Rocky Mountain 29er Element Prototype by brule

64 Comments

Score Time

+ 21

Joebohobo (Apr 22, 2011 at 0:08)

Hmm, Looks allright, Im dont really care bout 29ers tbh

drinkmilk54 Plus (Apr 22, 2011 at 0:11)

Beaut

betsie Plus (Apr 22, 2011 at 2:17) (Below Threshold) show comment

You will care in 5 to 10 years time.... the same was said when things changed from 24" to 26".

+ 11

jaketinnelly (Apr 22, 2011 at 2:40)

Don't know about that...

pperini (Apr 22, 2011 at 3:08)

even tho i also dont care about 29ers at all, i still think that betsie is right...ive seen lots of tests and tests and tests..and once the tecnology overcome the extra weight and the lateral torsion, there are actually only benefits riding 29 then 26..better traction, better cornering grip, better impact absorbtion, more comfort and speed going over bumps since a bigger whell overcome bumps easier, better braking and a lot more...the only negs are more weight, and the lateral torsion is higher...i hate to adimit it trust me..but u cant discuss with math....numbers are numbers...and tires last longer aswell..

+ 13

K3ano (Apr 22, 2011 at 3:58)

No-one's actually done the maths, the marketing boys have told you qualitatively what's better, but not by how much. Bigger wheels will help with reducing rolling resistance however due to the extra leverage, wheels would require being considerably heavier to have equal strength as a 26" wheel of the same construction. The thing about added rotational weight is that it will greatly affect acceleration. By that, I don't just mean pedalling up to speed, but braking will be worse, and more importantly, directional changes will take a lot more effort.

I have to admit, for XC it does make a lot of sense, and I reckon if anyone'd had the balls to run 29" at Pietermaritzburg this weekend that they may have had an advantage. But for fun, fairly technical DH, I'll be sticking to 26" for the time being thanks.

Barnseyhcxc (Apr 22, 2011 at 4:17)

The more I hear about 29ers the more i want to try one. Not sure thay I'll ever be converted though, I really like a more flickable bike tbh. Looks sweet though Smile

meathooker (Apr 22, 2011 at 5:25)

K3^^^

Many people have done calcs on the difference in wheel diameters.

Is it just me or does that look like a long chain stay? I thought the 29ers had the tire tucked pretty close to the bb??

+ 10

DARKSTAR63 (Apr 22, 2011 at 5:57)

Lol, when did things go from 24 to 26?? Mtb's have been rolling on 26 since the dawn, circa 1980 if I had to guess.

K3ano (Apr 22, 2011 at 6:44)

@meathooker: Maybe I didn't word it quite right; I was more saying that I haven't seen any press releases from the companies with all the formulae and calculations on the differences between 26" and 29". Perhaps companies haven't released this data as they don't think customers would understand, or perhaps it's just because I haven't been looking.

I guess I'm going quite a way off the point that I was actually trying to make to pperini and never quite got to; maths doesn't lie, but you just can't quantify feel.

DARKSTAR63 (Apr 22, 2011 at 7:36)

I just have to jump in here and say, I really dont understand all the controversey. You can crunch numbers all you want. Its like this- the 29 inch wheel bikes appeal to some people for one main reason - They roll easier over rough terrain because of the larger diameter wheel. They have some downsides, and for those reasons (without going into detail- because k3ano covered it well enough) I dont think you will ever see 29 used for anything other than xc riding. For that riding they make sense to some people, but will never appeal to all. It doesnt really matter, its funny to me that it seeemingly angers people that they exist. There are all types of bikes for all types of folks and personally I think thats great. My 2cents.

DARKSTAR63 (Apr 22, 2011 at 7:42)

P.S. This Rocky is one of the better looking 29's around, with the only possible exception being Santa Cruz's Tallboy. I dont have too much intrest is 29's, but this bike is sharp looking.

Lester22291 (Apr 22, 2011 at 10:07)

i know theres a lot of benefits to a 29 inch wheel, but i just cant see them making 29in wheels strong enough to do what we already do on a 26in. And if they do, they are going to be way too expensive....

ELLIS-831 (Apr 22, 2011 at 15:23)

i dont think the 29 inch wheel will do for downhill and other gravity disciplines, but for xc and trail riding they are a great choice

Kitejumping (Apr 22, 2011 at 18:18)

29ers can work for dh, you just have to build them with that in mind, I have one with a rear 135x12 36h SS Hadley hub with 6 cogs and it is plenty stiff. For 29ers SS hubs with 6 cogs is the way to go if you don't want to worry about your wheels. I have not had a chance to fully test it yet but no problems with some smaller drops and hucks yet.

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/6474978

Joebohobo (Apr 23, 2011 at 0:06)

I dont ever see myself using one or atleast not using one for a while cus im only 13 and i want a bike thats easy to move and stuff

DARKSTAR63 (Apr 23, 2011 at 5:04)

Kitejumping your Niner looks pretty good man.

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TheFutureIsLater (Apr 22, 2011 at 7:52)

A lot of arguments over 26 & 29ers, but not a word about 650B? If you want to argue what is best you should try EVERYTHING first and understand the real advantages and disadvantages. Ask yourself this question: If 650B was made first before 29ers would the 29er have even be made?

fullbug (Apr 22, 2011 at 8:19)

tried 29s and 650bs. to own just one for the sake of economics as well as ANY riding type, style or terrain? advantage - 26 period (discalimer: for me)

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mozz (Apr 22, 2011 at 3:56)

Now what the f*ck is a BB92? 68, 73, 83, BB30, not another new standard!!!

AlexMacdonald (Apr 22, 2011 at 5:32)

Its the same as are on the carbon trek remedy's. 92mm BB but the bearing are sunk into the frame, if you look at the picture there are no BB cups cause the bearings are in the frame...

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browner (Apr 22, 2011 at 3:39)

Just when things were settling down, we're thrown tapered head tubes, BB92 and even a direct mount derailleur. The world is a better place, everything is stiffer and lighter. blah blah blah. can I get parts in 6 years time? Its probably just me though because i'm still fuming at the lack of standards in replaceable dropouts.

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fullbug (Apr 22, 2011 at 6:19)

i drank the kool-aid 6yrs ago for about 6 mos. I didn't like it..@ all. whatever lifts your skirt but it really does seem the 29er crowd are constantly trying to convince themselves and the industry why they ride them. Definitely not a quiver killer. Give me 26s.

atxrider (Apr 22, 2011 at 9:01)

You can't compare the 2012 Element to some POS from 2005. Improvements in wheel technology as well as better knowledge of 29er geometry makes today's 29ers a much more viable option. Just because your old bike had an 85 deg HA and wheels that flexed from a strong breeze doesn't mean a 29er trailbike can't be as good or better than a 26er.

FLY1NGF1SH (Apr 22, 2011 at 21:00)

29er riders constantly have to EXPLAIN themselves to all the haters that freak out at any mention of a 29er - if you don't believe me look at half the comments on this page! 'blah blah blah i don't like 29ers' then why even comment? jesus christ are they that bad that there has to be this whole crusade against them? it's not like hydration packs vs water bottles or flat pedals vs clipless gets this heated...

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WAKIdesigns (Apr 24, 2011 at 13:43)

People..." Don't knock it until you try it" is a stupid ass argument, it is as valid as saying "don't praise it until you try it".

Wanna try it? Please do, but don't expect a fkn medal for it

29ers are for some XC racers and a great remedy for poor trail riders to remain on poor skill level but go faster. Never tried them and have full right to argue about it. Some are smart enough to see that 29er is more effective but less fun to ride without trying it. Going easier over obstacles might be good argument for somebody, for me obstacles is why i am a mtbiker and not a fkn roadie

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preston-rider (Apr 22, 2011 at 0:53)

looks like the front mech will get heavily covered in dirt. more than usual in comparison to a standard band clamp. however, regardless of that still a good prototype rocky have created. Salute

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ReformedRoadie (Apr 22, 2011 at 11:53)

I have to second the comments re: 650b.
If you have any Fox or X-fusion fork, or some others, you can get a wheel (or rim/tire/spokes) and give it a go...
Don't knock it till you try it. IMHO, many advantages with no draw backs. There are a limited number of tires, but the ones available are quality, esp. the Neo Moto. For those who think the 29ers look wrong, most people don't notice the 650b till you point it out to them. Flow rims to be available soon, which is exactly what's needed - a wider rim for reliable tubeless conversion.

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sngltrkmnd (Apr 22, 2011 at 10:12)

Looks like a well thought out design - lotsa great features. 29" still isn't my cup of tea, but hey, more bikes is better than less bikes.

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Gora (Apr 22, 2011 at 1:14)

very tricky, pivot on chainstay is higher then rear axle and Spec is not asking for money(fsr) anyway epic have axle on this same level like pivot ( this is not horst link no more)

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southbayFRA (Apr 22, 2011 at 2:57)

29er's shred. Great commuter bike, KILLER FAST for smooth singletrack...and not to mention total fixie fighters. With some fast rolling tires and gears you can easily piss off some roadies when you pass them up...and then bunnyhop off the road and bomb down whatever is in your way. MONSTER TRUCK BIKES RULE...

fullbug (Apr 22, 2011 at 6:22)

^ EXACTLY what I mean. I'll take my 26 rally car over a monster truck

andrewgrant (Apr 22, 2011 at 8:36)

I ride a Fisher 29'er, and honestly, when I made the switch from 26" all I noticed was how smooth the ride was and how fast it climbed and descended. I honestly didn't feel like I lost any handling capability in the tight, technical stuff. Of course that's just me, but I think people blow the whole 26'er vs. 29'er thing way out of proportion. If you try it and like it, then ride it! If you try it and don't like it, don't ride it! But I think that anyone who is going to say that 26'ers are better needs to have tried out a 'monster truck' first.

chaloopy (Apr 22, 2011 at 9:47)

The thing that makes XC what it is, is that they go up the mountain. Say what you will but the better climber will take the race, and that's were the 26er comes into its own. The fact that Pro riders are switching to 29er is all for marketing, they already have the edge(being the best riders) that bikes don't make that big of a difference. Think about this whole thing as if the norm wheel was a 29er and 26ers came out. Having said that if comparing the 2 wheels the only difference would be the type of riding you do, up hill=26, down hill=29.

andrewgrant (Apr 22, 2011 at 12:10)

First of all...29'ers have been around for quite a while, they are only now just starting to gain popularity. Also, with the bigger contact patch it will actually get you up the climb faster than a 26" wheeled bike. That one's just physics. Sure, the pro's are riding them for marketing may be partly true, as companies do want the consumer to see that they are race-worthy, but they are also doing it as personal preference. They can ride whatever size wheel bike they want, so there are obvious advantages with only small disadvantages such as weight, which can easily be fixed.

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Tarka (Apr 22, 2011 at 9:19)

Why no ISCG tabs for running a hammerschmidt? This seems like an ideal bike to run it on....

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foghorn1 (Apr 22, 2011 at 8:19)

I like the rear end, but I would never buy a 29er because I'm not 6'6" tall. All these new "standards" are so irksome. Could we just settle on hub and bb size PLEASE?

andrewgrant (Apr 22, 2011 at 8:38)

You don't have to be super tall to ride one, I know guys that are 5'8 that ride them and win XC stuff on them!

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bikerdude29 (Apr 22, 2011 at 7:22)

If you have'nt already, try a 29er!!
They're monsters !!!!!

mnorris122 (Jul 15, 2011 at 19:01)

Wait, aiden, when did u ride a 29?

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JokerMachine (Apr 22, 2011 at 2:55)

That's pretty cool. I dig the design, the thru-frame cable routing looks very nice but must be a huge pain in the ass to redo when your cable sheaths get worn.

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tiloup (Apr 22, 2011 at 10:10)

Look good geometry; fast stiff and nervous!! but don't think that the exit point of the cable are a good thing!

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shishka (Apr 22, 2011 at 23:10)

Thanks RM, now after seeing this new pile of 29" crap I have the worst diarrhea I've eeeeeeeever seen.

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sharkandsheep (Apr 22, 2011 at 8:31)

why are so many children scared of big wheels ??

lugylogger (Apr 22, 2011 at 19:47)

they can hate all they want more o that big wheeled lovin fer us!

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LandoCommando (Apr 22, 2011 at 17:24)

So how much of a bitch is it to thread new cables through there?

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Seb556 (Apr 22, 2011 at 18:30)

Very Sick, 29er it's very Cool

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nightmareterror (Apr 22, 2011 at 11:21)

Why not have the best of both worlds?

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oliviachen (Apr 22, 2011 at 0:13)

beautiful wheels and tube!

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pruss1 (Apr 22, 2011 at 10:16)

bringing E-Type back????? Fail.

brule Mod Plus (Apr 22, 2011 at 11:04)

He says E-type inthe video, but that's a slip up. Check the pics and you've see that it's actually a DM FD that attaches to the swingarm itself.

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rismtb (Apr 22, 2011 at 8:33)

Amazing what you can do with recycled beer cans

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chalky (Apr 22, 2011 at 1:18)

Dont care much for 29ers but that bike is hot.

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benjiscott82 (Apr 22, 2011 at 1:54)

what does it do?

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tom-cuthbert (Apr 22, 2011 at 0:29)

Nom.

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Below threshold threads are hidden

Dexta (Apr 22, 2011 at 0:52)

29ers look shit.... hope the fad dies young!

tom-cuthbert (Apr 22, 2011 at 0:56)

Please don't listen to this person and take any impression of NZ'ers from him.

He is an idiot.

Dexta (Apr 22, 2011 at 1:00) (Below Threshold) show comment

You're a fool bud everyone knows my opinion doesn't represent a country you might like them I don't it's my opinion expressed... get over yourself!

rhys-the-rider (Apr 22, 2011 at 1:00)

^^HAHAHA

sixkdollars (Apr 22, 2011 at 1:10)

I think the lord of the rings movies gave enough of an impression of new zealanders. great riding and nature, but too many orcs like Dexta.

tom-cuthbert (Apr 22, 2011 at 1:31)

'29ers looks shit'

Implies looks are the be all and end all of what mountain biking should be. That's THE single biggest issue in MTB'ing today. Hierarchical discrimination against young kids because they 'ride shit bikes'. It's pathetic, and being 36 'Dexta' I would've thought you would have more common sense than to base a whole class of bikes on it's looks.

ziggyzuggy (Apr 22, 2011 at 2:12)

plus that.... i got a shitty bike but people hung out with not becoz of my bike but becoz im a biker...

ironhorse413 (Apr 22, 2011 at 2:20)

blah

tom-cuthbert (Apr 22, 2011 at 2:23)

Not trying to be a 'big man'

I'm trying to stop people making retarded assumptions based on looks, which seems a common occurrence on PB.

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