Pimp my ride - the title of a TV series on MTV became a catchphrase for the entire tuning industry ten years ago. Whether for cars or bikes, "pimp my ride" stands for improve, beautify, speed up. BMC and Rocky Mountain had the same idea and pimped their 29er racing bikes for trail suitability. To do this, they put longer forks and telescopic seatposts in their well-known chassis and tweaked the gearing and choice of tyres. Where this inspiration comes from quickly becomes clear from the model names: BC stands for the challenging trails of British Columbia. At BMC, Trailcrew is the name of the special development unit with a mission to make riding fun. But now to the question: Who pimps it right - which one is better?
Both fullys have elegant carbon main frames with aluminium rear triangles and finish this criterion with an excellent 2.4 kilo chassis weight. We awarded both frames the maximum number of points for workmanship and detailed solutions. The BMC construction is slightly stiffer, and the BMC is almost 300 grams ahead in terms of total wheel weight. This advantage also manifests itself in the overall weight. The suspension travel is similar, but Rocky Mountain equips the Element with a lowerable Talas fork, which takes the fear out of steep ramps - the point goes to Canada. The pimp-my-ride intervention leaves its mark on the original bike concept: the pimped-up forks change the geometry, flattening the seat and steering angle by one degree. This makes the level adjustment all the more sensible, as the saddle on the BMC is pushed a little further forwards. Switzerland and Canada play at a similar level in terms of equipment - a tie.
Considering the price, both manufacturers don't exactly throw noble parts around. We criticise the SRAM X9 drivetrain on both bikes. Whether you're happier with the triple crankset on the Rocky or the double crankset on the BMC is a question of individual taste. You'll definitely get the wider gear range on the Element BC, even if the two bikes don't differ in the 24-36 climbing gears. The manufacturer's warranty extends to five years for both bikes, and the Canadians offer the Element in five frame sizes. The BMC is lighter, cheaper and wins the duel on paper: one point ahead. On the trail, you'll be happy with both bikes, where the noticeable differences remain small. The BMC is longer and sportier, while the Rocky supports a more playful riding style with its more compact riding position.
Conclusion Christoph Listmann, BIKE Test Manager:
BMC and Rocky Mountain have injected their race bikes with testosterone and realised what demanding bikers want. More suspension travel, a telescopic seatpost and other refinements turn the marathon machines into potent trail robbers. This makes them easier to control, safer to ride and closer to the dream of "one bike for everything". The Rocky leaves the better all-round impression, the BMC is a tad sportier and 500 euros cheaper. They are both cool bikes.
BMC Fourstroke FS 02 29 Trailcrew
PLUS Sporty handling, light chassis, attention to detail, bashguard
MINUS Flat handlebars, short stem, only three frame sizes
Rocky Mountain Element 970 RSL BC Edition
PLUS Lightweight chassis, more versatile than the Element model, tidy, wide cockpit
MINUS Relatively heavy wheels, high price
