Description
When we can’t decide between cruising singletrack or smashing black diamond descents, we trust our Instinct. The Rocky Mountain Instinct is a mid-travel trail bike that sits on dual 29-inch wheels and sports 140mm of Smoothlink suspension, giving us a bike perfect for almost any type of riding. With size-specific tunes for optimal small bump sensitivity, mid-stroke support, and bottom-out resistance, the Instinct provides a balanced ride feel and does just about everything right. Rocky Mountains mid-travel trail slayer has been revamped this season, featuring various geometry improvements over previous iterations to give us a more capable bike with a realistic adjustment range. Switching from their Ride-9 adjustment system, Rocky Mountain fitted the Instinct with their simplified Ride-4 adjustment system, reducing the adjustments to four settings with a larger change between each setting. At neutral, the Instinct features a longer wheelbase, slacker head tube angle, steeper seat tube angle, a shorter reach, and a shorter standover height compared to previous models, giving us enhanced capability and a better frame fit for all riders. The 2-position adjustable axle allows us to adjust our chainstay length independently of our frame geometry to give us a more stable or playful ride, and the included reach-adjust headset cups allow us to increase or decrease our reach by 5mm in each direction. Other notable features on the revised Instinct frame included Rocky Mountain’s new Penalty Box 2. 0 internal frame storage so we can store a spare tube and snacks, and the shuttle guard combined with the downtube and chainstay protectors keep our frame protected. The C30 Deore build of the Rocky Mountain Instinct is a budget build stocked with quality components fit for any trail rider. The highlight of this build is Rocky Mountain’s Smoothwall carbon frame, which optimizes its stiffness-to-weight ratio to give us premium ride quality. Next, Shimano’s Deore drivetrain sports 12-speed gearing and a wide range, fit for any technical climb. Deore 4-piston brakes keep us under control or steep descents, while the WTB ST Light i30 TCS 2. 0 rims give us confidence plowing through rock gardens. Sporting 150mm of travel, the Marzocchi Z2 fork takes on square-edged hits and technical descents for breakfast, while the Fox Float DPS Performance rear shock is lightweight and has a custom tune for optimal performance.*Due to a high demand in the global supply chain and bike industry since the start of the pandemic, material weight and exact components are subject to change. We are working diligently to keep tech specs updated, and any adjustments will be of equal or better spec level. If you have any questions, reach out to a Gearhead by chatting online or calling 1-888-276-7130.
