Spot Bikes recently introduced the 3rd generation of its hardtail mountain bike, the Rocker 3. Spot tells us that it completely redesigned the carbon frame to improve its ride quality and enhance capability while maintaining the light weight and efficiency its predecessors were known for. Like the previous versions, the Rocker 3 is adaptable for different drivetrain configurations, including single-speed belt drive and geared setups. Let’s check it out.
Spot Rocker 3 Details
According to Spot, ride feel was one of the main priorities in the Rocker 3’s redesign. So, they set out to design a hardtail with the upsides of titanium and steel without the downsides, including heavier weight. They say that the new Rocker 3 has been designed from the ground up, and it “goes back in time to take its biggest leap forward.”
From the Archives
Spot says it pulled some of its favorite steel and titanium frames out of storage and put them on their testing equipment in an effort to quantify what makes metal bikes ride the way they do. According to Spot, “We recorded how the frames responded to loads in different directions: lateral, torsional, vertical compliance, pedaling stiffness, twist, and play. Where did they move, and how much? Where did they resist movement? We started putting numbers to ‘feel.’”
Metal Feel, Carbon Weight
Clearly, there is something they and many riders love about steel and titanium frames, and these tests allowed them to zero in on what gives them that unique ride feel and try to apply that to a carbon frame. Using advanced carbon modeling and precision layups, Spot says they were able to design and manipulate every part of the frame to their exact specifications to create the performance they were after.
Ultimately, they claim this approach makes it possible to “have our cake and eat it, too.” Spot says the “Rocker combines the response, precision, low weight, and vibration damping of carbon, with the forgiveness, traction, and natural movement we loved about our best hardtails.”
What’s Changed?
According to Spot, updates to the frame design include a smaller diameter downtube and a slimmer, lower top tube. These changes combine to reduce the stiffness of the front triangle, allowing it to twist, splay, and move more naturally beneath the rider.
At the back of the bike, Spot says its scalloped chainstay shape enhances vertical compliance and comfort while remaining laterally stiff. The seat stays get progressively thinner as they approach the seat tube, with a distinctive kinked shape that “gives them room to flex vertically.”
While those changes combine to increase frame compliance and forgiveness, they’ve done the opposite in other areas. Spot says to increase pedaling stiffness, material was added to the non-drive chainstay. That’s one of the advantages of working with carbon fiber: the ability to fine-tune the design and construction to create the desired performance characteristics.
Geometry
According to Spot, while redesigning the Rocker’s frame, they revisited and updated its geometry. They tell us that it is longer, lower, and slacker than its predecessor. It’s not a massive departure from the Rocker 2, but the head tube angle has relaxed from 67° to 66.4° (120mm fork), and reach measurements have grown by 5mm across all sizes — 475mm on a large frame. Bottom bracket drop has increased/lowered by 12mm to 62mm.
One of the biggest differences is in rear center lengths. They still offer 15mm of length adjustment, but the minimum and maximum lengths have been reduced by 12mm. Now, riders can choose between rear centers as short as 426mm, as long as 441mm, or anywhere in between. It comes in four frame sizes: S-XL.
Drivetrain Options
As with the two previous generations, the Rocker 3 is compatible with belt-drive singlespeed and geared drivetrain setups. The Rocker 3 has a new dropout design that allows for the aforementioned 15mm of rear center length adjustment. It features larger clamping screws for a more robust connection, as well as a locking tensioning system for enhanced axle security. Additionally, they say that removing the wheel won’t impact the chainstay adjustment, belt tension, or brake alignment.
Now, with the updated dropouts, Spot says the full range of chainstay adjustments is available to geared builds with a UDH dropout compatible with conventional derailleurs and SRAM Full Mount drivetrains. Of course, Spot Bikes has been evangelizing, innovating, and patenting belt-drive technology for years, and the Rocker 3’s adjustable dropouts still make it easy to tension a belt. But now, Spot has taken belt security and retention a step further with its Spotter system.
Spot Spotter
With the Rocker 3, Spot is also introducing the Spotter, a unique belt retention system. The Spotter is a small guide positioned below the belt at the rear sprocket. Under normal riding conditions, it sits just clear of the belt. In cases where the belt begins to climb away from the sprocket, such as during hard compressions, for example, the Spotter limits the belt’s movement and keeps it engaged.
Spot says the enhanced belt security of the Spotter allowed them greater freedom when designing the Rocker 3 to achieve their desired flex and compliance goals. Frame flex and belt retention are no longer mutually exclusive. Spot says that knowing the Spotter is there when needed also allows them to run smaller sprockets to maximize ground clearance. “By moving from a 46 x 28 combination to a more compact 42 x 26, we gain about 7mm while keeping the overall ratio nearly identical.”
Other Details
The Rocker 3 frame has a threaded 73mm bottom bracket shell. Cable routing is internal with guided sleeves for ease of maintenance and rattle-free riding. The drive side chainstay also features molded rubber protection to keep chain noise to a minimum. Additionally, they added ISCG tabs so riders can run a bash guard if desired.
Build Options
The Rocker 3 is available in two colors: Aspen Glow or Talus Grey. It can be purchased as a frameset, or in three complete builds in singlespeed or geared drivetrain configurations. The frameset goes for $2,999 and weighs a claimed 3.3 pounds in size medium.
Rocker 3 4-Star: Singlespeed – $4,099, Geared – $4,399
- Fork: RockShox SID Select, 120mm
- Drivetrain:
- Singlespeed: SRAM S1000 Eagle cranks, Gates CDX Centertrack / 42t front 26t rear
- Geared: SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission 12-speed
- Brakes: SRAM Motive V2 Bronze 4-piston, w/180/160mm HS2 rotors
- Wheels: DT Swiss M1900 Spline 29”
- Tires: Schwalbe Rick Evo, XC Pro, Speedgrip, 29”x2.4”
- Cockpit: Race Face Aeffect stem and Aeffect R handlebar
- Seatpost: Bike Yoke Revive
- Weight (size M):
- Singlespeed: 23.7 lbs
- Geared: 25.8 lbs
Rocker 3 5-Star: Singlespeed – $4,599, Geared – $4,899
- Fork: RockShox SID Ultimate, 120mm
- Drivetrain:
- Singlespeed: SRAM S1000 Eagle cranks, Gates CDX Centertrack / 42t front 26t rear
- Geared: SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission 12-speed
- Brakes: SRAM Motive V2 Bronze 4-piston, w/180/160mm HS2 rotors
- Wheels: DT Swiss XM 1700 29”
- Tires: Schwalbe Rick Evo, XC Pro, Speedgrip, 29”x2.4”
- Cockpit: Race Face Aeffect stem and OneUp Alloy handlebar
- Seatpost: Bike Yoke Revive
- Weight (size M):
- Singlespeed: 23.0 lbs
- Geared: 25.4 lbs
Rocker 3 6-Star: Singlespeed – $6.999, Geared – $7,299
- Fork: RockShox SID Ultimate, 120mm
- Drivetrain:
- Singlespeed: SRAM XX SL Eagle cranks, Gates CDX Centertrack / 42t front 26t rear
- Geared: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission 12-speed
- Brakes: SRAM Motive V2 Ultimate 4-piston, w/180/160mm CLX Centerlock rotors
- Wheels: Zipp 1ZERO HITOP SW 29”
- Tires: Schwalbe Rick Evo, XC Pro, Speedgrip, 29”x2.4”
- Cockpit: Race Face Aeffect stem and OneUp Carbon V2 handlebar
- Seatpost: RockShox Reverb AXS
- Weight (size M):
- Singlespeed: 21.1 lbs
- Geared: 22.6 lbs
Availability
The new Spot Rocker 3 is available to preorder now, with shipping starting in November. Head to the Spot website to learn more or place an order.
