PRESS RELEASE: Rocky MountainThe Thunderbolt is our vision of a perfect XC-trail bike. We’ve designed an all-new alloy frame that pushes the rear travel to 130mm, increases stiffness, lowers the rate curve slightly, and gives the frame a host of next-generation features – but keeps its playful geometry and wide range of RIDE-9™ adjustments. The Thunderbolt is at home on technical climbs, powering through rough stuff, and popping off every trail feature you lay eyes on.
THUNDERBOLT ALLOY - TECHNICAL DETAILS
• Updated RIDE-9™
The RIDE-9™ adjustment system allows riders to quickly fine-tune their geometry and suspension with a pair of Allen keys. Nine configurations are possible thanks to two interlocking chips. It's been moved into the link for lighter, narrower packaging.
• Next generation features
Comprehensive evolutionary updates across the platform include features like tooled axles, single-sided bearing pivots, integrated “Spirit Guide” chain guide, and metric shock compatibility.
• Size Specific Tune
Size Specific Tune ensures that riders of all sizes get the right balance of small-bump compliance, mid-stroke support, and end-stroke progressiveness. Our design team does custom shock tunes based on real-world field testing and adjusts each tune for specific frame sizes.
• Improved suspension performance
We’ve flattened out the rate curve to directly increase the amount of usable travel while maintaining mid-stroke support and making small-bump performance even more sensitive.
• Smoothlink™ Suspension
Smoothlink™ suspension is efficient yet supple when you’re on the pedals and across a wide range of gears. It features a controlled end-stroke and a rate-curve that feels more capable than the travel would suggest.
• Progressive geometry
To add control and descending capability, we’ve increased reach, slackened the headtube angle, and lowered the bottom bracket. We’ve slightly lengthened the chainstays to improve climbing traction and used a moderately steep seat tube for further climbing performance.
GEOMETRY
GALLERY
PRICING & AVAILABILITY
The Thunderbolt Alloy is now available! Please head to your local Rocky Mountain dealer to see the bikes. Regional availability may vary.
Thunderbolt Alloy 50: $3,999 CAD / $3,499 USD
Deep Purple / Back in Black / Billy Ocean
Flaming Lips / Back in Black
Thunderbolt Alloy 30: $3,249 CAD / $2,649 USD
Deep Purple / Back in Black / Billy Ocean
Thunderbolt Alloy 10: $2,449 CAD / $1,999 USD
Flaming Lips / Back in Black
See more details on our website
Rider: Justin "Dewey" Roy
Photographer: Margus Riga
MENTIONS: @RockyMountainBicycles @Margus
It's nice that they're now acknowledging that their bikes weren't able to use all their travel previously.
I have to run 40% sag to get ANY kind of compliance out of the rear end of my 2015 Thunderbolt BC Edition, and that still only gets me about 80% of my shock stroke used during a rough ride with 2-3 foot drops. I effectively get 48mm of usable travel...and that's both with the stock Monarch Debonair, and with the upgraded Fox Factory X2 that was overhauled and re-tuned by Fox to the lightest compression valving they offer. (And yes, I have made sure the pivot bushings are spinning smooth and not binding)
WAY too progressive of a leverage curve on the older version.
Great bike for where I live.
145lbs
30% sag
Fox float CTD, no internal spacers
Replaced the pipelock main pivot bushing with RM's roller bearing kit.
Let'r eat!
vorsprungsuspension.com/blogs/news/17562332-how-well-will-the-corset-work-with-my-frame
--Scroll down to "2. Progressive Leverage Rate", and see the graph for the RM Thunderbolt. And here's Steve's commentary under it:
"Resultant wheel spring curve with Corset: High initial leverage ratio combined with relatively linear spring curve provides very plush feel initially, mid-stroke support somewhat better, end stroke still over-supported and hard to use full travel - Corset can't fix that.
Net result of the Corset: Better small bump absorption, marginal improvements in mid-stroke, but can't fix the excessive end stroke ramp. Overall, relatively minor gain - you'd have to design an air spring specifically for this application in order to make it work well, but fortunately most bikes don't use this configuration unless they're intended for use with coil sprung shocks."
:/
All that said, it IS a fun -- and very fast -- bike. It's just not very confidence-inspiring when you're railing around rooty/rutted, flat corners and the rear wheel is skipping all over the place, instead of tracking the ground like my other bikes with similar travel do.
I have a '14 Altitude and how hard you have to land that rear to use even close to full travel is nuts. I have a debonair with no volume bands added (replaced stock fox that also had volume spacers played with in an effort to overcome the fact that last ~1/4 of travel was almost never used) and riding on the north shore.
For light and tight trail bikes like the previous generation altitude and thunderbolt, they are way too progressive.
He is definitely using all his travel most days.
The geometry chart is completely fine on a desktop.
But it's a known issue that the mobile version of this site, has crappy resolution on pictures.
I still have my 2008 Slayer SXC and I rolled it not later than yesterday on the Lourdes tracks here in my delightful France.
I don`t have any DH bike, weighting 65kg for 1m72, I never needed any. I`m an elastic boy. 90% of the year I ride a steel hardtail, a Stanton Switchback, and when I bring my good old Slayer it is for the Pyrenees bike parks, as for really harsh purposes, and it keeps on doing the job so well
BTW 1: funny to see my old SXC geometry close to that Thunderbolt... at its steepest HTA though, but with a 170mm RS Lyric front.
BTW 2: when will you release the Slayer 4.0 in aluminium? Is there still an alloy version announced? And do I get a special tip top friendly price on a frame if I unfortunately break mine one these days after 10 years of marriage?... which is something I don`t especially hope, as my 43y-o rider vintage category matches perfectly to that lovely bicyclette
Cheers!!!
I don't think people realized how many paychecks a company like Trek, Giant, or Specialized sign every payday...