We designed the Sherpa for riders who want to get out and explore the world. From bushwhacking in Idaho, to traversing military trails in the Dolomites, to racing the Colorado Trail, to travelling long forgotten game trails in the Himalayas - the Sherpa is made for anyone whose adventures regularly require a GPS beacon. - Rocky Mountain Bicycles

The 27.5+ wheeled Sherpa, which was first shown in prototype form at last year's Sea Otter, rolls on 2.8'' wide WTB Trailblazer tires that are tall enough in height that their outer diameter roughly equals that of a 29" tire, which makes sense because the bike's front triangle is actually from the 95mm travel, carbon fiber Element. Up front is a Manitou's new 120mm travel Magnum fork that's basically a shrunk down Mattoc (which means it should kick a lot of ass), but things are even more interesting out back.



Rocky has mated the Element front triangle with an extra-wide aluminum rear end that provides clearance for any 27.5+ tire that you'd want to run, and it's interesting to note that they've stuck with the common and easily sourced 12 x 142mm hub width rather than going down the Boost road. A custom tuned Manitou Mcleod shock has been valved to better work with how the high-volume tires react to the terrain, as well to handle a bike loaded with camp stove, tent, and pounds of gummy bears, booze, and whatever other supplies a bikepacker might need for an unsupported trip into the woods.



With a two chain ring, 10spd drivetrain and wide, tubeless tires, the Sherpa's spec (shown at right) is about all-day usability rather than flexing your might against riding buddies up the local hill climb. It's ready for adventure right out of the gate, and all you'd really need is a set of frame-bags if you're planning on escaping the oncoming zombie apocalypse by heading into the bush - Rocky Mountain recommends bags from Porcelain Rocket.







Sherpa Parts Spec



Frame : Smoothwall Carbon, custom hydroformed rear end

Shock : Manitou McLeod custom valved, 95mm travel

Fork : Manitou Magnum 27.5+, 120mm. TPC Absolute+ damper

Headset : Cane Creek Fifteen Series

Brake Levers : Shimano M506, I-Spec

Brakes : Shimano M506, 180mm rotors

Cassette : Shimano HG50 11-36T 10spd

Chain : KMC X10 10spd EcoProtect Anti-Rust

Cranks : Race Face Turbine Cinch, 170-175mm, 38/24T

Bottom Bracket : Race Face Cinch 30mm BB92 PressFit

Shifters : Shimano SLX Rapid Fire I-Spec 2x10spd

Front Derailleur : Shimano Deore E Mount 2x10spd

Rear Derailleur : Shimano XT Shadow Plus Direct Mount, 10spd

Front Hub : SUNringlé SRC Plus / Fat Fork Specific, 15x110mm

Rear Hub : DT Swiss 350, 12 x 142mm axle / Star Ratchet freehub

Spokes : DT Swiss Competition

Rims : WTB Scraper i45 27.5+ TCS Tubeless Ready

Tires : WTB Trailblazer 27.5+ TCS 27.5" x 2.8" Tubeless Ready

Handlebar : Race Face Evolve 3/4 Riser x 725mm x 9° Sweep

Stem : Race Face 6° x 70-100mm

Grips : Rocky Mountain LockOn Mushroom

Saddle : WTB Volt Race

Seatpost : Rocky Mountain XC 30.9mm x 400mm

Rocky spec'd a 120mm travel Manitou Magnum up front. The Sherpa's carbon front triangle is actually from an Element, but the back end uses much wider spaced stays to clear huge tires.

Do you like adventures? Looking to cover some big miles? Take pride in being self-supported? Rocky Mountain's new Sherpa could be up your alley if you answered yes to any of those questions, although it's a bike that might also be best suited to those with an open mind. This isn't a cross-country bike in the classic sense, and it most certainly isn't one of the new breed of beefed up short-travel bikes, but it looks to be a machine that you might be able to ride pretty much anywhere that one would ever want to ride a bike. And that's the exact idea behind the $4,499 USD Sherpa: to be able to ride anywhere, but to not be limited in the fun department because you're on some rigid 29er that's scarier to pound through technical sections aboard than waiting for the results of an STD test. The Sherpa is a proper mountain bike for bikepacking, not a 'gravel grinder' with a riser handlebar on it.The bike, and especially its mega-wide tires, aren't designed for speed, and Rocky Mountain isn't shy about that. '''' Rocky says of the Sherpa and its tire setup. '''' Rocky also wants to stress that the Sherpa and its wide 27.5+ wheels and tires aren't meant to replace more traditional bikes, but rather be another alternative for those who want to get out there and do it on something a bit different.