The Slayer returns to the Rocky Mountain line

The Slayer has returned to the Rocky Mountain line for 2017. This long-travel trail bike has been revitalized to tackle the most demanding enduro courses and to log laps in the bike park. 

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Rocky Mountain Slayer highlights

• 170mm front travel
• 165 rear travel
• Compatible with 1x drivetrains
• Ride-4 adjustable geometry
• Full carbon frame
• Compatible with 27.5 and 26+ tires
• Four models and a frameset
• Pricing from US$4,199 – US$6,999 (UK and Australian pricing TBC)
• Available December 2016

Rocky Mountain Slayer frame features

Each of the four complete Slayer models are built around the same full-carbon frame. The Slayer is offered in four frame sizes, and each has room for a single water bottle in the main triangle.

Tucked below the bottle mounts is a compartment that can house a Shimano Di2 battery for riders who wish to run an XTR or XT Di2 drivetrain.

Like Rocky Mountain’s other full suspension models, the Slayer uses a Horst-link suspension design coupled with the company’s clever Ride-4 adjustable geometry system.

Ride-4 is an offset chip in the lower shock mount that can be oriented in one of four positions, incrementally altering the Slayer’s geometry to suit ride taste and course conditions. In its slackest setting, the Slayer has a 64.75-degree head tube. When pushed steep, the head tube is propped up to 65.85 degrees.

Bottom bracket height varies by 7.5mm across the low to high settings in the Ride-4 system.

Rocky Mountain was pushing steep seat tube angles long before the current trend. The Slayer is no different, with a seat tube angle that varies between 73.75 to 74.85 degrees, from the slackest to the steepest geometry setting.

While some competitors have focused on improving the clearance of their latest enduro bikes to fit big rubber — sometimes even 27.5+ treads — Rocky Mountain has taken a different tack. It’s one that might hint at a trend we’ll see more of next season.

The Slayer has clearance for 27.5in wheels with tires up to 2.5in wide, but it can also accommodate 26in wheels shod in 3in tires. It appears that 26+ is going to be a thing in 2017, consider yourselves warned.

Other features on this new enduro machine include full internal routing, thankfully with tubes through the frame to make installation easier, a BB92 bottom bracket, and 230x65mm metric shock sizing.

Rocky Mountain Slayer pricing, spec and availability

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