Rocky Mountain Slayer
72/100
BikeRide Score
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Facts
Type
Release Year
Brand
Gearing Type
Weight
34.1, 37.04, 39.3 lb
Suspension
Brake Type
Frame Material
Summary of Reviews
We have read all expert and user reviews on the Rocky Mountain Slayer. In summary, this is what cyclists think.
8 reasons to buy
- The Slayer is available in seven builds: three alloy and four carbon.
- The RIDE-4 suspension flip-chip and a chainstay flip-chip offer many suspension and geometry tuning options.
- Experts agree the 180/180mm Slayer builds climb impressively for the freeride/downhill category.
- The alloy A30 Park’s 200mm RockShox BoXXer Select RC fork and 180mm RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select shock are “supple and bottomless.”
- A tester says that with RIDE-4 at its slackest, the C50 (size medium) on mixed wheels boasts "excellent" traction, "remarkable climbing prowess," and a “plush," "free-flowing" ride when descending.
- Two 200lb testers call the C50’s Shimano SLX brakes excellent.
- Testers laud the Maxxis Assegai MaxxGrip front and Minion MaxxTerra rear tires with DoubleDown casings and CushCore inserts found on all builds except the A30 Park.
- All Slayer frames accept a dual-crown fork.
10 reasons not to buy
- Multiple testers suffer failure of the WTB wheels (A30, A50, C50).
- The experiences of several reviewers raise doubts about Rocky Mountain’s “size-specific” suspension tuning.
- Experts deem the C50 unrideable on its “too soft” stock rear spring.
- A 190lb tester fits a stiffer spring to the C50, but rebound is too fast, even with the adjuster fully closed.
- Experts agree the C50’s FOX 38 Performance fork and DHX2 Performance Elite shock are inadequately damped.
- The A30 Park’s shock offers limited tuneability, and its SRAM G2 brakes “lack bite and modulation.”
- The Slayer’s top tube and bottom bracket are higher than competitors like the Nukeproof Giga and Santa Cruz Nomad, hindering the bike’s agility in tighter terrain, say reviewers.
- A tester complains about rattling cables and the storage box lid falling off and getting lost.
- S and M sizes come only as 29/27.5 mullet. L and XL come only as 29er. Swapping wheel sizes requires a replacement link that isn’t included.
- At just 175mm for sizes L/XL and 150mm for size M, the C50 Shimano’s dropper post is too short for a downhill bike. Oddly, the other builds have longer droppers.
Bottom line
The Slayer is a freeride bike offering alloy and carbon builds, Rocky Mountain’s lightweight Horst-link rear suspension, and the choice of 29er or mixed-wheel mullet setup. For every tester that praises the suspension, there’s another that rates it as sub-par. While some reviewers commend the build specifications, others highlight puzzling contradictions like poorly damped suspension, inadequate SRAM brakes, and WTB rims that appear prone to failure. Such compromises don’t belong on bikes at this price. There may be reasonable value among some of the Slayer’s builds, but given the concerns raised by experts, it’s hard to say who should buy this bike and why.Expert Reviews
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Rankings
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Bike Comparison
Rocky Mountain Slayer in comparison to averages
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