Gear Review
Rocky Mountain Slayer SS 396 Bike
Slayer SS - More than a park bike
By justinsmeets2301420 July 26, 2010
I bought the Slayer SS because I needed to replace my DH bike, which was my only bike for all of the local trails here in Southern California. I needed a bike that is more all around, because most of the trails I ride, have to be pedaled up.
The Slayer SS is not really meant to be pedaled uphill, but it works. weight weenies won't be too happy with it's beefy frame, but it just makes you stronger. The one thing I'm going to change, is the crankset, and add a front derailleur. With a 36/24 up front this bike will be able to go anywhere. You won't be the fastest to the top, but it will go up, thanks to it's 74.7 degree seat tube angle, lock-out on the front fork, and pro-pedal on the DHX 4.0 rear shock.
The specs on this bike scream DH bike to me, more so than SS bike. The wheelbase is longer than my Iron Horse Sunday. The bottom bracket is slightly lower than my Sunday. The Chainstays are the same length, and the Head Angle is .5 degrees steeper.
Yes, it does have 6 inches of travel in the rear, but it feels like much more. The rear of this bike is so plush and smooth, that no other linkage compares. I was worried about the fork, because I've rear mixed reviews on it, but it was also amazing! I did use all of the travel up in mammoth, but I never felt it bottom out, and only had some trouble with high speed bumps, that can be fixed if I play with the settings a bit.
Jumps, drops, and steeps. This is where this bike excels! I was never a good jumper, but on this bike, I feel really comfortable hitting jumps. Drops are also not problem on this bike, and it's really easy to level the bike in the air if you get a little bit off, maybe because of the low center of gravity. Steep rock gardens can be easily navigated by the 66 degree head angle.
Some things that I disliked on this bike. I got a flat on my last run, in mammoth, so as I went to change it, I realized that the rear end is really strange. You almost have to remove the rear derailleur to remove the two bolts that hold the rear axle on. This took forever! So I will probably convert to stans tubeless and not worry about this anymore. Also, the interrupted seat tube didn't allow me to drop the seat as low as I would have like, so, I will probably upgrade to a KS seat dropper to make this my one and perfect bike.
The photo is a little dark, but it's the Flow drop at mammoth.
View Details: Rocky Mountain Slayer SS 396 Bike
Nailed It? 1 Yes
Tech Specs:
- Frame Material, Main Triangle:
- FORM 7005 Aluminum
- Frame Material, Rear Triangle/Swing Arm:
- Aluminum
- Seat stay Material:
- Aluminum
- Chain stay Material:
- Aluminum
- Suspension Linkage Material:
- Aluminum
- Pivot Type:
- Cartridge Bearing
- Rear Travel:
- 6in (152mm)
- Frame Travel Adjustments:
- N/A
- Suspension:
- LC2R
- Frame Geometry Adjustments:
- N/A
- Shock Included:
- FOX DHX 4.0 Custom Valved
- Spring rate:
- [S]450x2.37
- Headset:
- 1.5in reduced to 1.125
- Integrated Chain Guide:
- ISCG 05, welded tabs
- Accessory Cable Stop:
- Front derailleur
- Rear Axle:
- 150x12mm
- Fork:
- Marzocchi 55 TST 2
- Wheelset:
- Wheeltech disc super sealed hub, DT Champion, Mavic EN321 rims
- Front Derailleur:
- N/A
- Rear Derailleur:
- SRAM X9
- Shifters:
- SRAM X9
- Crankset:
- FSA GAP Mega Exo
- Teeth:
- 36T
- Crank Arm Length:
- 170-175mm
- Bottom Bracket:
- FSA Mega EXO
- Brake Levers:
- Formula Mega
- Brakes:
- Formula Mega hydraulic disc
- Rotors:
- 203mm/203mm
- Headset:
- FSA orbit Z 1.5 to 1-1/8
- Head Angle:
- 66 deg
- Handlebar:
- Race Face Evolve DH 31.8mm
- Handlebar Width:
- 685mm
- Handlebar Rise:
- 38mm rise
- Grips:
- Rocky Mountain Lock On
- Stem:
- Race Face Evolve DH 31.8
- Stem Length:
- 50mm
- Stem Angle:
- 6°
- Chain:
- SRAM PC951
- Chain Guide:
- FSA Gravity Guide
- Cassette:
- SRAM PG-950-9
- Range:
- 11-32T
- Tire Front:
- WTB Prowler MX
- Tire Front Size:
- 26 x 2.5in
- Tire Rear:
- WTB Dissent
- Tire Rear Size:
- 26 x 2.5in
- Tubes:
- Schrader
- Seatpost:
- Easton Havoc
- Seatpost Diameter:
- 30.9mm
- Seatpost Length:
- 380mm
- Saddle:
- WTB Pure V Race
- Seat Collar:
- Quick release
- Recommended Use:
- Slope Style, Free Ride, Jumping cheese burgers
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- 3 Years - limited
Change me.
1 Comments Last Reply: September 28, 2010 By: Dr. Roberts
I couldnt agree more. This thing is a bit rough to drag up a long climb, but it more than redeems itself when it's time to rip back down. Only change I made was putting on a SP Bicycles Gnar Bar. This really tied the whole ride together for the good confident grip and leverage you want on a DH - those and a pair of High Rollers.
Nailed It? 0 Yes