just more fun and poppy? (The Blur 🤓)
Nice looking bike but poor quality control or poor transport.Rear wheel has major issues right out of the box. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Rear axle is bent! Derailleur is misaligned.Since the rear wheel comes assembled I would have expected better.Assembly instructions poorly written, but that was not unexpected...just annoying.I just had the bike checked at a shop and was told that I should contact the seller about getting a whole rear wheel assembly with cartridge. (The bike shop could not do anything to help me).Not a good experience with this bike, so lesson learned.Added 3 stars for excellent customer serviceUpdate Sept 8 2020Just received a complete replacement wheel for free. Great service and an otherwise fine bike.
Suggestion for a future bike comparison series - provide a graphical representation of which place the bike scored in timed events so viewers can see if the Rocky was 1second slower than the Trek (essentially the same) or 10 seconds faster than the next bike. Similarly, efficiency tests; one might be significant more efficient than the next bike, but only one place apart.
Good suggestion, I'll see what we can do. -Brian
And put probably quantify efficiency in terms of the product of watt hrs x sec required to complete said climb. Lower number = higher efficiency. Or at least publish power data so that we can see how much variance between attempts, really difficult to nail constant power without fluctuation.
One year riding this beautiful bike, still impressed. Thanks for helping me in choosing this bike, no regrets at all.
For a guy, like me, who owns (and loves) the Element but was considering getting an Instinct, this bike is perfect. Well, the C50 is perfect.
Rocky is killing it these days. They’ve come a long way from a few years ago and are now making the best bikes in all categories. It would be nice if they could get their prices down to be more competitive.
LOL that is the one thing they will never change. It is like asking Mercedes to compete on price with Toyota. I would settle just for Rocky Mountain not to need special tools to get the bearing out of the rear shock mount. My local Rocky Mountain dealer does not even have the tool either.
That Carbon 50 spec level seems fairly reasonable as far as value goes.
I’m fine with the price. The press fit bb is the only issue I see.
@@steviedingledangle7982 same, as a dealer I was expecting BSA :( just glad they otherwise pretty much moved away from it.
@@T8T- Same with the alloy models.
I love the natural style of PB videos. It's not just down to Levy and Kaz, and you can tell in the difference in PB Henry vs GCN Henry. It also feels like the crew has a lot of fun off-camera. Editing, presenting style, presenter chemistry, format, structure are all on point too. Good work PB 👏
This has to be one of the prettiest bikes ever. The thin lines 🤤
It’s like an XC version of the Mondraker Foxy…but with prettier paint.
6 weeks until my Element C70 shows up. This bike has had me so excited ever since the first hints many months ago.
I am thinking of getting the Element C70. Hopefully, the bike showed up for you. What are your thoughts on it?
Agreed on this - looking to see how you guys like it. Picking one up Friday this week on a solid deal.
@@CptnBly9
This is the video that convinced me to get this bike. I had a budget of $2000 USD and wanted something for trails, and I was able to find this one new for $2100 (A10), and as you described this bike loves to go fast either climbing or going down, although it might be too much of a bike for flat trails
Great review, the smaller brands just nail it time and time again - would love to see this back to back with the Transition Spur and Revolver FS120 and the IBIS Ripley.
And the Revel Ranger!
and intense sniper!
I get the comment about the bike goading you into writing checks it (or more often - the rider) can't cash. I have found that to be the case with my own "down country" bike - a Spot Ryve 115. It feels so capable I often feel invincible - until I don't. And the change is rather abrupt. The way I've managed to keep those feelings in check is by running the some really light XC tires. Knowing the tires are not quite meant for aggressive riding keeps my own retired DH racer tendencies in check.
That was something I was going to mention. How will these more capable descending bikes hold up over time when the geo pushes you to ride things the suspension can’t handle.
This thing would be a friggin weapon on the Downieville Classic.
Clearly the favorite of the test
Super interested to see a comparison between this and the Transition Spur. The response to this bike sounds similar to the response to the Spur in last year's Field Test; low weight, super slack and long, ripper on the descents.
Agree, interesting to know how these compare to bikes reviewed previously in the same category and were favorites.
I'd love a showdown between these two. Very similar.
I agree, spur vs. element: FIGHT!
@@kfcnotthechicken The Element is quite a bit lighter, has two bottle mounts, adjustable geo, full internal routing, an actual rear pivot, lower stl and a 130mm fork. Pretty sure I know what I'd pick.
Man, that Rocky is beautifully sleek!
Larry, Darryl and Darryl review of a cool bike.
im addicted to these reviews - the new 2022 reviews made jump when i saw them - but there is a lot of xc/short travel bikes - nooot good!
Awesome review. It looks like it has a lot of the same geometry as the Tallboy I wonder how they compared to one another
The Tallboy is much heavier and the Rocky climbs better than the Blur. My guess, maybe the Tallboy is faster on the downs.
Sounds like they are reviewing the Tallboy literally.
I have the Tallboy, prob around 700 miles on it. I think it’s an excellent climber. The bike likes to climb fast, my fastest club times by far. It also likes to haul as* down hill. Very capable, trail bike.
@@jben4807 Just to help put these comparisons into perspective. I also have a Tallboy, and it is a good climber if you consider how good it descends. But, I come from cross country, I used to have a Scott Spark RC WC. The Tallboy feels like a snail compared to that.
@@ivocolombo6917 Crazy that the Rocky Race team are using the Element. Agree on the Tallboy. It rides like a 140 bike. Climbs like one too.
I converted a 2012 Rocky Element Team XC (26er) into a 27.5 rocket. It is still, by far, the fastest bike I've owned. Only problem was low bottom bracket clearance. I now own an Instinct and a Thunderbolt. They do a great job. I've always wondered about their spec though. Sounds like they made this one light at all costs. Other model years, they've added some of their house brand components which don't make sense at their price point. Glad to hear they've hit another one out of the park. You guys shouldn't act so surprised.
Those older XC racer type bikes were so fast going up hill. Not sure what it was, but it still accelerates so well when you give it the gas. I have a 2010 Pivot 429 that to this day still pedals better than anything else I have ridden. But going downhill on the 429 is not nearly as enjoyable than on a more modern steed.
@@lazylearner967 Agreed. It was able to ramp up to high speed rapidly and it made for very fast flowy rides with very little effort. Steep techy downhills were a bit sketchy with the steep head angle, but for the time period, it was manageable. My 2015 Thunderbolt is also fast uphill and super fun downhill, although it is limited to 120mm of rear travel. Big tires with low pressures made it a fun ride. Unfortunately, both of my bikes are two or three generations old when it comes to modern geometry. I'm building up a 2021 Revel Rascal and hope to bridge the gap and bring it in at 28lbs. All the reviews say it's a capable bike which is fun to ride. The supply chain issues are making some parts hard to get. TG for PB buy/sell and eBay. I miss the 24lb flickyness of my Element. Fun to have options and to be able to tell the difference. Stay safe!
I did the same thing. Extremely fast in the tight twistys. Not so much on tech downhills though. Also, at 2400g for a large, the new element frame isn;t exactly light compared to an epic evo, blur tr or oiz tr.
Based on your numbers…the Blur was the fastest on the climbs (2:05) vs the Rocky at (2:07)
Had a 2018 carbon Element for a week before the chainstays snapped.......hopefully these new one's are designed/built much stronger given their capability.
This bike is for me, man. I think I need one.
For some this review was one of the keys to life but love all your reviews. Thank you.
Great review, but "aggressive" and "well rounded" doesn't really compute for me! I guess that means it's a very well integrated set of features.
new subscriber here and mounting bike ridding I have my eyes on her the Rocy Mountain element alloy 30 29 thank you you guys for the review. nobody is changed my mind about her. I have ride bikes when growing up but nothing serious like going to trails these is new to me. I haven't ride bike since I was a kid to boy. am adult now let's keep riding everyone
That was a great review, thanks guys, really helpful!
Why no test of the PIVOT TRAIL 429 Enduro and non?
Right? I have the non enduro version and it pedals like the Mach4SL.
Cool review, please review the new 2022 rockrider race 900s. It would be cool to compare this low price with such premium bikes.
Do you think it would be good for lightweight bikepacking? It looks like you could get a large frame bag in there. I would like to do the coast to coast in the UK across the rocky mountainous trails of the Lake District and the Moors of Yorkshire. The Element looks like the best bike for the job.
Thanks for this review - based on this a managed to get one the few C70 for the German market. It really feels and rides like you described it - it is by far the prettiest bike on the market and is for me the ideal cocktail of XC, trail and donhill capabilites. As I lease the bike via my employer, I don't feel the sick price in my wallet. 😀
The Rocky certainly is the best lookin bike
How would you compare this to the transition spur from last years test?
Went to the bike shop today (Rocky dealer) ready for them to take my money and order me an Element. Reply: they can't order, Rocky has nothing to sell, no parts, maybe something in Fall 2022. I am now very depressed. 😞
My opinion, this isn’t a “down country”, or whatever you wanna call this category, bike….it’s just a short travel trail bike, a great one for sure though.
BTW, I'd like PB to do a video on Brakes. I notice a lot of people are moving away from the giants: Shimano and SRAM, and are opting for Magura and other brands. Maybe you guys could do an overview highlighting the pros and cons of the popular models? ( sorry to go off the subject, btw).
My Element Race is from 1998. Fantastic bike, but the new one is very different and tempting.
I still love rocky they are standing out in the flock
Wonder how it compares to a Ripley
Me drooling over those trails sitting here in Alberta winter 😭
I shouldn’t have watched it…now I want one
I had a 2019 Instinct BC carbon 90 for 2 years, i did ALL upgrades like XO 10-52, etc. I sold it maybe 6 months ago, amazing bike but i really didn't need a full enduro bike and maybe the 25 pound Element be a nice replacement
Yeah 10 grand it should have 4 piston and 30 MM DT swiss XMC 1200 wheels not some cheap ass wheels
I've ridden an '02 and '06 Elements down some gnarly ass black diamonds like CBC. It's the OG capable CX bike.
The guy in the middle looks like the perfect combination of the two sitting outside him. It's like a character creation slider in real life. :)
isnt a down-down-country bike not already a up-trail-bike ??? lets make this the new thing
Is it ok to be convinced that this bike could be my holy grail? So many trail "chads" would disagree and wine about travel length almost as if that is the way you judge how talented a mntBiker is. You said it well, but After have this bike on lone for most of last fall I described like,,, As a 50 yr old homie with a billion old broken bones and sports injuries, if on paper the bike shouldn't go down something than I definitely, likely should not go down it either. But like you said the element would likely rip down almost anything. "confidence inspiring" is the truth.
when a xc bike gets 130mm travel at the front and 120 at the rear with 65(!) degrees headtube angle , you can safely say that it is a trail bike not a xc bike.
So Element or Top Fuel? I’m looking at the XT build (C50 & 9.7). Element is $4,900 compared to $4,230. That $670 is a decent difference. The Element sounds better (lighter, more downhill focused but just as fast up). But is it worth the cost? 130mm vs 120mm front as well.
I'd go the Element.
Can't get a 9.7 in Oz until March next year I was told. Cemented the decision for me - getting the C50. Has better fork and lighter wheels so goes some way to matching price.
I would highly recommend the element
@@technovelodos what fork was on the 9.7 for you? Spec sheet shows Fox 34 “Rhythm” for US. Not sure if that is different from 34 Performance on Element.
@@kevinclark9176 The Rhythm is one step down from the Performance in the Fox line-up. Actual performance differences are debatable but the Rhythm is a bit heavier.
How does this bike compare to the Revel Ranger or Transition Spur?
Hmmm, I wonder how this compares to a more reserved bike, say the Polygon Siskiu D7, for example.
Absolutely, I’ve had a D7 and now considering an Element A30
Me to Rocky Mountain “TAKE MY MONEY” I want one asap
Are you guys talking about the Trek Top Fuel? also I weigh about 90kgs..Do you think I'd have more issues with the suspension bottoming out?
Kaz rolling his is on Henry's pun 😂
This or the Transition Spur. pls help!
Wish I could find one! Yes I agree that it should have a four piston brakes and the rims are very narrow.
It is sort of odd what bike manufactures do today. My Ripley which at the time was Ibis' most conservative trail bike came spec'd with 35MM wheels. I think the more narrow rims on the Element make more sense than the 35mm wheels on the Ripley. It seems wheels are the first place manufactures cut costs.
@@lazylearner967 I would think that at least a 30 mm rims would be placed on these bikes especially since they’re setting them up to take much wider tires and they have in the past. I noticed that the trek top fuel has 30 mm rims. I’m definitely in the mood to buy a new bike in the spring and have been doing a lot of research on UA-cam and on the bike manufacturers sites. All things being even it’s going to be something along the lines of whatever is in stock in April will determine what I get.
I bought one last week. Two shops in Utah have them in stock.
@@gfowkes Congrats! What model did you get? Any initial thoughts?
@@lazylearner967 I really just wanted a frame, but couldn't find one so I bought a C30 build, stripped it down to the frame, and rebuilt it with parts I've been collecting for a Spur build. Had my first shakedown ride today. Totally blown away. Incredibly fast and efficient climber, but plush and poppy on the way down. Kept expecting to bottom out the rear shock but it sucked up even the biggest hits. Stoked!
Let's just say it now and I cannot believe that it was not said in the video. They should buy Transition a load a beers and thank them for making a bike that everyone wants to copy. It literally is that bike. Slacker in the head tube and steeper in the seat tube, but it's a copy. You know why? Cause it works. and people love it. My spur is amazing. And this bike seems to have all the attributes that the Spur has. I would love to throw a leg over this one day. Great review.
The Element has 4 different geometry positions and internal cable routing. Spur does not. I think the Element should have a 120 fork. My 2 cents
Found the transition fanboi... Similar geo doesnt make a bike a copy. Ride4, internal routing, an actual rear pivot, lower STL and 130 fork are some notable differences.
@@johnr5001 yes those are differences. I don't mean a carbon copy. Its intended purpose is the same and has very similar silhouette. It looks like the transition. Fanboi, no I just really like the bike I bought. If the rocky came out first I would have said the same thing about the Transition.
Which bike is better: Ibis Exie (non-usa deore build $5k) vs. Rocky Mountain Element (C50 build $5k)??? No xc racing, but will be doing marathons and 100 milers. Ride mostly 'blue' trails, fair amount of green as well, just a touch of black. My weight is 120lbs.
I've alway been curious about Rocky Mountain! Considering how affordable the Alloy version is, what would be the disadvantages of buying one compared to a Carbon model ( aside from the Carbon of course!...LOL) ?
Also, are 2P brakes really that bad? I been riding 4P SLX and XT for over a year now and am not impressed. In fact, I feel my 2P XT were better......LOL.
Right? I had 2 pot Deore on my last bike that had way more power than my current 4 pot SRAM joke brakes. Carbon frame will translate to a stiffer ride and better acceleration IMO. Apart from that and the weight the Alu would be great.
I switched from 4 pot Sram G2R brakes to XT 2 pot. I will admit I am a Shimano fan, but the XTs seem to stop far better than the G2's. This is on a Ripley AF.
So the 2 piston shimano brakes are great if you buy anything between the really cheap ones and the xtrs. The slx and xts are much better because they feature shimano's servo wave lever, which makes them way way more powerful.
@@Nickubus99 I ride a V1 Ripmo as my one and only bike and been thinking of getting a 2nd bike as backup. This bike would be a good candidate unless I get a Ripley AF...LOL.
@@lazylearner967 I'm a big Shimano fan too and had them on all my bikes. I did have some Level Ts on my Ripmo and upgraded them to 4P SLX - they were ok.
I know Levy complains about the bite point on Shimano brakes. I've also heard of people switching to Magura. I don't want to do something that drastic. I wonder how good 2 P XTR brakes are?
Question for everybody, how this bike compares to the Transition Spur?
These are my two finalist for my next bike.
Thank You
sounds like my perfect bike
Hi Henry, GMBN misses you! Good to see you resurface.....
And vs. the Ripley, how does it do ? Presumably the Ripley is better at descending and worse in efficiency but tech climb performance might be similar ?
Mate has a Ripley with Formula Forks on it, best bike I have ever ridden, its awesome and a fantastic climber.
MTB YumYum loves his Ripley, but said the Element is better.
@@gfowkes cant find a review of the Element on his channel, when did he do it?
@@shaun1900 it was during the Firebird live stream. He starts talking about the Element at around 49:00 and continues for about 20 mins.
@@gfowkes cool ill take a look
That is a good looking bike !!
How does it compare to a V4 Ripley?
Great review.
Any good for bikepacking or how does it compare to the Kona heihei AL
How high you think it’s possible to drop with this bike? My weight is 90kg and our local trails have drops up to 1m.
I’m not seen this model whit such components like Fox fork and SRAM cassette . They sell this model whit Shimano and Marzochi fork for the carbon version
Love Henry! Glad PinkBike brought him over!
Press Fit BB = No go.
Is press fit really that bad? Have you had any experiences with it?
Interested to know what the PB riders that rode this and the izzo think of them compared
Which one would you recommend element alloy 10, Instinct alloy 10, Trek Fuel ex 5 or Davinci marshal, for overall better climbing and handling corners in fast descend?
Trek for sure
Levy, no love for ride 9! Would like to hear why you think the ride 4 is superior.
This or a Ibis Ripley AF?
Hello how do you compare ton instinct BC édition 2017 ? Close specs ?
When the bike is nearly 10 grand you arent being nitpicky to expect more expensive carbon rims or 4 piston brakes. Its unforgivable really given the competition
I think the brakes on Orbea Laufey has two pistons on 180 mm disc, and I love those brakes. About the rims. I think rims on a bike like the Element should hawe width optimized for ca 2.35" tyres.
Transition Spur or Rocky Mountain Element??
Why isn't Banshee Phantom V3 a part of this down-country comparison? It would be a great contender in my opinion.
Seems like a nice bike at 3 times the cost i or anybody i know can pay 😉
The entry level will be almost 16 kg ready to ride. That's interesting because i have a 7 year old alloy AM bike kitted for downhill that weigh less.
Omg I was waiting for this test. How does it compare to the spur
I'm Curious too. A LBS in Utah who carries both told me the Spur would most likely climb better but the Element would be "easier" on the downs. Granted he didn't have the Element in stock yet, so take that with a grain of salt.
Is it assembled
What is the POE count on the stock element rear hub?
Wondering how this bike would feel with a 120mm 34 step cast. Maybe in the slack position of ride 4.
RMB team racer is running the 34 SC. It's plenty slack enough to handle the steepening. The BB height gets crazy low though.
@@johnr5001 he's running it in steep mode with the SC34. I'm planning to do the same.
@@brianrowbotham4010 same here. Just took delivery of a frameset. Pretty stoked for the build.
How does this bike compare to the Spec Epic Evo released last year?
The crew does some more in depth comparisons in a podcast we launched today, and there's still a roundtable coming up as well. www.pinkbike.com/news/the-pinkbike-podcast-episode-95-field-test-down-country-bike-debrief.html
I wondered that too. I ended up getting an epic evo last year cause Rocky delayed the new element until 2022 but I’m still curious.
Now question is this a better Tallboy?
It’s much lighter and the tallboy gets out climbed by many other bikes.
I would love to own this bike so bad
Spur or element?
Following....(not the bike, I'm just following this)
No answer
Pretty good but please test ghost full party or canyon strive
The Ghost review drops next week. IIRC on the 15th.
@@pinkbike thanks man
Looks like my spur is useless now!
Would be the ~first one I’ve seen up for resale
Well, your Spur will sell in less than 10 minutes. However, don’t sell it before the Element arrives.
Im looking to get a new full-suspension bike for under 3k USD. Anyone have any suggestions?
look into direct to consumer bikes like polygon, fezzari, canyon, etc.... awesome value!
Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 0 2022 Please
Whats the price in£please
🔥🔥🔥
Intro music?
Sounds like a Transition Spur.
When are you going to take the rocky element on a tough trail ? Been waiting. Every video I watch with this bike from you guys says “would love to ride this on something more intense” . Give me that video. Put this into something out of its element
Would love to see this head-to-head with the Ibis Ripley.
Also, how would it do with a 140 mm fork?
Same as a 130 +10mm
Next time. Please add the polygon siskiu d series.
2:20 I cannot believe the tyre or the rim did not break.
How would it compare to the Trek as an XC racer? It is much lighter, and obviously more efficient- but without that fire under your butt… also; which one is just more fun and poppy? (The Blur 🤓)
Nice looking bike but poor quality control or poor transport.Rear wheel has major issues right out of the box. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Rear axle is bent! Derailleur is misaligned.Since the rear wheel comes assembled I would have expected better.Assembly instructions poorly written, but that was not unexpected...just annoying.I just had the bike checked at a shop and was told that I should contact the seller about getting a whole rear wheel assembly with cartridge. (The bike shop could not do anything to help me).Not a good experience with this bike, so lesson learned.Added 3 stars for excellent customer serviceUpdate Sept 8 2020Just received a complete replacement wheel for free. Great service and an otherwise fine bike.
Next time drop the guy in the middle, just have the other 2, the conversation will be lot better