As a confirmed Rocky fanboy, I'm privileged to have reviewed or ridden every version of the Altitude from the first elevated chainstay hardtail to the racing steel hardtail to the 26, 29 and now 27.5/650b version. I had a hard time keeping a poker face while rockuphill asked me questions but now the article can go live.
Wow. I thought for sure the next bike I wanted would be a Norco Sight. Now I'm not so sure. Plus the fact that I can get a RM online or maybe even locally might just seal the deal.
Wow. I thought for sure the next bike I wanted would be a Norco Sight. Now I'm not so sure. Plus the fact that I can get a RM online or maybe even locally might just seal the deal.
I am in the exact same boat. Both of these bikes are tempting, and so far are the most "trailbike" oriented of the new 650b's. And both are quality. Thank you canucks! Well done!
Now for a northeastern USA resident to find dealers....availability might choose for me.
I see that if you go to the ride9.bikes.com site now, there is mention of another bike called the "Instinct". I assume that is the 29er with less travel version of the same concept?
Where did you find another bike option? I only see the CHOOSE BIKE: ALTITUDE. I had assumed it would be the Element that was getting the Ride 9. It would be great to see the return of an Instinct.
This bike looks phenomenal! I am not one to care much about wheel sizes and I currently ride a 2011 Stumpy Evo 26 which I love. However, this bike has really caught my attention. I am super excited for it to come out.
Lee- I thought the write up was great and the overall thoughts are consistent with all of the other write ups (nsmb, pinkbike, bikerader, bike rumor..). If everyone is saying that many good things, it must be top notch. I only wish they had the black and blue frame with the fox 34 and shimano build.. plus the bushings thing has me a little concerned, but I do think this may have to be my next ride.
The Ride9 minisite displays completely differently in IE8, it has the Altitude/Instinct choice but the interactive dial is missing. "rotate the dial to optimize your ride" is missing a dial. Must be an HTML 5 thing.
Read your review, could you please elaborate on the difference between the new Element 29 which you reviewed a month ago and this new new Altitude? Which one would you choose if it was an alternative to your Tallboy?
The Element is more uphill oriented than the Altitude. The Element is by no means a bad downhill bike but I'd be reluctant to ride a shorter-travel bike aggressively all the time; one would tend to wear things out. I suspect that one could get very aggressive on this Altitude.
I'd choose the Element29er to replace the Tallboy - that's an easy question to answer
To expand, the Element is a quiver bike to be complemented with another more downhill'ish bike. It could be a one bike to do everything if you're an extraordinarily aggressive, technically competent rider who lives in a place where technical trails are the exception and not the norm. Where I ride that isn't the case. IMO the Altitude is more of the one-bike-to-rule-it-all
Can a carbon Instinct RSL be far behind? The first Rocky FS bike I owned was a 2000 Instinct. That new Instinct looks like it would be even more BC Edition friendly than the 970 BC edition if it were in carbon.
I can beat the snot out of the BC edition and ride it on anything short of 5th Horseman. The 26" MSL is already so gnar I can't wait to see how far I can chuck the Element 29er and the Altitude for that matter.
I've never ridden in MB. Closest were some races in SK around Blackstrap but that looks nice and burly but with a nice smooth runout. In Pemberton (for example) that'd be a intermediate trail but they breed them different out there.
I'm amped for the 29er Element RSL as a race bike for next year. But back to the Altitude 650b...
LeeL: In your review you suggest the new Altitude might be pushing pretty far into the range of the Slayer. Care to say more about that? The standard 'trail bike' for much of the riding around here is a Giant Reign, with Nomads also common. Is the 650 Altitude covering the same bases as those bikes? Geometry makes it looks like that is the case -- but the Altitude is pretty darn light.
Where would the Sight B1 fall in that spectrum? A bit more of an XC feel than the others? Or would you choose the new Altitude for a day with 1000+ meters of climbing?
Just did "Severed D**k" on North Shore yesterday, LeeL Missed the turn off to "Shorn Scrotum", but since I was going UP the trail, I think I remember the turn off. Sigh, will get it next time, hopefully.
So, the past few months I've had my heart set on getting a Element 50. But after seeing a Slayer 70 at Big Tree Bikes (no affiliation) this week and doing severed d. yesterday, I think I want a Slayer instead, or at the minimum a Altitude 750. That trail is one wild beast...
Were there any of the new Instinct 970/950 at the demo for comparison. I'm still thinking the Instinct might be the best step up from the Element 70 MSL to bigger wheels for me.
There are a couple of other issues with the Slayer, as well. The 70 frameset is already sold out over here (gotta check on a complete bike) and the TT is so short that it would be a chore to get up the hill. My back's a mess and I need a relatively long bike to be able to ride for hours.
Thing is, I'm a bit worried an Altitude would still be too much overlap with the Element to justify another bike in the shed. I'm a pretty capable descender on the Element (nowhere near the regular enduro circuit guys obviously, but that's me, not the bike...). I'm just afraid I'll trash the poor thing.
Does anyone know if you can run the Fox rear on the carbon versions without that massive handlebar lockout and cable... similar to the propedal switch?
I am looking at the 750 or 750msl and REALLY don't want that thing, so I am leaning more towards the 750 with the Shimano bits..
Been debating hard between the element 970/BC edition, altitude 770, and the intense carbine. so many good choices!
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
15.4M posts
515.2K members
Since 1990
A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!