The "Instinct 970 MSL" is inconspicuous in the Rocky Mountain range. Its look also clearly identifies this bike as one of theirs. However, the color design of the frame is striking. The yellow brand lettering harmonizes well with the yellow lines, but the white background on which the model name is written in black gives the bike a cheeky touch. The yellow and white brand lettering on the Stan's NoTubes "ZTR Arch EX" rims and the Fox "32 Float" fork also match. The bike is not only well coordinated in terms of color. The equipment with Shimano's XT gears and brakes is also pleasing. As is typical for Rocky, a double crank from Race Face is used. The chainrings of the Race Face "Turbine" crank in sizes 22 and 36 work perfectly with the Shimano chain. The components such as the stem, handlebars from the "Turbine" line and the WTB "Silverado Race SL" saddle also go well with this bike and impress with their good ergonomics. The latter is enthroned on a Rock Shox "Reverb Stealth" dropper post. Its cable as well as the other cables and lines are stowed in the main frame and therefore do not disturb the rider or the look of the bike.

Unspectacular and fun at the same time
Once mounted on the "Instinct", it feels unspectacular. No perceived frills that could get in the way. Just get on and ride off. The 29-inch wheels allow the bike to roll along quickly and the geometry also contributes to good power transfer. Longer climbs are easy to master and even technical ascents can be managed to a certain extent. On flat terrain, the bike accelerates well, which is due to the lightweight rims and tires. The wheels with the NoTubes "Arch EX" tubeless ready rims also have a good balance between weight, stiffness and comfort. The acceleration factor also comes into play when chasing the Rocky Mountain through winding trails. However, it doesn't behave like a wild Mustang here, but can be maneuvered through the bends rather unobtrusively. This makes the "Instinct 970 MSL" feel comfortable and safe. However, inconspicuous does not mean that it is boring - on the contrary. If you start chasing it, it gives the rider a lot of riding fun. On descents, this trail bike can also keep up for a long time - certainly longer than the tires can. The Continental "Mountain King x 2.2" tires are good rubber for easy to medium tours. In more technical terrain and when you want to let it rip, however, they are the limiting factor and therefore don't quite do justice to the fun properties of this bike. This is because the "Instinct" allows you to tackle some difficult descents that you would otherwise rather tackle on an all-mountain bike.

Fine tuning recommended
The suspension setup is important. While the 130 millimeter Fox fork is set with 20 to 25 percent sag, the shock requires a little more time for adjustment. A central point here is the "ride9" system. In this system, the shock is supported on a square plate on the top tube. This has nine different positions with which the steering and seat angle can be changed by 1.63 degrees. But that's not all. Each position of the "ride9" system also changes the suspension characteristic of the shock absorber. If you set the steering angle to the most upright position at 69.3 degrees, the spring characteristic curve becomes linear. This also results in a higher breakaway torque. In the flat position, i.e. more downhill-oriented, the rear suspension behaves progressively, but more sensitively. Mounted in the central position, the "Instinct" has a steering angle of 68.5 degrees. In this position, the rear suspension's characteristic curve is still somewhat linear. This allows you to give the rear shock 22 to 23 percent negative suspension travel. Once the personal settings have been found, the 130 millimeters of travel work well and allow for a faster riding style. The L frame is certainly big enough for a rider 178 centimeters tall, but it is still easy to ride. A size M frame is therefore only recommended to a limited extent.

Conclusion: The Rocky Mountain "Instinct 970 MSL" is not the bike for everything, but it is one for a lot. Strong uphill and downhill and yet good-natured in character, it brings the rider a lot of riding fun and still offers safety reserves. The "Instinct 970 MSL" definitely does justice to a trail bike and even shows all-mountain ambitions. Even if the weight is not record-breakingly light, at just under 13 kilograms it is certainly impressive in its class.

Manufacturer:
www.bikes.com

Test report published in issue 01/2014 of Ride Magazine.