2015 Brand New *Dream Build* Rocky Thunderbolt BC Edition M

UPDATE: The frame is a brand new 2015 Thunderbolt BC Edition (bought as a frame only). It was built in 2018 with all new 2018 parts, and has never been ridden. Rocky Mountain updated the geometry for the Thunderbolt for the 2018-2020 versions, but the changes were very minimal (eg. the top tube was extended by only 10mm, the seat tube was strengthened by only 0.5 degree, and the head tube was slackened by only 0.5 degree). Posting as I’d like this mint build to go to a good home; but if not I’ll be riding it myself this season.

ORIGINAL POST: This is a rare find. A brand new - never ridden - fully custom built “dream build” carbon fiber Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt BC Edition 790 MSL. Built as an all mountain North Shore BC-specific race/shred bike from the frame up with full Shimano Saint and XTR components. This bike is lightweight but burly/heavy duty to get fully rowdy on the North Shore. The frame alone was bought brand new from Rocky Mountain for over $4,000. This bike was originally built-to-order for a customer for $12,000 + taxes. Parts alone for this build were over $10,000. Bike was built in 2018.

In my opinion, this is the nicest colour Rocky Mountain has ever produced. It was a limited run and only made for the BC Edition Thunderbolt. The build, decals and colour combo is very tastefully done and well coordinated with just enough bling to make people take a serious double take when close up. Happy to switch the saddle for a brand new now-discontinued Limited Edition Chromag Trailmaster DT in brown leather, which would've been my preference if I was keeping this bike myself.

No expense has been spared on this build. The attention to detail is incredible. Every part is brand new and has zero miles. It has been fully tuned and only test ridden on the road (including some hill climbing) for fine tuning the gearing and to slightly bed-in the brakes. Photos taken at the trailhead behind my house. The bike is a bit dusty but not a single scratch or paint chip and it has never touched dirt or mud. This bike is ready to race and shred the North Shore.

Frame includes Rocky Mountain’s Ride 9 technology and can be setup 9 different ways, to change head and seat tube angles, and change the way the shock responds. It’s like having two bikes in one, slack for enduro type trails with a more progressive shock, and steeper for more XC or flowy trails. It climbs like a champ in any of the settings.

Frame has internal cables, is Di2 compatible (future proof), and has been fully protected with both helicopter tape and Shelter tape frame protection (including two layers on the down tube) and a custom made-to-order carbon frame protector on the down tube, over top of the Shelter tape. These are professional heavy duty tapes for carbon bikes (about 2mm thick) and are designed to distribute force and take a solid impact (unlike RideWrap and other thin tapes just designed to prevent minor scratches). The tape is also easily removable. This bike is very well protected and ready to send.

Parts include:

Frame: 2015 Thunderbolt BC Edition size Medium - with Ride 9 adjustability
Shock: RockShox RT3 debonair custom valved for this specific frame by Rocky Mountain
Wheelset: Custom, handbuilt Stan’s Flow EX laced with DT spokes to black Hope Pro 4 hubs with a super fast engagement hub and that nice Hope freehub sound
Fork: 2016 RockShox Pike 130mm travel - steerer tube left long with lots of room for adjustment/trimming
Brakes: custom ordered from Shimano with Saint levers and XTR calipers paired with red Hope 180mm rotors front and rear
Gearing: Shimano Saint shifter with XTR rear derailleur and an 11-42 cassette - this combo can shift three rings with one push of the thumb
Crank: RaceFace Turbine crank with black RaceFace 30 tooth narrow wide chain ring and RaceFace crank boots/protectors
Dropper post: RaceFace Turbine with Wolftooth lever - very easy to micro-adjust seat height on the fly
Cockpit: RaceFace Next carbon bar 780mm, RaceFace Turbine stem, ODI rogue grips with special edition Troy Lee Designs clamps
Pedals: Chromag red anodized Contact pedals
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.3 front and rear, already setup tubeless
Headset: Cane Creek 40 Series
Bottom Bracket: RaceFace
Extras: Marsh Guard mudguards front and rear, North Shore Billet red cable holder, black RaceFace crank boots/protectors, custom black RaceFace and Chromag decals (all decals installed on top of frame protection so they are easily removable)

Two seat options: Chromag Trailmaster DT in black (shown), or Limited Edition Chromag Trailmaster DT in brown leather with titanium rails.

This bike was voted #1 by 2 of the 4 reviewers in the Bible of Bikes test runs.

Here is the full review including the video:

https://www.bikemag.com/videos/rocky-mountain-thunderbolt-2015-bible-bike-tests-roundtable-reels/