|   rocky mountain | cstamm
Jan 11, 2002 5:29 AM | | I am about to buy a rocky mountain instinct, this will be my first fs mtn bike. Any comments or opinions on this bike. I have looked at the klein adept, the sugar, and the rocky mountain are there any others I should check out before deciding on the rocky mountain? |
| An excellent choice and some others are..... | fred³
Jan 11, 2002 6:20 AM | | Kona, Titus, Giant, Specialized, Ventana.
fred3 |
| An excellent choice and some others are..... | isukathis
Jan 11, 2002 6:56 AM | | Why would you not include Trek? Thats what I am trying to decide? if they are a good bike or not? Thanks... |
| Ooops.... | fred³
Jan 11, 2002 9:18 AM | | I should have. My wifes been riding one for a couple of years now and loves it(not the fs). There are others too, but for a better list I go to hotlinks and just check out the bike mfrs. There's also Ellsworth, Orange and others.
fred3 |
| Good choices... | Ricksom
Jan 11, 2002 8:47 AM | | I bought a Rocky Instinct last year, and am very happy with it (uh, what else would I say!).
Giant and Santa Cruz are also good choices, as well as Klein. Gary Fishers, Treks, and Specialized bikes are churned out at such a high mass production rate, that the probability of defects is high. In fact, Mountain Bike magazine did a test on a Trek some time ago, and found the head angle to be 69 degrees instead of the designed 71 degrees. Oooops!
The Rocky is not the lightest, but is built for abusive, epic XC riding. It's suspension is also more active than the Klein or Gary Fisher, and Rocky is usually pretty good with putting on higher end components. I found it to be the best value for the price.
It's geometry is geared to single-track riding, but holds its own on fast, technical descents. Not recommended for fire road bombing, as the rear end starts to flex at really high speeds.
I still use my hard tail, a Rocky Vertex, for racing. However, one day I may convert the frame to a Klein Adept for racing instead, since the Klein is light, stiff, responsive, and limited rear travel to absorb the bumps better than a hardtail.
What kind of riding will you be doing (the most important info), as this is important for your final choice? |
| Good choices... | cstamm
Jan 11, 2002 1:58 PM | | I ride mostly technical single track in the northeast(vt,nh,mass)I do all xc riding, is the adept a better choice for someone who wants to break into the fs world? How much stiffer is the adept compared to the instinct? |
| Klein Adept | Ricksom
Jan 11, 2002 7:22 PM | | If you look at the specs, the Adept has no pivot at the rear hub area (on the chain or seat stay). Instead it relies on the flexing of the seat stay to provide the travel (like the Gary Fisher Sugars). This really stiffens things up. Also, the chain stay is fashioned in a Klein proprietary shaping process that makes it stiffer than most designs. The Klein also has a larger diameter head tube for welding the top and down tubes.
However, the Kleins have that characteristic racy and responsive ride which comes from a steeper head tube angle and shorter wheelbase. To some people this may seem too twitchy, and the feeling of out of control on fast downhill sections. But it is a design that beckons you to concentrate on what you are doing and use body english and balance to control the bike. Only good for "intense" riders (like me), not laid back riders. |
| re: rocky mountain | Gary
Jan 11, 2002 2:50 PM | | Check out the reviews on this site for the Instinct, Element and Spice (all the same basic geometry). My experience with the Spice for what I would call "abusive XC" has been good. Flex hasn't been an issue, but I'm a fat rider, not a fast one.
I'd also check out Kona - that would have been my second choice. |
| re: Kona | Ricksom
Jan 11, 2002 7:11 PM | | You know, my friend and I test rode various bikes including a high end Kona hardtail. Compared to a Klein hardtail and Rocky hartail, the Kona felt "strange". The ride felt more laid back, more "freeridish", not racy and responsive like the Klein and Rocky. It really surprised me, considering what the geometry specs will have you believe. |
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