Video: Andreas Hestler Talks Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt

64 Comments

43 2

saintjimmy (Mar 29, 2015 at 23:39)

Dear Andreas... put your seat down, and quit making me look like a bitch.

14 19

shirk-007 (Mar 30, 2015 at 11:08) (Below Threshold)

Uh his seat is down form his normal climbing height. Not everyone needs to slam their seat to their ankles to descent.

26 0

preach (Mar 30, 2015 at 11:32)

any video that can make climbing look fun means the editors did a bang-up job.

scott-townes (Mar 30, 2015 at 14:53)

Hey mannn, its all about personal preferences mannn. Peace and love, peace and love.

dontcoast (Mar 30, 2015 at 19:32)

World Cup XC racer don't care about your dropper or dropping you

15 0

won-sean-animal-chin (Mar 30, 2015 at 16:26)

"i don't often roost, but when I do, I roost uphill"

13 0

elbry (Mar 29, 2015 at 23:03)

thunderbolts the perfect uk bike.

10 0

minus8 (Mar 30, 2015 at 3:25)

I love these slack 120mm bikes, perfect for most average riders on 85%+ of the terrain we have in the UK

Evo360 (Mar 30, 2015 at 6:44)

I never thought I'd be saying this after rising a spicy for the last two years but I am now the proud owner of a whyte t129 scr works. Slack short travel and bags of fun. Oh and the thing is rapid. I lose out when things get silly steep but generally it will take anything you throw at it.

elbry (Mar 30, 2015 at 22:40)

perfect for most riders was what you mean, most riders are over biked.

Evo360 (Mar 31, 2015 at 1:45)

Most riders in the uk are well over biked. Unless you're tackling Dh tracks at the weekend. 160mm 65 degrees is totally unnecessary

Thunderbiker (Mar 31, 2015 at 3:16)

NOT!

madmon (Mar 30, 2015 at 9:38)

I feel honoured to have met him numerous times and can say he is the real deal on or off a bike. He is definitely one of the smoothest riders I have seen and it makes me want a Rocky again. My 1999 Reaper needs to be retired.

giantrx2 (Mar 30, 2015 at 10:18)

I rode the top end alumnium version for a 17 km loop in Canmore last summer and I found I liked it alot. I had a kona process 111 which was a very fun bike but it was a tank and more geared towards the down. The Thunderbolt was much more balanced in this respect, a true trail bike and I would be totally happy with an alum version. Unfortunaltly, the shop that I work at doesn't sell Rocky so I am "settliing" (sarcam) on a Giant Anthem SX

micah356 (Mar 30, 2015 at 20:05)

This video is perfect! It's nice to actually see some climbing and a 'normal' trail.

litespeed74 (Mar 30, 2015 at 7:10)

Damn....my dream trail. Roots, wet, tacky dirt...perfect temperature to mtn bike. And stuff that I can actually ride aggressive without falling flat on my face. : )

CaptainSnappy (Mar 30, 2015 at 9:41)

Those roots are not tacky, trust me. Those trails in the vid are fun tho...

10 0

iamamodel (Mar 30, 2015 at 19:01)

You have good taste. I am sick of this dumming down of trails with this 'flow' shit of one berm and tabletop after another - this trail takes commitment and skill to get through it quickly. In a race it would sort out the nuts from the grapes real quick.

rockhammer (Mar 29, 2015 at 23:09)

Does this mean video reviews with trail riding in them?

loopie (Mar 29, 2015 at 23:14)

Lusted for the original T-Bolt way back when(about 1990?)...could only afford the Hammer. Still looks that way. Top model at $11,500...wowzers. Carbon and goldylocks coatings and lots of tiny switches sure do add up eh? haha

mammal (Mar 30, 2015 at 17:42)

It's the Di2 system that bumps up the price of the top level model. If you look at the next level down (non di2), it's a bit more reasonable.

ratedgg13 FL (Mar 30, 2015 at 10:13)

My BC edition should be arriving in two weeks!

Though how did Andreas get a Float X to fit the frame? I thought they decided not to use a Monarch Plus or Float X because they didnt fit?

Ripper68 (Mar 30, 2015 at 14:35)

You can fit float x...just no water bottle with the Piggy Back Air Shock

ratedgg13 FL (Mar 30, 2015 at 14:48)

Ohhhhhh got it! Thanks!

bike-vt (Mar 30, 2015 at 19:04)

In the video he's got both the piggy back and a water bottle...

Ripper68 (Mar 30, 2015 at 21:42)

Right you are. it's a bit of a short bottle. I know I can't fit a 21oz bottle in my RMB Instinct with Float X.

mattsavage (Mar 30, 2015 at 15:09)

But is the BB actually high enough to allow you to pedal through technical sections, unlike my Element MSL?

superbikes (Mar 30, 2015 at 5:32)

Bible of bikes give this very good rateing tho they say the pivet bushing system can be a handful

maxlombardy (Mar 30, 2015 at 6:02)

I've worked on their pivots, it's not a big deal.

superbikes (Mar 30, 2015 at 6:51)

But these are a new kind . Check the bible of bikes vid . The micanic who has worked of bikes he's full life says its a pain in the arss . I like to do all my own fixing so could be a pain for me. Ive looked at a lot of shorter travel bike ENDURO mainly but this thunderbolt I may of over looked sounds spot on for UK trails if your a xc /trail/agressive rider . Tho with a lot of these short travel bikes they can often be such fun and flickerble and can leed you to progress to bigger things then more often than not you find yourself wanting more travel . But as bible of bikes said it look the bigger hits just as well . All in all im likeing this bike a lot

frojoe (Mar 30, 2015 at 11:45)

The pivots on this new Thunderbolt have been improved specifically with ease of servicability in mind, you can assemble the whole rear suspension with barely more than 1 hand now, and take each piece apart individually and separate of each other!

shredjekyll (Mar 30, 2015 at 14:18)

Man, wish I could afford this. Thunderbolt + Slayer and I would be set for quite awhile =)

cptmayhem (Mar 29, 2015 at 23:19)

This, or an HD3.... This, or an HD3... AAAARGH! My brain is going to explode.

justincs (Mar 30, 2015 at 5:22)

The Thunderbolt is a bit more light duty, the Altitude is a closer comparison to the HD3

CaptainSnappy (Mar 30, 2015 at 9:43)

^ Exactly. The 'bolt is more of a trail bike compared to the AM focused HD3.

rideonjon (Mar 30, 2015 at 16:48)

$11500 trail bike just what everyone needs.

mammal (Mar 30, 2015 at 17:44)

**$11500: That's just the Di2 system talking.

cptmayhem (Apr 1, 2015 at 23:50)

It's now become a bit more complex. HD3 or Warden. Leaning the way of the Warden.

iamamodel (Mar 30, 2015 at 19:04)

Rider, trail, video - all top-notch! Thank you.

elbry (Mar 29, 2015 at 23:11)

www.facebook.com/RockyMountainBicyclesUk

brockfisher05 (Mar 30, 2015 at 9:12)

One of my favourite bikes to ride! My dad has the 750 model and I can not believe how lively this thing is!!

deeeight (Mar 30, 2015 at 9:57)

Now if they just make the 2015 frame-only option in a good paint scheme I'm all set.

TamKid (Mar 30, 2015 at 14:14)

51s-54s.... its a goddamn DreQuake. Sick Fighter.

Intense4life (Mar 30, 2015 at 23:39)

This is our guy, buddy is Canadian , I can say he is my friend! : South Park eh

frojoe (Mar 30, 2015 at 11:45)

I want that bike!

minus8 (Mar 30, 2015 at 17:47)

Edited: Messed up posting a reply... oops...

MountainbikeLodge (Mar 31, 2015 at 5:30)

We love this kind of mountainbiking! thanks Andreas

Hidden-Heights (Mar 30, 2015 at 2:01)

Song?

Spindelatron (Mar 30, 2015 at 17:34)

Darude - Sandstorm

bryan46 (Mar 31, 2015 at 7:51)

Justin Bieber's ex-girlfriend remixed with robots discussing The Last Question by Issac Asimov.

chainzuck (Mar 30, 2015 at 4:33)

Really nice bike, but i will just go get a 3k Downhiller, 3k Allmountain/Enduro, 3k Racehardtail for the same price and be the happiest guy in the world

vhdh666 (Mar 30, 2015 at 8:47)

do you take 3 bikes on a tour?

bkm303 (Mar 30, 2015 at 10:58)

Huh? There are versions of the Tbolt for as little as $2k.

iamamodel (Mar 30, 2015 at 19:02)

Chainzuck, just spend 5k on an allmountain/enduro and spend the rest on a holiday to New Zealand.

SeaLoam (Apr 1, 2015 at 4:41)

Bike looks perfect. Trail unreal.

RockyMjen (Mar 31, 2015 at 8:38)

It's amazing-fruit!!

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codfather1234 FL (Mar 30, 2015 at 2:37)

As good as I'm sure it is, it's still £9500.
I'd rather a Norco Aurum, a Mondraker Foxy and some change please....

rexluthor (Mar 30, 2015 at 7:30)

You are aware there are models other than the 799 without carbon rims, cranks and XTR Di2 in the range they offer, right? And for a lot less. They start at 1/6th the cost of this one for the 710.

codfather1234 FL (Mar 30, 2015 at 9:14) (Below Threshold)

Yes, I'm aware of this, and I'm referring specifically to the MSL 799. I was simply pointing out that this is a very expensive bicycle

giveitall14 (Mar 30, 2015 at 9:28)

but so can be a norco aurum

minus8 (Mar 30, 2015 at 9:28)

Really? The top end model is expensive? What a bunch of bastards :/

codfather1234 FL (Mar 30, 2015 at 11:21)

I feel I'm getting a lot of stick here for saying that £9500 is expensive for a bike

bkm303 (Mar 30, 2015 at 17:28)

What, you think they should put their former olympic superhuman racer on the $2k version for the promo video? Don't be stupid. Of course they're gonna put their sickest bike in the video. The whole point is for him to be riding fast as balls on a sexy looking bike. Doesn't mean they don't have a whole shitload of cheaper versions of the bike.

minus8 (Mar 30, 2015 at 17:49)

Of course £9500 is a lot of money for a bike. £2000 is a lot of money for sat nav on a new VW Golf, doesn't mean you have to spec it.

The entry level Thunderbolt is what? like £1700? How much do you expect a bike with £800 forks to cost?