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05/11/2008
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2006 Rocky Mountain Switch 2.0
A bike for every occasion?
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Words by Corey Anderson
Photographs by Cam McRae
The Switch
has been in the Rocky Mountain stable for several years. This model
has always borrowed some design aspects that put the RM series bikes on
the map, and put them into a smaller package with a wider application.
When the RMX bike was released replacing the RM-7, the Switch
fell into its shadow and really wasn't able to keep pace with the development
of the larger bike.
Two years later, the Canucks at Rocky Mountain have released a completely redesigned
Switch that was built to have more of the big hit capabilities of the larger RMX bikes,
but in a smaller more versatile package. The 2006 Switch
takes what made the previous years' bikes successful, and put it all on steroids
to create a brand new rig that can get 'er done whether you're into epic all mountain rides,
stomping your favourite drop, grinding out a tech climb or even ripping
your favourite DH track.
Undressing the Switch
Johnny Rock-On at RMB was nice enough to slide an 18" (medium) Switch 2.0
out the back door for us at NSMB.com to play with. I was given the opportunity
to be the test pilot and I jumped at the opportunity to throw a leg over. The Switch 2.0 is the middle trim level model, sporting a competitive build
at a price point that won't leave you at home by yourself every Friday
night playing video games. Up front you'll find a 170mm (6.7 inch) Marzocchi
66VF single crown fork featuring the new lowers and flat crown
to bring the ride height down. Rear suspension travel is
a full 7 inches, and is handled by the Fox
DHX 4.0 shock. Race Face
X-Type Evolve DH cranks help you put the power down, and the bike rolls on stealth
black Mavic 325 disc rims.
Traction is handled by Marzocchi's Bomber 2.6" FR/DH tires and Hayes
HFX-9s regulate your speed. The drivetrain uses a Shimano
XT rear and LX front derailleur and the cockpit is outfitted with a Race Face Evolve DH
Stem, bar and seat post.
Ready and willing. |
What's New?
Rocky Mountain makes all of their high-end frames right here in BC. Their attention
to detail is un-paralleled, and the new Switch is no exception. The burly new
frame uses Easton 7005 FS RAD tubing and Rocky's own patented RAD tube juncture
technique that ensures a precise fit and geometry throughout the production
process. The frame is powder coated in a flat army green with clean, small silver
decals, and a retro Fro-Rider decal that conjures visions of Simmons and Tippie
rocking Afro wigs and Rocky hockey jerseys. Classic. Each weld is clean and
has the consistency of a stack of shiny dimes. All of the installation points
on the frame are both faced and chased as a final manufacturing step to ensure
a smooth, stress free build - something rarely found on bikes built overseas.
| For the 2006 bike, several key
things have changed. The top tube now has a bend in it to increase stand-over
height for shorter riders, and to allow greater manoeuvrability. Rocky has
completely boxed in the shock mount area of the frame, and added a new gusset
connecting this portion of the frame to the top tube creating an even stronger
front triangle than previous models. The rear end is where the most significant
changes have been made. The boxed tubing size in the rear triangle has been
significantly increased, and is now using 12mm thru axle drop-outs. All
of the pivots |
An all new rear end. |
have been widened and rotate on outboard sealed cartridge bearings. The shock
linkage is beautifully machined, twice as burly as previous models, and it drives
a longer stroke shock bringing the compression ratio down for a more supple and
tunable ride.
The end result of the improvements is a rock solid rear end and a frame package
that is built to take some serious abuse. The new-look 06 Switch waxes the old
cross-country-hybrid look of previous Switch models.
Put on your party shirt…
I was stoked that the Switch 2.0 came with a dual ring set up. I've been feeling
a tad guilty after a summer spent riding on chairlifts and in the back of pick-ups
and I was looking forward to earning my vertical. Before I took the Switch out,
I spent some time setting it up for my weight and riding style. It's essential
to take the time to get the bike dialled in for your own personal use, and to
learn what you are able to do with it. If it is something you are uneasy about,
your shop will be more than happy to share their knowledge with you and send
you out the door ready to enjoy your first ride. Otherwise you'll be skipping
down the trail over-sprung, or riding on eggshells because it bottoms out every
time you open your mouth.
Strength and grace
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One of the first things I was
able to appreciate about the Switch was the ease of set up. I'm an average
size guy at 5'11" and 180 pounds. I started with the Marzocchi 66VF
fork, which uses coil springs and an air preload feature. This fork uses
an adapter that lets you use a regular tire pump to adjust the preload.
Lower pressure makes for a more compliant fork, and more air will let you
firm the fork up for more aggressive riding and jumping. Riders across the
weight spectrum will love how much simple adjustment they have at their
fingertips, and appreciate not having to sort out spring rates. |
The Fox DHX 4.0 on this bike comes stock with a 550 x 2.35" spring. After
some fiddling, I found that 115psi worked best for my weight and riding style,
with one turn of preload on the coil spring, and the pro-pedal adjustment 5
clicks clockwise from wide open. I set the rebound at 8 clicks clockwise from
wide open. These simple adjustments done in the garage were a great starting
point and got me on the trail on a bike that was set up correctly and ready
for some abuse.
The Gloves are off…
The first ride I did was minutes from my backyard, up Eagle Mountain in Port
Moody. This is a ride I usually push my DH bike up, but on the Switch I was
able to drop a few gears and pedal all of the rideable sections of the climb.
First impressions are everything. I noticed several things about the Switch
in those first few hours that really defined how it would ride over the next
several months. The cockpit of the Switch feels more upright in the rear and
lower in the front, which puts you into a good climbing position. It also has
a shorter cockpit than a dedicated cross-country bike the same size would have,
which makes sense given the intended aggression level this bike is made for.
Swapping to a slightly longer stem would stretch things out if the short feel
is of concern, or if you plan to do a moderate amount of longer epic type rides.
On long grinds, you have a lot of time to think about what the bike is doing,
and the suspension on the Switch stood out almost immediately. The beefed up
rear end mated to the DHX 4.0 shock make for a very solid, firm pedalling bike.
Suspension bob when seated is filtered out almost completely, making it easy
to forget that you are pedalling a 7" travel bike. The air preload on the
66 VF keeps it firm and doesn't waste your energy by bobbing through its travel.
The Switch blending into the forest. |
As much as I like a good workout, I admit I was much more excited to turn the
bike around at the top and point it down. The first few minutes on a new bike
on hairy terrain get you familiar with it pretty quickly, and the Switch is
an easy bike to get comfortable on. The dropped top tube gives it a nice, flick-able
feel, and loads of stand-over height always inspires confidence. The 67 degree
head angle strikes a comfortable balance, being slack enough to point it at
the steeps and to track well at speed, yet steep enough to give you snappy handling
and tight cornering. Punishing the bike through tight, steep, rocky and root
strewn old-school terrain highlights the stiffness of the frame, particularly
the rear end, and how much the single crown 66 feels like it's big brother,
the 888.
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Beyond the First Round…
I made a point of stretching my riding on the Switch across as many ride
types as I could to take advantage of it's flexibility. I have taken the
bike on cross country rides, where I've taken full advantage of the double-ring
crank set and ample length seat tube. The Switch carries the weight of
a 7" bike, so I didn't exactly break any records on my climbs, but
it was able to get the job done at a reasonable pace for a bike of its
size. The angles cater well to tight trails with lots of corners, and
despite its travel, it never felt like I was bringing a monster truck
to get groceries.
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At home in the steeps
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The ability to climb on this bike continued to open doors for me that I usually
prefer to pass over. My love for the trails on Mount Fromme was rekindled when
the way up became a ride instead of a mix of riding and pushing the way it is
on my DH bike. Long, steady climbs are a non-issue on the bike, and you can
ride up relatively efficiently and still ride all of your favourite lines with
confidence on the way down. Riders will really appreciate the modest 1145mm
(45") wheelbase when riding over skinnies and other obstacles. The bottom
bracket is relatively high, which is great for clearing obstacles and gliding
over A-Frames. The trade-off is that the bike won't sit into corners as comfortably
as lower bikes, but this caters to the intended audience.
The short chainstays and cockpit length make for a relatively easy bike to
ride, and a bike that is really fun to throw around. Getting the front end up
for drops and obstacles is easily accomplished with a quick weight shift and
a pull on the bars, adding confidence on slower speed drops and the ability
to pick tight lines that require low speed precision. The short cockpit shines
on steep terrain, allowing you to get behind the saddle with ease.
The Switch riding lines your XC bike wouldn't dig. |
The 8" Hayes HFX-9 brakes do a decent job of controlling your ride. Rocky
has spec'd the aftermarket Hayes levers on this bike, which give the brakes
a more solid lever feel and a nicer connection with your finger. This is a nice
detail that goes a long way to improving the feel of the bike.
Long Term…
Buying a bike is a big investment, and how that investment holds up over time
is critical. A lot of thought and experience went into spec'ing the Switch 2.0
to strike a balance between affordability and quality. You can argue that no
environment that is tougher on bikes than the North Shore, the land where good
bikes shine and second rate bikes get eaten. After 4 months of weekly riding
in the wettest months of year the Switch has done well. The components have
stood up to the abuse and the weather, and are still feeling as tight as they
were when I first got on the bike. One of the things that stands out most is
the finish of the bike. Despite kilometres of riding with mud covered shorts
and leg pads rubbing against the frame, the finish has laughed it off and shows
no signs of wearing out. For those who like to keep their bikes looking fresh
and well taken care of, this is something you will really appreciate.
Another nice touch is that when the time comes to service the frame, all of
the pivot bearings are easy to access and available at local bearing suppliers
and bike shops.
Back to the shop…
The Race Face X-Type bottom bracket is getting sticky. After wet rides, and
after washing the bike, the bearings are binding after things dry out. It takes
several rotations of the cranks to free them up, but they still are not running
as smoothly as they were when new.
Threading the needle
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This seems like a pre-mature
wear issue for sealed bearings that should not be showing up on a product
that has been in service for only a few months. The outboard bearing X-Type
bottom brackets offer unrivalled stiffness and a great chainline butprotection
from the elements may not have caught up to the overall durability of
the cranks.
The Marzocchi Bomber tires are not a good fit for this bike in this climate.
Despite being a soft rubber compound, they are still not soft enough to
measure up to the other tires available at their price point. The tire
also has a square shaped profile that resulted in two characteristics
that really stood out. The first characteristic was an unstable feeling
tire when cornered or ridden in off-camber terrain. Once it gets up onto
its square shaped side lugs, it tends to assume an unpredictable and slippery
ride. This also creates a lot of drag when riding on hard pack conditions
and any road climbs you may encounter. I removed these tires after several
rides and went to a more suitable tire for the North Shore's conditions.
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And the Canadian Judge says:
Riding the Switch 2.0 leaves you with the impression that this bike was designed
around the trails and terrain on the North Shore. The handling feels right at
home on the variety of trails we have here. This is not a featherweight machine,
but it is the weight penalty you must carry for a bike that can keep up with
lighter all-mountain bikes, but also confidently tag along with the bigger bikes.
Quality, durability and versatility make the Switch a good addition to the stable
for multi-bike owners, and a great "do-it-all" bike for those of us
who rely on one machine to try it all.
The Switch can be found at your local Rocky Mountain, MSRP for the 2.0 is CDN$3,499
and US$3,099.
Ride Hard and Prosper.
Corey Anderson
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