First Ride: 2021 Rocky Mountain Altitude - More Travel, More Options
Rocky Mountain's Altitude underwent a re-design for 2021, emerging from the misty forests of Vancouver's North Shore with 160mm of travel, 29” wheels for the larger sizes, and an even more enduro-oriented focus than before. The changes already seem to be paying off – Jesse Melamed took the win at the first EWS race of the season in Zermatt on the new bike.
The creation of the new Altitude allowed Rocky Mountain to consolidate two models into one – the Instinct BC, which had 155mm of travel and 29” wheels, and the previous Altitude, which had 150mm of travel and 27.5” wheels. That morphing was accomplished via a wheel size split - the size small Altitude is now only available with 27.5” wheels, the size medium can be purchased with either 27.5” or 29” wheels, and the large and XL sizes are 29” only.
The creation of the new Altitude allowed Rocky Mountain to consolidate two models into one – the Instinct BC, which had 155mm of travel and 29” wheels, and the previous Altitude, which had 150mm of travel and 27.5” wheels. That morphing was accomplished via a wheel size split - the size small Altitude is now only available with 27.5” wheels, the size medium can be purchased with either 27.5” or 29” wheels, and the large and XL sizes are 29” only.
Rocky Mountain Altitude Details
• Wheelsize: 29" (M, L, XL) or 27.5" (S, M)
• Carbon or aluminum frame options
• Travel: 160mm (r) / 170mm (f)
• 64.4° - 65.5° head angle
• 437 or 447mm chainstays
• Weight: 32 lb / 14.5 kg (size L C90 Rally)
• Price range: $3,500 - $9,999 USD
• Price as shown: $9,099 USD
• bikes.com
• Wheelsize: 29" (M, L, XL) or 27.5" (S, M)
• Carbon or aluminum frame options
• Travel: 160mm (r) / 170mm (f)
• 64.4° - 65.5° head angle
• 437 or 447mm chainstays
• Weight: 32 lb / 14.5 kg (size L C90 Rally)
• Price range: $3,500 - $9,999 USD
• Price as shown: $9,099 USD
• bikes.com
There are aluminum and carbon framed options, with prices starting at $3,500 for the base model alloy version, and going all the way up to $9,999 for the top-of-the-line Carbon 99. The carbon frame only can be purchased for $3,699. You can view the full range comparison here.
I've been spending time on the $9,099 Carbon 90 Rally Edition, which is built with the same parts spec that Rocky's enduro team riders are using. Parts highlights include a 170mm Fox Factory 38 fork, Float X2 shock, Shimano XTR drivetrain and brakes, Race Face Turbine R wheels, and Maxxis Minion DHF / DHR II tires, both with Double Down casings.
Frame Details
The Altitude's frame shape has been altered slightly, with a thinner top tube profile, a less chunky head tube, and an overall clean and modern look. It's an effective frame design, one that can accommodate longer travel dropper posts and leaves plenty of room for running a full size water bottle.
Rocky did an excellent job taking care of the little details – there's a very effective chainslap protector on the chainstay, a plastic guard between the chainstsays, and downtube protection to ward off damage from flying rocks or shuttling. The internal cable routing is fully guided to make installation hassle-free, and the ports in the head tube make it possible to run brakes moto-style without sending the hose on a strange path.
A flip chip in each seatstay allows for 10mm of rear center adjustment.
Dual bearings are now in place at the chainstay and seatstay pivots, which is said to improve the frame's stiffness and durability. All of the bearings are shielded, which is good news for riders in wet climates.
One interesting feature is the modular shock mount – the portion that hangs down from the top tube is replaceable, which leaves the door partially open for Rocky to make kinematic changes in the future without needing to open a mold for a whole new front triangle.
Rocky's Ride 9 geometry adjustment system creates a wide range of possible set up options.
The foward shock mount is modular, which allows for different options to be offered in the future.
The little details on the Altitude's frame are all taken care of, from the plastic shield between the chainstays to the ribbed chainslap protector.
Geometry
Not surprisingly, the Altitude has grown longer and slacker – the reach on a size large now measures 480mm, with a 65-degree head angle in the neutral setting, compared to 458mm and 65.6-degrees on the previous version.
It's also possible to change the rear center length by 10mm by flipping the chips in the seatstays and switching the orientation of the brake adaptor. It's a welcome feature, and one that will allow taller riders to achieve a more balanced ride, or for others to choose their preferred handling characteristics. Go with the short setting for a quicker, snappier rider, or the longer position for more stability at speed.
Rocky's Ride 9 geometry adjustment system is still in place, which allows riders to quickly tweak the bike's geometry by removing two bolts and changing the orientation of the two interlocking chips at the rear shock mount. On the Altitude the head angle can be changed from 64.4-degrees all the way up to 65.5 degrees in a matter of minutes.
I'm going to step up on my soapbox here for a paragraph or two, so skip ahead if you'd rather not hear my thoughts on adjustable frame geometry...
Rocky has long been a proponent of adjustable geometry, and I don't think it's just because 'Ride 9' is a catchy term. However, I'm not sure why they didn't make it so the Altitude's slackest position was extra slack. Remember, this is a 160 /170mm bike – I'd hope that most riders considering a bike like this are planning on taking it into steep, technical terrain, areas where a slack head tube angle has very few downsides.
Personally, if I'm on a bike with adjustable geometry I'd rather have the ability to make it too slack versus too steep. I have a hard time imagining many riders will ever run this bike in the steep position, which gives it a 65.5-degree head angle – why not shift everything over so that there's the option of giving the Altitude a DH-bike worthy head angle?
Suspension
The Altitude's kinematics changed with the new frame, and the result are numbers that blend the best traits of the old Altitude and the Instinct BC. Anti-squat sits a little below 100% at sag, but it doesn't drop off quite as quickly as before.
The suspension rate is progressive, with a flatter curve earlier in the travel that ramps up more quickly towards the end of the stroke to provide additional bottom-out resistance. Each frame size has a specific shock tune in order to ensure that lighter riders on smaller bikes are able make the most of the bike's travel, and to keep bigger riders from blowing through all 160mm too quickly.
Jesse Melamed approaches warp speed on the Altitude. Photo: Margus Riga
Ride Impressions
My first handful of rides have all been with the Altitude set up in the slackest geometry setting with the chainstays in the long position. I'll try some different positions as testing progresses, but at the moment I don't really have any reason to want to deviate from that configuration.
The bike has a really fun blend of quickness and plowability. Even in the longer chainstay position I haven't had any issues navigating tighter trails, and on rougher straightaways the Fox 38 / Float X2 combo creates a satisfyingly smooth ride. It's nearly silent, too, free of any annoying cable rattle or chainslap. Yes, the XTR pads did make a racket at first, but some strategically placed mastic tape took care of that.
I've been flipping the little lever on the X2 for longer climbs, but the shock stays fairly calm even in the open position, as long as you're pedaling circles and not squares. The effective seat angle isn't radically steep, but the steeper actual seat tube angle helps keep things in check when the saddle is at full extension, and I'm sure the longer chainstays are helping with the fore / aft balance.
It's easy to imagine using this as a race bike, but it's also easy to envision building it up as a long-legged aggressive trail bike – it seems to be a very well-rounded machine, rather than one that only wakes up in the gnarliest terrain.
Look for an in-depth review and comparison to other bikes in this category later this year.
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Yeah, because enduro bikes don't have to sustain any abuse during races. They are made for gently cruises near beaches.
There is a coil version on this as well. And, do please compare similar wheelsizes(I mean, 29er with 29er); when the slayer showed up last year, the 29er was an 170-170 bike. As I am not interested in this particulary bike, I dif not follow it to see if there are any up-dates/up-grades for 2020. Then again, why would you want to increase an already high BB, with 38mm forks that have a higher ATC for the same travel amount. Basically, from a 170mm fox 36 to a 180mm Zeb, the difference ia almost 2 cm in ATC. That's got to affect the geo, don't you think?
Come on man, you know he has to put it that way "more agile suspension platform at a lighter package"(and etc-etc)
From what everybody says the slayer is plush and not the best bike to go up-hill and so it seem to be the case for this one..the diff being 10mm less susp travel in the back(and now 10mm in the front, making a little space for the Altitude)
What surprises me is the fact that racers started to use bigger travel bikes, when in the previous years the norm was around 150mm(as they can compensate with skill); the course are that much harder or they simply use the best bike avialable for them/their teams.
Your assumption might be correct but I can bet two small Coke bottles that 99.99% of the riders will not find either bike to be not enough stiff or less able to cope with hard-hits.
If Jesse is alowed to (really)answer such a question, I would really be curious if one feels less stiff then the other or if both give the rider the same stiffness sensation.
Looking over the geos..neither bike looks too agressive, as per the current trend(reach, fc, sta, low bb, etc)
Will bike in all categories getting the longer, lower, slacker treatment, bikes in neighbouring categories are going to be really close. Especially when a new version comes out. If there is “enough” difference to set a gap between two models, weight, a bit of geo (Slayer’s shorter RC) and suspension kinematics, that’s what’s going to set categories apart. Or, you could make a Trek Remedy and be incredibly boring.
I'm no product planner or marketing expert but it seems like making two bikes so similar is probably stealing profits from one and giving it to the other vs having clear product differentiation.
The difference is a good pair of AT skis is 3 times cheaper than the bottom range Altitude. I can have 2 pair of skis and 3 snowboards but I cannot have(again!) 5 bikes.
Unfortunately weekends have become unbearable due to crowds, so I’ll stick to my mon-fri.
@ybsurf: feel good to have your singular moment of “superiority”? Lmao.
I think the new Altitude makes the Instinct BC Edition better while the Slayer remains in a class of its own where it shines on steep gnarly descents, with even more travel for 2021.
The phrase is very used in Asia, especially in trade; you look for a specific product, the supplier in front of you does not have it but he assures you that his brother-in-law, nephew, sister cousins, etc has it. Then you go with him at the brother-in-law's factory and it is not the damn product. When you ask him, he tells you with confidence that is the same; when you show him that it isn't, instantly the line "same-same but different" arrives. It is already/almost a cliche.
no worries, I have a bunch of groupies that always downvote me, no matter what write.
I've heard a lot of "beda tipis" though if you know what I mean.
Unfortunately, the carbon spacers compressing would be an issue with the headset manufacturer, not RM. The recall was for a specific frame that saw a minuscule amount of failures and to err on the side of caution RM chose to voluntarily recall the bikes. The Slayer issue has been well documented and if you dig a little deeper into that one you can see the root cause, there has been no issue identified so need for any recall.
I hope that clears up some of your confidence in Rocky Mountain and you will give them another chance in the future.
You tell @RockyMountainBicycles to hook you up with a Maiden yet before they’re all gone? Long Live the Maiden!
Nice looking bike......but.... Seems every brands top of the line bike is now $10k! Price inflation at the top end is out of control. The top tier Altitude is $3000 more than the top tier in 2017. 40% price increase in 3 years.. wow. I know it's not just the bike companies.. I'm sure they are in part passing on Fox / Shimano /SRAM top end costs... but it just doesn't add up these days.
I think bike companies + the whole supply chain of high end kit, are pricing top level stuff at nonsense levels to make their mid tier offerings which have also gone up a lot, seem palatable. Old marketing trick, but where does it stop!
In 2016 a radon swoop 170 with xt 11s and a Fox 36rc2 / float x cost 3k... Which I still think is one of the best deals on a bike in history (I bought one)... So yes definitely prices have gone a up since then, but on the whole, there are still good deals available IMO.
I reckon we should celebrate how amazing the bikes we have right now are. My 2 year old bike cost me under £3k, which is still a lot of money. But I've ridden the crap out of it, down stuff that is pretty dumb, and nothing has broken or needed replacing before time apart from one tyre that got cut in the Alps. 5 years ago, tyres, gears, suspension, pivots would all be screwed, and it wouldn't have ridden so well.
My bike is spec'd more than i will ever need (it was a mid to upper-spec picked up on sale but to be honest the equivalent-price lower spec bike i was going to buy would still be more than i need) and it didn't cost the earth. In fact, it's so good i'm actaually planning to build a hardtail for the easier trails i sometimes frequent where the bike is too capable.
A few years ago Nukeproof brought out a worx edition Mega for sale (the green and gold one, think they did a run of 50 bikes) that was spec'd as closely as they could to Sam Hills race bike and RRP was £5k. A near factory team spec bike at that price illustrates your point pretty well. I actually saw that bike on sale (last one in shop) for £3500 the next season. Wish i picked that up.
If anything, they encourage you to buy the more expensive proper build. Not the mid.
Santa Cruz you got to go £4k+ to even get a dropper with it.
Spend £1k less with the likes of Nukeproof, YT, Propain, Canyon etc and you've got a pretty sweet deal.
So does everyone else judging by the fact that the 2021 Scout frames have sold out on pre-order alone (on CRC at least).
Bikes have gotten cheaper on a $ vs. performance every generation (a roughly $4k AUD base model 2021 Altitude Alloy 30 is specced with components/geo better than or at least equal to a top tier $8k AUD 2016 Altitude 999 MSL).
The appetite for the super high end has just gotten bigger (wireless shifting, carbon wheels,. SRAMs X-Dome cassettes etc). Ironically, the very thing you're complaining about has meant tech from those 'overpriced bikes' has tricked their way down more affordable models.
That being said, when did SLX with fox performance and wheels with 370s become $5400?? That is $700 more then a similar specced instinct!
to convert dt370 to Star Ratchet.
RM and other bike brands’ pricing is ludicrous.
But these hubs tear themselves apart inside pretty regularly. And it doesn’t matter which freehub body is in there.
Looks great, but now its just another 29er slayer (for those over 5’10)
Here's to hoping that the new Instinct will be 150mm rear and 150/160mm front and come with 27.5 wheels.
Luckily, there is an answer, if all 27.5 bikes dry up, just buy a 29er with a high BB like the firebird 29 and stick 27.5 wheels in it, voila, sick 27.5 wheels bike.
Fb29 rides better with 27.5 wheels than 29 lol
Personally, if I'm on a bike with adjustable geometry I'd rather have the ability to make it too slack versus too steep. I have a hard time imagining many riders will ever run this bike in the steep position, which gives it a 65.5-degree head angle – why not shift everything over so that there's the option of giving the Altitude a DH-bike worthy head angle?"
Hmm, what bike that was recently reviewed does this sound like?
For MOST people, these are essentially the same STA.
I had the original Wreckoning and it was a blast, this new on would be a step up for sure. That said I do think the new Altitude would be a better all round bike especially with ability to adjust the chainstay length.
More like 2 different rides for different applications, but playing in similar ball parks TBF.
I would say the Wreckoning has similar geo despite being marketed more as a charger/crusher/slayer/freeride/dual-crown compatible bike and the hate for its STA was hilarious...all occurring about a week before the same keyboard warriors moaned that the Privateer’s STA was too steep.
There is no question these numbers are conservative however. RM has basically matched Santa Cruz’s geos from two years ago.
....totally agree re. the chainstay adjustability. That is about the sole thing keeping me from buying a Meta and a Wreckoning at the mo. Need to demo both.
Cheers
And really I don't have a dog in this fight, it's just fascinating too me. Whatever- some people hate trek and will really pick apart to make their point. Sometimes it's whoever comments first sets the tone.
There are some comments here about price- but quite a few ripping on the Trek's price but the 9.9 xt is 500 cheaper than this. And the 8000 tested would leave you enough to buy 2 X01 gear sets.
That's not knocking this, I really like Rocky Mountain bikes. Just interesting to me how different the comments are on STA and price
For any continuing haters, Trek specified on PB's Instagram story that the 75.9 STA was in the slack position on a medium frame at a seat height of 760mm. That's a ridiculously high seat height for a medium. You'd have to be about 6'2" for that seat height. So for every person shorter than 6'2" the Slash seat tube angle is actually steeper than 76, in the slack flip chip setting.
That's pretty much the same seat angle that I get on the Altitude in the slack position, but don't forget that the Altitude has a 474mm reach vs 486 for the Slash. That means the seated position on the Slash feels more stretched out.
In addition, the Slash's actual seat angle is around 67-degrees, while the Altitude's is around 70-degrees - that'll make a difference for taller riders.
So that little shield above the seat tube chainstay pivot. Is there any possible way for you to make those to fit your other frames and sell the first one to me? There is this certain little horrible crunch sound that makes me wince. Sometimes It’s an acorn on a lucky day. (carbon Instinct). Please?
... So when are we going to hear about the new Instinct?
65.5 head angle is plenty slack for all but the steepest terrain, and the long travel let’s you plow through the chunk at speed.
Or, you can buy the pads without fins. I've heard that makes them quiet too.
While i kinda agree with this assertion, there's the slayer for DH like builds.
Maybe rocky didn't want to make the bikes too similar?
Unless Rocky has another 27.5 bike up their sleeve?
Somehow I have my doubts. If someone has ridden both, comments are appreciated. Thanks
Never heard of this before - can anyone elaborate?
home RM...you’re drunk
I'm not a Rocky fanboi, and say what you want about their development goals, but they're not just rebranding old bike parts as new ones.
Also while I agree that Jesse could beat you and I riding a tricycle, at the top level the skill and time gaps are so small they all need every advantage they can get, so I don't think it can be said the performance of the new bike is irrelevant to Jesse's performance. Well, that and he is an amazing rider TBS.
I do fully agree on some of the dodgy part spec, I've seen a couple of those DT370 hubs blow already, bummer DT couldn't make a better mass market hub given their uber mensch engineering prowess. YMMV.
Again, you can say what you like about whether they should have revised their designs more, but they are definitely completely new bikes.
But they still have the thunderbolt so that's cool I guess.