Strengths: Good bike for the buck. Had mine 5 years now and, although bruised and battered, still trusted.
Weaknesses: Since it's a low end bike, the components are not top of the line, but they're decent.
Bottom Line:
Definitely recommended. It's great for beginner's who don't want to spend a lot of money on a high-end bike, but it's not just a cheap bike either. Specialized makes some very good quality bikes, even on the entry level. If it's a comfotable fit for you, I'd recommend it. You may want to change out some of the components eventually, but it's a good bike as is too.
Strengths: It's not a Walmart bike and from the reviews I've read, it's a good "beginers" mountain bike. So what does that mean, I have to spend more so it's not a beginners bike?
Weaknesses: None really.
Bottom Line:
It serves me well. It gets me from point A to point B w/ no problems. Maybe soon I'll try it on a trail, but for now it's my commuter bike. I've changed the seat to the Specialized Comfort seat and it feels even more better when I zip down the streets of the city.
Similar Products Used: Walmart bike. I peeped the Trek that bike (I'm not sure the model) but I went with the Hardrock.
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Submitted by
Keith Lowe
a Cross Country Rider
from Leeds AL US
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2002
Strengths: Excellent bike for someone first getting into mountain biking. All of my experiences with this bike were great and it gave me little trouble.
Weaknesses: platform pedals
Bottom Line:
Excellent bike for the beginner or someone on a really tight budget. I have moved on to a Klein Attitude Comp but there is something to be said for the flexible steel frame in rough conditions. Overall I thought it was an excellent bike.
Bike Setup: 17 inch frame Jett S fork alivio/acera drivetrain with gripshifters
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Submitted by
blake thompson
a Cross Country Rider
from champlin,mn,us
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2001
Strengths: super strong frame, inexspensive but reliable drivetrain,
Weaknesses: pedals are slippery seat is hard they were out of monkey vomit green ;( had to settle for blue
Bottom Line:
its a great bike for someone starting out in mountain biking. its low price and solid construction make it a great ride for this ten year old dirt spanker
Submitted by
matin lopez
a Racer
from seattle WA us of a
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2001
Strengths: supple cr-mo frame is suspension in itself...gobbles up the trail with a (heavy) smoothness.
Weaknesses: crap seat, aheadset kinda weak, pedals, and seatpost too short (for moi) and the rims/wheels really aren't great but whatcha want for the price?
Bottom Line:
well, after selling my dreamy 23lb brodie for rent money and determining to build something up myself for under $100 bones I came across this heavy honey at a local pawnshop...rear wheel was blowing apart so replaced that and seat...final tally was around $140 but still a pretty decent deal for not having to deal with the whole bike build-up thing. Other than its weight I actually think this (steel!) frame is pretty damn smooth...and much better than so many aluminum frames for same price or a bit more. It tracks great in slalom and downhill (nice long top tube) and is pretty decent on singletrack as well...i just can't get it to bunnyhop worth a damn...either because the stem is so short or its just too heavy and am not using clip-in pedals????? Whatever, its a decent ride for the money
Similar Products Used: Almost every bike? Brodie expresso, canondale various, carbon raleigh, specialized rockhopper, redline aluminum and on and on...owned so many only a few stick out mmm....BRODIE!
Bike Setup: as it came (unfortunately) but with ritchey seat (thanks receycled cycles!)
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Submitted by
Johnny Bravo
a Weekend Warrior
from Eastern, PA
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2001
Strengths: FRAME: I am a heavier rider (225) and the Chromoly frame is more stronger opposed to aluminum for a heavy rider and it is nice and stiff and handles well. FORK: Some people say that the RS JETT Bottoms out and all but I like it I never had a problem yet it gets the job done, now it ain't no marzhocci or anything but it does the job I guess? RIMS: The weinmann rims hold up no bends yet
Weaknesses: SEAT: As soon as you get this bike replace the seat your twig and berries will thnak you later trust me, this seat SUCKS! Its is like sitting on a rock!! Drivetrain: Well its not the worst but its not the best but it gets the job done for the most part? Crank: It works but I always get funny noises coming from it?? Tried to reslove it but to no avail.
Bottom Line:
If your looking for a good entry level bike and don't want to spend a lot but want to get a lot this is the bike for you. In addition you are buying a bike from a great company they really back up their products.
Similar Products Used: Trek 4500, Schwinn mesa, Giant Boulder, Fuji Thrill most low end entry levels
Bike Setup: Pretty much stock except for riser bar and better grips plan to upgrade the shock maybe with a manitou and possibly the drivetrain.
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Submitted by
Les
a Cross Country Rider
from Hampshire, UK
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2001
Strengths: cheap, solid, brakes, grip shift, well built
Weaknesses: Tingle Finger..!!!!!
Bottom Line:
Although I have only had this bike for less than three months I love it. Admittedly I don't have a wealth of mountain bike experience upon which to fall back, but I guess it must be said that a lot of my enthusiasm stems from the price per smile factor. I find the shocks to be adequate, I haven't had them bottom out on me yet despite some hairy encounters with varying heights of road matter. My bottom has acclimatised to the seat well enough, no problems there, but you want to know what bugs me most..??? Tingle finger..!!!!! Perhaps it's just because I'm right handed or used to hovering two fingers over the brake of a motorcycle when out and about, but my right pinky and it's neighbour always seem to end up numbing out for some reason, a change of grips and some cycle gloves have virtually eliminated this now, but it seems something of a weird situation all round, especially as the bike has front suspension..!! Any suggestions as to how to cure this would be most welcome. That aside, overall I have no qualms about the bike at all, it does what I ask of it, apart from me (only once) nothing has broken or fallen off, though special mention must go to the brakes, perhaps it was just the way it was set up but the first time I had to do a sharp braking manouevre my eyeballs almost popped out..!!! Excellent brakes in both wet and dry. As I said at the beginning, had I have paid a lot more for the bike I would have still been satisfied, but for $285.00 I have been doing some serious grinning lately. Prior to purchase I tested a number of other bikes in a similar price range and although my right pinky won't thank me for saying so, if you can get a Hardrock FS for a similar price, do it.
Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley, California, USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001
Strengths: Cheap, works fine, grip-shift
Weaknesses: heavy, rock shox jett
Bottom Line:
inexpensive, and it shows. I actually race on this bike, and it's seriously the only thing holding me back. That said, if you don't plan to actually take this bike off road, it is a perfect ride for the money.
Bike Setup: stock, but with lighter tires, a Serfas saddle and Rock Shox Judy SL's
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Submitted by
sumfukka
a Cross Country Rider
from Aurora, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2001
Bottom Line:
This is the bike my girlfriend decided on at the beginning of last summer. She had wanted a Giant Rincon SE as I was riding a Giant at the time, but the Rincon was pretty much impossible to find in a small so she began looking at alternatives. She bought this bike the day she test-rode it. I gave her my old bar-ends and eventually talked her into clipless (well on one side anyway) pedals. I'm not to sure if I like the adjustable rise stem or not. At this point I think she's ready for a normal one with a lower rise anyway. What I like about this bike: 1)CroMo, a well made CroMo frame will be close to Alum in weight and have a smoother ride. It will probably outlast anything Aluminum as well. 2)GripShift, for the beginner I think GripShift is easier to get the hang of. She was certainly more comfortable with it. 3)Group, the drivetrain and other components are in line for a bike at this pricepoint, and I believe Specialized spec'ed the bike well for the beginner. A Jett is still better than nothing at all, and most people buying this bike probably haven't had a bike with a suspension fork before, or at least a real one.
Favorite Trail: Palos from the Bullfrog Lake trailhead
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At: Bike Line of Naperville
Bike Setup: Shimano SPD 324s, Profile Design Bar Ends
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Submitted by
tom james
a Cross Country Rider
from kingston,wa.
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2001
Strengths: WONT BREAK. mid-range weight. forks are ok. this bike is pretty forgiving and corners alright. can be ridden anywhere anytime forever and it wont break. shocks smooth out ride and are very durable, handle bumps and curbs well. not to stiff but still lets you feel the trail. works great on the road or trail.
Weaknesses: rims kind of bad, replaced w/sun metal rhyno lite rims. also the grips SUCK, the cranks last about 1 year, and the pedals bite a##, they have a plastic bearing case that will crack at first hard jump. replace them when you buy the bike first. a little heavy. shocks bottom out easily and traction sucks
Bottom Line:
a really good bike for the money, great for entry level and good all the way up to intermediate class XC racing and novice class DH. almost unbreakable and handles well. can be thrashed. I say replace the seat cranks grips and pedals when you buy the bike, see if you can get a discount. handlebar is also worth replaceing as it is heavy and does not easily accept add ons. not great in terms of weight but handles well and is a good learner because it doesnt have any little quirks that will mess you up later. descends alright. Ideal buyer: newbie or weekend warrior who needs a bike that will also get him around town. Dont buy it if: You want a trail specific bike that will handle big drops. go for a trek 4900.
Bike Setup: rhyno lite rims (sun metal) Specialized male support seat michelin wildgripper tires
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Submitted by
Nate
a Weekend Warrior
from Crofton, MD
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2001
Strengths: Pretty good, forgiving, chromoly frame. It's a stable bike and handles corners well. I have ridden it hard in various conditions; it has a couple scratches but it's fine otherwise. Also has an adjustable stem. A great first bike, it falls within the price range of anyone on a budget.
Weaknesses: Crappy tires with very little traction. I upgraded these recently and the bike is a hell of a lot better. Also, the fork is low-end RockShox, but it's not terrible. It could be lighter also, and has the worst grips ever (but new ones are cheap)
Bottom Line:
Great first bike; great value. Needs some affordable upgrades for great performance. Upgrading the fork is optional, but a good idea if you have the money. Buy it and ride it hard.
Similar Products Used: GT Outpost, Mongoose aluminum hardtail
Bike Setup: I upgraded my tires and grips, as well as buying a pair of Specialized bar ends. I might upgrade the fork soon, but I won't need another bike for a long time.
Strengths: Really strong frame, actually I'm surprised of its incredible strength, since all the beating I've given to it in races and day long travels (and daily rides) hasn't been enough to brake it.
Weaknesses: None, considering the price I paid for this incredible bike.
Bottom Line:
This bike is a real mountain bike, not just an "entry-level" bike. Well, some people will prefer upgrading the fork, but it's not that bad. Actually, it really works, and it will resist all the beating you could ever give it.
Look, I'm a real mountainbiker. Besides racing against other bikers with much more expensive bikes, I ride everyday, up to four or more hours daily. I've done real day long rides, and my bike's taken through all of it PERFECTLY. Sincerely, you don't need XTR, or Avid brakes, or JUDY suspension fork, or a real light frame. If you're fit, you won't complain about any weight.
Buy this bike if you want one that will give you lots and lots of fun and REAL glory on races. BEsides you can take it whith you when exploring any mountain. And I've done it. If you speak Spanish, check out the following adresses:
www.xpmexico.com (everything you need is here)
www.meb.com.mx (México en Bicicleta - México on Bike)
Similar Products Used: Before this, I had a Mongoose. But, compared or not to the HardRock FS, it was crap.
Bike Setup: Just added some Diamondback barends. It has Alivio rear derailleur and Acera front, SRAM grip shift shifters, and some nameless linear pull brakes. Rock Shox JETT fork with preload adjusters.
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Submitted by
Brian Cheung
a Cross Country Rider
from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2001
Strengths: Strong frame Great handling Price Looks?
Weaknesses: Heavy for a hardtail
Bottom Line:
The parts are all XT since they are much better than standard and lighter too. The seatpost and seat makes a difference. The suspension needs to changed cos the standard ones were bottoming out... Had a crash and still intact so pretty cool bike for the money.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Cadd2 Klein Mantra Pro
Bike Setup: XT through out Thomson Elite Seat post Selle Ti seat Profile handle bars. standard wheels Kore RockShox XC
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Submitted by
Jay
a Weekend Warrior
from Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2001
Strengths: Frame, Rock Shox, tires/wheels, grip shift, brakes, etc a lot of decent stuff for the price
Weaknesses: Seat, upgrade it! Your twig and berries will thnak you male riders, handelbar/stem
Bottom Line:
This is a kick ass bike for the price, if your new to riding and dont want to spend alot but want to get a lot this is the ride. Shop around and compare other similiar bikes like the marin hawk mountain or trek 4300 or whatever else and go with what fits and what ou like. Compare specs and deals and go for it. But I was really happy with this bike when I had it it really held up, and specialized really backs up their bikes to the end!! Good luck now get out there and ride!!
Similar Products Used: GT, Trek 4300, gary fisher tassajara, and other entry level bikes
Bike Setup: STOCK
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Submitted by
Shane Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Kansas City
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2001
Strengths: Great price, Rock Shox Jett is a nice touch for the price, strong (and great looking) crank, "Monkey Vomit Green" is an awesome color
Weaknesses: Avilio Derailleur will be upgraded soon, the grip shift can be difficult to get a hold of quickly in sketchy situations. Buy your new pedals at the same time you buy this bike - maybe they'll give you a discount. I think Specialized threw these pedals on knowing they'd be replaced anyway.
Bottom Line:
I hate to hear it but it's a great first bike. If you've got the money to upgrade the main components - it would be a great second bike also. I bought mine hoping to just keep the dust from settling on it. Once I found some trails near my home - I couldn't stay off of it. The fork is great. I personally don't see the point of a MTB without one. I put about 50 miles a week on mine and there's no slow down in the near future.
Bike Setup: Specialized Body Symmetry saddle, Race Face Prodigy Handle Bar (Stock is too wide) Kore Lite 3 stem. (XT Derailleur and Shimano 848 pedals coming soon)
