Rocky Mountain Slayer 790 MSL

Field Notes: Despite the wet rocks and roots of the recently thawed trails where we first rode the Rocky Mountain Slayer 790 MSL, it was just a short time before we forgot all about that and just let this bike rip. With all that suspension and a relaxed position deep in the frame, our confidence on the descents was huge, and picking a line obsolete – there’s not much that can get in the way of an Enduro bike like this. We could shoot straight down lines we wouldn’t touch on the shorter-travel bikes even on a dry day.

Tester Comment: “Who knew you could get this much descending bliss from a bike that weighs only 30lbs? And on this rig I actually look forward to the climbs, well a little anyway!”

Pros: The Rocky Mountain Slayer is a classic Enduro bike that allows for balls-out descending at near-Downhill-racing speeds, but still weighs in at a very impressive 30lbs so it can climb without completely wiping out the rider. And that’s this bike’s biggest pro – the frame is surprisingly stiff and responsive, and pedaling is not nearly the laborious grind it can be on bulkier Enduro bikes. This is bolstered by the Ride-4 adjustable geometry that allows the frame to go from slacker to steeper with a simple adjustment, so if your day’s ride will be more about the climbing, steepen it up; if it’ll be all about the hair-raising descents, slacken her down. Finally, the Shimano XTR spec combined with a RaceFace crankset is as good as it gets for power transfer and reliable shifting under serious strain.

Cons: Unfortunately, all of those pros come at a cost – a $7,000 cost to be exact. This bike is not for the casual Enduro rider or the financially challenged racer. And while the XTR components are outstanding, this bike would benefit from the extra gear range on SRAM’s 12-speed Eagle, especially for the extremes. Finally, it would be super helpful to have lockout options, at least in the shock.

Key Attribute: Ride Quality/Suspension 

Best For: 

Bottom Line: The Rocky Mountain Slayer is a pure Enduro platform, ideally suited for the difficult ups and screaming downs of typical Enduro tracks. Descending is its forte, with relatively quick handling despite its long travel and relaxed geometry, and an uncanny ability to make even major bumps disappear. But weighing in at only 30lbs – quite respectable for a bike with 170mm of travel – climbing is also surprisingly good, despite some acceptable pedal bob. And with the option to adjust the geometry, the rider can dial it forward for an even more efficient position. It’s loaded with top-end spec, including outstanding suspension from FOX front and rear, and Shimano’s XTR drivetrain complemented with a RaceFace crankset. All of this does not come cheaply, but for serious Enduro riders and racers, they’ll quickly see – and thoroughly enjoy – its benefits.