Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Review | Power Is Nothing Without Control

The Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay has been updated for 2022 with a new frame, an improved motor, and a trendy mid-high pivot suspension design. Along with its integrated display, this is one seriously feature-packed electric mountain bike. So, does it deliver? Read on for detailed review: flowmountainbike.com/tests/ro...
And get an overview of the whole range in our first look story here: flowmountainbike.com/post-all...
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Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Video Review
0:00​​​​ - Intro
0:06 - Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Overview
0:45 - Frame Features
1:09 - Geometry
1:56 - Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Price & Specs
3:03 - Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay Weight
3:32 - Strengths
5:57 - Weaknesses
7:21 - Flow's Verdict
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[@JPTHRICE]

got a a70 and absolutely love it.

[@312luisr]

Works great, love it!

[@dillydean]

Excellent review. The NM levels are very impressive

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed the review! [Wil]

[@robstyle7573]

Great review mate , as an owner I totally agree with your points.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Good stuff Rob, thanks for watching and for the feedback! [WIl]

[@f2performancelab]

@FlowMountainBikeKZbin thanks for the great video and detailed review on the website. Quick question that I think you would be qualified to answer as you've ridden all the motors im researching for our emtb racing team for next year. We will be racing 50-75min events, all the events are on flat xc trails, no climbing, no descending, just flat turning left to right and vice versa. The key for our courses (Florida, USA) are holding good speed through the corner and getting back on the power early on. For this type of emtb racing, would you prefer to race on a brose/bosch/yamaha/dyname? I sorta ruled out shimano ep8 as from many reviews it seems to be lagging on performance when compared to brose and bosch. Thanks for any feedback/recommendation you can give me. Thanks

[@sandycarmichael31]

Great review Wil. Having destroyed my legs and lungs on the steep fireroads of my new home-trail centre at Red Hill on my analogue bike, I've suddenly become eMTB curious and this bike is top of the list- pity there's another 10 months until Ignition where I might be able to demo it. Any plans to do comparison review (ala Eone-sixty vs sight VLT) on this bike, with the Kenevo (as mentioned in written review) or, dare I say it, Reign E+?

[@robstyle7573]

I've done a shoddy e160 v altitude review. Cliffnotes: e160 is way more poppy fun and better value. Altitude is way more capable and definitely a better motor if you're willing to put in the effort.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Cheers Sandy! Apologies for missing your original post - did you end up getting a ride on an Altitude Powerplay demo bike? [Wil]

[@sandycarmichael31]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin Unfortunately not Wil, closest I came was sitting on analog Altitude size large for size at a lbs, as they were currently building up a Altitude Powerplay in large as their website said they had a medium in stock which they had sold the day prior. I decided that at around 24-25 kgs for Altitude Powerplay A30 coil that a medium would have been a better fit for me. Hoping that Rocky have demos at Ignition and I get to try one in Medium :)

[@stevenschiff808]

Wow, the Norco is a real nice looking E bike!

[@malanalan1]

Agreed. Also, Norco Sight VLT has better geometry. Longer chainstay, longer wheelbase, steeper seat tube angle and much lower standover.

[@TheSkurf]

@@malanalan1 I love almost everything about the Norco sight and range… however, the shimano motors suck ass and I am steering clear of them. The Rocky Mountain looks dope and shorter chain stay is great for whipping it around and doing wheelies etc

[@danzomon5853]

Awesome review as always! How does it compare to a Gen 3 Levo?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Cheers mate! Apologies I missed your question - been a bit hard keeping up with all the comments & questions across our videos! That's a good question about how the Rocky compares to the Specialized Levo. Personally I think Specialized has it dialled when it comes to the MasterMind TCU display and the Mission Control app - it makes the Levo a very user-friendly experience and keeps the cockpit nice and clean. There's quite a bit less functionality with the Rocky's Jumbotron display, and there's no app for tweaking the support levels. The motor is a key point of difference between these two bikes. I've actually found the Levo to provide more power, and you can also set it up so that you get maximum power with minimal input at the pedals. It's also very quiet in its power delivery, and overall it feels more refined. With the Rocky's motor, you won't get access to full power unless you push quite hard through the pedals. In this regard it rewards more rider input. It feels quite natural on the trail, though the idler does add some mechanical noise from the chain. Despite the Rocky having dual 29in wheels, it's actually quite an agile bike and it absolutely loves cornering. Overall it does feel more aggressive than the Levo, and it feels like it can maintain a faster pace on really rough and steep descents. The spec is also fantastic - the DoubleDown tyres and CushCore inserts are a great choice, there's plenty of adjustability from the suspension, and the two different flip chips give you plenty of scope for tuning the handling. In Australia at least, it also presents a better value package compared to the Levo, which is priced quite high in comparison. I honestly don't think you could go wrong with either bike, they both ride brilliantly. Which one you go for may boil down to price, availability, and what dealer you'd prefer to buy a bike through. Hope that helps mate, and again, my apologies for the very delayed response! [Wil]

[@Accu53Mation]

Don't belittle me. I've ordered the Instinct Alloy 30. Not gonna punish-it. Can't afford to. But for assistance with recurring sciatica, it'll definitely keep me commuting and light trail riding. And the high-watt battery, will help with me being a hefty rider. Very impressed with Dyname 4.0 power, and has less noise/;rattle factor than the competition Bosch motor frame. The pricetag, is quite hefty. Especially for a alloy frame with 11-speed Deore. Being that I've never owned a motor vehicle since 1998, I'm willing to pay-the-price for a electric-bike.

[@johngiavitto5522]

Great review, currently looking at a new Altitude or Instinct A70 as my 2021 Instinct BC Edition was recently stolen, I rode a large and found it a good fit and stock levels currently in Australia are very slim to non, only options are to jump to a medium, I'm 186cm, do you think a medium would be too small for me as I can't physically try one? Cheers John

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Hey there John! Apologies for missing your question - which size did you end up going for in the end? [Wil]

[@johngiavitto5522]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin Hey Wil, no dramas mate, ended up with a large and very happy with it.

[@KevinMinato]

The one question I have before picking one of these up is, when you put it in power +2, is it then as easy as the bosch for rider input?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Hey Kevin! Not in my experience - I found the Dyname 4.0 motor to require more input from the rider to achieve maximum motor output, even with the Boost setting dialled up to +2. It's a different experience to a Shimano or Bosch motor for sure. [Wil]

[@KevinMinato]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin thank you so much for your reply. Trek Rail it is for me then

[@solferinomichelotti2985]

Is the noise that the chain makes comparable to the noise of the bosch shimano engine? Do you feel vibrations when pedaling with rocky?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

It's very different. The noise of the chain over the idler is more of a constant mechanical noise, which is similar to other high-pivot bikes we've ridden like the Cannondale Jekyll and GT Force. The Bosch and Shimano motors suffer from a clacking noise that comes from the internal freewheel moving back and fourth when you're coasting on the descents. It happens during suspension compression, when the chain tugs at the chainring and causes it to rotate backwards and hit the stop in the freewheel mechanism. It's not a huge deal, and your ears will eventually tune it out after the first couple of rides, but it is noticeable when we're jumping between test bikes. [WIl]

[@SP-ss4uo]

How do you think it compares to the previous generation powerplays?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

The overall execution is much improved. The Jumbotron display and the slim controller are great, and the motor is significantly quieter compared to the old version. Geometry and suspension-wise, it's a big improvement too. Definitely one of the most capable e-MTBs we've tested here at Flow! [Wil]

[@elliotdumaine9948]

Hi, I’m currently looking to buy an altitude powerplay, I am 6 feet 2 (188 cm )and right in between large and XL .. what would you recommend ?

[@danfushi]

Probably XL then if you are right in between, with my 2019 I was also between M and L and my dealer said he recommends the Bigger one then

[@elliotdumaine9948]

@@danfushi amazing thank you! That’s what I ordered and I couldn’t try it so I didn’t want to regret my choice aha

[@MrHenryrolls]

I've got a 2019 altitude powerplay in L and I'm 6'3" Personally I like smaller bikes and this suits me fine. I tiptoe on the ground with the dropper right up, with only 35mm of the post extended out of the seat tube.

[@bstevens7647]

I had a Rocky Mtn Altitude 4.0 . It required a lot more rider energy than a Brose, Bosch or Yamaha to get the most out of it. The biggest drawback was the battery charging system overcharged the battery and the battery exploded and burned everything in my garage to ashes. Rocky Mountain seemed to want to help, but in the end they just wanted to get the burned bike out of my possession and pretend it never happened. I feel a duty to warn potential buyers of the very real danger of keeping a Rocky Mountain bike indoors. The damage to my home and property is over 350k, and I am lucky to be alive. Don't take the risk with a Rocky Mountain E-MTB. It is not worth it.

[@resetbikes2265]

Is it an better than this 2003 mini heckler using a power tool battery? kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZbdiHWVqauEopY

[@gennarocaputi1700]

Why rockshox fork and fox shock , I understand part’s availability , but I dislike miixed parts 😄

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

That's a Fox 38 fork and Float X2 shock on the bike we've been testing mate! [Wil]

[@stuartbrown2111]

The BIke is great. the reviewer looks like the kind of person would avoid.

[@gleneth8073]

Sexy Bike!

[@malanalan1]

Optimal cadence for this motor is 85 rpm. This is way too high cadence when you climb. They really blew it. When you need it most you don't get it.

[@jimji2774]

Is that theoretical or have you tried one ?

[@erdawe66]

It is true but also can help this somewhat by running a 32t steel chainring and 165 cranks. I get 75 spin on singletrack alpine climbs, not being used to higher cadences, which close enough to be effective battery use. Use your full cassette and make sure it's steel say (GX Eagle 10-50), agree with most this review, but liked specifically shorter chainstays.

[@siriosstar4789]

it's ugly ! the shape of the motor forces the bottom of the frame into a very unappealing configuration. i've heard elsewhere that accessing the power requires a very high cadence on the part of the rider . something around 100 rpm's . Contrast that to the Sachs rs motor from germany where you get 112 Nm available between 40 to 60 rpm's . that's a huge difference .