REVIEW: Rocky Mountain Instinct and Instinct Powerplay
In a similar vein to the least review, it’s time to cover the trail offering from another premier brand of ours – Rocky Mountain. And, for added fun, it’s a two-for-one with the E-bike version, the Instinct Powerplay.
Instinct
Rocky Mountain usually has been building their bikes on the more aggressive end of their categories. This was especially noticeable with the Element, which when it was refreshed in 2022 was one of the most aggressive XC bikes on the market, and in the years since, a lot of brands have followed, increasing travel and slacking headtube angles on their XC bikes. While on the Instinct RM was not the first, they went all in on the aggressive trail market, especially last year when they fully redesigned the Instinct.
The Instinct sits squarely in the aggressive trail bike category, boasting 150mm front and 140mm rear travel, a burlier downtube to take hits and keep rolling and updated geometry to keep it slack and progressive. This keeps it similar to what I said about the Stumpjumper, where it is short enough to climb but not too short to be rough on the downhills.
Speaking of climbing, the Instinct carries a trait that I have found in every RM bike I have ever ridden – It pedals incredibly well. RM does something right with their suspension to create just enough antisquat to make their bikes pedal well. Even on my daily driver, a 170/160 RM Altitude, it pedals just as well as the much shorter Stumpjumper.
But does this pedaling affect the downhill performance of the bike at all? Not really, as the Instinct is a great all arounder. I only had it for a short test day in Miners Park, but when I did, I found it to handle anything in there with ease and confidence. On trails such as Ridge or Penokee is when it really came alive, with the flowy rollers and small jumps being quite fun with the agility of the Instinct. Miners may not have much for rough rocks and roots, but the little in there was soaked up well by the Instinct, and I’m sure it can handle anything rough you would throw at it.
Overall, the Instinct is an all-around trail slayer that climbs great for its class but doesn’t compromise on the downhills.
Instinct Powerplay
Do you want a one-sentence summary for the powerplay? Take everything I said about the Instinct, add a few pounds, and make it climb even better. That’s basically what the Instinct Powerplay is. All the fun of the Instinct with a motor attached.
Climbing is almost irrelevant on the Powerplay. To be fair, that just a e-bike trait, but the climbs will disappear behind you without even thinking. It’s especially noticeable on the Powerplay, with the Powerplay E-bike system being one of the torquiest systems that I have ever ridden. It powers through climbs even with punchier climbs or roots.
Downhill is much more similar to the Instinct, with the extra weight keeping it more planted and locked into the trail, and with the low center of gravity it carries this even into corners and jumps. It does take more force to maneuver the bike, but again, that’s more of an E-bike trait than one specific to the Powerplay
Overall, the Instinct Powerplay is a great all around E-bike that takes the design of the Instinct and makes it climb even better. If weight is an issue for you, you’re in luck, as RM just launched the Instinct Powerplay SL, which I have not ridden, but slims down the E-bike systems and lightens up the frame for a more natural feeling bike.
Happy Adventuring!
-Peter
