Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 90 e-MTB, side view
Lightweight eMTBTrail2026
Model range · 5 builds

Rocky MountainInstinct Powerplay SL

Price
€4,999 – €12,500
Motor
Rocky Mountain Dyname S4 Lite75 Nm; 700 W peak
Battery
480 WhRemovable (two-bolt); optional 314 Wh Overtimepack 2.0 range extender
Travel F / R
160 / 150 mm
Wheels
29" (XS: 27.5")

Overview

The Instinct Powerplay SL is Rocky Mountain's lightweight trail e-MTB, powered by the Dyname S4 Lite drive system (250 W nominal, 700 W peak, 75 Nm) and a 480 Wh two-bolt removable battery. Rocky Mountain says the S4 Lite is 30% lighter than the Dyname 4.0 and that the 480 Wh pack gives roughly 90% of the range of the older 720 Wh system; the Overtimepack 2.0 adds 314 Wh.

The mid-high pivot Smoothlink frame gives 150 mm of rear travel on 2026 builds (145 mm on the 2025 Carbon 90) with 160 mm forks, 29-inch wheels (XS: 27.5-inch, MX-compatible in SM–XL), RIDE-4 adjustable geometry and an integrated Jumbotron top-tube display. Frames come in FORM alloy or SMOOTHWALL carbon.

  • Dyname S4 Lite: 75 Nm, 700 W peak
  • 480 Wh removable battery (+314 Wh extender option)
  • 150 mm rear / 160 mm fork (2026)
  • 29" (XS 27.5"), RIDE-4, MX-compatible

Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL builds

Instinct Powerplay SL builds compared

Instinct Powerplay SL Alloy 30Instinct Powerplay SL Alloy 50Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 50Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 70Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 90
Price€4,999€5,999€7,499€8,999€12,500
FrameAlloyAlloyCarbonCarbonCarbon
ForkRockShox Psylo Gold RC 160mm; 27.5 = 37mm Offset; 29 = 42mm OffsetRockShox Lyrik Select 160mm; Delta RC Damper; 27.5 = 37mm Offset; 29 = 42mm OffsetRockShox Lyrik Select 160mm; Delta RC Damper; 27.5 = 37mm Offset; 29 = 42mm OffsetFox 36 Float EVOL GRIP X Factory Series 160mm; 44mm OffsetFox 36 Float EVOL GRIP X2 Factory Series 150mm; 27.5 = 37mm Offset; 29 = 44mm Offset
ShockRockShox Deluxe Select; Linear XL Air Can; Sealed Bearing Eyelet; 25x8mm F Hardware; XS: 210x55mm; SM-XL: 230x60mm; Size-Specific tune in FAQRockShox Super Deluxe Select; Linear XL Air Can; Sealed Bearing Eyelet; 20x8mm F Hardware; XS - SM = 190x45mm; MD - LG - XL = 210x55mm; Size-Specific tune in FAQSM-XL: Rock Shox Super Deluxe Select+; Linear XL Air Can; 230x60mm; XS: Rock Shox Deluxe Ultimate; Linear XL Air Can; 210x55mm; Sealed Bearing Eyelet; 25x8mm F Hardware; Size-Specific tune in FAQSM-XL: Fox Float X Factory Series; 230x60mm; XS: Fox Float Factory Series; 210x55mm; Sealed Bearing Eyelet; 25x8mm F Hardware; Size-Specific tune in FAQSM-XL: Fox Float X Factory Series; 230x57.5mm; XS: Fox Float Factory Series; 210x52.5mm; Sealed Bearing Eyelet; 25x8mm F Hardware; Size-Specific tune in FAQ
DerailleurShimano Deore 12spdShimano XTShimano XTSram Eagle 90 TransmissionSram X0 Eagle Transmission Wireless
BrakesTektro HD-M535; Shimano Pad CompatibleShimano MT6120 4 Piston; Metal PadsShimano XT Trail 4 Piston; Metal PadsSram Maven Silver Stealth 4 Piston; Metal PadsSram Code Ultimate Stealth 4 Piston; Metal Pads
WheelsWTB ST i30 TCS 2.0; 28HWTB KOM Trail i30 TCS 2.0; 28HWTB KOM Trail i30 TCS 2.0; 28HDT Swiss H1900; M532 Rim; 30mm Width; 28H—
DisplayRocky Mountain Jumbotron; Drive System Customization; Battery & Assist Level; Trip; Speed; Cadence; Top Tube IntegrationRocky Mountain Jumbotron; Drive System Customization; Battery & Assist Level; Trip; Speed; Cadence; Top Tube IntegrationRocky Mountain Jumbotron; Drive System Customization; Battery & Assist Level; Trip; Speed; Cadence; Top Tube IntegrationRocky Mountain Jumbotron; Drive System Customization; Battery & Assist Level; Trip; Speed; Cadence; Top Tube IntegrationRocky Mountain Jumbotron; Drive System Customization; Battery & Assist Level; Trip; Speed; Cadence; Top Tube Integration

Instinct Powerplay SL geometry

SizeXSSMLXL
Top Tube Horizontal542 / 541 / 540 / 540 mm567 / 567 / 566 / 566 mm599 / 599 / 598 / 597 mm627 / 627 / 626 / 625 mm659 / 659 / 658 / 657 mm
Head Tube Angle63.5° / 63.7° / 64° / 64.2°63.5° / 63.7° / 64° / 64.2°63.5° / 63.7° / 64° / 64.2°63.5° / 63.7° / 64° / 64.2°63.5° / 63.7° / 64° / 64.2°
Head Tube Length105 mm105 mm110 mm125 mm135 mm
Seat Tube Angle76.4° / 76.6° / 77° / 77.2°77° / 77.2° / 77.5° / 77.7°76.5° / 76.7° / 77° / 77.2°76.5° / 76.7° / 77° / 77.2°76.5° / 76.7° / 77° / 77.2°
Seat Tube Length355 mm365 mm410 mm440 mm470 mm
Rear Centre433 / 432 / 430 / 429 mm442 / 442 / 440 / 439 mm442 / 442 / 440 / 439 mm452 / 451 / 450 / 449 mm452 / 451 / 450 / 449 mm
Bottom Bracket Drop24.2 / 21.7 / 17 / 14.1 mm38.8 / 36.2 / 32 / 29.2 mm38.8 / 36.3 / 32 / 29.1 mm38.7 / 36.1 / 32 / 29.1 mm38.8 / 36.2 / 32 / 29 mm
Reach399 / 401 / 405 / 407 mm425 / 427 / 430 / 432 mm450 / 452 / 455 / 457 mm475 / 477 / 480 / 482 mm505 / 507 / 510 / 512 mm
Stack590 / 589 / 586 / 585 mm618 / 616 / 614 / 612 mm622 / 621 / 618 / 617 mm636 / 634 / 632 / 630 mm645 / 643 / 641 / 639 mm
Standover Height775 / 777 / 780 / 782 mm785 / 787 / 790 / 792 mm809 / 811 / 813 / 816 mm808 / 810 / 813 / 815 mm807 / 810 / 813 / 815 mm
Wheelbase1157 / 1156 / 1154 / 1153 mm1205 / 1204 / 1203 / 1202 mm1232 / 1231 / 1230 / 1229 mm1274 / 1273 / 1272 / 1271 mm1308 / 1307 / 1306 / 1305 mm

Where several values are given: RIDE-4 position 1 (slack) / 2 / 3 / 4 (steep). Size XS uses 27.5" wheels, other sizes 29" (stock wheel setup; MX-link figures not shown). Source: Rocky Mountain.

Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL: FAQ

How much does the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL cost?

€4,999 – €12,500 depending on the build (Instinct Powerplay SL Alloy 30 €4,999, Instinct Powerplay SL Alloy 50 €5,999, Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 50 €7,499, Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 70 €8,999, Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 90 €12,500); RRP Germany (bikes.com DE store), VAT incl..

How many Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL builds are there?

5: Instinct Powerplay SL Alloy 30, Instinct Powerplay SL Alloy 50, Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 50, Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 70, Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 90. They share the frame platform and differ mainly in suspension, drivetrain, wheels and weight.

What motor and battery does the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL use?

Rocky Mountain Dyname S4 Lite (75 Nm; 700 W peak) with a 480 Wh battery (removable (two-bolt); optional 314 wh overtimepack 2.0 range extender).

How much travel does the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL have?

160 mm fork and 150 mm rear travel on 29" (XS: 27.5") wheels.

Other Rocky Mountain e-bikes

All Rocky Mountain →