More oomph: Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL gets a performance upgrade
After many major motor manufacturers have recently significantly increased the performance of their drives, Rocky Mountain is now also laying the "power cable" to its Dyname-S4 Lite motor in the form of a performance-enhancing firmware update. This significantly increases the motor power for the Instinct Powerplay SL. The update increases the motor's output from the previous 65 Nm torque and 550 watts peak power to an impressive 75 Nm torque and 700 watts peak power.
This corresponds to a 27 per cent increase in performance compared to the previous configuration. This optimisation is intended to position the Instinct Powerplay SL even more precisely in the market segment between the lighter but less powerful light e-mountainbikes and the heavier full-power e-bikes. With a weight of just under 20 kilograms, the Instinct Powerplay SL offers a good balance between weight and performance, which the update is intended to emphasise even more.
Optimised performance characteristics
The firmware update reinforces the existing strengths of the Instinct Powerplay SL and further emphasises its unique selling point on the market. While the bike retains its light-footed handling, riders now benefit from the increased motor support, which is particularly effective in demanding terrain. However, the increased power can affect the range. If you use the full power, you must expect a slight reduction in battery life, which remains at 480 Wh even with the update. For bikers who value maximum range, the Jumbotron display offers appropriate setting options to adjust the support. The flexibility of the system therefore allows customised configuration depending on the requirements of the tour and personal preferences.
Development on challenging trails
The firmware update was developed and tested under real-life conditions on the legendary trails of the North Shore in Vancouver, British Columbia. This region, home to Rocky Mountain for 40 years, is considered one of the cradles of modern mountain biking and offers ideal testing conditions with its technically demanding trails. The Rocky Mountain development team uses these trails on a daily basis to test improvements under real-life conditions and ensure that new developments actually offer added value in everyday riding. Tom Ferenc, Research and Development Director at Rocky Mountain, emphasises the benefits of the update: the increased support, increased torque and improved performance would enable him to tackle technical terrain for which he would otherwise have resorted to a full-power model. With the update and the additional benefits of a lighter and more dynamic bike, he uses the Instinct SL more than ever.
Availability and future plans
The firmware update for the Instinct Powerplay SL will be available exclusively from authorised Rocky Mountain dealers from 12 September 2025. Rocky Mountain is thus relying on specialist retailers as service partners and remaining true to its motto "Love the Ride - we'll take care of the rest". Rocky Mountain has already announced another firmware upgrade for December 2025, this time for the Full Power Dyname 4.0 motor.
Instinct Powerplay SL: Technical specifications
- Engine power: 75 Nm torque
- Peak power: 700 watts
- Performance increase: 27 %
- Weight: just under 20 kilograms
Availability
- Update date: from 12 September 2025
- Source of supply: authorised Rocky Mountain dealers
- Next update: December 2025 (for Dyname 4.0 engine)
