The cross-country focussed Element has been a fixture of the Rocky Mountain bike stable for over 20 years. In that time, it's seen a number of reincarnations, and 2017 sees the next step in the evolution of this classic bike. Reflecting how XC racing has changed, with increasingly technical courses, the Element has now moved slightly more towards the trail side of things.
Designed for cross-country and stage races, Rocky Mountain has looked to develop a bike that blends efficiency and speed with comfort and stability, particularly for routes that combine long distances with technical sections.
"This new Element is a full-on XC marathon weapon, but with the confidence of a trail bike." says product director Alex Cogger. "People used to show up at the BC Bike Race expecting to grind fire roads all day, only to walk the descents and snap their made-for-the-scale bikes in half. XC racing has evolved, and bikes that can handle the real world have no business on the course."
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Updates and redesigns
This isn't just a cosmetic upgrade; the Element has received a substantial overhaul, including brand new geometry. This includes slacker angles up front which give greater stability and confidence on descents, with a longer fork offset. The seat tube has been steepened for a better position for climbing, and the rear centre has been shortened to lengthen the reach slightly. It's also now available in a size XXL for taller riders.
The Element also now features slightly longer 120mm forks, to provide a little more cushioning on those long marathon miles. Combined with the updated geometry, this should make it feel more planted and secure on the technical descents that have become increasingly common on XC circuits.
At the rear, the Element has a 100mm shock with a four-bar 'Smoothlink' suspension system, with a brand new tune to go with the new geometry. Rocky Mountain has focussed on mid-stroke support and lowering the shock leverage ratio which, they say, keeps more travel available and gives more efficient suspension performance, including good progression.
Ride-9 adjustability
Future proofing
Best of the rest
The Element range
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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