This spring Rocky Mountain Bikes launched their redesigned 2024 Altitude, that includes an old-but-new LC2R suspension linkage. Initially launched virtually 20 years in the past, the modernized LC2R linkage (and this mannequin’s coil shock) offers the Altitude bump-eating functionality that bests different RMB bikes I’ve examined.
I’ve been using the Altitude Carbon 70 Coil since late Spring, and it’s confirmed to be a succesful descender. The shock and linkage suck up every kind of impacts properly, and the geometry affords adjustable attain and slack steering angles. Regardless of some bobbing from the coil-equipped linkage, the Altitude’s pedaling prowess was surprisingly good on the paths.
Rocky Mountain Altitude C70 Coil – Key Specs
Take a look at my launch article for all the small print on the brand new Altitude lineup, however listed here are some key specs: Constructed for enduro using, the Altitude Carbon 70 Coil has a full carbon body with 160mm of rear journey. All fashions come inventory with 170mm forks.
For the 2024 Altitude, Rocky selected to revive the LC2R linkage they first debuted on the Slayer again in 2006. The linkage has seen a big replace, now that includes a concentric decrease hyperlink across the BB and a a lot cleaner total look. The linkage is a dual-link, VPP design.
Whereas RMB runs MX wheels on the small Altitudes, the medium and bigger frames come inventory on 29” wheels. On the bigger body sizes, an MX setup remains to be doable with a flip of the chip within the rear shock mount. The flip-chip maintains the bike’s geometry (save for some slight variations) with the smaller rear wheel.
One addition for the 2024 Altitude was an FSA Orbit attain modify headset. The bike comes with a impartial cup and a +/- 5mm cup, permitting the attain to range from 445mm to 463mm (relying on cups and Trip 4 chip place).
RMB’s Trip 4 chip permits riders to fine-tune the bike’s geometry and shock price. You’ll be able to select from a slacker/extra progressive place or a steeper/extra linear setup. The brand new Altitude’s head tube angles are fairly slack, various from 63° to 63.8°.
Carbon framed Altitudes provide RMB’s PenaltyBox 2.0 down tube storage compartment. RMB has additionally added an adjunct mount to the underside of the Altitude’s high tube. Eager eyes will discover there’s no accent mount on my check bike – early body samples didn’t embrace the mount however all manufacturing fashions do.
The brand new Altitude body is UDH appropriate, and RMB has eliminated the chainstay flip-chip the earlier Altitude included.
The scale medium Altitude Carbon 70 Coil examined hit my scale at 35.85 lbs (with pedals).
Trip Impressions – Climbing
I began using the Altitude with the Trip chip in place 3 (impartial) and the headset in impartial place. That put the attain at 455mm, the top angle at 63.5°, and the seat tube angle at 77.5°. The Altitude’s BB drop is 31mm, stack peak will not be tremendous low at 630mm, and standover peak can also be not notably low at 796mm.
At 5’10”, the attain supplied a cushty journey at 455mm and stored me sitting a bit extra upright than common. The bike by no means felt too brief, however I did really feel the entrance finish getting a bit mild on steep climbs on this place.
Except for the marginally conservative attain, the Altitude has typical fashionable geometry. The steering angles are good and slack, and the seat tube is steep. I discovered the medium body’s 440mm rear finish (there are three completely different chainstay lengths throughout the dimensions vary) simply lengthy sufficient to supply nice climbing traction, notably on steep uphill bursts.
After a number of weeks, I switched to the +5mm headset cup. At 460mm the Altitude Carbon 70 Coil’s attain instantly felt extra acquainted to me, being nearer to many of the current bikes I’ve ridden. I seen my physique leaning a bit extra ahead on this place, and I felt extra equally balanced between the wheels on steep climbs. The longer place has a extra ‘efficiency’ really feel to it, whereas the impartial place feels a bit extra ‘leisure’.
For my previous couple of rides, I switched the Altitude Carbon 70 Coil to its slackest Trip chip place (1). This solely modifications the top tube angle from 63.5° to 63° (and reduces the seat tube angle by 0.5°), so there wasn’t an enormous distinction in dealing with or climbing agility. I’ve discovered a slack head tube angle isn’t a giant detriment to climbing, however now that bikes are reaching round 63° levels that entrance wheel does begin to really feel a bit floppy. I nonetheless had no points navigating the tightest switchbacks in my space.
I can’t actually say why, however the Altitude is a powerful climber. Its weight, wheels, and angles are much like my private bike (aside from its slacker head tube) nevertheless it appears to shoot uphill with little effort. I at all times use the agency mode on the rear shock, nevertheless it’s not anyplace close to a lockout – the shock nonetheless affords good bump absorption and supplies a cushty journey. The bike someway feels about 3lbs lighter than the dimensions signifies, and it’s surprisingly simple to crank these pedals round. Maybe the Altitude’s low middle of gravity helps. This bike simply appears to claw its manner uphill simply!
Regardless of a noticeable diploma of pedal bob, partially from the Fox DHX2 Manufacturing unit coil shock, the Altitude pedaled fairly properly on the paths. On paved surfaces, even with the shock in Agency mode, every pedal stroke produces noticeable motion from the rear finish. Left open, the shock will bob freely on roads and pathways (even with a bit extra low-speed compression than I’d normally run). Nonetheless, on path, the Altitude 70 Coil climbed higher than anticipated.
The rear shock’s Agency change does a great job of limiting dive when pedaling over dips within the path. Absolutely open the coil will dive into its journey fairly simply, however in Agency mode it resists slow-speed compressions a lot better. On this bike, I’d use the shock’s Agency mode for climbing any path, nevertheless it’s particularly useful on smoother terrain. The Altitude affords excellent climbing traction even in Agency mode, because the coil’s sensitivity retains the rear wheel glued to reasonably bumpy terrain.
Descending
Within the Trip 4 chip and headset’s impartial positions, the Altitude Carbon 70 Coil was already a really competent descender. The 63.5° head angle is slack sufficient for something, and with the attain at 455mm, the bike nonetheless felt lengthy sufficient to supply good stability. If something the Altitude simply felt a bit extra playful at 455mm versus 460mm.
I did desire the longer attain setting, as I’m a lanky man and I like a roomy entrance finish. Even at 460mm, the Altitude isn’t an enormous bike, and it looks like my weight is healthier centered over it with the additional 5mm up entrance.
I discover 440mm is an efficient size for a 29er rear finish. It’s lengthy sufficient to supply a stable, steady journey however not so lengthy that the bike feels sluggish in corners. Lifting the entrance wheel for a brief guide or over an impediment remains to be simple, so I’d say RMB nailed it with the Altitude’s newly fastened rear-end size.
Once I moved the Trip 4 chip into its slackest place, the bike acquired simply barely extra comfy on steep terrain. Once more, there’s solely a 0.5° distinction between the 2 settings I rode, however on back-to-back check laps, there was an considerable distinction. I took the Altitude to the steepest path in my space and it made the descent a bit simpler than most bikes do! The steering really feel didn’t change a lot between these settings, however in slack mode, the entrance wheel reaches out somewhat additional on the steeps.
The very first thing I seen in regards to the new Altitude’s LC2R suspension was that it plows via medium-sized bumps very properly. After many laps of quick, rooty trails, I’d say the Altitude absorbs impacts higher than earlier RMB bikes I’ve examined. After all, the coil shock is a giant issue right here, however the linkage appears to be very keen to suck up huge impacts.
Smaller chatter was simply smoothed out by the coil shock, however the Altitude dealt with every kind of bumps properly. I rallied down one among my roughest native trails and other than one bottom-out the bike took the harshness out of impacts from the large, sharp rocks fairly capably. At no level did I really feel a giant hit come via the body or smash the rear wheel. I wouldn’t say the Altitude ‘rounds off’ nasty impacts in addition to some bikes can, nevertheless it feels extremely energetic and retains the rear wheel well-planted via quick, tough terrain.
Within the slackest Trip 4 chip place, the shock price is at its most progressive. It’s a fine-tuning device, however on a pleasant tough run I might inform the bike was resisting greater impacts a bit greater than within the impartial setting. Happily, this setting wasn’t overly progressive for a light-weight rider like myself.
I like to leap, so I used to be happy to search out the Altitude Carbon 70 Coil was nice within the air. Even with the coil shock the linkage supplied predictable and vigorous pop, and with that ‘lighter than it’s’ really feel whipping the Altitude round within the air was enjoyable and straightforward.
RMB says the Altitude’s brief suspension hyperlinks and one-piece rear triangle ought to provide good lateral stiffness, and I’d must agree. I’m not a heavy man, however this isn’t a flexy body. Pinning via tough rocky trails, the bike held a line properly and felt extra stable than squirmy. I’d additionally agree the low middle of gravity on this body contributes to a steady really feel, particularly at increased speeds.
Noisy Cables
One irritating difficulty I had with the Altitude was noise. The cables/hoses rattle contained in the body fairly simply, they usually do it continuously. I eliminated the device roll from the body, and even tried stuffing some rubber behind the cables contained in the body storage compartment, nevertheless it made no distinction.
The noise was apparent sufficient that I checked over the bike after my first few rides, ensuring nothing was free. A second opinion from my native bike store backed up my suspicions – even with the body’s inner information tubes, the cables/hoses are creating the rattle.
Body Storage
The 2024 Altitude Carbon 70 Coil options RMB’s PenaltyBox 2.0 down tube storage, and the bike comes with each a device roll (pictured above) and a device bag. I’ve discovered rolls do a greater job of stopping issues from rattling contained in the body, so I used it as an alternative of the device bag.
I simply match my c02 inflator head, a big c02 canister, a plug device, spare plugs, and a multi-tool within the device roll. The roll will slide deep into the down tube as you journey, so that you’ll wish to ensure that the pull strap is on the highest finish. The device roll did maintain issues quiet within the body, and the storage door latch labored completely and was simple to function with gloved fingers. I used to be additionally thrilled to search out a big water bottle match within the medium body with sufficient room to take away/change it simply.
Parts
Lastly, some notes on elements. The 170mm Fox 38 Float EVOL GRIP2 Manufacturing unit fork carried out nice; it supplies a stiff entrance finish that blows via tough terrain in a commanding style.
The Altitude Carbon 70 Coil’s Shimano XT shifting supplied near-perfect efficiency, and the XT Path 4-piston brakes on 203mm rotors provide greater than ample energy and good modulation.
For those who’re robust on wheels, you’ll respect that every one carbon Altitude fashions and the Alloy 70 coil embrace Cush Cores entrance and rear. Race Face’s AR30 rims have confirmed to be fairly sturdy on earlier bikes I’ve ridden, and each are inside 1-2mms of completely true after three months of check using.
The Maxxis Assegai/Minion tire combo is confirmed and welcome on any bike I journey. RMB shares an EXO+ casing on the entrance, and a DoubleDown DH casing on the rear wheel.
The Race Face Turbine R dropper put up acquired a bit sticky a number of instances however typically labored properly. Its 150mm journey is OK however 170mm could be nice for a medium body. It could be good if I might drop the saddle a bit additional than I can. WTB’s Volt saddle agrees with my anatomy properly.
RMB shares its personal 40mm stem and 780mm handlebars. I just like the 40mm stem size, however with longer arms, I’d desire an 800mm bar width.
MSRP for the Altitude Carbon 70 Coil is $7199. Body colour choices are UD Carbon/Nonetheless of the Evening/Black Canine (as examined) or Throughout the Universe/Candy Leaf.