Rocky Mountain originally released the Thunderbolt with an aluminum chassis and billed it as an XC/trailbike for big rides and for epic competitions like the BC Bike Race. Today, there is a burgeoning trend among the sport's top bike handlers to ride lighter, snappier-handling bikes with less travel on terrain that was once the exclusive domain of 160-millimeter all-mountain/enduro bikes, and a number of them work at Rocky Mountain. When Rocky's design and testing staff started tricking out the original Thunderbolt with wider tires, one-by drivetrains, full-width handlebars and shorty stems, they realized that they had already laid the foundation for an all new model. The only thing that was missing, was the go-ahead to execute their future dream bike in lightweight carbon fiber.
Meet the 2015 Thunderbolt 799 MSL So here it is: the 2015 Thunderbolt MSL - and it's story begins with a beautiful, 120-millimeter-travel carbon chassis, built around 27.5-inch wheels, that reportedly was designed from the ground up to blend the best aspects of XC and all-mountain into a powerful and playful trail shredding tool. Cable housings are internally routed and the rear suspension is Rocky's "Smoothlink" four-bar, rocker-driven system. Thunderbolt MSL geometry is slack enough to be brave without losing its sharp, XC playfulness, and by switching the nine options of its Ride-9 upper shock mount, owners can manipulate the bottom bracket height and frame geometry to arrive at a slack trail, or a steeper XC tune. Two versions of the Thunderbolt will be offered that share the same frame: the MSL and the MSL BC Edition. The top-range Thunderbolt 799 MSL, featured here, is decked out in Shimano's Di2 XTR, remote-control, Kashima coated Fox suspension and a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post. Wheels are Stan's new carbon Valor and its cockpit is all Race Face. Weights for the bikes were not forthcoming, but the MSL 799 feels around 25 pounds or less. The Thunderbolt 799 MSL comes with a whopping $11,499 MSRP, and while you recover from your sudden heart attack, you should know that Rocky offers two more affordable Thunderbolt MSLs, both in carbon and both with dropper posts: the 770 MSL for $5799, and the 750 MSL for $4599. Sizes are X-small, small, medium, large and X-large.
Specifications
|
Release Date
|
2015 |
|
Price
|
$11499 |
|
Travel |
120mm |
|
Rear Shock |
Fox Float CTD Remote Kashima |
|
Fork |
Fox 32 Float 27.5 120 FIT CTD,Kashima,120mm |
|
Headset |
Cane Creek Forty, tapered |
|
Cassette |
Shimano XTR 11-speed, 11 x 40 |
|
Crankarms |
Shimano XTR 175mm 38/28T, 2x11 |
|
Chainguide |
NA |
|
Bottom Bracket |
Shimano XTR Press Fit |
|
Pedals |
NA |
|
Rear Derailleur |
Shimano Di2 |
|
Chain |
Shimano XTR Sil-Tec 11spd |
|
Front Derailleur |
Shimano Di2 |
|
Shifter Pods |
Shimano Di2 |
|
Handlebar |
Race Face Next SL Carbon 13mm rise, 35mm x 740mm |
|
Stem |
Race Face Turbine, 35mm clamp, 60-80mm |
|
Grips |
ESI Silicone Super Light |
|
Brakes |
Shimano XTR, 180mm rotors |
|
Wheelset |
Stan's Carbon Valor tubeless |
|
Hubs |
Stan's 3.30Ti |
|
Spokes |
Sapim Laser |
|
Rim |
Stan's Carbon Valor |
|
Tires |
Maxxis Maxx Speed Ardent Race 27.5" x 2.2" F/ R |
|
Seat |
WTB Silverado Carbon |
|
Seatpost |
RockShox Reverb Stealth |
|