April 15/10 21:07 pm - Rocky Mountain Introduces 2011 Suspension System at Sea Otter

Posted by Editoress on 04/15/10
 

Once again, it is time for Sea Otter, the huge bike festival that takes place every Spring at the Laguna Seca race track just inland from Monterey, California. While there will be racing at Sea Otter, it has become just as well known for the product intros that companies announce.

Photo gallery

We start our coverage this year with such a product announcement from the iconic Canadian company Rocky Mountain Bicycles. Rocky is showing a completely redesigned Slayer line - their all mountain bike. The three models (30, 50 and top-of-the-line 70) all share the same frame design, and the top two the same rear shock, and it is this frame that is completely new.

Former Olympian Andreas 'Dre' Hestler takes you through the features in the video link below, but here are the highlights:

- StraightUp geometry offers a pre-sag 75 degree seat angle, to put the bike into an optimal 73-73.5 degree riding angle for climbing.

- The SmoothLink suspension provides 165 mm of travel, plus a 66.5 degree head tube angle for stable descending.

- Customed shaped triple butted 7005 aluminum tubing, with a tapered headtube for front end stiffness.

- Frame-mounted front derailleur (E-type) and granny inner plate to increase rigidity and eliminate dropped chains.

Rocky has promised us a test model when they become available in the near future. The new Slayer's are expected to make their first showfloor appearance by mid-August. Pricing ranges from $2999 to $4799.

Racing fans should note that this is NOT the prototype that Geoff Kabush has been riding and tweeting about. Kabush will likely be riding a prototype here, but it is a few weeks away from launching with details.