General Cycling Discussion - RM Slayer 02

Last weekend I bought a 2002 Rocky Mounatin Slayer with Z1FR and riding the weekend I have to say I am extremly happy. For me (and my riding style) its the most compfortable XC-Bike I ever rode.
I highly recommend it. The 2003 frame has some improvements (bearings, somewhat more back travel), but I got a good price for the 2002 and its a great bike.

:beer:

Funny thing I thought of when I first read that was 'xc bike'. haha. I realize it is now but in 2001 it was designed as a mid range freeride bike. Its tubes are stronger and more burly with (at that time) more travel than xc. In fact I have considered buying the frame just for the toughness :)

Anyways, congrats on the bike. That is a good kickass bike to whip around the trails :)

they call it all mountain, XC was what I am using it for. XC with more compfort and capabilities, also with the feeling that on e has a reliable frame

Go Rocky! Glad to hear you like the new bike. Personally I'm still waiting for winter to subside before trying my new 02 RM Trailhead. Can't wait.

Originally posted by tstreng
they call it all mountain, XC was what I am using it for. XC with more compfort and capabilities, also with the feeling that on e has a reliable frame

I realize that...all mountain :)...sorry just a bad flash back to when they first came out...funny how far the mighty have fallen :)

That is a very heavy duty xc frame and can take medium hits...well worthy of the all mountain title :)

ok, well i will probably buy it before anyone reads this...

on my Xmas trip back to the states a local bike shop in Philadelphia hooked me up with a demo bike for the week -- basically for free -- for a 2003/04 Rocky Mountain Slayer... anway, i have been so impressed i am probably going to buy it. (our trails in munich have been under snow since Dec 1st but here in Philadelphia i have been riding local trails - nothing awesome - but pretty good XC stuff for December!!!)

i've really thought about it a lot and i think it is probably the best bike for me. i currently ride an '02 FSR XC that i have outfit with the widest tires that will fit (2.3" front and 2.5" rear) with a bashguard (still with 3 chainrings) and the Fox RL 80... and have been thinking about upgrading to a long-travel fork and disc brakes, but as i still use the bike for XC racing i have not... (weight)

anyhow, the Slayer CLIMBS unbelievably well --- i mean it is probably not as fast as my FSR but it goes up everything! and downhill is awesome with the travel, geometry and high bottom bracket... plus it is stiff and solid and handles great in the tight turns and singletrack... it just FEELS so good!

anyhow, it is a late 2003 Slayer-70 model -- basically the 2003 with the Fox Vanilla RLC fork that comes on the 2004... MSRP is $2500 for the 2003 and $2700 for the 2004... and Keswick Cycle in Philadelphia is offering it to me for less than $1500 --- it's been a demo bike since October although i think most of the use has been from me during the last week + a little from guys at the shop (i sort of "know" them after riding trails with them this week)

anyway, i think the bike is about the best for me -- just under 30lbs with 125mm travel front and back PLUS super-burly frame... true "downhill" bikes like the Switch or Kona Stinky are BigHit just too heavy... and i compared to other 30lbs bikes, i just think the frame/geometry is superior to the Specialized Enduro (although i love Specialized bikes and my FSR) --- there aren't that many bikes that compare -- the Santa Cruz Bullit or the Kona Dawg --- all of which would be difficult to find for under $2000 i think...

anyhow, i saw that Maelstrom had good things to say about the Slayer and that's a good sign... the bike is just so much fun to ride!!! plus it's also reallz burly looking... now i can keep my FSR for racing and fast XC and just enjoy on the Slayer for all the other crazy stuff!

-nathan