2021 Rocky Mountain Growler 40 | Review

2021 RM Growler 40 - Medium Size
What a killer bike! It's got all the benefits of a great enduro rig but way more efficient on the climbs!
PROs:
* Price
* Specs
* Geo (long, low and slack)
* Boost Spacing
* Suntour fork is surprisingly good - 34mm stanchions / relatively plush /built-in fender
* Climbs well
* Great dropper (150mm on my medium frame)
* Solid 30mm internal width wheelset
* Robust 2.6 WTB tires (Vigilante/Trailboss combo)
* Excellent cable management
* Full Deore groupset ie it works and is extremely reliable
* Gorgeous looking bike
CONs:
* No chainring protector (easy fix)
* Dropper post remote feels cheap
* A little on the heavy side mostly due to heavy tires
* Not the most agile due to its size
* 2022 prices have gone up (no surprise there)
Certainly not for everyone, this is NOT a XC bike! But for an all-around trail/enduro riding, this bike is an absolute blast! Definitely a keeper for me!

[@scstinger5]

I just ordered the Growler 20 as I couldn’t find a Growler 40 anywhere. I’ve been riding a single speed hardtail with bad geometry for a year now, so can’t wait to get my Growler 🤙

[@Tonedefy]

Congrats! Been riding mine for almost a year now and Im still pretty stoked!

[@anthonettef1908]

Love the color! Proudly 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 made

[@Tonedefy]

Woohoooo! 🇨🇦

[@chrisinmontreal]

I have the opportunity to buy a Growler50 2022 for 1750$ US. Specs are great of course they also have a 40 for 1270$ us

[@mfmonthefmf]

Great review, thanks! I am still on the fence but maybe you can help me. I just found one at local shop and reserved it so I have opportunity to buy. I've ridden the wheels off my XC bike and I want to upgrade to something more contemporary. I don't really do any "downhilling" per se, but I have a moto background and I LIVE for the downhills on my MTB rides. The Growler seems like a perfect medium between XC and DH (plus its an amazing value) but the geometry is SOOOO different than the XC bike I'm used to riding. I think about the climbs and get a bit nervous, how bad is it compared to a true XC geometry? Keep in mind, I'm no XC racer, just want to have a good time out there without torturing myself on the climbs. Overthinking perhaps? leaning towards just pulling the trigger. Now I'm just mentally torqueing this out in your comments section, so I'll shut up :)

[@Tonedefy]

I feel you man! What I can say is this bike climbs really well. The fact that it has a steep seat tube angle makes a huge impact, my front end doesn't lift at all save for the steepest grades. What slows it down during the climb imo is its weight (very robust frame) and stock tires which are burly and fat (2.6 front and back). Im still running stock tires but I would probably stick to a 2.5 front, 2.3 rear combo when its time to replace. But on the descents, this bike is just as confident as my Yeti! Just all smiles! This bike has been my go to bike since I got it! Been super reliable too, havent had to replace any components whatsoever! Even its cheap Deore brakes have been super reliable, havent had any fades and havent had to bleed it yet!

[@mfmonthefmf]

@@Tonedefy really appreciate the reply, I'm done waffling around, threw some $$ down today so no going back now. hopefully pick it up next week. STOKED! If I ever find myself in the Bay area, I'll hit you up, would love to ride some of the trails you've shown on your channel, great stuff amigo.

[@Tonedefy]

@@mfmonthefmf Cool man, congrats! Yeah totally hit me up! Always down to tour folks to our local trails out here..

[@steve2084]

I’m tossing between this and the Specialized Chisel. Both are apparently very compliant frames. The Canadian in me really wants the Growler. lol. I’m not a racer, mostly trail riding in Arizona with a whack of riding buddies and my ooooooold Specialized Epic is badly in need of replacing. Thoughts on RM or Specialized?

[@Tonedefy]

For what it's worth, this Growler has been my daily driver the last couple of years. Ive taken her everywhere - wet, muddy, dusty, snowy and rocky conditions; handled everything like a champ. I did put a 150mm Fox 34 fork, as she is definitely worth the upgrade. So far holding up extremely well; she finally started developing some bottom bracket creaks, but that's about it. Ive never ridden the Spesh Chisel, but I think most Spesh are pretty solid as well, if not a little too vanilla.

[@steve2084]

@@Tonedefy that’s part of why I’m leaning towards the growler 40. Almost at my savings goal to get it.

[@huntii]

When you said the 64 degree head tube angle doesn't make it a good up hiller. What degree do you consider a good angle for up hill ? Because that's what I am looking for.

[@Tonedefy]

Actually, the bike climbs just fine. You adjust to it, it doesn't really bother me on the climbs anymore. In fact I was able to clean some pretty steep hills on this bike that gave me problems on my old hardtail. That said, the Growler is definitely a burly bike, and its tires are pretty grippy (ie high rolling resistance), so it simply will not feel as peppy on the climbs as a sub-30 pound cross country bike with a 67-70° headtube angle and fast rolling tires. For what its worth, I've had this bike almost a month now and I'm still completely stoked! One of the best bikes I've owned!

[@huntii]

@@Tonedefy thanks for the quick answer. Trying to find one in stock will be the hard part.

[@Tonedefy]

@@huntii Goodluck! The shop I got it from (Bicycle Brustop in Novato, CA) had a couple of Large ones I thought.

[@janilynyu-santos6595]

Looks cold out there.

[@Tonedefy]

It was! 🥶