The New Rocky Mountain Slayer is MX or 29”, Grows Longer and Slacker & Will get In-Body Storage

In 2001 Rocky Mountain’s Slayer debuted as one of many early freeride MTBs, and 22 years later this new mannequin stays true to its origins. It’s sturdy, slack, and has loads of journey for thrashing gnarly descents, but the brand new Slayer can nonetheless comfortably climb for its downhill reward.

At first look, you gained’t discover any radical adjustments to the brand new Slayer, however there are a number of vital updates: The frames are longer and slacker and most notably the smaller sizes (S/M) now come outfitted with a combined wheel setup. There are additionally a number of new options together with in-frame storage, and a chainstay flip-chip to supply extra trip customization.

2023 Rocky Mountain Slayer: Body and Suspension

The brand new Slayer presents SMOOTHWALL carbon and FORM aluminum body choices, and so they’re constructed powerful for freeriding and bike park shredding. RMB says the aluminum frames are actually constructed utilizing a brand new hydroforming course of which produces a really sturdy body. Yet one more replace is all of the carbon-framed fashions now include carbon chainstays and seatstays. RMB has additionally re-configured its decrease pivot to offer extra stiffness within the Slayer’s rear finish.

Rocky Mountain’s Smoothlink four-bar suspension platform presents 180mm of rear journey, no matter which wheel dimension is out again – Not like the earlier mannequin, RMB has produced two completely different rocker hyperlinks for the brand new Slayer which hold its journey the identical no matter rear wheel dimension. All fashions include coil shocks, and the frames are meant for a 180mm or 200mm fork. 180mm single crown forks come inventory on all fashions besides the Alloy 30 Park, which has a 200mm RockShox Boxxer.

The Slayer’s suspension is tuned to offer environment friendly pedaling throughout a variety of gears whereas sustaining a supple sufficient trip to make sure good traction. As for descending, RMB really decreased the progressiveness of the Slayer and went a bit extra linear total. This was completed to keep up a extra constant suspension really feel at any level within the journey, however RMB says they’ve preserved ample big-hit resistance.

To offer RMB’s meant trip traits, they’ve outfitted the Slayer with a managed end-stroke and brought a balanced strategy to anti-squat, anti-rise, chain development, and axle path. Rocky can also be an advocate for size-specific tuning; a customized shock tune for every body dimension means all riders can take pleasure in constant traits like small bump compliance, mid-stroke assist, and end-stroke ramp-up. 

As famous above, the brand new Slayer’s bigger body sizes (L and XL) roll on 29” wheels, however the small and medium frames will include a combined wheel setup. That mentioned, you’re not caught with RMB’s inventory configuration no matter body dimension: All sizes are actually able to working a full 29er setup or combined wheels (the place the earlier small frames couldn’t run a 29” rear wheel). The one catch is you’re meant to swap out the rocker hyperlink, which optimizes the body geometry for the completely different wheel sizes.  27.5” and 29” rocker hyperlinks can be out there for the brand new Slayers as of as we speak.

Additional revisions to the Slayer frames embrace their redesigned chainstay yoke and protectors, which purpose to make sure a quiet trip. Additionally, all carbon frames now embrace RMB’s PenaltyBox down tube storage compartment with a rattle-free magnetic cowl. The PenaltyBox-equipped fashions include two storage luggage to carry tubes, instruments, and so on. safely and quietly contained in the body.

RMB’s Trip 4 geometry and suspension adjustment chip carries over from the earlier mannequin, however the Slayer now will get Rocky’s flip-chip on the rear axle, permitting for +/- 10mm chainstay size changes.

With simplified upkeep in thoughts, the Slayer body options shielded sealed bearings, long-lasting pivots, and single-tool {hardware} for straightforward upkeep. It additionally presents internally guided cable routing which lets you run your brakes on both aspect.

As for different fitments, the Slayer’s axles are Increase 148x12mm rear and 110x15mm entrance, it makes use of a press match BB92 backside bracket with 2-bolt ISCG tabs, and all fashions include a OneUp Elements High Information and Bash Guard. All body sizes can carry a water bottle.

Geometry:

Constructed for high-speed stability the brand new Slayer has an elevated attain, longer chainstays, and a steeper seat mast.  You might discover there aren’t separate figures for the Slayer’s geometry, regardless of there being MX and 29” choices. As with rear journey, the brand new rocker hyperlinks equalize the body’s geometry with both setup. That mentioned there may be nonetheless a variety of geo configurations with the Trip 4 chip and chainstay flip-chip. Take a look at the chart beneath to crunch all of the numbers.

For a fast abstract listed below are some key angles and measurements: Head tubes can now be as slack as 62.5°, and as ‘barely much less slack’ as 63.3°. Seat mast angles fluctuate by body dimension however vary from 77° to 77.8°. The Slayer’s attain has been elevated and is now 450-458mm on medium frames and 474-484mm on larges. Chainstay lengths have additionally grown and are the identical throughout all body sizes, now various from 438mm to 450mm relying in your Trip 4 and chainstay chip positions.

Mannequin Lineup:

–video!

There are six fashions of the brand new Slayer out there plus a frameset choice, so try Rocky Mountain’s web site for full construct specs. One good contact to notice is all carbon fashions include CushCore XC tire inserts entrance and rear. Inventory dropper put up lengths are 125mm for small frames, 150mm for medium, 175mm for giant, and 200mm for XL.

There are two body colour choices between the assorted fashions. The Carbon 90 and carbon frameset can be found solely in RMB’s long-winded music-referencing colorway Smoke on the Water/Black Canine/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer. Carbon 70 and 50 fashions come within the above choice or One other Brick within the Wall/Winds of Change/Black Canine.

The Alloy 50 is out there in each colorways, whereas the Alloy 30 is available in Smoke on the Water/Black Canine/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One beer, and the Alloy 30 Park in One other Brick within the Wall/Winds of Change/Black Canine.

Carbon 90 – $10,299

Carbon 70 – $7799

Carbon 50 – $6299

Alloy 50 – $4999

Alloy 30 – $3799

Alloy 30 Park – $4599

Carbon frameset – $4199

The Slayer carbon frameset features a Fox DHX2 Manufacturing unit rear shock with SLS spring, OneUp Elements’ prime chain information and bash guard, and a rear axle.

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