The Rocky Mountain MSL is a plush and configurable 130 mm travel 29er.

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Wade Simmons riding down a rock wall in the North Shore, BC. All photos by Margus Riga and Brendon Purdy.

Rocky Mountain invited us over to their new headquarters in North Vancouver, British Columbia to check out the Instinct MSL, a 130mm travel carbon 29er. The aluminum version has been out for a few months and it has been a sleeper hit. Now Rocky has gone all out with a carbon frame that is available in many builds, ranging from a 25lb Instinct MSL 999 to the 950 MSL at 28.2 lbs, but at an affordable $3999. They also made a very special build called the BC Edition which is a spec close to what many of their employees ride in the North Shore trails

Instinct MSL Overview

  • 130mm travel Rear
  • Ride 9 Adjustable geometry and suspension rate
  • Smoothwall carbon monocoque front triangle,
  • Weight: 25 lbs for Instinct 999 and 30lbs for Instinct 950 (claimed)
  • Price: $7599 for Instinct 999 and $3999 for Instinct 950
  • ISCG-05 tabs
  • 142x12mm thru-axle
  • Internal cable routing
  • Many different configurations available including the BC Editions for All Mountain duty
  • 29 inch wheels
  • Availability: Late October
Video: Product Overview of the Instinct MSL by Rocky Mountain

The claimed weight for a medium Instinct MSL frame is 5.18lb which is 1.2lbs lighter than the full aluminum Instinct frame. The frame weight is heavier by approximately .27 lbs for the 970 BC Edition and 950, both of which share the same carbon front triangles as the 999 and the 970, but come with aluminum rear ends to lower the frame price and improve the components for All Mountain duty in the case of the BC Edition. Rocky Mountain claims the carbon version of this frame is notably stiffer than the aluminum version.

BC Edition.

Ride-9 System

Ride-9 is the moveable front pivot location of the frame shock mount. It features 9 locations that will change the response rate of the shock, change the head angle and also the bottom bracket height. Here is the logic behind the system according to Rocky Mountain.

To help the end-user understand the nine various configurations allowed by the Ride-9 system, Rocky Mountain has created a microsite that explains each of the settings. The user can move the a slider around the screen to visualize how the various metrics like head angle and bottom bracket height are affected. Check the Ride-9 site here.


Photo: Steepest Setting on the Ride-9



Photo: Slackest Setting on the Ride-9


"By moving the shock forward, the geometry slackens and the suspension rate becomes more progressive, giving greater bottom out resistance for aggressive downhill trail riding. When you move the shock backwards, the geometry becomes quicker and the suspension more supple, for ripping around on technical singletrack and better climbing traction.

When you move the shock upwards, it requires a higher air pressure to support the rider at sag. This is beneficial to lighter riders, allowing them to run 'in the sweet spot' of the shock, and not wind up with an under-pressurized shock, which feels overly harsh. Conversely, when you move the shock downwards, a heavier rider won't need as much air pressure, increasing shock and seal durability, and keeps the damping range usable."



Morgan Manualling Up a Root.

SmoothLink Suspension

The suspension used by Rocky Mountain on the Instinct is called Smoothlink. It is similar to the Horst Link but with subtle differences. Unlike the Horst Link uses a pivot mounted to the chainstays, below and in front of the rear axle, the SmoothLink suspension uses pivots that are located 10 mm above the rear axle. Where the Horst Link seems to have pedal-induced suspension bob, the SmoothLink appears to have very little.

Rocky Mountain said this pivot location is their preferred location for creating a suspension that is fully-active under pedaling and braking. This allows the suspension to not stiffen under pedaling and and is more active during braking.



Ruben Salzgeber In The Seymour Mountain Forest.

Continue reading for more information, specs and the full photo gallery.



Francis on Instinct MSL.[/TD]

Bottom Line

In our short but very technical test ride of the Instinct MSL, everyone seemed impressed. The bike is full-on dialed for the North Shore BC trails as the local legends showed us what the bike was capable off... if we had the skills.


Video: Ruben and Wade take the Instinct down a slick rock wall.

But the revelation of the day is how the bike seemed to allow all the riders in our group to have fun in challenging and unfamiliar terrain. As soon as the brakes bedded in and we learned to trust the bike, we were able to generate speed and flow where none seemed to exist. The bike was fully active under power and under braking as the bike kept us upright on a series of slick rocks, roots and drops. The Reverb posts and Conti tires did their job and everyone had fun pushing their limits.

I rode the Instinct 999 in fully neutral Ride-9 shock position and I rode comfortably in seemingly challenging terrain. Get me on that BC Edition bike on slack Ride-9 mode and I bet there will be a few more high-fives at the bottom of the hill.

The Instinct MSL models



Instinct 999 MSL

  • Drivetrain: SRAM XX1 with RaceFace Next SL crankset, 30t XX1 chainring
  • Front suspension: 130mm-travel Fox 32 Float FIT CTD with Kashima coating
  • Rear suspension: Fox Float CTD with Kashima coating and handlebar-mounted remote
  • Brakes: SRAM XO brakes with 180mm rotors
  • Wheelset: Stan's Notubes Arch EX rims laced to Stan's 3.30 hubs
  • Tires: Continental Mountain King 29x2.2
  • Cockpit: RaceFace SixC Carbon handlebar (750mm), RaceFace Turbine stem, RockShox Stealth Reverb seatpost, WTB Silverado Race SLT saddle
  • Price: $7,599 (complete),$2,999 (frame w/shock)
  • Claimed weight: 25.5lb (



Instinct 970 MSL
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XT shifters and rear derailleur, SRAM XO front derailleur, Shimano HG-81 cassette, Race Face Turbine (36/22t) crankset
  • Front suspension: 130mm-travel Fox 32 Float FIT CTD
  • Rear suspension: Fox Float CTD with handlebar-mounted remote
  • Brakes: Shimano XT with 180mm rotors
  • Wheelset: Stan's Notubes Arch EX rims laced to Shimano XT Center Lock hubs
  • Tires: Continental Mountain King 29x2.2
  • Cockpit: Race Face Turbine handlebar (750mm), Race Face Turbine stem, RockShox Stealth Reverb seatpost, WTB Silverado Race SL saddle
  • Price: $5,399
  • Claimed weight: 27.7lb



Instinct 970 MSL BC Edition
  • Drivetrain: SRAM X9 shifters and rear derailleur, SRAM X7 front derailleur, Shimano HG-81 cassette,Race Face Turbine (36/22t) crankset with bashguard, Blackspire Stinger chainguide
  • Front suspension: 140mm-travel Fox 34 Float FIT CTD with Kashima coating
  • Rear suspension: Fox Float CTD with custom "BC valving" for increased progressivity
  • Brakes: SRAM XO Trail with 180mm rotors
  • Wheelset: Stan's NoTubes Flow EX rims laced to SRAM X9 hubs
  • Tires: Continental Mountain King 29x2.4
  • Cockpit: Race Face Turbine handlebar (785mm),Race Face Turbine stem, RockShox Stealth Reverb seatpost, WTB Silverado Race SL saddle
  • Price: $5,399
  • Claimed weight: 30.2lb



Instinct 950 MSL
  • Drivetrain: SRAM X7 shifters, SRAM X9 rear derailleur, SRAM X7 front derailleur, SRAM PG-1030 cassette, Race Face Turbine (36/22t) crankset
  • Front suspension: 130mm-travel Fox 32 Float CTD (open bath)
  • Rear suspension: Fox Float CTD
  • Brakes: Avid Elixir 7 with 180mm rotors
  • Wheelset: SUNringle Inferno 25
  • Tires: Continental Mountain King 29x2.2 (front), Continental Race X King 29x2.2 (rear)
  • Cockpit: Race Face Turbine handlebar (750mm), Race Face Turbine stem, Race Face Turbine seatpost, Rocky Mountain XC Light
  • Price: $3,999
  • Claimed weight: 28.2lb
Photos by Margus Riga and Brendon Purdy.