Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 Review

Even nasty steep sections are effortlessly climbed by the motor. The Dyname 4.0 conveys a riding feeling. The average range can become a problem especially for long mountain bike rides.

A good chassis sits in rugged terrain and generates plenty of traction. That's exactly what the good Rock Shox chassis in the Altitude Powerplay Alloy 50 hits. The thick 38mm stanchions on the fork provide an extra dose of steering precision and performance. The mid-range brakes from Shimano do their job but could be a bit firmer. The power of the four pistons setup is only average. The drivetrain and components have a subordinate but not to be neglected importance when it comes to EMTB. Even the bike brand product managers know this and don't aim too high with mostly average components. The moderate head tube angle provides a good compromise between stability and agility when going downhill. The reach is also right there in the middle ground. Furthermore, the bike lies excellent on the trail thanks to its low bottom bracket and thus low centre of gravity. Due to the short chainstays and the shallow seat angle , when climbing steep sections, it requires active weight shifting to prevent the front wheel from lifting. Overall, the Rocky Mountain developers have done a great job with a very god geometry. The deep bottom bracket can however lead to crank strikes in technical uphills and disrupt the climbing flow.