Slayer Alloy 50 (2024)

The Slayer lineup spans six builds across carbon and alloy frames. The entry point is the Alloy 30 Park, a dedicated lift-access build featuring a 200mm dual-crown RockShox Boxxer, a 7-speed downhill drivetrain, and SRAM Guide RE brakes. The standard single-crown range begins with the Alloy 50, which pairs a RockShox ZEB Select RC fork with a Shimano SLX and XT mixed drivetrain.

Moving to the carbon frames introduces the PenaltyBox downtube storage and a full-carbon rear triangle. The Carbon 50 is the most frequently tested model, utilizing a Fox 38 Performance fork, a Fox DHX2 Performance Elite coil shock, and Shimano SLX components. While the frame quality is high, reviewers frequently criticized the Carbon 50's WTB ST i30 alloy wheelset for being overly soft and prone to damage under heavy freeride use.

The Carbon 70 steps up to a Fox 38 Performance Elite fork with the highly adjustable GRIP2 damper, a full Shimano XT groupset, and sturdier Race Face ARC 30 rims. At the top, the Carbon 90 features Fox Factory suspension and Shimano XTR. Across the carbon range, Rocky Mountain equips the bikes with heavy-duty Maxxis DoubleDown tires and CushCore XC inserts straight from the factory.

Reviewers consistently characterize the Slayer as a downhill specialist that excels when the gradient drops and the trail gets rough. On steep, natural descents, the suspension is widely praised for its bump-swallowing plushness, with testers noting it offers "tons of small-bump composure" (NSMB) and easily absorbs heavy impacts. The bike requires momentum to come alive; at lower speeds or on flatter terrain, the handling can feel "sluggish and floppy" (Mountain Bike Action). However, once pointed down a proper fall-line trail, that length and slackness translate into immense stability.

While the deep suspension provides excellent traction, opinions diverge on the bike's mid-stroke support. Several testers found the stock coil shock tune on the Carbon 50 model lacked the necessary pushback for pumping through rollers or snapping out of tight corners, leaving the rear end feeling "more plush than precise" (PinkBike). Aggressive riders often noted a tendency for the bike to sit deep in its travel, suggesting that a firmer spring rate or custom damping tune is required to achieve dynamic support.

Climbing is universally viewed as a means to an end. The Slayer is a "slow burner rather than a bottlerocket" (PinkBike), relying heavily on the shock's climb switch to mitigate pedal bob. Additionally, multiple reviews highlighted persistent noise on rough descents, pointing to internal cable rattle and the magnetic storage door on carbon models as the primary culprits.