Rocky Mountain Instinct: suspension setup & specs
The Rocky Mountain Instinct is a trail bike with 160 mm of fork travel and 145 mm at the rear. Below you will find all 4 current builds with fork, shock and shock size, plus SAG values in millimetres and a tyre pressure table.
Calculate the setup for your Rocky Mountain Instinct →
All builds
Fork, shock, shock size (eye-to-eye length × stroke) and rear travel, weight and price according to the manufacturer. Wheel size: 29.
| Build | Fork | Shock | Shock size | Rear travel | Weight | RRP | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alloy 30 | RockShox Psylo Gold RC (160 mm) | RockShox Deluxe Select+ | – | 145 mm | – | – | Setup → |
| Alloy 50 | RockShox Lyrik Select (160 mm) | RockShox Super Deluxe Select | – | 145 mm | – | – | Setup → |
| Carbon 50 | RockShox Lyrik Select (160 mm) | RockShox Super Deluxe Select | – | 145 mm | – | – | Setup → |
| Carbon 70 | FOX 36 Float EVOL GRIP X Factory Series (160 mm) | FOX Float X Factory | – | 145 mm | – | – | Setup → |
How it compares
With 160 mm at the fork, the Rocky Mountain Instinct sits above average: across the 44 bikes in the “trail bike” category in our database, the median is 140 mm. The rear offers 145 mm, 15 mm less than the front. Within Rocky Mountain’s mountain bikes, it sits between the Rocky Mountain Element and the Rocky Mountain Altitude on travel. The frame is made of carbon.
Depending on the build, fork and shock come from FOX and RockShox. In total, 3 different forks are used, from the RockShox Psylo Gold RC to the FOX 36 Float EVOL GRIP X Factory Series.
Setup notes for this spec
- Fork (RockShox Psylo Gold RC): air goes in through the valve on top of the left leg. After every change, compress the fork firmly a few times before measuring SAG.
- Rebound: turn the red FOX and RockShox adjuster fully closed first and count clicks from there – that way you can note settings and restore them later.
- Shock (RockShox Deluxe Select+): get on the bike in your normal riding position, step off carefully and read the O-ring. Always cycle the shock a few times after pumping.
Target SAG for the Rocky Mountain Instinct
SAG is the share of travel your weight already uses in the riding position. The table gives it straight in millimetres – read the O-ring on the stanchion and on the shock shaft and adjust the air pressure until it matches. Any figures from Rocky Mountain take priority.
160 mm fork (all builds)
| Riding style | Fork SAG |
|---|---|
| XC / touring | 17 % = 27 mm |
| Trail | 20 % = 32 mm |
| Enduro / rough | 22 % = 35 mm |
| Bike park | 20 % = 32 mm |
How to measure SAG is explained in our guide SAG setup.
Tyre pressure starting values
For 2.50″ wide tyres, tubeless with a trail casing. With an inner tube about 0.2 bar (2.9 psi) more, with an insert about 0.1 bar (1.5 psi) less. Stock tyres: F: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 WT 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ Tubeless Ready | R: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 WT 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ Tubeless Ready; F: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 WT EXO Tubeless Ready | R: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 WT EXO Tubeless Ready.
| Ready-to-ride weight | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 1.43 bar (21 psi) | 1.63 bar (24 psi) |
| 70 kg | 1.55 bar (22 psi) | 1.75 bar (25 psi) |
| 80 kg | 1.67 bar (24 psi) | 1.87 bar (27 psi) |
| 90 kg | 1.79 bar (26 psi) | 1.99 bar (29 psi) |
| 100 kg | 1.91 bar (28 psi) | 2.11 bar (31 psi) |
| 110 kg | 2.03 bar (29 psi) | 2.23 bar (32 psi) |
| 120 kg | 2.15 bar (31 psi) | 2.35 bar (34 psi) |
Air pressure in the fork and shock
The sticker on the fork (or on the shock) and the manufacturers’ setup charts give you a first pressure. Our calculator is more precise and suggests rebound too – always check the result via SAG.