Submitted by
Darrin Wilson
a Weekend Warrior
from Valrico, FL USA
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2007
Strengths: frame, headset, wheels
Weaknesses: none found yet except it could have came w/ quick release seat post collar? the fork is not the best, but it works.
Bottom Line:
this bike is great! the frame is very light and holds my 260 lb frame with ease. componants are all top line and work well. I got a great deal on a tough great bike for a big beginner. I am lucky to have found this high quality of a bike at this great price. $40 for a tune up and she is trail ready!
Similar Products Used: fisher marlin, walmart pos's
Bike Setup: stock except Richey OCR Comp rims,
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Submitted by
Mike Corrieri
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002
Strengths: Decent geometry, durability. I am a clydesdale, and have never had issues with the bike - so I will say it is solid. Nice green-bug paint job. Good shifters. Great XT rear deraileur (even though I ended up putting on XTR).
Weaknesses: The stock shock is not the best available, this won't be an issue if you are not over 200# like me. The seat is garbage, and had to go.
Bottom Line:
At the end of endless upgrades, I must admit I am returning the bike to stock, except that awful seat, and selling it.
My reasons for selling it are based more upon the size of the bike than anything else - I bought the 21, should have a 19. Other than that, it has been a fine bike.
For 2 years it has served me well - and the wheelset, of which I was very skeptical (Specialized hubs, Ritchey OCR wheels), has performed flawlessly and true.
I would say it easily rates 4 out of 5, and only wish I could give it 4.5. I believe 5 is only for the creme de la creme, so 4 overall and 5 for value.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher, Raliegh, Schwinn Homegrown
Bike Setup: Currently: Race Face Crankset & Chainrings, Marzocchi Super Fly fork, Avid Arch Rival brakes, Ritchey stems, stock wheelset (pretty decent), XTR deraileur package, selle italia flite gel seat.
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Submitted by
Yetti
a Weekend Warrior
from Banff, Scotland
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001
Strengths: Strong Frame, Strong Rims, Good tires they lasted for 2 years of heavy road and off road riding. handles 4' drops and jumps well for a croos country bike!
Weaknesses: Horrible Manitou Spyder's. head set and BB went in just under a year
Bottom Line:
Exelent all round strong bike with reliable components and eye caching paint job let down by crappy pedals (DMR V8's are new)and crappy forks. I get Dissed for doing jumps and trials on a XC bike but it stands up to it remarkably well. Great for riders who do a bit of every thing.
Submitted by
E. Reid
a Cross Country Rider
from Brighton, MI
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2001
Strengths: good price light yet durable
Weaknesses: seat, forks, rims, brakes, and grips
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike after my avalanche was stolen, which was my first bike and I only owned it for 3 months. The rockhopper is an awsome ride for me as a beginner going into intermediate, I ride close to 50 miles a week and have had some gnarly crashes and the bike has only a few noticeable scratches. I plan rideing it for a couple more years, and upgradeing everything that hasn't been yet. Forks first with some new Z.2 atoms, hopefully within the next month.
Bike Setup: A1 comp, XT's all around, mavic 517's, Easton carbon straight bar, race face grips
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Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001
Strengths: Frame, Tires, Light Weight
Weaknesses: specialized clipless pedals, saddle
Bottom Line:
Awesome awesome bike. I was torn between K2, Trek, and this bike. I definitely made the right choice. I have beat the hell out of this bike and haven't had the first problem. The frame doesn't even have a scratch. Plus the Kevlar beaded tires are unbelieveble. All my friends have had flats on trail from the florida coral rocks and I have never gone flat once. Clipping in and out with the stock specialized clipless pedals sucked but I upgraded to shimano 545's and they are awesome. Plus I had to compensate for the hard saddle by going with the suspension seatpost. Overall, I can't imagine a better hardtail that will take a beating and keep rocking like this one.
Bike Setup: shimano 545's, cane creek thudbuster suspension seatpost
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Submitted by
Jordan
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2001
Strengths: A good frame to build on. Specialized made this a good foundation to turn into a real riding machine.
Weaknesses: Bottom bracket, brakes, front suspension.
Bottom Line:
After landing on a boulder using only my crank, I kinda screwed that up. I added a shimano BB and an XT crank which was a much better setup. I also added a SID XC fork which is a much better ride. The brakes were just something that couldnt be overlooked so i replaced those with XTR and a salsa arch. now the bike takes all the $h!t i give it.
Bike Setup: Threw on a new fork, bottom bracket and brakes. Added a XT crank out of necessity.
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Submitted by
mike ward
a Weekend Warrior
from denver, co, usa
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2001
Strengths: Everything
Weaknesses: Give me another 6 mounth i might find something
Bottom Line:
I did alot of research before I put all my money into a bike. In my opinion this was the best bike under a grand and I was not disapionted. I'm not into racing but I love to go up to the mountians everyweekend to ride and ride hard. This bike may not be for hardcore racers but has still taken everything I can through at it. If you want a bike from a company you can trust and don't want to spend thousands of dollars give the Rockhopper A1 Comp a test ride. You won't be disapionted.
Similar Products Used: trek? I don't remember the name but it was about a grand schiwn moab 1
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Submitted by
Curt Scarlett
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2000
Strengths: Pearl White paint with clear-coat still as eye grabbin' as a year ago when I bought it, butted Aluminum frame, weight (approx. 26.0lbs)and component mix impossible to match at this price level($1250CDN), hill-climbing made easy!!, appreciate Spyder-R fork at speeds above 15K,
Weaknesses: Bent rear rim doing "rock walks" (BMX freestyle is hard to give up even at 30!!), brakes don't stay centered, front derailleur (LX) unimpressive, saddle by Specialized is uncomfortable after about 20K of XC, fork abit stiff at slower pace (ie.technical stuff) even at max preload (170lb rider)
Bottom Line:
You could spend more but unless you're some poser that is into spendin' more glue ($$$$) on his pedal-bike than on his car (in Canada that's just dumb), or are a SERIOUS racer, then this beautiful Aluminum sweetheart will provide you with all the fun, speed and action that you can handle. Excellent all rounder for XC, commuting, freeride and even modest downhill.
Overall 4 chilis only because I can never stop grinning when I ride my brothers 1999 Specialized FSR (it went on sale AFTER I got my bike!!).
Similar Products Used: Circa 1993 Fila 21 speed mtb. bike (read 40lb Costco special), no comparison!! Man have brakes come a long way in stopping power!! Rear wheel hops on a mtn. bike was unheard of 7 years ago unless you poured "Coke" on your rims.
Bike Setup: RockShox ssp (an absolute Godsend), computer, Kona riser and stem, some Titanium/Kevlar saddle replacement offered by bike shop for ass muncher OEM seat, Shimano spd/platform pedals
Bike Setup: terrible. the frame on this bike is like a 2 dollar toy are us store
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Submitted by
Ray Sanchez
a Weekend Warrior
from Holloman NM US
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000
Strengths: Price! Frame, weight.
Weaknesses: The only things I can find to complain about are the brakes and the seat.
Bottom Line:
I think this is a great bike for the dollar, light, durable - I weigh about 230 and the bike just doesn't care! Climbs you wouldn't believe and looks sharp. On the downside I have had some problems with the brakes and the seat sucks, trivial things in the big picture.
Bike Setup: Stock, right out of the showroom floor.
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Submitted by
the saint
a Weekend Warrior
from milwaukee, WI
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2000
Strengths: Frame
Weaknesses: brakes, shock too stiff
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome bike. I've got 1000 trail miles and they haven't been pretty, but the bike has held up really well. Although I'm pretty light (150#). A lot of people seem to have had problems with the cranks but I haven't... yet.
The shock could be softer, and the headset needs more adjustment than I'd like, but for the price, this bike rocks.
i have had this bike for over a year and nothing has broke yet except for a rim that was run over by another biker. This is a great bike to put upgrades on and is very fast and light...Great!!
Submitted by
dan
a Weekend Warrior
from cincinnati, OH. usa
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2000
Strengths: price, got mine for 750. handeling, light,
Weaknesses: front shock, and breaks. my shock, seat sucks. and also the crank set
Bottom Line:
this is a great bike for the money. it holds up to every thing i throw at at no matter what. it is very light, and climbs very well. the crank set broke not to long ago but it was fixable. if you like to ride on trails and dont want to spend alot of money go for it. im 15 and it takes alot of abuse and as far as im concerned its well worth it
