Review: Rocky Mountain Instinct 970 MSL

reviewed by Stuart Kernaghan

Few other Canadian bike companies have the same pedigree as Rocky Mountain Bicycles. Rocky was in the delivery room for the birth of the modern, mass-produced mountain bike and has rolled out several iconic models since then, including the Blizzard, the Element, the Slayer and the Instinct. The latest iteration of the Instinct is a 29″, 130-mm-travel trail bike that’s geared toward fun rides and epic adventures.

The Instinct 970 MSL frame features Rocky’s Smoothwall carbon technology, a press-fit bottom bracket, and internal cable routing for both derailleurs, a height-adjustable post and rear shock controls. It also has an ISCG 05 chainguide mount and the company’s Ride-9 adjustable geometry and suspension system.

Component highlights include a Fox 32 Float 29 130 Fit CTD fork and Float CTD rear shock with handlebar lockout; Shimano XT shifters, brakes, rear derailleur and hubs; Stan’s ZTR Arch EX tubeless rims; Continental Mountain King 29 x 2.2″ tires; Race Face Turbine bar, stem and cranks; and a RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost. Weight for the extra large test bike was 28.3 lb., without pedals or a tubeless setup. A note on fit: Rocky sizing runs small, with an extralarge Instinct measuring out like a large bike from other manufacturers.

Before I hit the trail, I had to set up the Ride-9 system. It’s a great concept: a rider can tweak the geometry and suspension rate to suit riding style, terrain and weight by moving two interlocking chip inserts on the front shock mount. I set it up in the heavier rider/ slacker geometry position in less than 10 minutes and was ready to go.

It quickly became apparent that the Instinct lives to rip technical terrain. It ate up rocks and roots on rough trails, flew through high-speed singletrack and carved corners with ease. It was also agile in tight, slow-speed sections and on ladder bridges. The decidedly lively ride is made possible by the big wheels, a relaxed head angle (67.7 degrees in the slack position), an optimized wheelbase length and active suspension. Those same traits allow the Instinct to dominate gnarly descents. Some riders will have to adjust their position on steep climbs to keep the front end planted, but that’s a small price to pay for such a nimble descender.

The parts mix on the 970 is well suited to the bike’s intended application. The XT components performed flawlessly across the board, and the brakes had gobs of stopping power. I’m also a big fan of the RockShox Reverb post. Unfortunately, the Reverb lever and Shimano brakes don’t interface well; as a result, the Reverb lever position ends up being compromised. I ran into a similar issue with the bar-mounted lock-out for the rear shock and the rear shifter. Those two extra levers made for a crowded handlebar, as well.

Suspension technology has come a long way in the past few years, and the Float 32 is a solid trail fork. The CTD compression settings make it possible to optimize the ride regardless of whether you’re going up, down or cruising singletrack. Most riders will like the way the Float behaves, but heavier or more aggressive riders will likely notice some flex under hard braking and cornering.

It quickly became apparent that the Instinct lives to rip technical terrain. It ate up rocks and roots on rough trails, flew through high-speed singletrack and carved corners with ease.

The Instinct was a fun bike to test, and riders will enjoy it – provided they take the time to get the Ride-9 system and suspension totally dialled for themselves. It’s designed for big days in the saddle and memorable rides, and is more than capable of delivering. While 27.5″ bikes are the hot story right now, I, for one, hope that there are long-travel 29ers like the Instinct in bike stores for a long time to come. A 29er will always be the type of bike I grab when I’m heading out on a big ride.