Element Carbon 70

The Element Carbon 70 from Rocky Mountain is a high-performance trail / cross-country “down-country” mountain bike that blends lightweight climbing efficiency with real descending capability. According to the manufacturer:

“Purpose-built to hit the precise sweet spot between lightweight cross-country climbing prowess and technical precision … Light. Stiff. Fast. Smooth. Precise.”

In other words, it’s designed for riders who want a bike that can climb well and hold its own when the trail gets rougher than pure XC.

Frame & Suspension Platform

• Frame material: SMOOTHWALL™ Carbon, with a carbon rear triangle.

• Suspension: 120 mm of rear travel. The front on most sizes is 130 mm.

• Geometry is adjustable via the “RIDE-4™” chip which lets you tweak the geometry (head angle, etc) for different terrain/ride style.

• Cable routing is internal. Bottom bracket is press-fit. The bike uses full sealed cartridge bearings.

• Wheel size: For sizes Small through XL it uses 29″ wheels; XS may use 27.5″ in some configurations.

Key Specifications (2025 Build)

Here are the standout components for this build:

• Fork: Fox 34 Float Performance Elite – 130 mm travel (on SM-XL) with 44mm offset.

• Rear shock: Fox Float Performance Elite (190×45mm size) – tuned per size.

• Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle Transmission wireless system (1× drivetrain 10-52T cassette) for the 2025 spec.

• Brakes: SRAM Level Bronze Stealth 4-piston hydraulic brakes (in 2025 spec) with 180mm rotors.

• Wheels & Tires: The build uses Race Face ARC 27 rims (28H) tubeless ready, with Maxxis Rekon 2.4″ WT EXO tubeless ready tires.

• Seatpost: Fox Transfer Performance Elite dropper (30.9mm) – travel varies by size (120mm on XS/SM, 150mm on MD, etc).

Geometry & Ride Feel

• The head tube angle sits around ~65° in the slackest setting (via the chip) which is relatively slack for a XC bike, giving better descending stability.

• Seat tube angle effective is steep (around 76°) helping efficient climbing.

• Chainstay length is ~435-436mm in the medium size, giving a good balance of agility and stability.

• Because of the adjustable geometry and quality suspension, the ride is described by reviewers as responsive uphill and capable downhill. One review noted:

  “The Element climbs well … but also just as inspiring on the descents as my bigger travel trail bike!”

Strengths & Trade-Offs

Strengths:

• Excellent frame for the money: top-level carbon material, modern geometry, premium suspension.

• Versatile: good for riders who do a lot of climbing but want a descent-capable bike.

• Adjustable geometry means you can tune it for your trail style or preference.

• Tubeless ready wheel + tire setup, modern cockpit, quality parts.

Trade-Offs / Things to Consider:

• Being a premium build, cost is higher. For example the 2025 MSRP is in the US ~$6,999 USD (before shipping/import) for this build.

• While very capable, with 120/130mm travel it isn’t a full enduro bike (which might have 150–170mm travel). If you do ultra-steep, aggressive downhill you might want something burlier.

• Some component choices may be slightly heavier than ultra-race builds (for cost balancing). For example one review mentions the rear hub engagement wasn’t as high as some more expensive builds.