QUICK HITS
• 145mm Smoothlink mid-high pivot suspension
• Dyname S4 Lite drive unit
• HTA 64° (pos 3)
• STA 77° (pos 3
• REACH 480 (pos 3)
• Weight: 42.9 lbs (19.5kg)
WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE RM INSTINCT POWERPLAY SL
First, we must acknowledge how stoked we are to hear the news a few weeks ago that Rocky Mountain was purchased, and is out of the woods for now. RM has played a key role in developing freeride and gravity riding, and mountain biking wouldn’t feel the same without them.
The Instinct Powerplay SL was released last fall, just missing our eMTB Light Roundup. RM has six offerings for the Instinct Powerplay SL, with three aluminum and three carbon builds. Rocky sent their nearly $12,000 Carbon 90 build for us to test.
FRAME AND FEATURES | RM uses their Smoothwall carbon in the Instinct Powerplay SL’s layout, making the frame durable and having industry-leading stiffness/weight ratios. Rocky also uses somewhat size-specific rear triangles, with chainstays growing 10mm between M and L.
XS frames sport a dual 27.5” wheel size, while sizes S–XL are 29er. While two 29-inch wheels come standard in these larger sizes, riders can run a MX setup if they choose.
Adjustability is the name of the game with the Instinct Powerplay SL. The frame features an adjustable headset cup, allowing 5mm +/- of length adjustment from the neutral position. RM also incorporated their RIDE-4 adjustment system at the link, further allowing for geometry adjustment. This allows an additional 7mm of reach adjustment, nearly 1° of HTA/STA adjustment, and a few millimeters of wheelbase/rear center adjustment.
DRIVE UNIT | Rocky created the Dyname S4 Lite drive unit for use in their SL bikes. The motor is 30% lighter than the Dyname 4.0, producing an impressive 550W of peak power and 65Nm of torque. This output is paired with a 480Wh removable battery and an optional range extender, allowing the Instinct Powerplay SL to go a bit further and a bit faster than other mid-power motors.
SUPENSION | Rocky uses a mid-high pivot four-bar system they’ve dubbed Smoothlink to deliver 145mm of rear travel to the Instinct Powerplay SL. Incorporated within the drive unit is an idler on the mid-high pivot, helping with chain growth that comes with a rearward axle path. The result is supple over rough and chunky but with ample support while pedaling. RM also custom-tunes each shock to match the frame size, helping riders to get the performance regardless of their height.
RM uses a Fox Factory Float X to control the 145mm of travel on our Carbon 90 build, paired with a 150mm Fox Factory 36 with the Grip X2 damper.
GEOMETRY | With RM’s incorporation of a reach-adjust headset and their RIDE-4 geometry adjust, the Instinct Powerplay SL is a bike that can be tailored to nearly any geometry preferences. While I spent time in all four geo positions, the bike was shipped in its neutral (pos 3) setting, giving our size L a 480mm reach, lengthy 450mm chainstays, and a long 1272mm wheelbase.
As with the bike’s length, angles can also be adjusted. Again, in the neutral (pos 3) setting, the Instinct Powerplay SL has a 64° HTA paired with a 77° STA. Stack sits at 632mm, and the bottom bracket drops 32mm below the axles.
BUILD SPEC | For the Carbon 90 build, Rocky Mountain doesn’t hold back and leaves little to be desired, if anything at all. Suspension is handled by a Kashima-coated Fox Factory 36 and Float X. SRAM XO Transmission handles the shifting, and SRAM Code Ultimate Stealth brakes take care of stopping.
The Instinct Powerplay SL rolls on Race Face Era (carbon) 29” wheels laced to their Vault hubs. These wheels are wrapped in Maxxis rubber, with a DHR in the rear and a DHF in the front. The cockpit consists of a Fox Transfer dropper post at 210mm, a WTB Volt saddle with titanium rails, and a Race Face bar/stem combo, with their 20mm rise carbon Era bars. Capping it all off are Race Face’s spectacular Era cranks at 165mm.
THE DIRT
Rocky sent us the Instinct Powerplay SL just after our eMTB Light Roundup last fall. With an SL weight but a full-power feel, it was an easy bike to keep returning to for quick laps at our winter riding systems here in Bend.
All told, we have spent months on the RM Instinct Powerplay SL in the chunky, sandy, and loose high desert terrain, as well as a few trips over the mountain to ride rootier loam. I found trails where the Instinct Powerplay SL excelled, but there were some where it left me a bit puzzled.
SETUP | There were no issues with the Instinct Powerplay SL’s assembly. It was a pretty straightforward build out of the box, installing the front wheel and handlebars before setting up the cockpit to our preferences. We’ve all spent quite a bit of time on the Fox 36 and the Float X, with nothing unusual to report with the Instinct Powerplay SL’s suspension setup.
RM’s RIDE-4 was something that I fiddled with, trying the system in all four setting. It was incredibly easy to change, encouraging its use to experiment. Ultimately, I liked the slackest (pos 1) setting and the neutral (pos 3) settings the best, with them making a notable difference to tailor the handling to the trails on the menu of the day.
Lastly, there is no app or anything to download for the Dyname drive unit. Everything is displayed neatly on a small screen on the top tube, making things like checking battery life fast and easy. After charging the bike, we were ready to go!
CLIMBING | The Dyname S4 Lite drive unit is impressive in the mid-power space. Delivering 65Nm of Torque and up to 550W of power output, this SL e-bike felt like it could keep up with many full-powered machines. The 480Wh battery was also impressive, allowing for just over 4000 feet of vert if I rode the Instinct Powerplay SL in its Trail or Trail+ mode.
Despite the Instinct Powerplay SL’s longer footprint, I didn’t find tight switchbacks or techy climbs too difficult. This was thanks, in part, to the Dyname S4 Lite motor. The lower stack also put me more toward the front of the bike, which made for snappy handling on the ups. All this, combined with a 43-pound (with pedals) weight tag, made the Instinct Powerplay SL a confident climber.
I spent a lot of time in the slackest (pos 1) RIDE-4 setting. Though this setting slackened the HTA to 63.5° and lengthened the bike a hair, a good amount of weight was still over the bars, keeping climbing efficient. The only significant drawback was a noticeably lower BB (nearly 7mm), with more pedal strikes as a result. It was worth it, however, for how the bike descended in that slack position.
Despite its prowess on the ups, the RM Instinct Powerplay SL did have quite a bit of noise and vibrations. Judging motor noise was difficult due to the added noise of the mid-high pivot. This mid-high pivot also contributed to vibrations in the feet, which wasn’t necessarily a dealbreaker (my feet never went numb), but was very noticeable. For more sensitive riders it could potentially lead to increased fatigue over a longer ride.
DESCENDING | Pointing the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL back down the hill is where the bike took on two separate characteristics, which sometimes did not complement each other. The issue I found was that there were times when the bike’s geometry didn’t match its suspension travel.
The Instinct Powerplay SL is pretty slack and relatively long. Our size L had 450mm chainstays and a 1272mm wheelbase in the neutral position, with each growing a few millimeters when I rode the bike in the slacker (pos 1) setting. This setting was my preference, making the bike feel incredibly stable at high speeds and with a more pronounced “integrated” feeling between the wheels. It mimicked bigger bikes like the RM Altitude I tested over a year ago.
But, as soon as the trail began to get into the more significant chunk, the RM Instinct Powerplay SL quickly ran out of travel. This was an obvious reminder that this SL e-bike isn’t a long-travel enduro bruser. However, it also didn’t ride like the shorter travel SLs we’ve tested in the past. Bikes like the Ari Nebo Peak and Pivot Shuttle SL have snappy and playful characteristics that we’ve come to appreciate on shorter travel e-bikes. Their shorter wheelbases, rear ends, and steeper geo create more playful, agile machines. This was something the Instinct Powerplay SL lacked.
Despite the Instinct Powerplay SL matching the travel numbers of the Ari and Pivot, it didn’t have the geometry to create the same playful experience. Instead, the bike thrived on steep, high-speed blue trails. It handled the intermediate to slightly advanced tech well, providing a ton of confidence at speed. There wasn’t significant growth with the mid-high pivot (at least, noticeable enough to affect cornering or dipping into chunk), and the same vibrations with climbing were non-existent on the downs.
When I found the right trail (fast, intermediate to slightly advanced), the RM Instinct Powerplay SL absolutely ripped. Getting wheels off the ground felt normal, as long as the speeds were a bit higher. At slower speeds, the front and the back end felt like they were doing different things. But, the bike ate up roots and the smaller chunk and slammed into corners well. It provided a supple off the top feel, yet was supportive in the midstroke.
FINISH & VALUE | There is an elephant in the room regarding the RM Instinct Powerplay SL — a $12,000 elephant. We acknowledge that the Carbon 90 version we had on test wasn’t intended to be cheap, and many will stay away from five-figure bikes altogether.
That said, RM made the components match the price tag. Often you can spot where a bike brand saved some coin with their spec choice, even on top-level specs. Everything on the Instinct Powerplay SL was spec’d at the highest component level, from the handlebars to the cranks.
Even so, Rocky gives their customers options, with the Instinct Powerplay SL Alloy 30 starting at $5499. This bike features the same drive unit and frame adjustability, but with a heavier alloy frame and more entry-level parts spec.
COMPONENT REPORT
More pulleys and more chain mean the potential for more issues, and the vibrations from the mid-high pivot were an issue we couldn’t solve. It didn’t affect the ride to a great extent, but was noticeable while pedaling and climbing. Keeping the chain extra lubricated helped, but the vibrations returned by the middle of a typical ride.
The extra pulleys are under a plastic protector, which I was certain would be a debris collector. However, I was pleasantly surprised that not much dirt and debris had built up. If you’re regularly riding in gloopy mud and rain then it’s going to require the cover to be removed from time to time, but it’s fairly well engineered.
Our size L had a 632mm stack height, which isn’t incredibly low, but wasn’t tall by any means. If we wanted a bit more height on the front of the bike, our only option was to run a higher rise bar, as the stem was at the top of the steerer tube. This, of course, would be a personal preference, but I doubt any of us would argue with a taller front end.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Rocky Mountain’s Dyname S4 Lite drive unit impressed, as it nearly kept up with full-power drive units. This Instinct Powerplay SL’s build was clearly top of the line, with a great parts spec and the feeling of quality to match. Once I found the right trails, the Instinct Powerplay SL came alive. If you ride a lot of high-speed, intermediate/advanced trails, definitely take a look at this bike. If you’re after a playful lightweight eMTB, it may be better looking at alternatives. 
Price: $11,999 (tested)
Weight: 42.9 lbs / 19.5kg
Website: Bikes.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
The local boy — Travis was born and raised in Bend, OR. Skateboarding consumed his life until his high school years (yes, he can still kickflip), but was replaced by mountain biking…then rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and finally back to mountain biking. After a stint in the big city, Travis returned home, trading a teaching career to be an okay mountain biker and above-average journalist. He is an outspoken 90s grunge fan, cornering poor souls in conversations about the meaning behind the lyrics of Alice In Chains’ “Would.” Most days, Travis hopes to be outside, whether that is on an early morning ride or a hike with his family (the best days include both).
Rank: Contributing Writer
Size: 5’8” / 172cm | 195lbs / 88kg
Social: @travis_reill_writes
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