The Canadian company we featured in issue 105 has launched its latest iteration of the Element. As an XC bike, it’s as you’d perhaps expect: 120mm travel up front, 100mm rear travel, and 29in wheels. It’s Boost front and rear, and has internal routing for everything you might need – including fork lockout. We’ve asked the importers for a UK price and we’ll update you once we hear back from them.
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Here it is, the Element 999 RSL, lurking in the dark. Canadian flag paint job not best suited to subtle lurking.
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And another look, but in the light this time. This is the Element T.O. (Team Only), and this paint job will cost you an extra 30g, weight weenies. Without the special paint job, the Medium frame weighs 2250g, including shock and hardware.
A less patriotic paint job, here it is set up for 1x on the 990 RSL BC edition. The BC range is apparently based on how Rocky Mountain employees set up their bikes – with wider bars, bigger tyres, and stiffer wheels.
Spot the difference – it’s the 970 RSL edition. The maximum 1x chainring size is 38T with SRAM, or 36T with Race Face, while the maximum 2x chainring size is a full size 28T/40T. It’s also Di2 ready and there’s clearance for 29×2.35 tyres.
Designed with modern XC courses and stage races in mind, the Element features Rocky Mountain’s RIDE-9™adjustment system, which allows riders to fine-tune the Element’s geometry and suspension. Adapted from Rocky Mountain’s trail bikes, the system has been moved from the forward shock mount into the link to reduce weight and bulk. The headtube angle can be adjusted from 69° to 70° and the suspension rate can be tuned for an XC race feel or a more aggressive trail feel.
More larking than lurking going on here. Larking in Lycra. Certainly better than lurking in Lycra, which is probably an arrestable offence. You’ll notice this image shows two water bottles inside the frame – this is a feature of all frame sizes in this range.
This press release seems to specialise in nice pictures which don’t actually show off the bike. But hey, it’s a nice picture.
Here’s all the numbers if attractive scenery doesn’t do it for you. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Hidden in the fog is a bike with 120mm forks. On the top end 999 RSL model, you’ll find a Fox 34 Float Factory, while on the 990 RSL you’ll get a RockShox Pike RCT3.
It’s almost like they don’t want us to see the bike…
Rocky Mountain says: ‘It’s slacker to keep things stable when you’re seeing stars four hours in, but uses a longer fork offset to keep steering dynamics precise. We’ve shortened the rear centre, lengthened the reach slightly, and steepened the seat-tube angle—allowing for shorter stems and wider bars without sacrificing a powerful pedaling position. The bike hasn’t been stretched into downhill sled territory, but we’re offering an XXL size for those that need longer reach.’
So there we have it – a not very close look at the Element. We’re guessing it makes you so fast it’s hard to catch on a camera.
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That looks pretty dam sweet, plus it’s good to see you can get two water bottles in the frame too!