Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL
Wheel Size: 27.5” (XS), 29” (S – XL)
Travel: 145 mm rear / 150 mm Front
Geometry Highlights:
- Sizes offered: Small, Medium, Large, XL
- Headtube angle: 64.0º (neutral geometry setting; adjustable between 63.5 and 64.2)
- Seat tube angle: 77° (neutral geometry setting)
- Reach: 480 mm (size Large, neutral geometry setting; adjustable +/- 5 mm via reach adjust headset)
- Chainstay length: XS: 430 mm, SM – MD: 440 mm, LG – XL: 450 mm
Drive System Highlights:
- Motor: Dyname S4 Lite
- Torque: 65 Nm
- Power: 550 W
- Battery: 480 Wh with optional 314 Wh range extender (Overtime Pack 2.0)
- Display: Rocky Mountain Jumbotron
- Remote: Rocky Mountain Micro Remote
Frame Material: Aluminum and carbon fiber versions available
Stated Weight: 43 lbs / 19.5 kg (size Large, C90 build)
Price: Complete bikes from $5,499 to $11,999
Intro
The light assist eMTB category has blown up this year, and you could argue Rocky Mountain is a bit late to the party, but Rocky Mountain doesn’t just pick an off-the-shelf motor when designing their eMTBs — they engineer and build their own, which takes time.
The Instinct Powerplay SL features the new Dyname S4 Lite drive system paired with geometry that looks very similar to the un-powered Instinct we recently reviewed (and really liked). Perhaps being late to the party gave Rocky Mountain time to let the dust settle, study the competition, and potentially come away with an advantage — we have an Instinct Powerplay SL on the way and can’t wait to find out.
The Frame
Aesthetically, the Instinct Powerplay SL looks very similar to the standard Instinct Powerplay. A keen eye may notice the slightly smaller footprint of the motor and lack of chainstay adjustment, but overall, they’re almost indistinguishable.
Many of the frame details of the Instinct Powerplay have carried over to the Instinct SL, like the Smoothlink Suspension System. Rocky Mountain labels it as a mid-high pivot design that features a horizontally mounted shock and their typical Horst-Link arrangement to achieve 145 mm of rear travel. Rocky Mountain hasn’t provided any suspension graphs, but they state riders can expect increased mid-stroke support and small bump compliance (presumably compared to the full-power version).
The Instinct Powerplay SL is available with either an aluminum or carbon fiber frame. On the carbon version, the front and rear triangles utilize Rocky Mountain’s proprietary “Smoothwall” carbon technology, while the Aluminum versions get their Form Alloy front and rear. All the frames have the familiar RIDE-4 adjustable geometry system and adjustable reach headset.
Rocky Mountain has equipped the Instinct Powerplay SL with a SRAM UDH, which adds the versatility to spec SRAM Transmission. The SRAM UDH makes it tricky to incorporate adjustable chainstays, which is likely why the Instinct Powerplay SL doesn’t have them. I really liked the adjustable chainstays on both the Instinct and Instinct Powerplay, so I’ll miss that adjustability.
That said, the Instinct Powerplay SL does have proportional chainstays with a 10 mm difference in lengths depending on the size (XS: 430 mm, S–M: 440 mm, L–XL: 450 mm).
Another interesting detail is that Rocky Mountain will offer a “mullet link” to convert the Instinct Powerplay SL to a mixed-wheel-size bike, something we haven’t seen on any of their other eMTBs. Although they are clear that it is primarily designed to have 29” wheels, it’s good to see a mullet option.
Other frame details include fully enclosed cable routing, a two-bolt removable battery, and water bottle mounts that can also be used to mount the Overtime Pack 2.0 range extender.
Drive System
Rocky Mountain designs and makes its own drive systems with some of the most powerful motors currently available. For example, their full-power Dyname 4.0 motor has a claimed 108 Nm of torque and 700 watts of peak power, and for reference, both Shimano (EP801) and Bosch (CX Line) are stated to deliver 85 Nm and 600 watts.
Following the trend of making powerful motors, I was expecting their new lightweight drive system to follow suit. And by the numbers, I’d say it has: the Dyname S4 Lite is stated to produce 550 watts and 65 Nm of Torque. And while that’s down 50 watts of peak power when compared to the category-leading Bosch SX motor, the Dyname S4 Lite’s 65 Nm bests the SX motor by 10 Nm in the torque department.
Rocky Mountain describes the Dyname S4 Lite as a low-rpm, high-efficiency motor, which aligns with how they describe their full-power drive systems. Due to some unique architecture, their motors are claimed to spin slower to produce a more natural feel than many of their competitors. Having spent quite a bit of time on the full-power Dyname 4.0 motor, I’d say it does feel slightly more natural than the Shimano EP801 or Bosch CX motors. In general, light-assist motors have an inherently more natural feel than full-power motors since they all require more rider input, so it will be interesting to see how the Dyname S4 Lite compares to the Bosch SX, Fazua Ride 60, and TQ HPR 50.
On paper, the Dyname S4 Lite looks very appealing. I think one of the biggest drawbacks to light-assist motors is their lower torque output (in comparison to full-power motors), and with 65 Nm on tap, the Dyname S4 Lite has the highest torque of any of the light-assist motors I’ve been on to date. The Bosch SX motor, for example, has the same peak power (600 watts) as the full-power CX motor, but doesn’t feel anywhere near as powerful due to its 55 Nm of torque, versus the 85 Nm the CX puts out. If the Dyname S4 Lite ends up having similar power delivery characteristics to the full-power Dyname 4.0 motor, in which it favors a lower cadence to produce power, and in conjunction with its category-leading 65 Nm of torque, it has the potential to really stand out.
I like Rocky Moutain’s Jumbotron integrated top tube display that comes on the Instinct Powerplay, and they use the same display for the Instinct Powerplay SL. It has a screen, is intuitive to use, and has all the information I’m looking for when riding an eMTB. I find minimalist displays like the Bosch System Controller or the Fazua Ride 60 display to be pretty good overall, but both require getting your phone out for crucial data like actual battery level, which I’m not fond of. Since none of Rocky Mountain’s eMTBs have app support, the Jumbotron handles all the customizing options as well as diagnostics — which has its pluses and minuses. Most notably there’s no capability to perform over-the-air updates, but on the plus side, it’s nice not to have to connect via an app to customize settings.
Fit & Geometry
The Instinct Powerplay SL is available in five sizes, XS, S, M, L, and XL. I’m pretty happy to see Rocky Mountain offering it in a size XS — eMTBs that size aren’t very common, mostly due to the packaging constraints of fitting a battery into the downtube of a tiny bike, so thumbs up to Rocky Mountain for making an eMTB for smaller riders. The size XS is available in 27.5” only, with geometry that is consistent with the rest of the size range.
Reach numbers start at 430 mm for the size XS, and go up 25 mm per size to 480 mm for the size Large. There is a bigger 30 mm jump up to 510 mm for the size XL — all within the normal range of what we’re used to seeing. At 6’ / 183 cm, and having spent time on a size Large un-powered Instinct (which has almost identical sizing and geometry), I can confidently say that the size Large Instinct Powerplay SL will also be a good fit for me. And if the reach is on the short or long side of your preference, there is +/- 5mm of adjustability from the headset.
Rocky Mountain’s RIDE-4 adjustable geometry system bakes in a ton of versatility. The RIDE-4 system changes to the head and seat tube angles are subtle, differing by .2º to .5º for each position — in the slackest position the head angle is 63.5º, and in the steepest, it is 64.2º, with the seat tube angles at 76.5º and 77.2º respectively.
The RIDE-4 system does affect other geometry numbers as well, and on the un-powered Instinct, I found the reach and bottom bracket drop to be the most noticeable. Being able to adjust the reach independently with the headset is a big plus since it helps keep the reach somewhat consistent when in different RIDE-4 settings.
One of the things that stood out for me on the Instinct Powerplay was the low bottom bracket in the slacker RIDE-4 positions (42 mm of drop, slack RIDE-4 position, size Large). Living in a rocky area, crank clearance is a big consideration, and the Instinct Powerplay was challenging to ride in the slackest position due to constantly hitting the cranks.
On paper, the Instinct Powerplay SL has a slightly higher bottom bracket (39 mm of drop, slack RIDE-4 position, size Large) — millimeters matter, and the Instinct Powerplay SL in the slackest position has the same bottom bracket drop that the Instinct Powerplay has in position 2 (second slackest position). On the Instinct Powerplay, there was a noticeable difference in crank strikes between RIDE-4 positions 1 (slackest) and 2, so I’m optimistic the Instinct Powerplay SL will fare better in rocky terrain.
The Builds
Rocky Mountain offers the Instinct Powerplay SL in six build levels between the aluminum and carbon models. All the builds have the same Dyname S4 motor and 480 Wh battery, and Rocky Mountain also keeps things consistent with the same display and remote across the range — it’s nice to see Rocky Mountain not cutting any corners there.
Not surprisingly, since the new frame now incorporates a UDH (and is the first Rocky Mountain eMTB to do so), three of the builds feature SRAM Transmission drivetrains. Historically, Rocky Mountain has favored Shimano parts for its eMTBs, and the Instinct Powerplay SL is their first eMTB to have builds with SRAM drivetrains and brakes. I think this is a good move for Rocky Mountain, given how good SRAM Transmissions have proven to be at shifting gears under the additional loads of eMTB motors.
Overall the builds have a nice variety of options. The Alloy 30 build at $5,499 offers an affordable entry into light-assist eMTBs, and at the other end of the spectrum, the Carbon 90 build should leave little in need of upgrading. I think the $7,999 Carbon 50 would be my pick for best overall value — it has a solid spec with an XT drivetrain and brakes, along with a RockShox Lyrik Select fork and Super Deluxe Select+ rear shock.
- Frame: Aluminum
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 12spd
- Motor: Rocky Mountain Dyname S4 Lite
- Battery: 480 Wh
- Fork: RockShox Psylo Gold RC (150 mm)
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+
- Brakes: Shimano MT4120 4 Piston with 203 mm rotors
- Wheels: WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0 rims w/ Shimano TC500 hubs
- Dropper Post: X Fusion Manic Composite (Size XS – S: 125mm; M: 150 mm; L: 170 mm; XL: 200 mm)
- Frame: Aluminum
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT
- Motor: Rocky Mountain Dyname S4 Lite
- Battery: 480 Wh
- Fork: RockShox Lyrik Select (150 mm)
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select
- Brakes: Shimano MT6120 4 Piston with 203 mm rotors
- Wheels: WTB KOM Team i30 TCS 2.0 rims w/ Novatec MTB SL rear and Rocky Mountain SL front hubs
- Dropper Post: X Fusion Manic Composite (Size XS – S: 125mm; M: 150 mm; L: 170 mm; XL: 200 mm)
- Frame: Aluminum
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Transmission
- Motor: Rocky Mountain Dyname S4 Lite
- Battery: 480 Wh
- Fork: RockShox Lyrik Select+ (150 mm)
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+
- Brakes: SRAM Code Bronze Stealth with 200 mm rotors
- Wheels: Race Face AR 30 rims w/ DT 370 rear and Rocky Mountain SL front hubs
- Dropper Post: OneUp V3 (Size S: 120mm; M: 150 mm; L: 180 mm; XL: 210 mm)
- Frame: Carbon
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT
- Motor: Rocky Mountain Dyname S4 Lite
- Battery: 480 Wh
- Fork: RockShox Lyrik Select (150 mm)
- Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
- Brakes: Shimano XT Trail 4 Piston with 203 mm rotors
- Wheels: WTB KOM Team i30 TCS 2.0 rims w/ Novatec MTB SL Pro rear and Rocky Mountain SL front hubs
- Dropper Post: X Fusion Manic (Size XS – S: 125mm; M: 150 mm; L: 170 mm; XL: 200 mm)
- Frame: Carbon
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Transmission
- Motor: Rocky Mountain Dyname S4 Lite
- Battery: 480 Wh
- Fork: Fox 36 Float EVOL GRIP X Performance Elite (150 mm)
- Shock: Fox Float X Performance Elite
- Brakes: SRAM Code Silver Stealth with 200 mm rotors
- Dropper Post: Fox Transfer Performance Elite (Size XS – S: 120mm; M: 150 mm; L: 180 mm; XL: 210 mm)
- Frame: Carbon
- Drivetrain: SRAM XO Transmission
- Motor: Rocky Mountain Dyname S4 Lite
- Battery: 480 Wh
- Fork: Fox 36 Float EVOL GRIP X2 Factory (150 mm)
- Shock: Fox Float X Factory
- Brakes: SRAM Code Ultimate with 200 mm rotors
- Wheels: RaceFace ERA Carbon
- Dropper Post: Fox Transfer Factory (Size XS – S: 120mm; M: 150 mm; L: 180 mm; XL: 210 mm)
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) The new Dyname S4 Lite motor looks like a winner on paper, but how will it stack up to the competition once we get it on the trail?
(2) Will the lack of chainstay adjustability make the Instinct Powerplay SL a little less versatile than the Instinct Powerplay, or will the proportional chainstays make up for it?
(3) How will the Instinct Powerplay SL’s range compare to eMTB’s running the Fazua Ride 60 drive system, like the Santa Cruz Heckler SL or Pivot Shuttle SL?
Bottom Line (For Now)
I admittedly get a wee bit excited about new eMTB motors, and the Dyname S4 Lite in the Powerplay SL has me buzzing with anticipation. On paper, the new drive system looks like it will be very competitive, but on top of that, Rocky Mountain has adopted nearly identical geometry to the un-powered Instinct, which is one of my favorite bikes of this year. Let’s just put it this way: the Powerplay SL can’t get here soon enough. Stay tuned for much more on it very soon.
Just stopped in to let y’all know that peak power on the S4 lite is measured at 80rpm cadence. The claimed peak power on the Bosch SX is somewhere up in the 110-120 rpm range.
Signed,
Alex the product guy