Mountain bike design, especially suspension, involves managing tradeoffs. Weight, price, suspension travel characteristics, handling, and even pedal height (to avoid pedal strikes) must all be considered. The final set of compromises hopefully aligns with the designer’s original mission statement for the bike.
Rocky Mountain may have never received that memo, as its Instinct Carbon 70 AXS made it difficult to pinpoint what was given up to produce such a plush ride while maintaining favorable climbing and handling manners.
The Canadian brand seemed to obtain the perfect alchemy for a 150mm front and 140mm rear travel bike destined for all-day rides on unforgiving and unpredictable terrain. This plush bike also bends, quite literally, around corners, flexing in a way that makes it a scalpel on the trail.
Over the 8-month testing period, I logged everything from trail rides on Central Texas’s limestone-littered, hilly trails to downhill runs at a lift-served bike park. And throughout, I couldn’t really note a significant shortcoming while going up, down, or leaning over.
In short: If you want one bike that can efficiently handle fast trails with steep ascents while also being a capable downhill bomber for bike park days, the Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon 70 AXS is an incredibly capable mountain bike. It’s a rare machine with no significant shortcomings and exceptional cornering manners.
- Frame material: Carbon fiber
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
- Fork: RockShox Lyric Select Plus 150mm
- Drivetrain: SRAM XO Transmission AXS
- Wheels: Rocky Mountain 30AM Carbon
Pros
- Incredible cornering manners
- Settled and plush suspension
- Smart component spec offers performance at a non-astronomical cost
- Frame geometry is adjustable at three places
Cons
- Lower lateral stiffness requires more effort to elicit desired response at times
Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon 70 AXS Main Specifications
Chassis

Suspension

Drivetrain and Brakes

Cockpit and Wheels
The Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon 70 AXS on Dirt
Amazing Cornering Manners

Going Up

Going Down
Fork Action
Shock Performance

Other Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon 70 AXS Ride Qualities

Conclusions on the Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon 70 AXS
