It’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen Rocky Mountain on UK shores, but as of 2026, the brand is back. Not only is Rocky bringing its established bikes to the UK market, but it has an all-new e-mountain bike to ogle, the new Altitude Powerplay 3, and there are some cool things going on here with its motor and suspension layout. Here are the details.

The Altitude has been a longtime name in Rocky Mountain’s lineup. In fact, the regular mountain bike took modern enduro legend, Jesse Melamed, to 12 EWS podiums. Now, the brand aims to capitalise on that success and roll it into the third-generation Altitude Powerplay. The bike’s not all that much about winning races. Rather, it’s built for fun, as every good mountain bike should be, and it claims that “fun isn’t a byproduct of performance. It’s the whole damn point.”

2026 rocky mountain altitude power play 3 riding
2026 rocky mountain altitude power play 3 riding (Image Credit: Rocky Mountain)

Powering the e-MTB is Rocky’s own Dyname S4 Pro motor. This rather different-looking unit is a refinement of the older motor, and it produces 108Nm of torque and 1000W at peak power, boosted from 700W (though for some, that improvement will be to 750W, depending on where you live). We’re told that the motor weighs 3.2kg and that it’ll be hooked up to a 720Wh battery. It also uses a new ratchet clutch, rather than the sprag clutch found on the previous generation.

Then, there’s the suspension layout. It’s designed with inspiration from the regular Altitude by using the same LC2R (Low Centre Counter Rotating) system. Compared to the last generation e-MTB, Rocky Mountain says that it’s more supportive, with less of a ramp-up towards the end of the stroke. The brand goes on to mention that the rear triangle should be stiffer thanks to ‘dual short links’.

2026 rocky mountain altitude power play 3 shock
2026 rocky mountain altitude power play 3 shock (Image Credit: Rocky Mountain)

This system claims to bring traction owing to its tuned rate curve while producing a lower centre of gravity, as a result of the main pivot that rotates around the bottom bracket. Apparently, it also reduces pedal kickback while boosting support and lateral stiffness.

The Altitude Powerplay 3 is available with Rocky Mountain’s Smoothwall carbon and Form alloy frames, both of which boast 160mm of rear suspension travel combined with 170mm at the front. Small sizes run 650b wheels at both ends, while medium to up XL can run mixed and 29in wheel sizes.

2026 rocky mountain altitude power play 3 motor
2026 rocky mountain altitude power play 3 motor (Image Credit: Rocky Mountain)

As expected from Rocky Mountain, there’s a heap of geometry adjustments as the bike is equipped with a reach-adjust headset that allows for +/- 5mm of reach adjustment, and there’s the Ride-4 adjustment system. It brings four positions of geometry tweaks that change the head and seat tube angles, as well as bottom bracket height. This is accessible with only an allen key.

As for the geometry itself, a large Altitude Powerplay 3 in its position 3 or neutral Ride-4 setting and with a mixed wheelset dons a 480mm reach, a 64-degree head tube angle, a 76-degree seat tube angle, along with a 437mm chainstay length.

There are three Altitude Powerplay 3 models coming to the UK, one carbon and two alloy, with prices starting at £5,299 and going up to £8,699.