Rock Machine Storm INT e70
A 29in mid-drive hardtail with 90 Nm of assistance and touring mounts, aimed at commuting, leisure riding and moderate unsurfaced routes.
- Sport Drive mid-drive, 90 Nm: Strong assistance for hills, loaded commuting and mixed-surface riding
- 504 Wh integrated battery: Removable pack you can take indoors to charge
- 29in wheels, 2.25in WTB tyres: Comfortable rolling on roads, cycle paths and moderate unsurfaced routes
- microSHIFT Acolyte 1x8, 12-42T: 350% gear range for everyday hills without a front derailleur
- Mudguard and pannier-rack mounts: You can add a rack, mudguards, lights and kickstand for commuting or touring
- RST Blaze 100 mm fork: Takes the edge off towpaths and light gravel
Rock Machine Storm INT e70 Deals
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Bikesy's Verdict
The Storm INT e70 makes sense if you want strong mid-drive help for commuting, touring and moderate unsurfaced routes. The current Acolyte build's 90 Nm Sport Drive motor and 504 Wh battery are the reasons to want it. Always confirm you are looking at the Acolyte 1x8 and 504 Wh battery, because 2021 Altus 1x9 bikes still sit in UK listings under the same name. It is not the right bike for technical trails. Sizes are only M and L, with no published height bands, so try one before you buy.
Pros
- 90 Nm Sport Drive mid-drive for hills and loaded everyday riding
- Removable 504 Wh integrated battery
- 29in wheels with 2.25in WTB tyres for roads and moderate unsurfaced routes
- microSHIFT Acolyte 1x8 with 12-42T cassette and 350% range
Cons
- Rack, mudguards, lights and kickstand are not fitted, so commuting kit costs extra
- Approximately 23 kg, so lifting it onto stairs or a car rack is hard work
- Only M and L standard-frame sizes, with no published rider-height bands
The Rock Machine Storm INT e70 is a 29in mid-drive hardtail for commuting, touring and leisure rides on roads, cycle paths and moderate unsurfaced routes. You get strong assistance, a 29in stance and mounts for touring kit, rather than the travel or attitude of a trail bike. That is the appeal if you want a first e-bike to make everyday miles, family trips and towpath spins easier.
The latest official UK version is the Storm INT e70-29, with a Sport Drive mid-drive rated at 90 Nm, a removable 504 Wh integrated battery and a microSHIFT Acolyte 1x8 drivetrain: 38T chainring, 12-42T cassette and 350% range. That 90 Nm is there to help you leave a junction with shopping on the bike, climb out of town, or keep a touring pace on mixed paths. Assistance stops at 15.5 mph.
The manufacturer does not currently list this latest official version in its UK catalogue. Offers still appear under the Storm INT e70 name, so match the parts, not the badge. The current build is the Acolyte 1x8 with a 12-42T cassette and 504 Wh battery. A Shimano Altus 1x9, 11-36T cassette and 500 Wh battery identify the previous 2021 generation. This page is the standard M/L frame only. The separately named Storm INT e70-29 Lady is a different access-frame bike.
Assistance and range
The 504 Wh Sport Drive battery sits in the frame and comes out for charging. Claimed range is a maximum figure: the official description says up to 100 km and also up to 90 km, and Halfords states up to 60 miles. Actual distance varies with assistance level, load, terrain, weather and tyre pressure. Use those numbers for optimistic planning, not as a guaranteed commute length.
Mixed-surface riding
Fun Ride geometry, 29in wheels with 2.25in WTB tyres and a 100 mm RST Blaze 29 TNL-F fork are specified for road and moderate off-road use. Hydraulic disc brakes are fitted. A ONE1 SPS 405 suspension seatpost and WTB Volt Sport saddle add comfort on broken tarmac. Hubs are Shimano TX quick-release, which keeps the build simple.
The current standard-frame build is listed in M / 17in and L / 19in, both with 29in wheels. No official rider-height bands were published for this generation, so a dealer fit or a test ride is the honest way to choose.
Commuting kit, weight and warranty
Mudguard and pannier-rack mounts are there, and the bike is described as compatible with a rack, mudguards, lights and kickstand. Those items are not confirmed as fitted, and the rack and chainguard are not fitted. You can convert it for wet commutes or touring, but the extras cost money and fitting time.
The UK listing claims approximately 23 kg and does not say which size was weighed. Pulling the battery out helps when you store the bike, yet carrying the whole thing upstairs or onto a vehicle rack will still be hard work. Maximum rider weight is 120 kg.
On new bikes from the 2020 collection onward, Rock Machine's five-year frame warranty applies to the original owner if you complete annual authorised-dealer inspections. Miss those and it reduces to two years. Third-party components have standard two-year cover. The retailer-stated original UK RRP is £2,399.
Geometry
2021 Altus 1x9, standard frame
| Measurement | M / 17in | L / 19in |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel size | 29in | 29in |
| Reach | 436 mm | 466 mm |
| Stack | 625 mm | 625 mm |
| Effective top tube | 615 mm | 645 mm |
| Head angle | 67 degrees | 67 degrees |
| Seat angle | 74.5 degrees | 74.5 degrees |
| Chainstay | 480 mm | 480 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1215 mm | 1245 mm |
| Seat tube | 432 mm | 473 mm |
| Head tube | 175 mm | 175 mm |
| BB drop | 35 mm | 35 mm |
| Stem | 45 mm | 45 mm |
| Crank | 170 mm | 170 mm |
Alternatives to Consider
The Rockrider E-EXPL 520 29 is a more trail-oriented alternative, with a 130 mm fork and a 500 Wh removable battery. Its Yamaha motor is rated at 50 Nm against the Storm's 90 Nm, and its current build has 100 mm travel.
Full Specification
Storm INT e70-29, current Acolyte build
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original UK RRP | £2,399 (retailer-stated RRP) |
| Format and use | 29in hardtail with Fun Ride geometry for road and moderate off-road use |
| Motor | Sport Drive mid-drive, 90 Nm |
| Battery | 504 Wh integrated Sport Drive battery; removable |
| Claimed range | Maximum: up to 100 km; official description also states up to 90 km; Halfords states up to 60 miles. Actual distance varies with assistance level, load, terrain, weather and tyre pressure. |
| Maximum assistance speed | Up to 15.5 mph |
| Drivetrain | microSHIFT Acolyte 1x8, 38T chainring, 12-42T cassette, 350% range |
| Fork | RST Blaze 29 TNL-F, 100 mm travel |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc brakes |
| Wheels and tyres | 29in wheels with 2.25in WTB tyres |
| Hubs | Shimano TX HB-TX505 front and FH-TX505-8 rear; quick release |
| Seatpost and saddle | ONE1 SPS 405 suspension seatpost; WTB Volt Sport saddle |
| Claimed weight | Approximately 23 kg. Retailer does not state the weighed size. |
| Maximum rider weight | 120 kg |
| Utility equipment | Mudguard and pannier-rack mounts; rack and chainguard not fitted. Officially compatible with rack, mudguards, lights and kickstand. |