We admit that when we signed up for the BC Bike Race we had motives other than spending a week riding some of the most beautiful singletrack in the world. There’s no greater way to test a bike than to race it in a seven-day stage race through some of the most varied terrain one could imagine. We showed up in Vancouver, British Columbia, the day before the race with nothing more than a bag of clothes and found the Rocky Mountain Instinct 990 MSL BC Edition waiting for us, dialed in and ready to ride. What better way to take on the BC Bike Race than on a BC Edition trail slayer?
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
The Instinct BC Edition is designed for aggressive trail riders, but there are many ways to interpret such a description. It’ll certainly take on aggressive trails with ease, but, more importantly, it’s for riders who are constantly active and working every part of their bodies to drive the bike how and where they want it. It’s for riders who never allow their elbows to extend past 90 degrees and always seem to have their noses on the stem of the bike. Riders who push their bikes through corners with power will enjoy the bike more than those who float through the tops of berms. Essentially, it’s a trailbike for “aggro” riders who have an obsession with pedaling but let their hard-charging downhill spirit shine on the descents.
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE?
The Instinct 990 MSL BC Edition is a bike that dedicated and aggressive trail (or all-mountain) riders will likely see as the perfect build spec. The Shimano XT brakes, RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost, 760-millimeter-wide Race Face Next handlebars, SRAM X01 drivetrain and RockShox Pike RCT3 fork all make it very apparent the bike is spec’d for riders who want performance components that still retain their durability. The Ride-9 technology allows riders to dial in their preferred geometry via nine different configurations of the RockShox Monarch RT3 Debonair shock.
WHERE DOES IT EXCEL?
While the bike isn’t built for climbing by any means, we didn’t feel bogged down on ascents. We just stayed seated and put in our time. We never used the Lock mode on the shock and instead left it in Pedal mode for all climbs and short descents. The 29 inch wheels power over unruly terrain and maintain momentum to keep the front tire from hanging up on even the bluntest obstacles. This is incredibly important, as the Instinct BC Edition is a bike that tends to keep the front tire on the ground at high speeds through rough terrain.
The additional 10-millimeters of travel provided by the BC Edition’s fork was a welcome upgrade when smashing through rooty sections of trail. While the technical terrain of the BC Bike Race is not representative of the average race, we know a bike is allowing us to ride at our limit when we’re consistently using all 140-millimeters of fork travel during a cross-country event.
Bottom line:
It inspired confidence and kept us in control at ripping speeds. Our advice? Let go of the brakes. Take aim at your favorite lines and allow the Instinct BC Edition to tear through them while you tuck into your fastest attack position.
WHERE DID WE WANT MORE?
This is not a nimble bike and should not be ridden as if it were. Because of the relatively long 17.8-inch chainstays for a bike in this category, it often felt like a monster truck barreling down the trail. It loved being pointed in a straight line and wouldn’t stop, regardless of what was thrown in its path, but it was a handful to maneuver through tight sections of trail.
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
While we have never loved the WTB Silverado saddle, the smooth, shiny top of this custom version had us sliding all over the place, which further eroded our opinion. We replaced it with a WTB Volt Carbon for the entirety of the BC Bike Race and were able to steer clear of any overly personal visits to the medical tent.
The Instinct In Action
BUYING ADVICE
We’d suggest the BC Edition of the Instinct over its traditional counterpart for anybody who lives in an area with rocky or steep terrain. It’s often difficult finding a bike spec’d ready to ride right off the showroom floor, so we recommend swapping out some of the more personal contact points with the bike and then riding the Instinct 990 MSL BC Edition for years to come.
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO GET MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
Mountain Bike Action is a monthly magazine devoted to all things mountain biking (yes, that’s 12 times a year because we never take a month off of mountain biking). It has been around since 1986 and we’re still having fun. Start a subscription by clicking here or calling (800) 767-0345. Available from the Apple Newsstand for reading on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.
Contact us via email at mbaction@hi-torque.com
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