The RockShox Recon fork doesn't have boost-spacing and feels flexy and pogo-sticky in its travel. The Thunderbolt seems like it would be perfect for 29-inch wheels. This is the least trail worthy bike in this test, due to its poor component specification, and we would recommend several other models before this, some of which cost less. With its 67-degree headtube angle, 75-degree seat tube angle (in the neutral-geometry setting) and 463-millimeter reach (size large), it’s almost conservative by today’s standards. It rolls fast and has a nice middle of the road geometry that provides a comfortable seated pedaling position and responsive handling. It's spec'd with WTB SX19 rims with a 19mm internal rim width that aren't tubeless compatible and are attached to the bike with old-school quick release skewers. The wheels and tires on the Thunderbolt are another low point of this build. Additionally, the sales figures are typically lower for this size than the rest, so we are making a conscious commitment to having more riders fitting our bikes, even if the business end of it doesn’t quite line up. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. This bike has a geometry and frame design that looks great on paper and probably performs very well in a higher-end build. The Thunderbolt A50 also gets a Fox rear shock and a Fox 34 Float Performance fork with a Grip damper. There are no signs of it being twitchy or nervous which is a testimony to its sorted geometry and component spec. Smooth mellow terrain and infrequent trail rides are fine on the Thunderbolt Alloy 10, although this bike's limits are easily reached. You can have fun on this bike, but you've really got to dial it back. It also has 130 millimeters of travel, front and rear, whereas the previous iteration had 120 millimeters (except for the BC Edition, which sported 130 millimeters of front travel; now the BC Edition has 140 front and rear). The Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain performs flawlessly, we just prefer the range provided by the 11 and 12-speed options. The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt walks the line of lightweight trail slayer, with progressive suspension to soak up those big hits. The moderately steep 74.7-degree seat tube angle puts the rider nicely above the bottom bracket for solid power transfer while the moderate length 466mm reach doesn't make you feel cramped or too stretched out. Specifications: Thunderbolt Alloy 10 Frame SMOOTHWALL Carbon. The head angle has been slackened by a not quite a degree, the seat angle steepened by about a half-degree and the reach is about a centimeter longer. The overall frame design and geometry are capable of handling much more than the parts attached to it can. 2019 Orange Crush RS Bike. They also spec'd very narrow, by today's standards, WTB SX19 rims that can't be set up tubeless. Rocky Mountain 2021 Thunderbolt Alloy 30 27.5" MTB Satellite/Black Dog/Volcano . If someone is looking for a capable, do-it-all trail bike, then all they need to do is decide which wheel size they want to roll without thinking about geo or spec. If you want to ride aggressively at all we suggest looking elsewhere. We flatted the front tire almost instantly. 2-Bolt ISCG05 Tabs. Whether it’s powering up technical climbs or popping off every trail feature in sight, its 27.5” wheels and 140mm of rear travel makes this bike ready and capable for when you’re feeling creative with line choice. The Thunderbolt shows even more speed when pedaling along on flowing, rolling trails. If you're looking for an all-around bike that you'll occasionally use to go mountain biking on some smooth trails at a mellow pace, this could be a good option for you. Skinny tires with a low profile tread help this bike to scoot up smooth climbs with ease. Rocky Mountain has been on a bit of a bike updating spree over the last couple of years, and their fresh Thunderbolt is the latest platform to get a complete makeover. Rocky Mountain's adjustable geometry system is known as Ride 9 and allows the user to choose between 9 different geometry positions from slack to steep that change the head and seat tube angles by about a full degree. Like the Instinct and Altitude, the new Thunderbolt has been tidied up with an all-new frame that boasts an updated linkage, complete with hidden chainstay pivots. These wheels are flexy and felt like they might fold underneath you if you cornered too hard or landed wrong off a small rock drop. The non-boost RockShox Recon Silver fork has 120 mm of travel, but it's flexy, hard to tune, and generally feels like a pogo stick in compression and extension. Riding bikes is inherently fun and you can certainly have a good time riding the Thunderbolt Alloy 10 as long as you stay within its limits. And that’s OK, testers unanimously agreed. This is the base model in their Thunderbolt lineup and it's obvious to us that the Thunderbolt could be an amazing trail bike, but in this case, it is held back by a barely trail worthy component specification. The wheels and tires on the Thunderbolt look and feel like something you'd find on a bike from two decades ago. They don't offer the best traction on steep and loose sections of climbing but they zip up smooth and firm trail surfaces with ease. Rocky Mountain is now offering the Thunderbolt in an Alloy version, therefore with an aluminum frame, adopting some of the features already present on the Thunderbolt Carbon. The only difference is the wheel size. Entry-level Shimano MT500 brakes slow the bike and a Shimano SLX shifter and cassette, along with an XT derailleur, make up the drivetrain. Standouts include the Race Face ARC 25 wheels mated to Maxxis Minion DHR 2.3-inch tires, Shimano XT two-piston brakes and the Fox Float DPS EVOL Performance Elite shock and fork. It’s playful, easy to ride and encourages you to take extra-credit lines, without being so long and slack that if you aren’t on-point all the time, you’re losing control. The Alloy 10 has 120mm of front wheel and 130mm of rear wheel travel. Your information has been successfully processed! Phone: 01803 558885 Email: info@rockymountainuk.com Post: Unit A3, Westfield Business Park, Long Road, Paignton, TQ4 7AU, United Kingdom For a bike that is stable at speed it came as a bit of a surprise just how agile it is. The narrow and flexy wheels with skinny tires dramatically hold this bike back, as does the flimsy fork and lack of a dropper seat post. The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt Alloy 10 suffers from a classic case of its performance being held back by a very poor component specification. This bike has potential, but to unlock it you're going to want to check out the more expensive versions. Objective gear reviews our Editors independently research, test, and rate the products... 2018 Instinct massive 672 Wh Powerplay battery, you have aspirations of getting after it in way. Even more speed when pedaling along on flowing, rolling trails 're then! Nice middle of the Thunderbolt well past its limits while testing, we do n't provide confident traction. Find overwhelming attached to it pogo-sticky in its travel s OK, testers found it perform... Years is the Thunderbolt rocky mountain thunderbolt 10 we could tell that this bike are its main limiting factor on descents,... 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