Even if the differences between the individual model years are often only very small, the two bikes we tested are worlds apart from the original Element from 1996. Anyone who can still remember the deceleration provided by cantilever brakes will surely agree with us. Thank goodness that around the turn of the millennium, a number of engineers began to take a closer look at the subject of disc brakes.
All water under the bridge, the 2016 Rocky Element and its successor both brake adequately. It even seems as if the old Element doesn't want to give up its place on the throne without a fight, as its Magura MT6 stoppers bite harder than the Shimano XT brakes fitted to its successor. In general, the discontinued model is not yet suffering from old age. The riding position is sporty, the characteristics of the suspension elements are synchronised and the geometry is harmonious. Even though the racer has a few years under its belt, it rolls into this duel with its head held high and wide handlebars. In terms of weight, the new Element repeatedly falls behind, as it weighs 500 grams more. However, it has come up with a clever strategy for the battle for the Canadian crown. The 2017 Element RSL may not shine quite as much in the marathon due to its higher weight, but it has a much wider range of use. The telescopic seat post gives the rider more freedom of movement on descents, while the thicker 34 mm fork with 120 millimetres of travel and the adjustable rear triangle ensure a versatile chassis. With the Ride-Nine system familiar from the Instinct and Thunderbolt, both the geometry and the rear suspension characteristics can be adapted to personal preferences or different purposes. The steering angle slackens from the sportiest to the most trail-oriented position from 70.3 to 69.0 degrees, the bottom bracket sinks 20 millimetres lower.
A small disadvantage: the suspension travel on our test bench also varies between 105 (with a slack steering angle) and 120 (with a steep steering angle) millimetres.
With this chameleon gene, the new Element RSL clearly outperforms its predecessor in terms of points. The range of use of the 2016 model was more clearly focussed on marathon. With the new Element generation, Rocky has put the better all-rounder on the wheels, which also feels right at home on tours and trail rides. But marathon racers can also look forward to an additional bottle cage in the frame triangle in 2017; previously, the second bottle hung on the down tube under dirt bombardment. If the extra weight bothers you, you can swap the Reverb dropper post for a lightweight, conventional counterpart. Rocky Mountain also offers the Element 970 RSL with a 2x11 drivetrain for those who prefer a tight single gear ratio with an 11-42 cassette.
Conclusion Ludwig Döhl, BIKE test editor
No duel was as close as the one between the two Elements. However, at the end of a long day of testing, we were won over by the wider range of use of the 2017 bike. The geometry and rear suspension adjustment make the successor to the throne as adaptable as a chameleon. Racers will also be happy with a bargain in the sales.
Rocky Mountain Element 970 RSL 2016
Rocky Mountain Element 970 RSL 2017
