2018 Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 70
(discontinued)
Where To Buy | |||
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Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. $5,004.00
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Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. $4,869.00
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Typically, when a new test bike arrives at our door we know what to expect in regards to geometry, the build spec, travel, etc, but that wasn’t at all the case when the 2018 Rocky Mountain Altitude showed up. Unboxing the bike and building it up, we were scratching our heads wondering how much rear travel the bike had or what the head angle was. Being that the bike was brand new, no online literature had been published, no product manual was included in the box, and Rocky Mountain was being very hush-hush about the whole thing, we were pretty much in the dark. So aside from measuring the FOX 36 fork up front at 160mm of travel and basing the assumed intended purpose of the bike on the components, our first rides on the new Altitude would tell us all we needed to know - Rocky Mountain built this bike to be ridden fast and aggressively.
Highlights
- 150mm (5.9-inches) of rear wheel travel //160mm (6.3-inches) of front travel
- 27.5-inch Wide Trail and 26+ tire compatible
- Bearings at all pivots, including lower shock mount
- Increased anti-squat compared to the previous Altitude
- Blind pivots to maximize heel clearance
- Lighter, tooled rear axle
- Improved cable management with larger head tube ports, full shift housing, large downtube access port, and internal shift and brake housing within the front triangle
- Future-proofed to be compatible with Di2, FOX Live, and a dropper post
- Seat tube lengths have been adjusted to accommodate longer dropper posts at maximum insertion
- Chainstay and downtube protectors
- Integrated “Spirit Guide” chainguide with two-bolt ISCG05
- 1x drivetrain only
- Lower standover height
- 25% laterally stiffer thanks to one-piece seatstay, new envelope, and updated layup
- Modern parts compatibility with Boost axle spacing, Metric shock, and post-mount 180mm brake
- All sizes fit a water bottle in front triangle, even with a reservoir shock
- Sizes: XS-XL
- Frame and shock weight: 2.47kg (5.5-pounds, size medium)
- Tested complete weight: 12.87kg (28.4-pounds, size large, no pedals, Carbon 70 build)
- MSRP: $5,299 USD
Geometry
Thanks to Rocky Mountain’s clever RIDE-9 adjustable geometry feature, the Altitude can be set up for pretty much any terrain and trail. With a head angle that ranges from a slack 65-degrees up to 66.1-degrees with the flip of a chip, the bike's geometry can be adjusted on-the-fly to one of nine positions in a matter of minutes. If your lunch loop is a mild track where quick handling is important, the steep setting is right for you. If you find yourself on more demanding trails, dropping the bike into the low and slack setting may be the ticket. We found ourselves happiest in the "Neutral" setting, which puts the head angle at 65.6-degrees. We measured the bottom bracket height to 349mm (13.8-inches) in the neutral setting, and the RIDE-9 adjustable geometry provides bottom bracket drop ranging from 13mm to -1mm. Our size large frame has a reach measurement of 458mm, which isn’t super long nor is it too short, and being that our personal bike's reach is within a few millimeters of the Altitude, we felt right at home on the new bike.
Suspension Analysis
Using the bike industry's leading linkage analysis software, André Santos, the Youtube suspension whiz, was able to determine a close approximation of the Altitude's kinematics for the purpose of this review. These charts provide great insight into several key factors that impact how it rides. Those unfamiliar with these types of graphs should watch André's excellent series of suspension fundamentals videos. The results of his analysis are as follows.
Observations:
- The Altitude is a very progressive 150mm bike at 65%, meaning that the suspension is sensitive during the initial travel and offers great bottom-out resistance for a bottomless feeling. For less aggressive riders it may be difficult to use all the travel.
- Given its high progressivity, 26% sag measured at the shock corresponds to an actual 30% sag at the wheel.
- Pedaling efficiency is good, but it’s slightly lower than most trail bikes with anti-squat values of 80-85% on most rear cogs using a 32-tooth chainring (dropping to 65% on a 10-tooth rear cog). With a 30-tooth chainring the anti-squat values increase to 85-90%.
- The amount of chain-growth and pedal kickback is slightly lower than most trail bikes.
- An anti-rise of 68% means there is a good balance between geometry and traction under rear braking.
- Overall, the Rocky Mountain Altitude is a very progressive bike with okay pedaling efficiency.
On The Trail
Despite the anti-squat values provided in the suspension analysis, one of the first things we noted with the Rocky Mountain Altitude was how well it pedals. Once again, numbers don't tell all. During our first ride, a short but steep climb to our local trail had us fiddling with the shock to make sure it wasn’t locked out as the bike’s chassis was oddly stable while we mashed on the pedals. Leaving the shock in the open setting was never an issue, and the bike remained supple over rough terrain even when we were hard on the gas. We found the Altitude to be a very capable climber.
The Altitude is one beast of a “little” bike.
What’s The Bottom Line?
The Altitude is a beast of a "little" bike. Sitting at 150mm rear travel and 160mm up front, we found the bike fun to ride on a variety of trails. It offers a very capable ride and will suit most people better than Altitude’s bigger brother, the Rocky Mountain Slayer, for everyday use. From our quick lunch loop with punchy climbs and short downhills to longer, rougher, and steeper bike park runs, we found the Altitude to be plenty of bike and right at home wherever we rode it.
Visit www.bikes.com for more details.
Vital MTB Rating
Climbing: 4.5 stars - Outstanding
Descending: 4.5 stars - Outstanding
Fun Factor: 4.5 stars - Outstanding
Value: 3.5 stars - Very Good
Overall Impressions: 4.5 stars - Outstanding
About The Reviewer
Fred Robinson - Age: 32 // Years Riding MTB: 14 // Height: 6'1" (1.85m) // Weight: 245-pounds (110.95kg)
"Drop my heels and go." Fred has been on two wheels since he was two-years-old, is deceptively quick for a bigger guy, and likes steep, fast trails where he can hang it off the back of the bike. Several years of shop experience means he's not afraid to tinker. He's very particular when it comes to a bike's suspension performance and stiffness traits.
Specifications
Fully Sealed Cartridge Bearings
Internal Cable Routing
Where To Buy | |||
---|---|---|---|
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. $5,004.00
|
||
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. $4,869.00
|
||
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