Building on the success of their 27.5″ Altitude series, Rocky Mountain is expanding their mid sized wheel offerings with the all new Thunderbolt. Built on 120mm of travel with an aluminum frame, the XC oriented Thunderbolt is geared towards a fun, playful ride that is still race capable.
Get the details on the Thunderbolt, next.
The Thunderbolt continues in Rocky’s Ride Tuned Concept meaning wheel size and suspension travel is all taken into consideration when designing a new bike. These factors have a big effect on the handling and performance of the bike which can require changes to the overall design to end up with the desired feel. Essentially, they’re not just taking an existing design and expanding or shrinking it to fit different wheels or travel.
Thunderbolt uses Rocky’s FORM 7005 aluminum tubing with an XC tuned Smoothlink suspension system to attain a stable pedaling platform that is still active when the trail points down – as it often does oustide Rocky’s HQ. Equipped with the latest frame features, the Thunderbolt is trail ready with a 142mm E-Thru rear, internal cable routing including stealth dropper, a BB92 pressfit bottom bracket, and Rocky’s ABC bushings for suspension pivots.
Four models of the Thunderbolt will initially be offered with the top end 770, 750, 730, and 710. The 770 above features Fox Float Dual Remote CTD suspension with a Shimano XT/XTR build including a Race Face Turbine 38/24 crank and Stan’s ZTR Crest Rims.
The 750 still offers Fox CTD suspension but loses the dual remotes and drops the drivetrain to a Shimano SLR/XT 3×10 build with Sun Ringle Inferno rims.
The Thunderbolt 730 drops the Fox front fork in favor of an X Fusion Velvet RL2 but keeps the Fox Float CTD rear shock. The drivetrain is mostly Shimno Deore with an XT rear direct mount derailleur (all of the Thunderbolts from here up use DM). Shimano Deore hubs are laced to Sun Ringle Inferno rims.
The 710 is the only bike to use a few different standards, with a standard 135mm QR rear wheel and non-direct mount rear derailleur. Suspension includes a Rockshox XC30 TK Solo air fork and Rockshox Monarch RL rear shock and the drivetrain uses SRAM X5/X7 parts for a 3×10 system.
To see more detailed spec, check out the Thunderbolt on Rocky’s site.
