Mountain Biking - Rocky Mountain bikes - your opinion

Hello,
I am considering a purchase of a new mtb. One of the bikes I have in mind is Rocky Mountain Vertex 70. In the past I've heard good things about this Canadian bike manufacturer but I've never had any experience with their bikes. Therefore, I would like to hear from you if you have any experience with Rocky Mountain bikes, their build quality, set-ups, ride quality and so on. your opinions do not have to be limited to Vertex 70; other RM models are fine as well. I am just trying to get a better feel about Rocky Mountain.
Thanks

i have a Rocky Mtn road bike and i love it. from what i understand, the guy who founded RM and the guy who founded Easton tubing are good buddies and RM always gets sweet hookups on materials for their frames.

Try it. You'll like it.

http://www.dropmachine.com/media/data/500/medium/IMG_0688-XGA.jpg

years - 5
Kilometers - 21,500



What's up with that funky bend in the downtube with the new models though?

the guy that founded Rocky Mountain was forced to sell because of money problems and then founded Kona...used to have a fellow named John Brodie make some high end frames for him back then

Guy who formed Rocky mountain probably did a lot of things.....

i have have had two RM. i love their details, good paint hand made and assembled. they tend to be a bit heavier than lets say Giant. but good overall
carlos

Guy who formed Rocky mountain probably did a lot of things.....



not really...

1978
A couple of guys in a Vancouver, BC bike store modify Nishiki road bikes with wide tires, straight bars and thumbshifters with internal 5-speed or external 10-speed gears. This is the first experience with "mountain bikes" for the soon-to-be Rocky Mountain founders.

1997
Rocky Mountain Bicycles is bought over by Procycle Group, a well-established Canadian company.

..after his experience at Rocky Mountain, he had the brains to acknowledge that he has no business abilities and managerial skills, so he hired professional business types to run Kona...now they give him the prototypes and he spends his time testing them around the world.

nice job.

RM's ride pretty nice

Had a buddy let me borrow one for some riding for a week.

I didn't want to give it back =D

I almost bought a used Element. Seemed nice but it needed more work put into it than I was willing to commit to.

[/end completely useless anecdotal information]

I love my switch. Can take anything that I throw at it.

not really...

1978
A couple of guys in a Vancouver, BC bike store modify Nishiki road bikes with wide tires, straight bars and thumbshifters with internal 5-speed or external 10-speed gears. This is the first experience with "mountain bikes" for the soon-to-be Rocky Mountain founders.

1997
Rocky Mountain Bicycles is bought over by Procycle Group, a well-established Canadian company.

..after his experience at Rocky Mountain, he had the brains to acknowledge that he has no business abilities and managerial skills, so he hired professional business types to run Kona...now they give him the prototypes and he spends his time testing them around the world.

nice job.


Are you saying he founded kona in '97? Because I remember seeing kona's well before that.. like '92.

Kona was founded in 88...

Also, I liked my Rocky Mountain RMX quite a bit.

I was really really close to getting the RM Vertex 70. But because of this situation I didn't get it.

I loved the way the bike was set up, the groupo that was chosen for the bike really worked well with it. I was impressed by the fact that the frame was powder coated rather than painted, with the Easton tubing. They did a fine job on the it as a whole, the welds, etc....

I had paid for the bike and a couple of days later went to pick it up after they did the "final check". It was then that I noticed the stanchion on the fork was scratched enough (with a slight indentation - how did THAT happen??) to concern me about leakage. I told them I wanted the fork replaced. They said that because it was a fork that came with the bike, they had to talk to RM first. They had to remove the fork, send it to RM. A month goes by and no word from the LBS. Meanwhile, my bike is sitting in the back room on the floor, leaning against other random things (I peeked in on it). When I call them, they say that RM had not responded with a decision to replace the fork. I waited another 2 weeks. Nothing. I popped in to talk to them again and to check on the bike. It was in the back room, on the floor, with other bikes waiting to be repaired leaned up on it (my frame!!)

I told them that if they don't reply to me in another two weeks, I want my payment back.

Another three weeks went by. In the meanwhile I went ahead and bought a Kona. They finally called me and told me that they won't replace it but I can buy a new fork and will get $130 credit toward the new one, which will be close to $500.

I didn't think that was fair since I paid for a new bike (I never took delivery of) and shouldn't have to buy a replacement fork.

The bike itself is awesome but watch out for customer service. I'm not sure if it was RM or the LBS that really wasn't pushing the issue of replacement here but I didn't want to have that kind of service in the future should I need it.

But that bike...it was beautiful....:o

Are you saying he founded kona in '97? Because I remember seeing kona's well before that.. like '92.

Jeez

http://www.mtnbikehalloffame.com/inductees.cfm?page=99&mID=94

I was really really close to getting the RM Vertex 70. But because of this situation I didn't get it.

I loved the way the bike was set up, the groupo that was chosen for the bike really worked well with it. I was impressed by the fact that the frame was powder coated rather than painted, with the Easton tubing. They did a fine job on the it as a whole, the welds, etc....

I had paid for the bike and a couple of days later went to pick it up after they did the "final check". It was then that I noticed the stanchion on the fork was scratched enough (with a slight indentation - how did THAT happen??) to concern me about leakage. I told them I wanted the fork replaced. They said that because it was a fork that came with the bike, they had to talk to RM first. They had to remove the fork, send it to RM. A month goes by and no word from the LBS. Meanwhile, my bike is sitting in the back room on the floor, leaning against other random things (I peeked in on it). When I call them, they say that RM had not responded with a decision to replace the fork. I waited another 2 weeks. Nothing. I popped in to talk to them again and to check on the bike. It was in the back room, on the floor, with other bikes waiting to be repaired leaned up on it (my frame!!)

I told them that if they don't reply to me in another two weeks, I want my payment back.

Another three weeks went by. In the meanwhile I went ahead and bought a Kona. They finally called me and told me that they won't replace it but I can buy a new fork and will get $130 credit toward the new one, which will be close to $500.

I didn't think that was fair since I paid for a new bike (I never took delivery of) and shouldn't have to buy a replacement fork.

The bike itself is awesome but watch out for customer service. I'm not sure if it was RM or the LBS that really wasn't pushing the issue of replacement here but I didn't want to have that kind of service in the future should I need it.

But that bike...it was beautiful....:o

That does sound like RM to me. I haven't heard many great stories about them, I am also not a fan of their pricing, hence why I never bought one. If I had the spare coin to spend 1000$ more than the matching competetive bike I would get one however.

I am also not a fan of their pricing, hence why I never bought one. If I had the spare coin to spend 1000$ more than the matching competetive bike I would get one however.

Just curious, but why would you spend the extra cheese on a similar bike? I have only seen these bikes at EMS stores, and I think EMS has high prices to begin with, so I thought that's why they were pricey.

Just curious, but why would you spend the extra cheese on a similar bike? I have only seen these bikes at EMS stores, and I think EMS has high prices to begin with, so I thought that's why they were pricey.

Not sure who ems is...but I would buy it only if I had the extra cheese in life...like buying an m3 or some other similar car that makes other people drool (I don't drive and don't like cars, bikes are my cars).

Another three weeks went by. In the meanwhile I went ahead and bought a Kona. They finally called me and told me that they won't replace it but I can buy a new fork and will get $130 credit toward the new one, which will be close to $500.


So the LBS had a damaged bike on the floor (because they either damaged it themselves or failed to inspect the package upon arrival) and told you to pay extra to get an undamaged bike?

Nice.

But not Rocky's problem.

RM bikes are overpriced, or at least they used to be. I'd wait for the end-of-season clear-outs when they were the only thing left and grab one then.

I've always liked them, Our freind ViperZ, likes them too!
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=254418

Not sure who ems is...but I would buy it only if I had the extra cheese in life...like buying an m3 or some other similar car that makes other people drool (I don't drive and don't like cars, bikes are my cars).

Eastern Mountain Sports. Like an REI, but smaller I think. I've never been to an REI store though. I guess EMS is a regional company then.

So the LBS had a damaged bike on the floor (because they either damaged it themselves or failed to inspect the package upon arrival) and told you to pay extra to get an undamaged bike?

Nice.

But not Rocky's problem.

RM bikes are overpriced, or at least they used to be. I'd wait for the end-of-season clear-outs when they were the only thing left and grab one then.


There were two Vertex 70s on the floor and one of them was my size. They were both priced the same. All I wanted was the fork replaced (actually by the LBS) but they said they couldn't (wouldn't?) do it because it was a fork that was specc'd from RM. They said that RM would have to replace it.

If it was indeed damaged on the floor, I would expect the LBS to replace it. If it was damaged upon reciept then you would think RM would replace it.

I think if anything it was a struggle over who would have to pay. And someone wanted to get it out of me.

Hmmm. I wonder what ever happened to that bike? :(

Hmmm. I wonder what ever happened to that bike? :(

I'd guess it went for a low low price at that shop's bankruptcy sale.

If I had the spare coin to spend 1000$ more than the matching competetive bike I would get one however.That's how Rocky has always struck me: mass-production bike at boutique-brand price.

I'd guess it went for a low low price at that shop's bankruptcy sale.

Haha!! Funny you should say that! It did in fact close less than a year later!! :p