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RIDE-9
2018 Instinct
This guide introduces the geometry and suspension of the
2018 Rocky Mountain Instinct. It describes each of the
bike’s RIDE-9™ positions, and provides setup information
for riders, mechanics, and suspension professionals.
™
Setup Guide
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
RIDE-9™ SYSTEM
02RIDE -9™ System / Se tup Tips / Term s
3
2
8
5
7
4
1
9
6
The RIDE-9™ adjustment system allows riders to quickly ne-tune their geometry
and suspension with a pair of Allen keys. Nine congurations are possible thanks to
two interlocking chips.
2018 Insti nct Ride-9™ c ongurat ion shown
SETUP TIPS
Suspension and geometry setup are complex art forms with huge variations in rider style, preference, terrain, and ability. We do recommend
the use of professional services, but we also believe that learning to dial in your own bike is the best way to fully understand its performance.
Adjust your RIDE-9™ position for geometry before considering suspension eects, or variables like air pressure and shock compression.
Make gradual, incremental changes, take notes, and be methodical. Don’t adjust in a hurry before a big ride. Take your time and enjoy
the process.
TERMS
Suspension Rise is the dierence between
how hard it is to move the suspension at the
beginning of travel and how hard it is to
move the suspension at the end of travel.
Higher suspension rise makes a bike
softer at the start of travel and rmer at
the end of travel; on the other hand, too
much suspension rise will cause a bike to
feel harsh. We measure suspension rise in
percent (eg. 40% is higher rise than 30%).
Suspension Progression is the function
that increases or “ramps up” the rate of
rise throughout the suspension curve.
More progression means the eects of
suspension rise will be felt further into the
travel. Suspension that’s too progressive
can cause the bike to wallow at sag, while
suspension that’s too linear can cause a
harsh feeling at sag or allow the bike to
approach bottom-out too quickly.
Low Ris ing RateHigh Rising Rate
Progressive Rising Rate Line ar Rising Ra te
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
TERMS (CONTINUED)
03Terms (Continued)
Bottom Bracket Drop (BBD) is how far below the height of the
axles your bottom bracket is. More bottom bracket drop means a
lower bottom bracket, which is critical in determining your centre
of gravity. More bottom bracket drop (lower bottom bracket)
makes cornering easier and increases the feeling of being “in”
the bike, while less bottom bracket drop (higher bottom bracket)
makes it easier to avoid pedal strikes.
Head Tube Angle (HTA) is the angle from the ground to the fork.
A slacker head tube angle allows the bike to plow over obstacles
more easily, while a steeper head tube angle makes the bike
respond faster to steering input.
Reach (R) is the horizontal distance measured from the bottom
bracket to the head tube. It determines how the bike ts while
the rider is standing up. Shorter reach makes the bike more agile
and playful. Longer reach provides a roomier cockpit.
Seat Tube Angle (STA) is the angle from the ground to the seat
tube, measured from bottom bracket to top of the extended
seatpost. Steeper seat tube angles put the rider in a more
powerful pedaling and climbing position, but too steep will
cause awkward pedaling and steering dynamics.
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
SUSPENSION INFORMATION
04Geometry Information / Suspension Information
GEOMETRY INFORMATION
The Instinct received a substantial geometry update for 2018, while retaining the
condence and handling that people loved about the previous generation. It’s slacker to
keep things stable, but uses a longer fork oset to keep steering dynamics precise.
We’ve shortened the rear centre, lengthened the reach slightly, and steepened
the seat-tube angle—allowing for shorter stems and wider bars without sacricing
a powerful pedaling position.
Riders Geof f Gulevi ch & Thoma s Vanderham
Photo Marg us Riga
Location Whistler, BC
We tuned our four-bar Smoothlink™ suspension to increase the Instinct's anti-squat values and maximize pedaling performance
without sacricing the traditional Rocky Mountain ride feel. It has a moderately progressive rate curve, and a rising rate that’s adjustable
between 20% and 50%.
2018 Instinct Suspension Curve — Slack, Neutral, and Steep RIDE-9™ Positions
0.500
0.480
0.460
0.440
0.42 0
0.400
Rate
0.380
0.360
Posit ion 1 (slack )
Posit ion 5 (neutr al)
Posit ion 9 (steep)
0.340
0.320
0.300
80 1006020 400
Tra vel
120 140 160
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
2018 INSTINCT RIDE-9™ POSITIONS
POSITION 1 POSITION 2 POSITION 3 POSITION 4 POSITION 5 POSITION 6 POSITION 7 POSITION 8 POSITION 9
Neutral SteepSlack
9
6
Suspension Rise
45.8%
3
8
5
2
7
4
1
Suspension Progression
Progressive
05RIDE-9™ Position 1
HTA STA STL TTH HTL RC BBD SH WB R S
S
M
L
XL
66° 74 .5° 392 576 95 436 36 8 16 11 54 408 607
66° 74 .5° 432 601 100 436 36 811 1179 432 611
66° 74 .5° 470 626 110 436 37 810 120 6 455 621
66° 74 .5° 508 656 12 0 436 36 809 12 37 482 630
HTA Head Tube A ngle (deg)
STA Seat Tube A ngle (deg)
STL Se at Tube Le ngth (mm)
TTH Top Tube H orizonta l (mm)
HTL He ad Tube Le ngth (mm)
RC Rea r Centre (mm)
BBD Bottom Br acket Drop ( mm)
WB Wheelba se (mm)
R Reac h (mm)
S Stac k (mm)
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
2018 INSTINCT RIDE-9™ POSITIONS
POSITION 1 POSITION 2 POSITION 3 POSITION 4 POSITION 5 POSITION 6 POSITION 7 POSITION 8 POSITION 9
Neutral SteepSlack
9
6
Suspension Rise
44.4%
3
8
5
2
7
4
1
Suspension Progression
Progressive
06RIDE-9™ Position 2
HTA STA STL TTH HTL RC BBD SH WB R S
S
66 .1° 74. 6° 392 576 95 436 35 816 115 4 409 606
M
66 .1° 74. 6° 432 6 01 10 0 436 35 8 12 1179 433 610
L
66 .1° 74. 6° 470 626 110 436 35 811 12 06 456 620
XL
66 .1° 74. 6° 508 656 120 436 35 810 1237 483 629
HTA Head Tube A ngle (deg)
STA Seat Tube A ngle (deg)
STL Se at Tube Le ngth (mm)
TTH Top Tube H orizonta l (mm)
HTL He ad Tube Le ngth (mm)
RC Rea r Centre (mm)
BBD Bottom Br acket Drop ( mm)
WB Wheelba se (mm)
R Reac h (mm)
S Stac k (mm)
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
2018 INSTINCT RIDE-9™ POSITIONS
POSITION 1 POSITION 2 POSITION 3 POSITION 4 POSITION 5 POSITION 6 POSITION 7 POSITION 8 POSITION 9
Neutral SteepSlack
9
6
Suspension Rise
42.4%
3
8
5
2
7
4
1
Suspension Progression
Progressive
07RIDE-9™ Position 3
HTA STA STL TTH HTL RC BBD SH WB R S
S
66.2° 74.7° 392 576 95 435 33 817 115 3 411 605
M
66.2° 74.7° 432 601 100 435 34 812 1179 434 610
L
66.2° 74.7° 470 626 11 0 435 34 811 12 06 457 619
XL
66.2° 74.7° 508 656 120 435 34 810 1237 484 628
HTA Head Tube A ngle (deg)
STA Seat Tube A ngle (deg)
STL Se at Tube Le ngth (mm)
TTH Top Tube H orizonta l (mm)
HTL He ad Tube Le ngth (mm)
RC Rea r Centre (mm)
BBD Bottom Br acket Drop ( mm)
WB Wheelba se (mm)
R Reac h (mm)
S Stac k (mm)
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
2018 INSTINCT RIDE-9™ POSITIONS
POSITION 1 POSITION 2 POSITION 3 POSITION 4 POSITION 5 POSITION 6 POSITION 7 POSITION 8 POSITION 9
Neutral SteepSlack
9
6
Suspension Rise
38.4%
3
8
5
2
7
4
1
Suspension Progression
Progressive
08RIDE-9™ Position 4
HTA STA STL TTH HTL RC BBD SH WB R S
S
66.4° 74. 9° 392 575 95 435 32 817 1153 412 604
M
66.4° 74. 9° 4 32 600 100 435 32 813 117 9 436 608
L
66.4° 74. 9° 470 625 110 435 32 812 12 06 458 618
XL
66.4° 74. 9° 508 655 120 435 32 8 11 1237 486 627
HTA Head Tube A ngle (deg)
STA Seat Tube A ngle (deg)
STL Se at Tube Le ngth (mm)
TTH Top Tube H orizonta l (mm)
HTL He ad Tube Le ngth (mm)
RC Rea r Centre (mm)
BBD Bottom Br acket Drop ( mm)
WB Wheelba se (mm)
R Reac h (mm)
S Stac k (mm)
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
2018 INSTINCT RIDE-9™ POSITIONS
POSITION 1 POSITION 2 POSITION 3 POSITION 4 POSITION 5 POSITION 6 POSITION 7 POSITION 8 POSITION 9
Neutral SteepSlack
9
6
Suspension Rise
36.4%
3
8
5
2
7
4
1
Suspension Progression
Progressive
09RIDE-9™ Position 5
HTA STA STL TTH HTL RC BBD SH WB R S
S
66.5° 75° 392 575 95 435 30 818 115 3 413 603
M
66.5° 75° 432 600 100 435 30 814 117 9 437 608
L
66.5° 75° 470 625 110 435 30 813 120 5 460 617
XL
66.5° 75° 508 655 120 435 30 8 12 1237 487 626
HTA Head Tube A ngle (deg)
STA Seat Tube A ngle (deg)
STL Se at Tube Le ngth (mm)
TTH Top Tube H orizonta l (mm)
HTL He ad Tube Le ngth (mm)
RC Rea r Centre (mm)
BBD Bottom Br acket Drop ( mm)
WB Wheelba se (mm)
R Reac h (mm)
S Stac k (mm)
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
2018 INSTINCT RIDE-9™ POSITIONS
POSITION 1 POSITION 2 POSITION 3 POSITION 4 POSITION 5 POSITION 6 POSITION 7 POSITION 8 POSITION 9
Neutral SteepSlack
9
6
Suspension Rise
34%
3
8
5
2
7
4
1
Suspension Progression
Progressive
10RIDE-9™ Position 6
HTA STA STL TTH HTL RC BBD SH WB R S
S
66.6° 75 .1° 3 92 575 95 435 28 818 115 3 415 602
M
66.6° 75 .1° 4 32 600 100 435 28 814 117 9 439 607
L
66.6° 75 .1° 470 625 110 435 28 813 120 5 461 616
XL
66.6° 75 .1° 508 655 120 435 28 812 12 37 489 625
HTA Head Tube A ngle (deg)
STA Seat Tube A ngle (deg)
STL Se at Tube Le ngth (mm)
TTH Top Tube H orizonta l (mm)
HTL He ad Tube Le ngth (mm)
RC Rea r Centre (mm)
BBD Bottom Br acket Drop ( mm)
WB Wheelba se (mm)
R Reac h (mm)
S Stac k (mm)
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
2018 INSTINCT RIDE-9™ POSITIONS
POSITION 1 POSITION 2 POSITION 3 POSITION 4 POSITION 5 POSITION 6 POSITION 7 POSITION 8 POSITION 9
Neutral SteepSlack
9
6
Suspension Rise
31.4%
3
8
5
2
7
4
1
Suspension Progression
Progressive
11RIDE-9™ Position 7
HTA STA STL TTH HTL RC BBD SH WB R S
S
66.7 ° 75.2 ° 392 574 95 435 27 819 115 3 416 601
M
66.7 ° 75.2 ° 4 32 599 100 435 27 815 1179 440 606
L
66.7 ° 75.2 ° 470 624 110 435 27 814 12 05 462 6 15
XL
66.7 ° 75.2 ° 508 654 120 435 27 813 123 7 490 624
HTA Head Tube A ngle (deg)
STA Seat Tube A ngle (deg)
STL Se at Tube Le ngth (mm)
TTH Top Tube H orizonta l (mm)
HTL He ad Tube Le ngth (mm)
RC Rea r Centre (mm)
BBD Bottom Br acket Drop ( mm)
WB Wheelba se (mm)
R Reac h (mm)
S Stac k (mm)
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
2018 INSTINCT RIDE-9™ POSITIONS
POSITION 1 POSITION 2 POSITION 3 POSITION 4 POSITION 5 POSITION 6 POSITION 7 POSITION 8 POSITION 9
Neutral SteepSlack
9
6
Suspension Rise
29.0%
3
8
5
2
7
4
1
Suspension Progression
Progressive
12RIDE-9™ Position 8
HTA STA STL TTH HTL RC BBD SH WB R S
S
66.9° 75.4° 392 574 95 434 25 819 115 3 417 600
M
66.9° 75.4° 432 599 10 0 434 25 815 1178 4 41 605
L
66.9° 75.4° 470 624 11 0 434 25 815 120 5 464 614
XL
66.9° 75.4° 508 654 120 434 25 814 123 7 491 623
HTA Head Tube A ngle (deg)
STA Seat Tube A ngle (deg)
STL Se at Tube Le ngth (mm)
TTH Top Tube H orizonta l (mm)
HTL He ad Tube Le ngth (mm)
RC Rea r Centre (mm)
BBD Bottom Br acket Drop ( mm)
WB W heelbase ( mm)
R Reac h (mm)
S Stac k (mm)
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RIDE-9™ Setup Guide: 2018 Instinct
2018 INSTINCT RIDE-9™ POSITIONS
POSITION 1 POSITION 2 POSITION 3 POSITION 4 POSITION 5 POSITION 6 POSITION 7 POSITION 8 POSITION 9
Neutral SteepSlack
9
6
Suspension Rise
26.3%
3
8
5
2
7
4
1
Suspension Progression
Progressive
13RIDE-9™ Position 9
HTA STA STL TTH HTL RC BBD SH WB R S
S
M
L
XL
67° 75.5 ° 392 574 95 434 23 820 1153 419 599
67° 75.5 ° 432 599 100 434 23 8 16 1178 443 604
67° 75.5 ° 470 624 110 434 23 815 120 5 465 613
67° 75.5 ° 508 654 12 0 434 23 815 1236 493 622
HTA Head Tube A ngle (deg)
STA Seat Tube A ngle (deg)
STL Se at Tube Le ngth (mm)
TTH Top Tube H orizonta l (mm)
HTL He ad Tube Le ngth (mm)
RC Rea r Centre (mm)
BBD Bottom Br acket Drop ( mm)
WB W heelbase ( mm)
R Reac h (mm)
S Stac k (mm)
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DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Rocky Mountain Bicycles
HEAD OFFICE
Rocky Mountain Bicycles
1225 East Keith Road, Unit #10
North Vancouver, BC Canada, V7J 1J3
T. 604-980-9938 F. 604-980-9975
Rock y Mountai n, its logo a nd other tra de names ar e registere d tradema rks.
Some te chnolog ies on Rock y Mountain p roducts ar e patented or p atent pend ing.
9095, 25th Avenue,
St-Georges, QC Canada, G6A 1A1
T. 1-800-663-2512 F. 1-800-570-8356
©Rocky Mountain Bicycles 2017
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