Rocky Mountain Redesigns Element for 2017 - Press Release

Jun 28, 2016
by Pinkbike Staff  

Element 999 RSL
Element 999 RSL: The new front section has an offset on the downtube near the bottom bracket to make room for two water bottles.

bigquotesHi everyone, we're excited to launch the new Element. Our flagship XC bike has been a staple in the Rocky Mountain lineup for over 20 years, and we're damn proud of this latest edition. - Rocky Mountain


Rocky Mountain has been making the Element for 20 years in one form or another. Their elite level XC racer has been on the podium in every form of cross-country competition, from Tooney races in BC, to the Olympics. For 2017, Rocky Mountain redesigned the Element to encapsulate the spirit and capabilities of modern marathon competitions like the BC Bike Race, where technical courses and precipitous terrain take a toll on both riders and their equipment and lungs and legs alone cannot guarantee a win. The new Element RSL and RSL BC editions are true cross country weapons that have been blessed with modernized geometry, suspension tuned for the "real world," and cockpits outfitted for better bike-handling.

Prices for the 2017 Element range have yet to be released. Five levels of the carbon-fiber race bike will be offered: the top-line 999 RSL; the 990 RSL and its 990 RSL BC edition offshoot; the 970 RSL; the 950 RSL; and the 930 RSL. Except for the 930 all the Elements feature one-by drivetrains, but to appease Asian and German bike buyers, the 930 and one version of the 970 are outfitted with two-by-eleven transmissions. All that makes for a dizzying array of very similar looking bike photos, so we will only show you the highlights and leave you to peruse the complete range on the Rocky Mountain site.


rocky mountain element 2017

bigquotesThis new Element is a full-on XC marathon weapon, but with the confidence of a trail bike. People used to show up to BC Bike Race expecting to grind fire roads all day, only to walk the descents and snap their made-for-the-scale bikes in half. XC racing has evolved, and bikes that can't handle the real world have no business on the course. - Product Director Alex Cogger

Details:
• Carbon frame weighs 2250g (size medium, including shock and hardware.
• RIDE-9™ adjustability chip moved into the link, saving weight and bulk
• Frame available with special edition Team Only paint.
• Wheel size: 29 inch, Clearance for 29x2.35 tires
• All sizes fit two water bottles inside the front triangle
• Future-proofed to run Di2, Fox Live, and a dropper post concurrently
• Single-sided chainstay pivots for a narrower rear triangle—eliminates heel rub, even with Boost spacing
• Cartridge bearing pivots with simplified hardware
• Fits standard, widely available 6.5x1.5 shocks
• Full-length internal shift, dropper post, and lockout routing, plus internal brake routing in the front triangle
• Oversized head tube and downtube ports for ease of cable routing
• New derailleur hanger design reduces hardware complexity
• Lightweight bolt-on axle saves 35g compared to a traditional Boost axle
• Post-mount 160mm rear brake
• PressFit BB92 bottom bracket, ZS44 | ZS56 headset.
• 2x compatible, Max 2x chainring size is 28t/40
• Max 1x chainring size is 38t with SRAM, 36t with
Race Face
• MSRP: TBD
• Contact: Rocky Mountain

Rocky Mountain Element 2017 Geometry


Element 999 RSL 2017
Element 999 Components:

• Carbon frame
• Boost hub spacing
• Fox 34 factory 120mm fork and Float DPS Remote Factory shock
• SRAM XX1 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain and Ultimate brakes (160/180mm)
• Stan's Valor carbon 29" wheelset
• Maxxis Ikon 2.2" tires
• Race Face 760mm Next handlebar
• RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post
• WTB Silverado Ti saddle
• Rocky Mountain stem and lock-on grips.



Element 990 RSL BC Edition

Element 990 RSL BC edition
"Set up with wider bars, bigger tires, stiffer wheels, and premium suspension, BC Edition models are built the way Rocky Mountain's employees set up their personal bikes."

Components:
• Carbon frame
• Boost hub spacing
• RockShox Monarch RT3 100mm shock
• RockShox Pike RCT3 120mm fork
• Brakes: Shimano XT, 180mm rotors
• Drivetrain: Shimano XT 11- speed
• Shimano XTR Rear Derailleur
• Shimano XT 11-46T Cassette
• Race Face Turbine Cinch crankset, 32T
• Wheelset: Rocky Mountain front hub, DT Swiss 350 rear hub, WTB spokes, Stan's ZTR Arch rims
• Tires: Maxxis DHR II 29 x 2.3 /Minion SS 29 x 2.3 EXO TR
• WTB Silverado Race saddle
• Handlebars Race Face SixC, 800mm
• RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post
• Rocky Mountain stem and lock-on grips



Element 970 RSL

Element 970 RSL one by 11

Components:
• Carbon frame
• Boost hub spacing
• Fox Float DPS Performance Elite Remote shock
• Fox 34 Float Performance Elite 120mm fork
• Brakes: Shimano XT 180/160mm rotors
• Drivetrain: Shimano XT 11- speed
• Shimano XTR Rear Derailleur
• Shimano XT 11-46T Cassette

• Race Face Turbine Cinch crankset, 32T
• Wheelset: Rocky Mountain front hub, Sun ringle SRC rear hub, WTB spokes, Stan's ZTR Crest rims
• Tires: Maxxis Ikon /Maxxis Speed TR, 29 x 2.2"
• WTB Silverado Race saddle
• Handlebar Race Face Turbine 760mm
• RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post
• Rocky Mountain AM stem and lock-on grips



Element 950 RSL

Element 950 RSL one by 11

Components:
• Carbon frame
• Boost hub spacing
• Fox Float DPS Remote shock
• Fox 34 Float Performance 120mm fork
• Brakes: Shimano SLX 180/160mm rotors
• Drivetrain: Shimano SLX/XT 11- speed
• Shimano XT 11-46T Cassette
• Race Face Aeffect SL Cinch crankset, 32T

• Race Face Aeffect SL Cinch crankset, 32T
• Wheelset: Rocky Mountain front hub, Sun Ringle SRC rear hub, WTB spokes, Sun Helix SL TR25 rims
• Tires: Maxxis Ikon /Maxxis Speed TR, 29 x 2.2"
• WTB Silverado Race saddle
• Handlebar Rocky Mountain AM 760mm
• Rocky Mountain SL seatpost 30.9mm
• Rocky Mountain AM stem and lock-on grips

Click here for addditional images of the full range

Mentions: @RockyMountainBicycles



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97 Comments
  • 106 6
 Finally a press release that doesn't contain plus tyres or e bikes...
  • 5 2
 Tantrum is watching
  • 6 6
 Probably because they already tried to shove it down our throats with previous press releases. I guess you missed all the Sherpa hype.
  • 2 9
flag Neechy (Jun 28, 2016 at 20:42) (Below Threshold)
 But "Boost hub spacing" ...
  • 9 2
 @Neechy:

Pretty much everyone is adopting boost, especially for 29ers which is what it was originally designed for. Rocky only avoided using it on the Sherpa because they claimed that 142 hubs would be easier to source somehow if you were in africa or something bike touring than a 148 hub. The pipleline however went 148.
  • 2 1
 also, they didn't touch the fox stepcast fork? went for 34s on a XC rig? hmmmmm
  • 4 1
 @trezzanick: Fox doesn't make the 32SC in a 120mm travel version, which is how much travel this bike has.
  • 3 1
 Right...step cast is shortened lowers with less overlap and a narrower crown pitch so the tire clearance is reduced (2.35 maximum but not every tire brand's 2.35 will truly be that width....many are wider). They only come in 100mm travel for the 29er version.
  • 27 3
 Rad bikes from a rad company. Rocky Mountain never disappoints.
  • 2 7
flag sevensixtwo (Jun 29, 2016 at 13:38) (Below Threshold)
 Incredible bikes, I just wish they didn't have Press-Fit. Basically just another brand I can't spend money on.
  • 12 1
 @sevensixtwo: Threaded BB's creak too.....There is ZERO reason to dislike a bike because of press-fit BB's....My last 2 Rally Edition Altitudes have had NO PROBLEMS with the press-fit BB....And I live in the Pacific Northwest, Manager at a Bike Shop, and ride and send it all the time..... Press Fit or Threaded both require maintenance, no matter what, things wear out
  • 13 0
 The BC edition would be a trail weapon. Xc bikes are blurring the line with trail bikes now and thats awsome. Means trail bikes are faster and lighter than ever before.
On the subject of no 26 or 27.5 an xc bike should be 29 ( i know nino was on 27.5). They're faster for the average rider period. 26 aint dead but it isnt the best option for xc. 27.5 is an option for xc but with these bikes coming with 120mm fronts theyre gonna be used in marathon racing/trail ruding and in my opinion 29 is better. Im sure in Rockys lineup there is 27.5 options that suit the application better. The only thing is small size option in 27.5? I dont know as im a large so no experience. Anyway bikes look like fun fast and light! Giddyup
  • 15 2
 Maybe I missed it but is this Rocky Mountain admitting that the chainstay pivot works better bellow the rear axle line?

Would love to know how much difference it makes compared to the solution they were forced to use previously
  • 2 2
 No, all their other bikes are still smoothlinks including the recently released Pipeline. But I'm sure for the new frame design and the fact elements are really pure XC racing bikes, they achieved the frame weight, wheel path and spring rate goals better thru a horst link.
  • 4 1
 I have to admit, my old slayer was actually a better pedalling bike than most of my friends, including DW links and the like. The "Smooth link" has no flaws so far as I'm concerned, it works a treat.
  • 2 1
 Finally!!! The HL makes a lot more sense for this bike and the main pivot looks pretty high too, so there is a good chance this bike works really well.
  • 7 1
 "By the placing the chainstay pivot below the rear axle, this bike and company has officially lost all concern for rider safety. It's just too dangerous now!" - you know the author
  • 2 1
 @bryan46: lolages!!!!
  • 8 0
 Does this mark the beginning of the end for the dreaded ABC Bushing?! I read this article once and then skimmed it a second time. I can't seem to find the word "bushing" in there anywhere. I won't blame them for trying, but are they ready to admit it was a failure? I was a loyal RMB customer for many, many years until I sent my Altitude for 3 warranty claims (in 20 months) and spent hundreds of $$ on bushings... I hope that time is over. Perhaps we can head deep into the North Shore Mountains, dig a six foot hole and bury every last ABC Bushing still in existence...... maybe then the healing can begin.
  • 12 1
 I love the choice of cartridge bearing pivots.
  • 8 0
 almost like its saying something about bushings..
  • 4 0
 @canadaka: At the risk of sounding dramatic, I was fully planning on switching brands for my next bike solely because of the bushings on my Altitude. Awesome bike to ride; Utter pain in the ass to tear down pivots. Hopefully these bearings make their way onto some other models...
  • 4 0
 @MTBrent: No doubt. Not to mention 85$ for a tiny bag of plastic...
  • 1 0
 @MTBrent:

Same here on my T-Bolt BC edition. But I cannot find a better xc/trail 27.5 bike (size small + geometry).

I hate the bushing design, their customer service, and their SHOP distributor. RMB is struggling with the details of their business.
  • 9 0
 Sounds like they were spending a lot of time with the atom smasher if they were redesigning elements. Wonder if there is any unobtainium employed in the design?
  • 3 0
 The unobtainium shipment was delayed due to the Na'vi with their rebellious fonts.
  • 7 0
 We have a particle collider in the back, on loan from CERN. No big deal.
  • 2 0
 @RockyMountainBicycles: What a bozon.
  • 6 1
 I really like my 2013 Element B.C. Edition and this 2017 is a great improvement! Boost spacing, beefier headtube junction and 34mm forks will improve stiffness for sure. 2 water bottle mounts will be nice. Only Specialized was able to do that with a race ready FS 29er as far as I recall.
  • 2 0
 New scalpel has 2 bottle mounts if i remember correctly
  • 3 0
 @UtahBikeMike: yep.

Stoked the this new Element does too. I'm pretty tempted.
  • 2 0
 @UtahBikeMike: AND a flex stay, bla... Smile
  • 1 0
 @stiingya: Flex stays work surprisingly well (see Yeti ASRC - awesome bike). There's plenty of other bad engineering choices on the Cannondale though Smile (mostly around excessively small pivots that collect mud, frustrating headsets, poor damping on Lefties etc)
  • 10 1
 I'm waiting for the new Slayer!!!
  • 9 0
 MSRP 14389 $
  • 5 0
 Cad which is 3k euros
  • 9 0
 Room for 2 water bottles is pricey these days. Oh wait, everything is pricey in Cad these days.
  • 6 0
 Small thing, but thank you for putting actual frame weights, Giant and Trek could learn a thing.
  • 2 0
 Pfffff who needs shock hardware or a derailleur hanger?
  • 4 0
 "fits standard widely available 6.5 x 1.5 shocks.."

1. When did that become standard?
2. Why did you choose to not go with the newly established standard metric shock?
But I jest
  • 7 0
 love the paint job on the way too expensive one.
  • 2 0
 As usual, I think the 950 in red is the best looking. Unsurprisingly, I own an Instinct 950 in red.
  • 3 0
 Thank you Rocky Mountain. Its about time someone designed an XC race rig with proper geo, proper suspension and proper bar height! Ive been sick to death of seeing these ridiculous XC rigs with steep head angles, upside down stems, skinny bars and hardly any suspension. I hope XC racers pick up on these and realise that mountain biking in not just about climbing!
  • 6 0
 Thank you for keeping the xxl.
  • 6 2
 I was expecting a plus bike. Thank goodness rocky has their head on straight
  • 4 1
 Awesome! I've been a huge fan of the Element for years. Great to see x1 drivetrains on most models and some stout forks. Really blurring the lines between trail and XC.
  • 5 0
 no pivot bushings. yay!
  • 1 0
 I have the 2013 version built up very similar to the bc edition and that bike can get rowdy. I'm really interested with a 120 mm pike on the front end and a bit of a slacker geometry. Looks fun as hell.
  • 4 0
 That 990 BC looks like a winner!
  • 3 3
 I wonder why no fox 32...why the 34 on an xc bike. Would be lighter and the flexier body of the 32 only becomes slightly an issue above 120mm travel. I am seing this a lot with fox equipped bikes aimed at more xc territory and am unsure why. I am far from the lightest rider and have fox 40's a set of 36's and a 32 and have done black runs in wales bikeparks on the 32's. sure the 36 forks felt better on the same trails and the 40's for downhill only but it wasn't the flex that was the issue it was the limited travel eg 120 on my 32's vs the 180 on the 36's. The 32 is a much better fork to run with all day though for the intended market for this bike...or so I would guess.
  • 3 0
 Pivot does the same thing. How much of a weight penalty is there anyway? They're both fantastic forks, I don't think most people would notice much difference either way
  • 3 3
 They also have Minion DHF and SS on an "XC" bike. Ridiculous.
  • 4 0
 Fox doesn't make the new 32s with 120mm of travel, which this bike has.
  • 3 0
 It's not about stiffness of the chassis as much as it is about tune. It's easier to tune a larger volume air spring that comes with a 34 or pike relative to a sid or 32. Adding volume reducers to a smaller air chamber and it's easy to make a fork too progressive. The larger damper w/ more fluid will not heat up as quickly and will ride more consistently and as intended on sustained decents or choppy trails. It doesn't make sense to not run a 34 or pike on an xc bike these days if you plan on riding in the mountains. Not really a weight penalty between a 32 and 34 btw.
  • 2 0
 @thebigschott: ~1.0 lb difference between 32SC and a 34
  • 3 0
 @taprider: 32SC not available in 120mm...
  • 1 0
 @jdots:yes they do....perhaps your thinking of the step cast model which is only 100mm but the regular 32 includes a 120mm option.
its listed on the fox website and is 3.34lbs in weight vs the 3.92lbs for the 34
  • 4 1
 @LeDuke: XC is different in BC...
  • 1 0
 @taprider: Well shoot man, if you're going to put it that way you could put one of those 80mm lauf forks on there and really mess the geo up. You'd save all the more weight though.
  • 3 3
 Pros: Dropper post, 1x drivetrain, 75º seatangle, clearance for 2.35 tires, wide handlebars
Cons: 69-70º headangle, short wheelbase (1200mm except XXL), Seat tube length is too long for each size.

Can't really claim you have modern geometry when you still have a headangle that is uber steep and a mega short wheelbase!
Shame because there is a lot of good things about the bike.
And before anyone comes along and says well it IS a XC bike please tell me why XC bike have to have crap handling? Slack headangles can ride uphill just as well if you have a long front center!
  • 3 0
 I think the geometry looks pretty good. Head angle is a little steeper than what's on trend but I bet these bikes absolutely rail single track. There are plenty of Kona Process clones on the market right now, this bike is for someone who wants something a little different.
  • 1 3
 @bradcompany: a little steep is an understatement! 68º is steep 70º is 1990s geometry! That bike should have a headangle of 66-67º!
  • 2 0
 @SintraFreeride: They have a bike like that in their lineup called the Instinct. 130mm 29er with a 67 degree head angle. If that set up floats your boat they have you covered.
  • 2 1
 @bradcompany: I'm not in the market for a XC bike anytime soon thanks. I just find it strange that companies have been building bad handling XC bike for years as if XC folk only ride uphill! What is the point of a 9kg bike which climbs like a demon but that you have to gingerly ride back down the hill!
  • 1 0
 @SintraFreeride: Fair play--I know where you're coming from. One last thing I'll point out--I did a quick search and the head tube angle on the Cannondale Scalpel is 71.4 degrees, the Trek Top Fuel is 70.9, The Specialized Epic is 71. For full suspension race oriented XC bikes, with the ride 9 flipped, the Rocky is the slackest out of all of them at 69. You and Rocky are on the same page for slacker xc bikes!
  • 3 0
 that canada coloured one is probably the prettiest painjob I ´ve ever seen
  • 1 0
 Smile
  • 1 0
 See BC Edition
"Tires: Maxxis DHR II 29 x 2.3 /Minion SS 29 x 2.3 EXO TR"
Love the SS, but the DHR on the front, how about a DHF.
  • 2 0
 We love our DHRIIs.
  • 3 1
 What? No metric shock sizing! So much for future proofing it.
Love the bike though, seriously.
  • 1 0
 Exactly what I thought
  • 2 0
 All the models look so sweet! I wonder what the weight would be like on the top Element 999?
  • 4 2
 This comment font is out of its element.
  • 1 0
 Zing!
  • 2 2
 Just curious, with 7 billion people on this planet, why is it specifically that Asians and Germans need a 2x10? Just stuck me as odd.
  • 3 1
 Half of that 7B is in Asia BTW. They don't mind using both thumbs.
  • 3 1
 it is aluminum. Thank you Jah.
  • 1 0
 Are these bikes some of the first to come with 170mm Reverbs? They look long in the pictures.
  • 1 0
 Set me up with one, either I break it and myself or I just break myself.
  • 1 0
 where are you guys from ? lol
  • 4 2
 meh
  • 1 0
 Anyone know if rocky are doing their instinct for 17?
  • 2 0
 I'm really looking forward to that refresh.
Metric shock, 140mm travel, BC Edition kit (150mm Pike/Fox 36) and I'd drop pre-order cash on that exact bike.
  • 2 0
 I believe the sales rep in my area said they are NOT changing the Instinct through 2017... But here's hoping I'm remembering incorrectly...
  • 2 1
 I just don't like bikes where the seat stays and shock don't line up.
  • 1 0
 a Shimano xt 11-46 cassette? 46? a new Shimano cassette or typing error?
  • 1 0
 Room for two water bottle is the future
  • 1 0
 and it was the past
  • 1 0
 Love the Red One
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