Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon 90 MTB (2023)

The Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon 90 is built for riders who want one bike that can confidently take on a wide range of trails.

The Instinct Carbon 90 is positioned as a versatile high-performance all-round trail bike.

It blends lightweight efficiency with the capability to tackle technical descents to long climbs.

At the heart of the Instinct Carbon 90 is Rocky Mountain’s Smoothwall™ carbon frame.

This premium carbon construction process uses precise resin management and advanced layup technique. This eliminates excess material, voids, and wrinkles - stuff that cheaper carbon frames.

The result is a stiff and lightweight frame. One that delivers a smooth ride feel while maintaining durability for demanding terrain.

Riders benefit from a frame that isn’t just light. It’s engineered for consistent performance and longevity.

The Instinct C90 is equipped with Shimano’s flagship XTR 12-speed drivetrain. Offering crisp, reliable shifting across a wide gear range for both steep ascents and fast-flowing descents.

Braking is handled by Shimano XTR 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. These provide consistent stopping power and modulation in all conditions.

Rocky Mountain pairs the drivetrain with a RaceFace ERA carbon crankset for efficient power transfer and RaceFace ARC 31 carbon rims.

These balance strength and low weight while offering precise handling on rough trails. Together, this setup provides a responsive and controlled ride. Whether climbing technical singletrack or descending rocky sections at speed.

Suspension performance comes from a Fox Factory package.

Up front, the Fox 36 Factory fork with FIT4 damper provides 150mm of travel, adjustable damping, and excellent sensitivity for trail feedback and control.

At the rear, the Fox Float X Factory shock delivers 140mm of travel, tuned for balance and traction.

This combination ensures the Instinct Carbon 90 remains composed across varied terrain, maintaining efficiency on climbs while offering the support and stability where needed for challenging descents.

The Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon 90 features the brand’s signature RIDE-9 adjustment system. This allows riders to fine-tune both geometry and suspension characteristics. Using two interlocking metal chips at the rear shock mount, riders can choose from nine different settings.

This system adjusts:

• Head Tube angle. Steeper for efficient climbing or slacker for more stability on descents.
• Bottom Bracket height. Higher for technical terrain with more clearance, or lower for increased cornering stability.
• Suspension. Can be tuned from more supportive and firm to plusher and more compliant depending on rider preference and terrain.

The benefit of RIDE-9 is that it effectively gives the Instinct Carbon 90 multiple personalities within one frame.

• Riders who primarily ride flowy singletrack can set it up for speed and agility (position 6 to position 9).
• While those tackling aggressive descents can dial in a more stable and forgiving geometry (position 4 to position 1).
• For those who want a balanced feel, Ride 9 can be kept in the neutral position - position 5.

For riders who like to explore different terrain, it adds versatility without needing a second bike.