MTB review: Rocky Mountain Element
Improved XC speed opens up a wider range of trails

Rocky Mountain has long served as a vanguard for progressive cross country bike design. From the first BC Edition Element to the most recent model, the West Coast Canadian brand has advanced a broader vision of XC riding than just World Cup racing. With the latest refinement to the Element, Rocky’s classic platform gains more speed and more fun.
The latest Element features the Smoothlink SL flex-pivot rear suspension design, replacing Rocky’s Smoothlink, which was on the 2022 release of the bike. The company says about 350 g come off the Element frame compared with the old model with the move to a flex-pivot design. The change also increases rear-end stiffness.
The change to Smoothlink SL is not a minor one. It brings crisp acceleration to round out the Element’s capabilities at the more extreme ends of XC. Repeated efforts through the tightest, most technical ribbons of singletrack are rewarded by a back end that strikes a fine balance between traction and efficiency. Generous travel numbers, and a lack of a remote lock-out, mean the Element might not match the purebred World Cup rigs in lower-cadence, high-power efforts, whether that’s sprinting or standing efforts up smooth, steep grades. But it absolutely thrives in real-world riding scenarios where dealing with the unknown takes priority over dialing in a race line lap after lap. The Element’s impressive capabilities on the descents continue to make this one of the most fun XC bikes to ride on more challenging trails.
Beyond the suspension change, the Element remains much the same bike as before. It is still a 29″ carbon-fibre frame (27.5″ for the XS size) with 120-mm rear travel and a 130-mm fork. There’s still room for two water bottles inside the front triangle of most sizes, but now there’s also an accessory mount under the top tube. The frame still features fully guided internal cable routing and Rocky’s Ride-4 suspension and geometry adjustment flip-chip.
Parts spec is always a matter of juggling priorities. Rocky keeps the C70’s budget in check with some house-brand components and an alloy wheelset from neighbours Race Face. The DT 370 hub anchoring this wheelset has painfully slow engagement for an XC bike in this price range, but it is, at least, quite quiet. Rocky then has room to spec SRAM’s wireless GX T-Type electronic shifting and the venerable Performance Elite-level suspension from Fox.
When Rocky last updated the Element, its slack geometry and generous travel numbers made waves. A few years on, more competitors have followed the Canadian brand’s lead (proving, again, that Rocky was ahead of the curve). With Smoothlink SL, Rocky dials back the “trail” bike side of the Element a bit, but gains ground, and speed, on the competition with a more precise suspension feel.
“Its impressive capabilities on the descents continue to make this one of the most fun XC bikes to ride on more challenging trails.”
The Element refines Rocky Mountain’s vision for cross country riding. While it’s categorized as an XC bike, really, it’s just a mountain bike. You can absolutely race it. I dearly wish it existed, in its current form, back when events like Test of Metal and NIMBY 50 were still running. But this version of XC also expands the range of trails you can enjoy when not racing. Fast is fun every day of the week, not just race day. And this XC whip makes having fun easy.
Rocky Mountain Element C70
Components SRAM GX T-Type 12-speed wireless drivetrain with 10–52 tooth cassette. Four-piston SRAM Level Stealth Bronze brakes, Fox Transfer Performance Elite dropper post (120-mm XS and S, 150-mm M, 180-mm L, 210-mm XL), 800-mm Race Face Turbine Alloy handlebar and 40-mm Forbidden stem
Suspension Fox 34 Performance Elite fork with 130 mm travel, Fox Float Performance Elite shock with 120 mm travel
Wheels Race Face ARC 27 rims with DT Swiss 370 rear hub and Novatec D791SB front hub. 2.4″ Maxxis Rekon WT EXO tires (front and rear)
Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
Price $8,499
Website bikes.com