Mountain Biking - Yey..I got a new bike today

Went to the Toronto bike show today, and found an amazing deal on a 2003 Rocky Mountain Instinct.

I wasn't in the market for a full suspension bike, but this one just stole my heart. I rode a Giant NS-R1, a Kona Kula Deluxe (2004). The Giant is full suspension with XT components, and Fox air fork and shox around. However, its frame is only 16.5", and the rear bobed quite a bit. I was looking to purchase a Kona Kula Deluxe, but there was only one with a 17" frame, which felt really small. Then I stumbled across this rocky mountain, and at first, I was suspecting its rear shocks not working properly because there was virtually no bobbing when I pedaled very hard. After going back and forth and some thinking, I decided to pick up this bike because it was really a steal. The retail price for the bike was $3500 Canadian, I acquired it for $1999 with a bike pump and half tax ($150 dollar savings on tax).

Specs of the bike: (A few components have been altered from the specs off the website)

Frame Easton Ultralite FS Taperwall Aluminum
Frame Weight 2.40 kg / 5.3 lb
Fork & Fender RockShox SID Race
Front Travel 80 mm
Rear Shock Fox Float RL
Rear Travel 95 mm
Head Set Ritchey Logic
Stem FSA XC 120
Handlebar FSA XC 191
Brakes Avid Single Digit 7
Brake Levers Avid Speed Dial 7
Shifters Shimano XT
Gearing (RR/FR) Shimano XTR, Shimano XT
Cranks & Chainrings Race Face LP Turbine
Bottom Bracket Race Face Evolve XC
Pedals Shimano SPD 515
Hubs (RR/FR) Shimano LX Disc, Shimano LX Disc
Cog-Set Shimano Deore 9 Spd
Chain Shimano LX 11-34T
Spokes DT Competition
Rims Mavic X223 D
Tires (RR/FR) Hutchinson Python 2.0”, Hutchinson Python 2.0”
Seat Post RMB 3D Lite
Saddle Selle Italia Custom XO Gel

I was really looking for a bike with hydraulic disc brakes, and a Fox Float front fork as well. However, the other components on this bike really impressed me and the Avid Single Digit 7s worked really well even compared to the Hayes HFX-9s. However, I only braked from low speeds (indoors), so I cannot really tell the pure power of the Hayes.

My question is: how does the rockshox SID Race compare to the Fox Floats? I rode another rocky mountain with the Fox float, and the fox seems a little more plushy. What are your opinions between these two forks and why?

A few pictures of my bike:

http://ming.hostopia.com/bike/thmb/thmb_DSCF0029.JPG
http://ming.hostopia.com/bike/thmb/thmb_DSCF0030.JPG
http://ming.hostopia.com/bike/thmb/thmb_DSCF0031.JPG
http://ming.hostopia.com/bike/thmb/thmb_DSCF0033.JPG


More pictures on my website..
http://ming.hostopia.com/bike/

Oh yeah, I think the bike weighs about 25lbs, but I cannot find a hard figure off the Rocky Mountain website. Does anyone know for sure? Also, what are your opinions on the 3D link system used by Rocky Mountain?

Thanks for looking at this

Ming

Have fun with it.

congrats on the bike!! :) i was there yesterday too... ended up only buying 2 no name brand sunglasses for $20 and a nice black sombrio longsleeve shirt. i really wished i could find a good strong rim (in polished or silver) for cheap to replace my flatspotted sun singletrack in the rear... but things were selling so fast. there were so many bikes that if i had the money i'd love to get... so many nice deals. there was a vp-free going for $4000 flat. i was tempted to ask to take it for a demo spin, but i was too busy looking for that rim i didn't find :rolleyes: .

Lol...it was quite a busy show eh?? I was kinda surprised at the deals they were having. I'm going to take it for a quick spin today, and then I'll post a review of the bike.

BTW, are you friends with Cam?? I rode w/ some guy that had your bike in TO, and I'm just wondering :)

Ming

Lol...it was quite a busy show eh?? I was kinda surprised at the deals they were having. I'm going to take it for a quick spin today, and then I'll post a review of the bike.

BTW, are you friends with Cam?? I rode w/ some guy that had your bike in TO, and I'm just wondering :)

Ming
have fun riding it. looks like a sweet bike.

i don't think i know anyone named cam. maybe mindbogger knows... he used to ride the same bike as me too (that is, until he decided to part it out in favour of getting a kona cowan frame :mad: - haha, j/k). other than mindbogger, i've seen a couple guys riding fluids around t.o. i don't think it'd be too rare a bike since silentsports up in thornhill was selling a whole load of them for real cheap.

Sounds like a great bike, Ming! Maybe someday I'll make it to the show.

You *will* give us a full review when you've been on the trail, won't you (please!)? :D

Sounds like a great bike, Ming! Maybe someday I'll make it to the show.

You *will* give us a full review when you've been on the trail, won't you (please!)? :D

Dont worry...i'm gonna write one up right now....