July 20, 2020 - The e-MTB market has been heating up for some time and Rocky Mountain’s Altitude Powerplay Alloy 70 is a remarkable feat of engineering and electronics for riders that want to push the envelope.
For over 40 years Rocky Mountain has been designing world-class mountain bikes and their proprietary Dyname 3.0 drive system, designed specifically for their own bikes by Rocky and Propulsion Powercycle, boasts 10 years and 80,000 hours of engineering in the making.
This in-house centre drive e-system is quite unique in an industry where most bicycle manufactures out-source the motors and other electronic requirements such as batteries. Rocky’s innovation allows for a fully functional integration between the motor and the frame thus providing optimal opportunities to modify both as needed to maximize the ride potential.
The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 70 frame geometry mirrors that of Rocky’s traditional aggressive enduro Altitude, with only minor alterations to house the motor and battery. The FORM alloy frame comes set-up with a RockShox Lyrik Select RC 160 mm fork with a Rockshox Deluxe Select+RT 150 mm rear shock. Their Ride-9 system allows quick fine tuning of the geometry and suspension with the use of allen keys.
The bike comes equipped with Shimano’s XT drivetrain and powerful XT 2 piston, 203mm disc brakes, which are complimented by an iconic set of Race Face Aeffect Cinch cranks. WTB rims are laced onto DT Swiss hubs wrapped with a 27.5 x 2.5 inch Maxxis Minion Tubeless Tire on the front and a Maxxis Aggressor Tubeless Tire in the rear.
At the heart of this e-bike lies the mid-mounted 250-watt Dyname 3.0 drive system. This powerful unit pumps out an impressive 108Nm of trail-taming torque while the large capacity 672 Wh downtube-concealed battery maximizes ride time while allowing for a 2:10 minute fast charge time to 80%.
Built specifically for mountain biking, the Dyname 3.0 uses an electro mechanical torque sensor to provide real-time accurate pedal assist based on continuous monitoring of chain tension in relationship to an “MTB friendly cadence”. Recent improvements have reduced the noise level of the unit, with operating sound barely detectable while out riding.
My first test ride took place just a short spin from Rocky Mountain’s North Vancouver headquarters on the trails of Mount Seymour. While climbing the gravel double track alongside my daughter on her traditional mountain bike I quickly discovered that if I went too slow, I would lose drive engagement and be forced to dab.
Increasing and maintaining a certain level of speed worked way better for my climb up the mountain, but not so much for my daughter that I left behind. As a non techy at heart, I really appreciated the simplicity of the bar-mounted iWoc remote controller which allowed me to switch between assist modes, check battery levels, re-calibrate if needed and easily access the walk-assist mode if required. More features are available via the Ebikemotion mobile app.
The Altitude’s trail-proven geometry was a welcome feature on the descents. With the Race Face Turbine R dropper post on full-send, the bike confidently took whatever technical challenges I threw at it. Keep in mind that the bike’s hefty weight, at 54 pounds, is more noticeable if going too slow around steep sharp curves. Like climbing, the Altitude performed best with more speed from the drive system, and once I found the right pedal pressure that unleashed the right amount of torque, going over rough ground, up and over technical elements, and coming out of tight corners, became easier.
Before the test, Rocky Mountain Ambassador, Andreas Hestler, mentioned that one of his biggest thrills on e-MTB bikes was to challenge tough, gnarly climbs that you cannot do on a regular mountain bike. With the challenge accepted, I attempted some tough climbs, even hitting some dirt bike trails at nearby Blue Mountain. Bottom line, this bike is a beast and climbs like a B.C. black bear! The 108 Nm of torque can catapult you up an over most steep, nasty hills – the only thing holding it back is a rider’s skill. Testing the limits on this bike are best suited for experienced mountain bikers.
The Altitude Powerplay Alloy 70 is a skillful e-MTB bike that is up to the challenge for riders who fit the bill and can take advantage of the amazing opportunities this ride was built to deliver.
Rocky claims that the Dyname 3.0 can provide up to 2,000 metres of climbing assist under perfect conditions. With the on-board 672Wh 48-volt battery, long epic trail rides are within reach for adventures of a lifetime. As for that endorphin fix, the Altitude Powerplay Alloy 70 outperforms.
The MSRP is $8,099 and for more information visit here.
