Recreational XC Hardtail
A reliable, efficient and trail-tough hardtail that packs a ton of performance into a light and easy-to-love package. Maybe you're just rediscovering riding, or perhaps just discovering the unbeatable joy of exploring long, fast, sweet trails. With nearly 25 years of continual refinement and race-bred performance trickled down from our Stumpjumper line, the Rockhopper is a reliable, efficient and trail-tough hardtail that packs a whole lot of performance into one easy package. The Rockhopper's entirely redesigned frame is lighter than ever and classically tuned for trail riding, with just the right blend of quickness and composure.
Submitted by
flopyphish
a Weekend Warrior
from Provo, UT, USA Date Reviewed: January 26, 2010
Favorite Trail:
Slick Rock (Moab)
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$521.00
Purchased At:
JORGENSEN BICYCLES
Strengths:
Frame, Front Shock,
Weaknesses:
Derailleurs
Similar Products Used:
HardRock
Bike Setup:
Base Model
Bottom Line:
The 2009 Specialized Rockhopper (MSRP $610) is worth every penny you pay. When looking at its component configuration you’ll see that compared to other mid-tier mountain bikes, the RockHopper has the best overall value. It is sturdy, relatively light weight, and the components work well. When comparing it to the HardRock (MSRP $390) you can tell that it has a much more aggressive and sturdy feel. Having ridden the two bikes it is apparent that the HardRock is a low-end mountain bike. Although the HardRock does well for those with no desire to become aggressive riders, when it comes to someone who wants to jump headfirst into some more difficult mountain biking, the RockHopper is by far the best choice. By paying just a couple hundred dollars more than the cost of the HardRock, you’ll get a riding experience very comparable to that of the StumpJumper (MSRP $1550). Although the RockHopper’s mid-tier components (such as the derailleurs) demonstrate this bike is not made for top level competition and day after day beatings on the trail, taking it out once a week and making sure to keep it tuned will ensure that it always rides smooth. This bike is very well built. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame, an excellent front shock (RockShox Dart 3), and if you upgrade with a cheap pair of clipless pedals, no trail will stand a chance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
daleksic
a Cross Country Rider
from Orlando, Florida, USA Date Reviewed: May 30, 2009
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Bike Works
Strengths:
Cheap. Reliable. Will grow with you. Indestructible. Light, 27lbs to start.
Weaknesses:
It comes with cheap components, especially the cassette (SRAM 830) which was done after 400 miles. My LBS upgraded to an 850 for free and now I run an 8-speed XT with a SRAM 890 chain and it's solid.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock.
Bike Setup:
Rockhopper Base, upgraded to Avid BB7 Disk brakes, Avid Ti Levers, DT Swiss 420SL Wheels, shorter Stem, 8-speed XT Cassette and SRAM 890 chain. Upgraded all cables/wires.
Bottom Line:
Great Bike for the Money, nothing else comes close. This is a bike you buy as a beginner and grow with; upgrade stuff as it wears out or breaks and it just keeps on working. I started with small rides on weekends; now i use it for Urban Assaults, Jumps, XC Rides, Black Diamond Trails, etc...
As your riding level increases you will find yourself upgrading to better components. Fork should be good for 2-3 years before you need to upgrade. I will definitely recommend to go with the Disk version rather than the V-brakes, however the Alex wheels this thing comes with are good enough for Yellow and Blue trails only and won't hold up beyond that once you get more aggressive.
My wife told me that I can upgrade to the Stumpjumper when my Rockhopper brakes.... no luck yet ;)
The bottom line is that if you can afford go with the Highend (or Higher end) Rockhopper or Stumpjumper HT as they come with better forks (2nd most expensive think on your bike), if not the base rockhopper has the same frame as the more expensive one and you can always build on it. If budget is an issue look at the HardRock as it is a solid Bike as well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
FireLikeIYA
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilbert, AZ Date Reviewed: May 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
South Mountain Classic
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$660.00
Purchased At:
Global Bike Shop
Strengths:
Great geometry, Comfortable seat, Light for the $, fast rolling tires, comfortable grips, decent rear shifting, Dart 3 fork, lifetime frame warranty, free tune ups for life from LBS I bought it from. Overall good beginer bike.
Weaknesses:
Not much bike for $. Cranks, pedals, poor front shifting that constantly needs to be adjusted, fast rolling tires dont stick in sand, doesn't have lock-on grips, back rim was not straight from new, rims are week for heavier riders (190 lbs +), Didnt realize how much that Dart 3 weighed until I upgraded.
Similar Products Used:
none. First mtn bike
Bike Setup:
All stock except: Rockshox SID Team with pushloc, ODI Ruffian lock-on grips, SRAM X.9 shifters and front/rear derailleurs, XTR cn-7701 chain, SLX cranks, XT cassette, AVID SL brake levers, Panaracer XC tires.
Bottom Line:
Good beginner bike. I upgraded mine only because my brother offered to buy my parts. Bought the bike to mainly ride around the neighborhood with the family and occasionally go mtn biking. Ended up really liking the mtn bike thing. After upgrading I can notice a difference in quality of parts. Would not recommend this bike if you are a novice and this is coming from someone who has only mtn biked for 6 months, however, my bike is lighter than a stumpjumper HT and cost me a couple hundred less in the end after upgrades.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
TMosBiking
a Weekend Warrior
from Portsmouth, NH, USAQ Date Reviewed: April 30, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Sunday River - Any Techical Trail
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$750.00
Purchased At:
Don't Remember
Strengths:
Light weight, compact, responsiveness to quick changes, gears...etc. Great from New Hampshire to Florida enviorments. Hard tail but packs a great punch for a rider that wants to feel the trail... Not created for the rider that has a soft rearend and does not want to use their legs.
Weaknesses:
After over ten years of use...I guess I could say it shows some signs of rust after riding on the beaches in Florida. OK...not to much of weakness.
Similar Products Used:
Loyal to my bike...don't rider others.
Bottom Line:
I would not only suggest to a friend but would put my life on it. I hope I can find a hard core weekend warrior to pass my bike on to in about ten years. GREAT BIKE!!! Mountain bikes are about a bike that can handle the challenges and make you feel good about your tactical or tecnhical accomplishments. AGAIN GREAT BIKE!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
surrealchef
a Weekend Warrior
from Tennessee Date Reviewed: April 22, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Many To Come
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Shop (reall
Weaknesses:
Snapped the derailleur hanger on the first trip (easy urban assault) as well as broke the chain in the process...found air bubbles in the metal...apparent manufacturers flaw. Front shock was leaking at purchase...shop replaced all parts with no questions asked.Saddle is terrible and already replaced. Shimano Alivio shifters suck.
Bike Setup:
Upgrading thus far
Bottom Line:
Fantastic value for the cost. Strong and light frame. Fair components for the novice. It did not take me (a novice) long to figure out what I wanted to upgrade. I have put about $300.00 in upgrades on and I am EXTREMELY happy with this bike purchase!!!!! I must say that this bike was just fine (stock) without any upgrades!... But what is money if you cant spend it on dumb stuff!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gail Taffet
a Weekend Warrior
from Smyrna, DE Date Reviewed: March 28, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Street Rider
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$479.00
Purchased At:
Bike Sport
Strengths:
Light frame
Easy Shifting
Comfortable Handling
Weaknesses:
None to this point
Similar Products Used:
Haved not owned anything similar
Bottom Line:
After experiencing the ride of this 2008 Specialized Rockhopper I would definitely purchase another Incredibly smooth and comfortable ride and the Gloss Flo Red color is just beautiful I could not be happier with my purchase I am a careful rider and keep this bike in pristine condition so it should last for years to come
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lady
a Cross Country Rider
from Washigton state Date Reviewed: March 15, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Priest Lake, Idaho
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Spokane
Strengths:
runs everywhere, sand, rocks, mountains
Weaknesses:
had some problems with switching speed higher
Similar Products Used:
my first in states
Bike Setup:
....
Bottom Line:
I loved this bike, i got it when i got to states and now i had to give it away and i looking forward buying another one. there were a few reasons why i got it. First of all my dad (he is a professional biker) thought that it would be a good bike, the quality. And another reason is was not expensive! I had just about 1000$ to spend for two bikes, cuz i wanted to get the same one for my brother.
We spent so much time, every day during summer and every evening spring and fall. We took them to mountains in Idaho and had a great experience! they run everywhere.
I just miss it so much...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cth978
a Weekend Warrior
from Dracut, MA Date Reviewed: February 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
dracut state forest
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
foxco bike shop
Strengths:
great bike if your just starting out like myself. light bike. climbs very smooth. downhill not so bad either. has great potential with the right upgrades.
Weaknesses:
front shocks tend to bottom out alot if you hitting moderate jumps. rear deraileur has failed me a couple of times. weak rims.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
06 rockhopper. avid bb7 mechanical discs. 160mm front and back. crank brothers 50/50 pedals.
Bottom Line:
if your gonna go out for the weekend and go for a ride then this bike is great to do that. if your lookin to take on mountains then this isnt the bike for you. it has a great feel to it but prob and could prob. take some punishment but most likely coulnt stand up to some serious agressive riding. specialized makes some of the best bikes out there and whether your paying $5,000 or $500 your gonna get a quality bike. bottom line is get this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike_d_1583
a Cross Country Rider
from cincinnati, ohio Date Reviewed: January 13, 2009
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Montomery Cyclery
Strengths:
Bought this bike back in '04.Very solid frame for the price range. Put some Panaracers on it and the handling is awesome. Take care of the bike and it will last forever.
Weaknesses:
Weak stock rims. Make sure to check the chainring bolts every once in awhile if you do alot of trail riding and small jumps. Would have been nice if the cables were internal instead of running down the down tube, mud can easily clog cables. Found the first frame fracture by the headset today. Maybe the frame is to thin in the spot, or could be just natural wear.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock
Bike Setup:
Shimano Saint M801 rear derailleur
Race Face triple chainring
DMR V8 Pedals
Panaracer Fire XC pro tires
Sun Rhyno Lite XL rims
Thompson Elite seat post
SRAM 991 Cross-Step chain
Shimano HG-61 9sp cassette
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the person starting out or the seasoned biker.
This is a great deal, try finding another bike with all this for the same price. Also very light, great for racing. Climbs great and takes downhill sections well for a hardtail. Perfect geometry for singletrack, just lower the seatpost to have more wiggle room.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
al saad
a Cross Country Rider
from Sarajevo Date Reviewed: December 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
trails around sarajevo
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Ciklocentar Sarajevo
Strengths:
great handling, excellent rigidity, very good cornering, can take a drop
Bike acts very well on different trails, and I ride mostly gravel roads, forest tracks, fire roads, singletracks. It is rather comfortable, I use to ride 50-100 km daily on trails but feel much less pain than on my previous bike. bike is also handled very good in different conditions due to wide riser and short stem. I have replaced stock bb5 with juicy 5, and stock pedals with wellgo clipless control is much improved.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Biker Kai
a Cross Country Rider
from Scottish Borders Date Reviewed: December 30, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Glentress
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$510.00
Purchased At:
Edinburgh Bicycle
Strengths:
Frame!
Weaknesses:
Nothing in particular but it is clearly built down to the price point with lower spec components. I bought this for the frame as I broke the rear drop outs on my previous bike so I was always going to transfer over the good components.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock Disc
Kona Caldera
Bike Setup:
Fork: Rockshox Reba SL Dual Air
Brakes: Avid Juicy 5 (185mm disc at the front)
Wheelset: M:Wheel, Shimano Deore hubs & Mavic XC717 rims
Handlebar: about to replace with a Control Tech SUP MTB Scandium bar (wider, lower & lighter than stock item)
Grips: Race Face Heaven & Hell, a surpisingly effective (and cheap) mod.
Tyres: 2.3" Kenda Tomac Nevegal
Bottom Line:
Great frame, light and responsive. IMHO this is an excellent platform for upgrading.
I use this bike in the local hills where I live and also at trail centres. Its capability exceeds my ability so no problems there!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tooth McGavin
a Cross Country Rider
from St Charles, Illinois, USA Date Reviewed: November 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Spring Lake
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Local Bike Shop
Strengths:
Strong frame. Takes plenty of beatings
Weaknesses:
Bottom Bracket is terrible. Price. Handlebars were weak. rims.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 6000
Bike Setup:
Easton EA50 Bars.
Avid BB7 Mechanical Disc Brakes.
Mavic CrossRide Rims.
LX components.
Sram chain and cassette.
Michelin Cross Country Tires
Rock Shox Judy.
Specialized Grips.
Bottom Line:
Great Bike. Amazing for beginner riders. I have owned mine for over 7 years now and I am just getting ready to sell it. Awesome bike though, takes on any trail you throw at it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mfanelli81
a Weekend Warrior
from Winter Springs, FL Date Reviewed: October 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Snow Hill (really its any trail in Ithica, NY ....born and raised in Syracuse)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Bike Works
Strengths:
Frame! hands down (aslo....it was a gift from the girlfriend....thanks babe! :) )
Weaknesses:
its compents are weak and the wheels are the weakest I've seen.
Similar Products Used:
pogo stick
Bike Setup:
Upgraded to BB7 brakes/Jagwire Ripcord cable and Mavic 729 rims/Halo Spin Dotor Hubs(36)....Everything else is stock (replace as I break)
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for the money. You can end up building a pretty sweet bike as compents start to break (which they will). Since the frame is the best part you have a good base/foundation to go off of. With that said the compents are defently weak and will eventually have to be replaced. I have only had this bike for about 6 months and I have bent my front derailur (bent it back and works fine) and the pedals are better for leaving a marks on your shins, roots and rocks then actually riding(low clearence to the ground...175mm). So if you ride over anything really technical you may get annoyed. I have decided to ditch the front derailur and go with a single speed up front (saint m-800-1...165mm). Can't wait for x-mas to come so I can install.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bmplace
a Weekend Warrior
from Houghton MI Date Reviewed: October 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Time trials
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Ray's Bike shop, Mid
Strengths:
light frame for price, good shifting, comfortable ride
I use this bike to go to class but also hit the trails on the weekends. This bike is a great base for upgrades the frame is the best part on it and everything else is good but can be upgraded I have done a few upgrades to it and will do more. over all great bike and well worth the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bikerman24
a Weekend Warrior
from Date Reviewed: September 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
NoHuman in Wharncliffe
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
not bad bike components bought for cousin got cheap
Weaknesses:
the wheel set and the tires are crap. Derailleur got bent because of a tree, my bad.
Similar Products Used:
yeti 575,
Bike Setup:
maverick 2008 ml8 with Fox Racing Shox 32 Vanilla RLC
Bottom Line:
The bike is good for beginners to the whole idea or biking. the front fork is decent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clootie
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Louis MO Date Reviewed: August 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Chubb
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$590.00
Purchased At:
Mesacycles
Strengths:
Great Frame,surprisingly light.
Weaknesses:
wheel set, components.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Tassajara
Bike Setup:
2008 Rockhopper-Mavic rims/Chris King hubs wheelset, ODI grips,Deore XT pedals, and Avid Single Digit Ti brakes.
Bottom Line:
I love the geometry of the frame.I ride 50+ miles a week of fairly technical trails with the occasional race thrown in and I know that at some point in the future I will have to replace nearly every component. The wheels are junk, the alivio derailleurs are junk, ditto with the acera shifters. The paint on the frame is very thin and chips way to easy and the headset creeks like a bed in a brothel.
Despite the bad I still think this is a very good bike and would be great deal for the occasional rider. I actually don't have any complaints about the fork as it does pretty good job for a cheap fork. I use multiple brands/styles tires for multiple trail conditions and find that the stock fast traks are great for packed dirt single track.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kuru
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore, MD, USA Date Reviewed: July 14, 2008
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Good solid, dependable bike. I rode one for 7 years before I finally cracked the frame.
Weaknesses:
The original fork was not great but not too bad either. The original wheelset was weak.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent entry level bike. If you are looking for a first bike but do not want to spend a lot, give this one serious consideration.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Miriam
a Weekend Warrior
from Marysville, OH Date Reviewed: June 26, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$600.00
Strengths:
Light bike, handles amazingly, shifts pretty well, comfortable for long rides.
Weaknesses:
The stock tires are not the best for climbing, they slip quite a bit on the loose stuff. The pedals really need to be upgraded if you want to ride a lot. The seat is not too bad, but there are more comfortable ones out there. If you can, get the disc brakes, they are probably worth the extra $100... I wish I would have.
Bike Setup:
Changed the seat and put toe clips on the pedals until I am ready to upgrade to clip-less.
Bottom Line:
I've had this bike for about a year now, and I thought I would give it a re-review.
I ride this bike at least twice a week (off-road) and I have to say that I'm definitely not disappointed. It is really light, which is awesome, and it handles extremely well. After riding a few trails I had some friends test it out, and immediately after they sat on it and rode around the parking lot, they were impressed with the bike.
The only things I would change are:
-Get the disc brake version if you can!!! The brakes are not really good, and after riding the trails I always ride with a bike that had disc brakes, I know that I should have spent the extra $100 for the brakes.
- It is a GREAT beginner bike, but if you start riding a lot, you might want to get new pedals. My feet would slip off of the pedals all the time and I ended up with really bad bruises and scratches on my legs.
- The seat is not too bad, I just happened to have a more comfortable bike seat around and put it on.
Overall, great bike for the price, definitely a MUST for beginners! It is a lot of fun to ride, and the components are actually pretty decent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
zachgator8937
a Cross Country Rider
from Chattanooga, TN, USA Date Reviewed: June 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Megawatt, Raccoon Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$520.00
Purchased At:
River City Bicycles
Strengths:
light for the price- 27 lbs. with Kenda Small Block Eight 1.95 tires, fork lockout really helps- once youve used one you cant live without it
Weaknesses:
Rockshox Dart 3 fork stiffens up so much in cold weather it feels locked out, brakes are weak- spending the extra hundred dollars for disc brakes would be worth it, stock tires and tubes are heavy
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
stock except for Kenda Small Block Eight 1.95 tires
Bottom Line:
a good bike for the money but definitely go for the disc brake version if you can afford it. great bike for beginners though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Delphi IN USA Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
kickapoo St Park.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$588.00
Purchased At:
Hodsons Bay Company
Strengths:
Its a light nimble bike great for single track. I have also found that it climbs very well.
Weaknesses:
The bars and break levers are weak but all of the other components are worth the price.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the price!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mbriggs2
a Weekend Warrior
from Flagstaff/Tucson, AZ and Denver,CO Date Reviewed: June 17, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$570.00
Purchased At:
Tucson Bicycles
Strengths:
Frame, Most Components, Fork, Seat (surprisingly!)
Weaknesses:
Tires
Similar Products Used:
'90s Trek 950
Bike Setup:
Stock...for now
Bottom Line:
I am a 20-something college student who was looking for something to use as a commuter bike, but that would also perform on the trails virtually every weekend. It sounds like a simple request, but finding something to fit this request was actually a little difficult.
I grew up riding my dad's Trek (trusting father, I know!) and thought it was a pretty good bike. When I started my trek (HA!) for a new bike I first looked at Trek because it was really the only trustworthy brand I knew. I found the 4500 online, which looked like it would work and was in my price range (remember: COLLEGE STUDENT), but wasn't too striking. I thought it would be best to keep an open mind and take other brands into consideration as well. I found the Specialized Rockhopper online and thought it looked pretty cool. I talked to a friend who rides a Specialized road bike and she told me how much she loves hers.
I went to look at the Rockhopper before the 4500 and instantly fell in love. The fit was perfect, it felt like a solid bike, and looked AMAZING (green paint which is just really cool). I knew that there was no need to look at the 4500.
About a week later I bought the bike from Tucson Bikes (amazing people. Super reliable and really nice. They know what they are doing.) and was riding it around on the streets that day.
So far I have put about 10-20 miles per day almost everyday on it, both on and off road, for about a month. Simply put, I would marry this bike if I could (don't tell my girlfriend!). It has done everything I ask of it all without complaining. On the road it climbs and descends the concrete like no other. I have had very little problem shifting and breaking and the lockout feature on the Rock Shox is great for climbing hills. The seat is actually amazingly comfortable for what it is (plastic, fabric, and a tiny bit of foam) and the ride on the road is very smooth.
Off road is really where this bike performs. I never realized how much the Trek was actually riding ME until I took my Specialized on a few trails. With the Trek I had to wrestle it around every turn and it always felt like I was just holding on for dear life. With the Specialized I feel like it is responding to my every request, letting me do what I want, not just taking me along for the ride. One of the most outstanding things on the trail is the fork (Rock Shox Dart 3). It has tons of travel and sucks up the bumps making for a smooth ride.
I do have to say that the tires are not very good off road. Actually, they are horrendous. On hardpack they are acceptable, but anything looser and they feel very squirrely. I am still very cautious in the dirt corners. I guess that's what you get for tires that work both on and off road though.
Bottom line: I would recommend this bike to anyone in the beginner to advanced range. The frame is solid and feels like it will last a lifetime. The only thing this bike can't do is psychotic downhill racing where you need full suspension. Other than that, it will do anything your heart desires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Kissimmee, FL, USA Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Santos
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
BikeWorks
Strengths:
Overall great bike, nothing better out there for the price.
Weaknesses:
Deraileurs could have been a class higher.
Similar Products Used:
Rockhopper, Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
Time Attac Z Pedals, SD Ti Brake levers, Koolstop brake pads, RaceFace Bashguard, Spring upgrade on the Dart 3 fork.
Bottom Line:
I've tried to HardRock and it was too heavy, i've tried the Stumpjumper and even though it is a great bike it was a little hard to justify the high cost for a "getting back into biking" bike. I've dropped 400 miles (50/50 on/off road)and just about everything is awesome. It has the Stumpy M4 frame which is a hughe upgrade from the A1. I can't seem to scratch the paint of the frame either regardless how often I dropped it. I don't know how people bend up their wheels I sure can't (trust I tried, i want to get lighter wheels and upgrade to discs).
The only thing was the brake levers are garbage, I had to upgrade to AVID Single Digit Ti, as well as the brake pads had to be upgraded to the KoolStop pads.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt h
a Weekend Warrior
from parlin, nj Date Reviewed: May 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
6 mile run
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
Highgear
Strengths:
Weight, value
Weaknesses:
None, considering the price. If I wanted better parts, then I would paid more for higher end model.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock Sport.
Bike Setup:
Shimano M324 SPD Pedals. Specialized BG Comfort Plus saddle.
Bottom Line:
I love this Bike. Used it on single tracks, packed dirt and just to cruise. Took many falls with it but the Bike works just well. I took it to the NYC Fibo tour last week with Specilized Hemisphere tires. I previously had Hardrock Sport and I just wanted similar quality in lighter weight. Rockhopper came with slightly better parts and weighed much less. Highly recommend for any weekend worriers like me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chad D.
a Cross Country Rider
from San Marcos, TX, USA Date Reviewed: May 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Trespassing on ranch land
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$520.00
Purchased At:
Pedal Power Bicycles
Strengths:
Strong frame and rides extremely smooth. The rock shoxs with the lock out is a must if you plan on ascending on hilly roads or loose dirt. The V brakes work are good but if you ride down mountains I would recommend that you should buy the disc brakes.
Weaknesses:
The manufacture tires are more for flat/small hill riding rather than loose dirt and rocks. I have slipped a few but no serious accidents so far. Other than that for a XC bike it's awesome for the buck.Oh yeah, get a new seat.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 4300 and 4500, Kona Blast, GF Wahoo and Marlin
Bike Setup:
2008 STOCK, YELLOW, 23"
Bottom Line:
Great bike, great buy so far.I can't wait to start upgrading on newer components once I break the original ones or wear them out. I have put this bike through some serious abuse already going down extremely rocky single tracks. This is a great bike for people wanting to get grim in XC riding. I live in central Texas and you can never expect what kind on terrain you might run into. The bike handles great on rocky creek bottoms, gravel trails, steep dirt trails although expect some slippage with the stock tires. The only thing I would have done different is save up more money for a bike with front and back suspension$$$
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steven
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Date Reviewed: April 16, 2008
2003 Rockhopper in blue Body Geometry seat Rhino Lite wheelset new tires new bar grips
Bottom Line:
Overall,a great hardtail, frame is really nice but you may want to get a new seat , I personally do not like the feel of the stock and it makes the bike look bad. Changed wheels on mine because I bent them :(. A little more expensive than some other stuff out there that is just as good but its worth it for the frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joel Aguilera
a Weekend Warrior
from La Quinta, Ca Date Reviewed: March 13, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$590.00
Purchased At:
Palm Desert Cyclery
Strengths:
Great Feeling, Lightweight, Smooth, Durable.
Weaknesses:
I am to new to the game to really complain about anything... LOL
Similar Products Used:
Tested Trek, Giant in the same price range cant remember exact models...
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I purchase this bike to get back into riding, and so far I'm loving it! I read so many reviews on MTBR, everything was positive, so I gave it a try... After testing many bikes, this just felt right. Its held up to everything I have thrown at it so far. So for my first real mountain bike purchase I couldnt ask for more!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from College Station, TX, USA Date Reviewed: February 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Lake Bryan
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$590.00
Purchased At:
Aggieland Cycling
Strengths:
Great Frame, Great Price, Good Equipment for Price
Weaknesses:
Pedals, Bottom bracket super low
Similar Products Used:
Trek 4500, Giant Yukon
Bike Setup:
Stock, just a pump and some lights
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike to step up into true cross-country mountain biking. I heavily consulted MTBR and the local mountain bikers that I knew. Every recommendation pointed me toward Specialized, and in particular the Rockhopper line. Since I'm a college student on a budget, the entry level would have to do.
Buying this bike is like buying a V6 Camaro. It's great, but not stellar. However, should I want to make it that great, it'll take some investment. That said, it tears up the trails here amazingly well for an entry-level "high-end" bike.
The front fork is good, the lockout is good for riding on campus. I've not had any problems with the wheels, but I go easy on hopping curbs and logs on the trails. The tires are a bit iffy on loose terrain, but they'll get the job done until they're worn out. The shifters are fantastic, I love them. The brakes are good and strong, not quite disc power, but I don't need all that around these mostly flat trails. The front derailleur is good enough to get the job done. The rear is fantastic and has only once had a balky shift. That might have been more related to the rider than anything. I do notice a lot of chain slap on rough trails, I'll probably have to get a bash guard at some point. The seat is fantastic, and I have no complaints.
Overall, the Rockhopper a great way to start off in mountain biking and I am extremely happy with my purchase. Every part of the frame is high quality, which is exactly why I went with the Specialized. Even if components break, I know the frame will take the abuse and come back for more.
Recommended.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brent
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, FL, USA Date Reviewed: January 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Little Big Econ
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$570.00
Purchased At:
Orange Cycle
Strengths:
M4 frame, front fork, lightweight, overall good bike for price
Weaknesses:
Pedals, tires (comfortable but really sketchy in corners), front dérailleur, front wheel keeps coming out of true
Bike Setup:
08 Rockhopper w/ Welgo WAM-B25 pedals and Continental Explorers in front
Bottom Line:
I've just gotten seriously into mountain biking within the last year, and my early 90's rigid Mongoose that I still had from when I was in high school wasn't cutting it.
For the money, this is a great bike. The components could be (a lot) better, but you can't expect that much for under 600. The Specialized Fast Track tires are crap. They don't hold traction in tight corners at all, and the sidewall on the front tire tore during a blowout, so the shop replaced it with Cont. Explorers. I plan on upgrading to Hutchinson Barracudas front and back soon.
The front dérailleur's worthless, but that's not a huge deal if you live in a flat state like Florida, and I would definitely suggest upgrading the pedals asap.
This bike also isn't the best for really technical trails, but it's not really designed for that. I'm hoping to pick up a used full suspension all-mountain ride at some point for more technical riding and keeping the Rockhopper for smoother trails
I've had a great time on this bike so far. If you're just getting into mountain biking or you're just strapped for cash (or both), the Rockhopper is a great value.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Thomas Coffin
a Weekend Warrior
from Manquin, Va. USA Date Reviewed: December 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Buttermilk/ North trail loop
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Agee's Bicycles
Strengths:
Frame. Frame, Frame. Also Price.
Weaknesses:
Front shocks, crankset, bb, wheels, tires, brakes. seat and post
Similar Products Used:
Shwinn Mesa
Bike Setup:
Manitou Axel shocks, Truvativ crankset, Shimano square taper BB, Lizard skins grips, Veulta Starlite rims. Avid Juicy disk brakes, Deore XT shifters,WTB Weirwolf 2.3 tires, Thudbuster seatpost, Specialized gel seat. Shimano Deore XT front and rear derailer. Wellgo clippless pedals.
Bottom Line:
This is a re-review after having the bike for some time. I have had to upgrade everything on it, as I am a rider that puts 100 miles on it a week. At the time of purchase, I did not have the money to buy a better bike, so I chose this one. After I started wearing parts out, I replaced the with better parts. Ebay is great for this as I have got parts for a fraction of the cost than I would at the LBS. With this bike, you have to change the rims to accomodate for disk brakes. I bought the Vuelta Starlights from Bikeworld.com for 169.00. Nashbar was selling them for 399.00 a set. I got a deal. The are great, and I have had no problems with them. I replaced the BB in the first year, as a square taper tends to break very easy. This summer, I am going to get a new crank set, so I will get a differnet set up as far as the bb goes. Not sure what, I have time to think about it. I upgraded the seat post to a Cane Creek Thudbuster. Takes the edge off the drops, but still keeps the traditional hardtail function for hill climbing. I like the upgrade to my Weirwolf tires. Nice bite over the stock wheels, but a slow roll to them. I might try the duel compound Nevengals the next time. Not as sticky, maybe a better roll? Disk brakes are great, don't go cheap. My juicy's are good for mech. disk brakes. Hydros are just too expensive. Bike came with Alivio shifters, Alivio Front derailer. I would suggest to "Alivio" them home and upgrade to the Deore XT. Fast shifts, especially on uphill climbs. I like the Deore stock rear derailer, but when the hanger bent on a rock, I just changed it to an XT. Worth the money. Overall, this frame is so solid, I think this bike will last forever, as long as I keep up the maintainance and repair or replace the broken parts. I love this hardtail, especially how I have it set up now. It is yellow and black, looks like a bumblebee. I get lot's of looks as it is a flashy color. If you like an entry level bike, then this is for you. Keep in mind though, that you will need to upgrade if you do any real single track riding. The Rockhopper Disk Comp will be a good upgrade from the start. It is about 200 more than the Rockhopper, but it is better equipped. I have 1500.00 invested in my bike in three years. Some say I should have bought a FS at that price. Well, Richmond VA. is flat, and a FS is more for downhill, so no need for one of those. Plus, I like to feel the trail as I ride. It is mountain biking afer all, you will feel the bumps every once and awhile. I recently took up road biking too, so that lets my tired 36 year old body recover from the trail rides I put it through. Overall, this is the best bike in it's class, hands down. I have enjoyed it evry time I have ridden it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
doug lewis
a Cross Country Rider
from ssf ca usa Date Reviewed: December 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
any trail at el corte de madera
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$499.00
Purchased At:
american cyclery
Strengths:
best bang for the buck.awesome trail handling
Weaknesses:
kept breaking spokes in the rear. v brakes constantly needed adjusting completely wore out pads in 6 months
Similar Products Used:
trek santa cruz
Bike Setup:
upgraded to cyclepro rims with xt hubs to cure problem with breaking spokes and added avid bb5 cable disc brakes odi lockon grips otherwise as equipped for 2007 rockhopper
Bottom Line:
for the type of riding i do i should have bought the bike a little better equipped (disc brakes!)i would have saved money to buy it properly equipped instead of upgrading it later. but otherwise i love this bike i highly recommend
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mo petkov
a Racer
from Ithaca.N.Y Date Reviewed: November 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
shindagin
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$540.00
Purchased At:
TheBikeRack
Strengths:
I like the front fork I also LOVE the frame.the crank is light and so are the drailers. if you like shimanos push pull shifters but don't like Shimano you might like the SRAM push pull shifters on the Rock Hopper.
Weaknesses:
the handle bars are a bit to thin in circumfrence to fit a light.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Hopper pro disc (a friends bike)
Bike Setup:
2005 rockhopper with nashbar barends
Bottom Line:
I LOVE this bike I recamend for peapol to try this bike out espesaly peapol how have week legs (no offense)or racers like me for weight.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zach
a Weekend Warrior
from Texas Date Reviewed: September 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
POLICE BIKE COP- Anywhere they wanna run! :)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
LBS - Lubbock, TX
Strengths:
It has a great solid frame that's light and has more of a race feel to it. It also comes with some decent componets for the price. Bike also allows for complete upgrade!
Weaknesses:
Stem, derailleurs, and pedals. O, and need a bashgaurd or or it will eat loose fitting patol pants. haha
Similar Products Used:
Trek and Giant
Bike Setup:
Police Set-up: 19" Bike Upgraded Specialiazed XC Mountian Stem S-Works Carbon Bars ODI Grips w/ Lock On End Plugs WTB Peddals Power Grip Straps Panaracer Tires Marwi "The Slammer" Police Lights Cycle Siren Mini-Siren Cycle Siren Mini-Siren Upgraded Tail Lights (red/blue) Inertia Designs Expandable Trunk Bag Vetta VL 110HD Computer
Bottom Line:
This review is more geared to the Police Bike Officer, but will have some good insite for the others.
I bought this bike out of my own pocket knowing that I would also want to take it out on some trails every now and then for personal use. So far it has been a great set up for the money, even b4 upgrades. The travel on the front suspension is great for taking curbs and steps w/out problems and the Lock Out is a MUST needed for beating the streets up. The derailleurs need to be upgraded after purchase. Going off curbs, not to mention stairs, the front d sometimes allows the chain to drop down off its gear causing problems when in a hurry. With a little tunning of the front d, that issue has gotten better. The front stem was a little weak for mounting lights and the alike up front. For a police bike, Disc breaks was not something that high on the needs list. Either way I would not bother buying the Disc-Cable breaks... If you are in need of Disc breaks go for a hydraulic set-up!
Things that I will be upgrading soon will be the Front and Rear Derailleurs, Carbon Seat Post, Spinergy Wheels, Hydralic Breaks and maybe possiblily trying the E-13 DRS soon.
Bottom line... When you start looking for Police package bikes (Trek, Fuji, S&W) you will be needing to spend in the $1000 price range for a decent all day rideable set-up. I have those beat in price and will eat any of the Police package bikes put up against me in the urban "police" enviroment. I will also weigh less, even when loaded w/ gear. haha The Specialized has taken the police enviroment beating and all around abuse. Either way this bike has held up unbelievable and it will have a long life ahead of it. I would say take a long look into this bike for putting together a Police Bike. The packages are nice (all in one) but they also aren't near the bike that for the same money you can put together yourself.
I give it 4 on the Value because they could have beefed up the stem and used better derailleurs(which I think they have done on the 08')
5 for Overall because for the price... You can't beat specialized!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Miriam S
a Weekend Warrior
from Marysville, OH Date Reviewed: September 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$629.00
Strengths:
Light, easy to setup/ride, good components, price is very decent for what this bike has to offer.
Weaknesses:
Pedals need to be upgraded to at least toe-clips! I wish I would have spent the extra $100 for disc brakes, but these aren't all that bad.
Bottom Line:
This is the first bike I've purchased (not the first I've been on) and I'm pretty satisfied. I'm a beginner/intermediate and it's been great so far!
I was looking for a moderately priced bike so I can learn and get my skills up, and this was definitely a great choice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel A
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, Florida, USA Date Reviewed: August 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Santos
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Bikeworks - Orlando
Strengths:
Feather light, decent components, a pleasure to ride
Weaknesses:
ProMax Brakes are sub standard, first thing to be upgraded
Bike Setup:
08 Rockhopper, AVID Single Digit TI Levers and calipers, Koolstop Pads.
Bottom Line:
This is by far the best bike in its price class. The bike is very light, and stable in all conditions.
The only complaint I have was the brakes as they faded after a few miles on the trail. I since replaced the brakes with the AVID Single Digit TI (Levers and calipers) and got me the Koolstop MTB Salmon/black pads. I outbreak my friends with more expensive Disk break setups.
I shopped far and long for a bike and i was drawn to this bike from the beginning. I think i test rode just about anything that's available in the sub $700 price class and the Rockhopper was (to me) the best.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
josh wise
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgia Date Reviewed: August 16, 2007
Favorite Trail:
bartrum forest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Strengths:
great frame, can not destroy it! after riding it and pushing it I have hardly even scratched the frame! good price! fork is good (i'm 240 pds and do no bottom it out)
Weaknesses:
pedals suck...upgrade ASAP...as do wheels..2 broken spokes in 2 months...cables should be replaced as well, I have already frayed almost all the cable ends.
Similar Products Used:
marin hybrid, janis aroura
Bike Setup:
stock...except i switched out pedals after broke, and getting new wheels ASAP
Bottom Line:
I got this bike to find out if I would like riding and if this was a sport for me...I am addicted!!! I LOVE IT...this bike it s great starter bike for exactly that...starting...you will soon want to up grade to something better, or put better componets on it. the Frame is ROCK SOLID! I can not even scratch it...it is perfect! the componets could use some changing though.. I would not spend the money do up grade them all, I would get another bike... Over all it is a great purchace and a great bike, just know that if you keep riding then you are going to want something different...if you are starting out then this is the perfect bike to do it on! it is forgivable and lovable!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Anthony
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, Ca, USA Date Reviewed: August 1, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$485.00
Purchased At:
Goride Bicycles
Bottom Line:
Best bike for your money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Greg
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, Az Date Reviewed: July 5, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$470.00
Purchased At:
Fair Wheel Bikes
Strengths:
Light, sturdy frame. Decent components. Good shock for an entry bike.
Weaknesses:
For me and my size, it was the cheap plastic pedals. They split right where the axle and bearings are. Replaced with some all-metal construction pedals, and it is nice.
Similar Products Used:
Test rode the Trek 4300, Hardrock, and the Rockhopper Disk... Would have purchased that, but my finances dictated my purchase.
Bike Setup:
All stock, except pedals and a gel seat.
Bottom Line:
For a bike at $500.00 or under, you can't beat it. It has held up to my body structure and the riding I do. I totally recommend this as an entry bike ;)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Len Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, NY USA Date Reviewed: July 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Dryer Park, Victor NY / Genesee County Park
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Park Ave Bikes, Henrietta NY
Strengths:
good looks, much better fork than other bikes at that price range. Light and fast, i love to climb and this bike eats up tough climbs
Weaknesses:
i have not encountered any weakness yet, i am very happy with my purchase. If i wished for one upgrade it would be the disc brakes for more stopping power. But that is not the bikes fault, i just didnt have the extra cash to buy the next model up.
Bottom Line:
for a bike at $500 0r less i dont think you can beat it. It handles some of the toughest trails i have been able to throw at it and it keeps saying "give me more!!" Light, fast and stiff makes this a great bike for all conditions!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Wes
a
from UK Date Reviewed: May 26, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Frame is stiff, very responsive and light. Racer. Good overall components.
Weaknesses:
Pedals(if you prefer clipless) Suspension doesn't seem to absorb a lot of shock, even on weakest setting. This might improve over time. Tyres are too thin.
Similar Products Used:
GT Avalanche 1.0 2006
Bike Setup:
Stock standard
Bottom Line:
Depending what you want to use your bike for. It's exremely fast and responsive, as long as your trails aren't too rough. I found it way to rigid and unforgiving over rougher terrain. Even going over a small bump on the sidewalk can feel like your back side is being punished. That combined with the stiff fork, made the surface feel almost rougher than what it actually was. But if speed is the name of the game, then this bike is for you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
beau
a Weekend Warrior
from clearwater,fl,usa Date Reviewed: April 7, 2007
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$460.00
Purchased At:
Chainwheel Drive
Strengths:
Great frame. Light, responsive. Brakes are decent, drivetrain is good. Front fork is good enough for now. Tires are ok , but will probably upgrade them eventually.
Weaknesses:
Not many. This is a great entry level bike. Could use higher grade components but for $450 this is not bad at all.
Similar Products Used:
Rockhopper Pro Disc
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
Good bike just like everyone says. Perfect for someone who wants a versatile, quality bike but doesn't have a lot of money. My first quality MTB but my second Specialized. Good products at a fair price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dion
a
from Santa Clarita, CA Date Reviewed: March 23, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Towsley Canyon Loop
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$454.00
Purchased At:
Performance Cycles
Strengths:
Frame: It feels solid and very lightweight! Forks: I like the lock out and travel length. Metal Pedals
Weaknesses:
Componentry: Has alivio derailleurs and v brakes. Would have liked to see disc brakes and Deore componets, but hey... it's a $450 bike. Tires: Their 2.0, but not very knobby.
Similar Products Used:
Novara Bonanza (Liked Better), Diamond Back, Ralaigh M80 (Better components, worse frame), A whole bunch of stuff.
Bike Setup:
Now? Gary Fisher Marlin from the early 90's. Acera in front, deore LX in back. Broken bottle holder... pimp
Bottom Line:
Get it if you want to keep it forever and eventually upgrade all the components. Dont know if you can upgrade to disc though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim Richmond
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA Date Reviewed: January 25, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Mission Trails
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$469.00
Purchased At:
Zumwalts, San Diego
Strengths:
Great frame, great 100 mm forks with compression and rebound adjustment , tires grip well, and for the price the components are really good.
Weaknesses:
The front derailer lets the chain jump down a gear when bouncing over rocks. The shop adjusted it and it still jumps. I will probably upgrade the derailer in the future.
Similar Products Used:
Raliegh X50 and Haro Extreme
Bike Setup:
Stock except I had the dealer change the front gears to a higher set with a 44 tooth large sprocket. Allows me to ride fast on the street and rip going down smooth trails
Bottom Line:
I am an ex-desert motorcycle racer and have been riding mountain bikes for a couple of years. I checked the reviews, talked to several bike shops and other riders before buying. Zumwalts (great shop) brought in a 2007 for me when they first were available. The Cannondale hardtail was a little lighter but did not have the feel of the Rockhopper. For the money this is a great bike with the best bang for the buck. The Rockshox forks on the 2007 model are better than the Haro and Raliegh forks by a mile. A friend lent me his Haro which cost twice as much as the Rockhopper. The front end of the Rockhopper sticks much better than the Haro. After a couple of hundred miles of mostly dirt and hills, I am delighted with the Rockhopper. This is the perfect bike for the recreational rider.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dougo
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan Date Reviewed: December 30, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Anything maintained by the MMBA!
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Denny's Central Park Bicycles
Strengths:
Excellent value, all around good performer. I find the seat and riding position very comfortable even on long rides (even without padded shorts)
Weaknesses:
Rear deraileur a bit flaky in the lowest gears during hard riding, tendency to bounce up or down a gear. Bike shop thought cables looked stretched after only 2-3 months use.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 4xxx
Bike Setup:
Stock, Shimano PD520s, bar ends, comp
Bottom Line:
Can't name a reason not to buy this bike. I got mine near the end of the season so it was an even better deal than normal. Basically if you're looking for a bike to take offroad and be able to handle even fairly serious obstacles and don't want to worry about anything, this is it. I raced it at the beginner level with no problems. Its fast enough on road although a set of road tires/wheels would be a big help if you don't want to spring for a second bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Harriieee
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: December 19, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Cwm Carn
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
£500
Strengths:
(2006 model) - An excellent frame for the money. It's the same frame as is present all the way through the Rockhopper range, which makes it probably the best fram for such a price. The 2007 now gets an M4 manipulated frame, which is even better.
- The weight is only about 27-28lbs, which is great for the price.
- Most components, while being own-brand from Specialized, perform pretty well. and give you no grief. A great ongoing upgrade project.
- Plenty agile and flighty on singletrack, but still with a good degree of strength and stiffness in the frame.
Weaknesses:
- The fork (2006 RockShox J3) is pretty rubbish, and an upgrade is costly. I'm about 140lbs, and I reckon that I rarely get more than about 50mm outta the fork, despite its professed 100mm travel, and me running it wound right down.
- Buy some new brakes. The Avid Single Digit 3's are OK when working 100%, but they're ueless when off-colour. I've taken the plunge and bought some Diatech hydraulic discs for £130: problem solved.
- The bottom braket is too low, you'll get loads of pedal taps and stuff on rocks and roots; this can get frustrating on a very technical trail.
Similar Products Used:
Marin Northside Trail, Giant XTC
Bike Setup:
17" 2006 stock frame, with following upgrades: - Specialized stem replaced with Smica stem - Unbranded pedals replaced with DMR V8 - Avid Single Digit 3 brakes replaced with Diatech Anchor Sport hydraullic discs
Bottom Line:
It is a decent, light, strong XC bike. When working 100%, it's great, but it's a serious drag when the fork refuses to compress and the brakes are acting up. Occasional problems aside, and it is probably among the best bikes that you could buy in this price range. The kit is hardly top brand, but it has great upgrade potential, and is perect for someone who is new to serious MTBing.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick Byk
a Cross Country Rider
from New Hampshire Date Reviewed: December 7, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Single Tracks
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$490.00
Purchased At:
Papa Wheelies
Strengths:
Reliable bike for a low price, very light, stock tires get good traction. The bike rides smooth once the drivetrain is broken in.
Weaknesses:
all the components are low-end, The tektro brakes blow, but you get what you pay for. The crank set is weak. I Needed to replace the middle front sprocket in the first month along with the chain.The outer front sprocket bent in the first week so i only use it as a bash guard. The cable to the front deraileur broke on the first day i went riding. The cable i have now is about to rip from rubbing on the crank arms, the bike shop mechanic said the front deraileur is just a bad design. The X7 shifters it came with slip gears sometimes after hitting a jump or drop from my hands accidently putting pressure on the levers from the landing. The Shimano Deore shifter design works much better.
If you ride technical XC uphills, downhills, mud pits, rocks, roots, and stream crossings then this is a good bike for the price but its worth it to spend few hundred more on a new bike to get some nicer components like Shimano deore XT Deraileurs and Avid V-Brakes. I am going to have to upgrade my brakes to avid SL V-brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lowell
a Racer
from Brunswick, ME USA Date Reviewed: October 2, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Bradbury Mountain
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At:
Some bike shop 10 years ago
Strengths:
My parents bought me a rockhopper for my first full sized bike, rigid frame, rigid fork back then (It was big for me then, it is on the small side now). I quickly got into mountain biking on it. It has held up for 10 years and never let me down.
Weaknesses:
For the price, none.
Similar Products Used:
Jamis Durango, Trek Liquid, GT LTS
Bike Setup:
Originally stock, over the years everything has been replaced EXCEPT the stem, handlebars, bottom bracket, cranks, seat, brake levers. Now I have Crossmax front wheel, crossride rear, manitou skareb fork, xt derailleurs, lx 9speed shifters, wellgo clipless pedals.
Bottom Line:
After 10 years of riding, i am finally replacing this Cromo frame with an aluminum full suspension off ebay. It has taken me from my childhood, up to my senior year of college, and from riding around the block, to my first three XC races. All of the components it came with held up well until they were upgraded, not for failure, but because they simply wore out or became obsolete over the years. Now the frame has its share of rust spots and not much of the original componentry is left, but this frame will always have a place in my heart. If they make them like they used to, Rockhoppers are dependable as hell and won't let you down.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Josh D
a Weekend Warrior
from Cornwall , ontario Date Reviewed: September 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
RIding the streets downtown:):P
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$741.00
Purchased At:
Bicycle World
Strengths:
Good Frame,Very light,Good Welds,No Problems With front fork yet(could be a little longer tho) Brakes wear out quik so im changing to disks(bike is in the shop right now getting disks:)) Rims Bend easy,Pedals suck ***, Needs a Bash Guard
Weaknesses:
Rims, Pedals,No Bash guard,V brakes wear out easy (if you go hard on them all the time)
Similar Products Used:
Khs dj 200
Bike Setup:
all stock exept for the brakes(changed to Disks)and soon changing pedals and goin to add a bash guard
Bottom Line:
Very good bike very light good overall bike ..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Pspycho
a Cross Country Rider
from Aurora, IL Date Reviewed: August 31, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Palos
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$440.00
Purchased At:
Pedal and Spoke, N. Aurora, IL
Strengths:
Great Entry Level XC Hardtail. Relatively light and very fast, the geometry works well for me. Excellent "upgrade-worthy" frame, this bike's a sleeper.
Weaknesses:
Component Group - Alivio Front Der. and Shifters, Manitou Axel Comp fork is a boat anchor (6+ lbs.), heavy tires, cheap stem and seatpost.
Similar Products Used:
Spec. Hardrock Comp & HR Base Model
Bike Setup:
2005 Model with Manitou Skareb Fork, Easton EC70 Carbon Flat Bar, SRAM X.9 Rear Der., X.7 Shifters, LX Crankset, Sun UFO Wheelset, Spec. Rockster Pro Tires - Shaved off at least 6lbs.
Bottom Line:
This is a great entry level XC bike to determine if you really want to get into the sport. Worthy of upgrading or keeping as your 2nd bike down the road. The frame's light but solid and performs well on single-track. I've got a 2nd set of wheels with 1.25" Spec. Fatboy slicks and train on the road with this setup as well. I really enjoy the geometry of this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Stoffel
a Cross Country Rider
from Spencerport, New York Date Reviewed: August 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Erie Canal Path
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$490.00
Purchased At:
RV&E
Strengths:
Strong Frame Good Weight Easy to Adjust Can get Smacked Pretty Hard
Weaknesses:
Fork tension adjustment dies after a while Fork bottoms out on hard falls Gay tires
Bike Setup:
Added a rebound adjustment to the fork. Crank Bros Smarty Pedals And of course... my bell helmet with all the stickers.
Bottom Line:
This bike is an excellent hardtail. I've even taken it to the skate park, jumped it off picnic tables, a few times off the stairs, and this is still in one piece. Only had to rebuild the fork. This is definately a beast. Fine, ride it like a pansy if you want. Whatever. I say, put one of those plastic barriers in the tires because I blew them both in the first year. I need a better place to ride though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chad
a Cross Country Rider
from Lawrence, KS Date Reviewed: August 8, 2006
Specialized Hardrock Comp Disc, Trek 4900, Gary Fisher, Kona
Bike Setup:
stock 2006 model
Bottom Line:
So far, so good, just got the bike but havn't had any problems so far. Will probably being upgrading the fork and brakes in the future
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex
a
from littleton, Colorado Date Reviewed: June 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
white ranch loop
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
torino bike shop
Strengths:
cheep works ok for commuting and trail riding
Weaknesses:
so so weak broke rear wheel after a year heavy
Similar Products Used:
dimondback, hardrock
Bike Setup:
manitu Axel fork shimano deore and alivio shifting
Bottom Line:
this bike works on trails but only easy ones, i dirt jump on it every once in a while and that it can some times handle, but on the harder trails with little drops (less than 2 feet) the wheels will break. i had a freind who wanted to go downhilling with me but his bike whas in the shop and i let him use this bike and it decimated it. broken brakes bent wheels, so dont take this of any thing remotly difficault
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kyle
a Cross Country Rider
from fort wayne, in Date Reviewed: May 24, 2006
Favorite Trail:
winona lake
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
summit city bikes
Strengths:
sturdy, reliable good fork
Weaknesses:
i have to adjust the rear derauiller, alot. bad seat.
Similar Products Used:
trek, gary fisher
Bike Setup:
stock, for the exception of easton bars
Bottom Line:
great bike for the money. good frok and brakes. awesome for xc
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, UK Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Anything fast and muddy.
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Surgery
Strengths:
I paid £400 for a 2005 version, which actually has a much better fork that the £550 2006 version (Manitou Axel elite compared to RS Judy 3SL), although i do struggle to bottom it out, it does respond well to the terrain. The rear derailleur is great, not had any problems with it - shifts exactly when you tell it to! The Frame is under 4lbs, and doesn't feel too stiff over the bumpy sections (but i do usually stand up when its tough terrain anyway). The components in general do seem to work well enough, but i managed to cross thread one of the cranks, because the threads seemed a bit funny for some reason(Dumbass!), so i replaced the crank and BB just for the hell of it really.
Weaknesses:
The saddle, though quite comfy is heavy. The Shimano Vs suck, so I've recently bought Magura Julies which seem to be good so far. The wheels are also quite heavy i think, and so is the fork which I find is hard to bottom (though i am light). Stock pedals aren't great either.
This was my first 'real' mountain bike, and I really, really like it. It is reasonably heavy for an XC bike, but very light when compared to my others (I think its about 13Kg), but this weight does not lie in the fanstastic frame (4lbs), so you could always upgrade parts and reduce the weight. The fork is probably the best you can get on a bike in this price bracket, but it is 4.8lbs. I would also suggest getting discs, particularly if you live in the UK!!
Overall, this is a great bike for the money, and will see you riding confidently on your local trails!!
This is the best first 'real' mountain bike in my opinion!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from York, PA, USA Date Reviewed: March 27, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Dead Woman's Hollow
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$425.00
Purchased At:
Gung Ho Bikes
Strengths:
Awesome Frame, good fork (Manitou Axel), easily upgradeable, great price, wicked components group!
Shimano M520 clipless, Easton EA70 XC flat bar, Yeti grips, Ritchey Comp seatpost, panaracer xc fire pro tires, FSA XC stem.
Bottom Line:
This is my first mtb, so I plan to build it up lighter. I am loving the frame, and components. The Truvativ 5D crank has taken a lot of punishment. The bike is solid, I wrecked and destroyed my wrist, but the bike didn't have a scratch on it. Go clipless, Go light and you have a bike that can compete with those in the $2000 price range.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Macclesfield Date Reviewed: February 15, 2006
Favorite Trail:
wildbourclough
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Bike Shak Altrinham
Strengths:
Ability, agility, Geometry, Climbs & Decents!!
Weaknesses:
Wheels
Similar Products Used:
Gary fisher tassahara / orange Gringo9 / Trek 6800 /
Bike Setup:
Disc upgrade . New thudbuster seat post (heavy but worth it). Soon NEW rear wheel with Hope XC Ti Hub.
Bottom Line:
I am the only rider in my group to only have a hardtail. (15 ppl) I can comfobly keep up on the acents and only slightley slower on the decents (although bouncy !!) The Bike had been great tho. I only took up the sport last year, and have no covered most of the hard trails in the north west... North Wales / coed y brenin / North manchester / south yourkshire / dalby forest / delamere / follow the dog (cannock chase). this bike has been awesome. Need to upgrade wheels tho to cope with the abuse, and running gear although stock LX rear, will need an upgrade soon. I have Deore Discs and Manetiu AXEL front fork with comp lockout and adjustable rebound on mine...
This bike has definatly converted me to speshilized and it will take a very SPESHel bike !!! to make me change when i get a FS rig. But do i go for Enduro or stumpjumper FSR !!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dirt eater
a Racer
from kentucky Date Reviewed: February 14, 2006
Favorite Trail:
technical loop, burlington
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$440.00
Strengths:
Whats not to like! For 400 you get a great frame, good rims, great tires, great cranks,nice shifters, and good gear system.
Weaknesses:
The fork seems stiff enough{Im light} but I have had trouble with it since day one. The brakes on my cheaper and older trek are stronger.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 6400, fisher of same price range.
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
Well, here is a reveiw I meant to do about a year ago! But anyway, this review is good for the new 05{probably 06}and 04 model{I have 04} but since they change them only minimally it will do. The bike is great for all the reasons stated above, plus, for the price, and other than being heavier, it rides like a competition hartail! The frame is incredible and I have not broken anything yet. My only mod were toe clips. This bike should be priced in the 600 dollar range! Some with similar components are. The rims are nice, the gearing is nice, the cranks are nice, the brakes are nominal, and the suspention sucked for me. The fork had trouble since I got it. First, the seals were bad, so after some reaserch by my bike shop, they were changed, and that worked ok for a while, but now its back the way it used to be, and the elastomer in it was too heavy for me, not really their fault though. Now, dont decide not to get this bike just because of that, mine is just one faulty instance, the fork is really ok, but very simple. I would reccomed you get the bike and then get a better fork on sale and install it, for the price though, its really not bad. The brakes work but arent very impressive, another cheap thing to upgrade, either to better v brakes or to disk brakes. Over all though, for the price, its great{really its underpriced}. The brakes work well, their just not outstanding, and the suspention is fairly good for the price, I just had bad luck with it. The other components are VERY good for the price, and I reccomend it above all others in its class{exept maybe the fisher{cant remember the name}}. You can take my word on it since I have been riding for 5 years and know bikes fairly well. I would reccomend this bike to the begginer and to the intermediate and even advanced rider who is short on cash and can upgrade a couple of things in the future. I reccomend this bike for non rocky trail riding and for cross country riding{even local competitions}. The tires are also awesome. If you are a beginner or are a college student short on cash, go get this thing, youll learn to love it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Farr
a Weekend Warrior
from Des Moines, Iowa USA Date Reviewed: January 31, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Rasmussen
Strengths:
Solid, sturdy, stable and predictable.
Weaknesses:
Weight!! Occasionaly problems with front derailleur. The seat isn't very good, either. Even with bike shorts and smooth trails, it gets uncomfortable pretty quickly.
Similar Products Used:
Tested Fisher and Trek
Bike Setup:
Standard
Bottom Line:
A great entry level bike. I use it on trails, gravel, off-road sometimes. Only drawback is the weight of the bike, but at an entry level like this, can't expect too much. I'm light (165) and don't go on "technical" trails, so ideally it would last forever - but I'm looking to upgrade. Adding components isn't a good idea because anything high quality would quickly exceed the value of the basic bike. Anyone who wants to enter the sport with a decent ride but doesn't want to pay too much will get a great deal.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
paul
a
from England Date Reviewed: January 6, 2006
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
For the price, it's a reasonably tough, trail ready x.c bike. The frame has some nice oversized sections. It is a good singletrack bike. The upright position of the frame geometry means it shoots through flat sections effortlessly.
Weaknesses:
The groupset's poor, as are the wheels and forks (but you get what you pay for). I tryed to take my one across a small, low-ish shore ladder, I had to bail and let the bike drop off the side. It totally buckled the wheel, so I swapped it for a much stonger one and also upgraded the cranks. V-brakes arent great either.
Similar Products Used:
My old g.t and my friends cheap trek.
Bike Setup:
Standard but for the sas rearwheel and the raceface cranks.
Bottom Line:
The rockhopper's a light trail bike. Not built to be thrashed too hard or thrown about, but it does it's job well. With the addition of a stronger rear wheel and crankset it feels like a more solid ride. The v-brakes do okay - the fork doesnt bottom out too much. If you want a cheap, but not completely rubbish mountain-bike then the rockhopper is one option.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Ridgecrest Date Reviewed: January 3, 2006
Favorite Trail:
whatever is behind my house in the hills
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
TJ Frisbee's
Strengths:
durable, good fork, shifts well even with the sx-5 rear der.
Weaknesses:
front derailleur, stock bars aren't the greatest, somewhat heavy, brakes go out of adjustment quite often
Similar Products Used:
schwinn walmart special
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
It's good for what it is supposed to do. Yes, I also jump it, but it takes 3-4 footers with no problem. The Judy J3 SL forks are pretty good, they seem harsh midway through the stroke unless you really land hard on them, but the rebound damping is a nice plus. They are hard to bottom too. Riding in the hills near my house is a blast. It's a beginner's bike, as most will want to step up to full suspension or a lighter bike. You will have a hard time breaking something on it, the SRAM components are bulletproof (alot of paint and some metal is gone from the rear der.) except my brother bent the crank arm. Wheels are pretty durable, again provided you use the bike for its purpose and not ride the guts out of it. But I am satisfied for now.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Neil
a Cross Country Rider
from Manchester Date Reviewed: December 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
hayfield - edale (via jacobs ladder)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
HH cycles
Strengths:
Frame, Durability, Handling
Weaknesses:
V brake Pads (had to choose something!)
Similar Products Used:
Trek 4300, Giant NRS
Bike Setup:
Stock Rockhopper 05
Bottom Line:
This bike is as good as they say! For a beginner/intermediate the frame is excellent, and feels really strong and durable, if anything is going to break on this bike it won't be the frame! I find the handling of the bike very smooth, the gearchange slick (after a couple of rides, was a bit clunky at first, just bedding it in though! not sure how the SRAM gears will perform on the 06' model I have heard bad things about them). The brakes (whilst they are only V brakes) are very powerful, but I needed to replace the Pads all round after some severe 40mph plus road downhills (I also weigh 14.5 stone so this doesn't help the brakes!). I find the setup of the bike very comfortable, with the seat being very comfortable (I've heard rumours that you'll either love it or hate it!) but if you don't get on with the seat it's cheap and easy to replace. I like the matt black (kind of gunmetal grey) paint scheme of the frame, even though it is prone to scratching/marks. Overall this bike does everything that I expected it to do and more. I would recommend this bike to anyone who wants to take up MTB'ing or have a go at it without spending a fortune. Take one for a test ride! you won't leave without it....especially for the price!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sempai
a Cross Country Rider
from Mobile, AL USA Date Reviewed: November 17, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$420.00
Strengths:
Deore rear derailleur Price AXEL 100mm front fork Truvativ crank Grippy Adrenaline Tires
Weaknesses:
Alivio front derailleur Tough seat with little anatomic relief No disc ready hubs (but frame is disc ready) on 05 model Handgrips somewhat thin and tough on hands
Similar Products Used:
FUJI Tahoe
Bike Setup:
Deore derailleur front and rear Shimano pedals (clips on one side, grips on other) Specialized ergo grips ARS saddle
Bottom Line:
This is the best CHEAP hardtail you can buy and not be embarrassed to ride it on a trail or worry about breaking it or having it fail on you because it's a cheap POS. The killer price and specs of the 05 outgoing model (I bought mine for 429 dollars) allows you to throw away the cheap Alivio front derailleur and swap it for a Deore (and have Deore front and rear) as well as upgrade the stiff and narrow saddle and crappy pedals. This is essentially a midrange bike that can be had for next to nothing and the value is incredible, but the 06 model has SRAM components, so take the discounted 05 if you can--it's a great deal and can be modded and upgraded to a great trail machine for less than six hundred dollars (cheap is good).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Allen
a Cross Country Rider
from Salinas, California, USA Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Bobcat Bicycles
Strengths:
It has an awesome strong frame. I do jumps and drops and it still is in one piece. Very smooth. Great climber.
Weaknesses:
Brakes, seat is terrible and hurts your butt, and fork. I upgraded to Shimano Deore rim brakes and WTB Laser V saddle.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
WTB Laser V saddle, Shimano Deore rim brakes, and everything is else is stock.
Bottom Line:
Pretty good bike. Payed to much.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Corey
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver Date Reviewed: October 4, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
Used
Strengths:
Frame, rims, brakes
Weaknesses:
Seat, fork, seat, pedals
Bike Setup:
Stock + WTB tires, Selle Italia saddle, rear rack, bottle holders
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike used after working in a bike shop and assembling about 200 of them.
First, it's a 17" frame and I weigh 210lbs. When I catch air on this thing, it lands solidly and comfortably every time. My friend weighs 160, and when he lands his Haro, it creaks like an old rocking chair.
The fork is a little spongy for my liking, but it works as designed, one note, however, is that if you over-tighten it, the nut comes off inside the fork and you have to disassemble it to put it back. I also broke the pedal clips when falling on my arse on the Morrison Slide trail in Colorado. I guess that's better than breaking my foot, but I've ordered some Shimano M324's for replacements. Also, don't even bother with the stock saddle, unless you have glutes made of gel. It is horrible! I picked up a Lookin' (Selle Italia) gel saddle and it is perfect.
The only other issue I have had is some mystery shifting between the 5-6th sprocket on the cassette. This may not be the fault of the bike, it only started after I had it tuned up by a 3-letter shop from Seattle...
Over all, I absolutely love this bike. I tend to be hard on stuff, and this thing takes everything I can dish out and has yet to have a part failure, other than the pedal clip listed above. As my skill increases, I'll be upgrading the fork and maybe adding disk brakes, but that's it, as it's otherwise a great bike, and as you can see by my orice poaid, I pretty much stole it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charles Chrencik
a Downhiller
from Birmingham Alabama area Date Reviewed: September 21, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Oak Mtn State Park Pelham Al.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Bike Link (Hwy 280 Inverness area)
Strengths:
This bike is an excellent value for the money.. I am 6'4" 240lbs and the frame is strong enough to handle me.. the rockhopper shifts well and the suspension works well.The dealer Bike Link is excellent and gives good service.
Weaknesses:
The tires wear out fast on pavement..Seat is uncomfortable ...will replace it soon. brakes can be upgraded to disc but you have to change the rims and tires..
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale M500, Trek 4700
Bike Setup:
stock with clipless Peddles
Bottom Line:
strong frame great value for the money...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michael
a
from Knoxville TN Date Reviewed: September 10, 2005
Favorite Trail:
IC King
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Bike Zoo
Strengths:
Durability
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
GT Backwoods
Bike Setup:
All Stock
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike especially for the price, I've been riding it for 6 months and have taken it out pretty much every day and the only time I've had it back to the shop was for a tune up. For it's price it's a fast, durable bike, and by far my favorite bike I've ridden. It's a great entry level bike, but if you're serious about the sport and have the money, I'd go for the Stumpjumper.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Thomas Coffin, Sr.
a Weekend Warrior
from Manquin, NA. USA Date Reviewed: September 3, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Poor Farm PArk
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$475.00
Purchased At:
Agee's Bicycles
Strengths:
Frame, Price
Weaknesses:
Front Shocks, rims & tires, seat.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Shimano Diore gear system alex rims DH20, Shimano v- Brakes.
Bottom Line:
I bought this as my first real MTB, no more play toys from the Wal-Mart! This bike is great as an entry level bike. I don't have lot's of money to by a great FS out right, so I went with this bike. The components are good, I have ridden on many diffferent trails with this bike and it has held up good. A few things need to be changed to make it a better bike. New pedals. The stock ones suck. Get clipless and learn how to use them. They changed everything for me. Get a new seat. The stock seat is built for racing, not comfort, so spend a little for this upgrade. I also bought a thudbuster shock absorbing seat post. Worth the $100.00. As close to an FS bike as I can get it without spending $500.00 more. The front shocks (Manitou Axel) are soft. I am 195 lbs. and I don't think they will hold up forever. This bike can be upgraded to disc brakes, but you have to buy new rims to upgrade (mo money!!!!). Overall, the frame is what is most important. This Rockhopper is tried and true. It will take a serious beating. It looks cool too! Mine is bumblebee yellow and black, real mean looking. So, the bottom line is, if you are starting out MTB'ing, then this bike is perfect for you, as it is for me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
S Rivers
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, Ca. 90242 Date Reviewed: August 24, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Strawberry Peak Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Kelly's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Strong frame for a 200 lbs guy.
Weaknesses:
Weak forks and tires.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 4300.
Bottom Line:
Good strong bike for its cost. Only weaknesses are the tires (which have been replaced) and fork (will be replacing soon).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Arya
a Cross Country Rider
from Norman, OK, USA Date Reviewed: July 29, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Draper, OKC
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$480.00
Purchased At:
Buchanan Bicycles
Strengths:
Nothing stands out too much. Everything is pretty good; it's beautiful, light, cost-effective, and smooth.
Weaknesses:
Front derailleur is kinda iffy. Also, my 15" doesn't fit onto my bike rack conventionally. Go figure.
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I'm 5'6", 150 lbs, and I like my yellow '05. It's a solid hardtail, and it's pretty cheap, too. If I were to do anything, I would tweak/replace the fork, and I plan on buying better tires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rockhound
a Weekend Warrior
from United States of Texas Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Z-Boaz
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$440.00
Purchased At:
Bicycles Inc.
Strengths:
The hopper has a strong and lite frame, quality components, and inspires confidence.
Weaknesses:
I don't like their choice for the bottom bracket, but if you want better, spend more.
Similar Products Used:
Rockhopper Comp Disc '05
Bike Setup:
factory
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike that can be picked up for a reasonable price. I expected nothing but quality from Specialized and it has delivered nothing less. I have put this bike through some pretty tough conditions on my 245 lb frame and it has taken every beating only to come back and ask for more. I cannot stress how much this bike kicks arse, and I whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone who wants a quality hardtail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jesse
a Weekend Warrior
from Hackettstown Date Reviewed: July 12, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Allamuchy
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Marty's Reliable
Strengths:
Frame is strong and decently light for the money. The shock is pretty good to. Better than most in the same class like the RoxkShox Judy. You can also replace front gears individually rather than replace the whole thing. Other similar priced products had cheaper cassettes.
Weaknesses:
The rear deraileur has worked alright but the front one sucks, it's constantly getting stuck and I keep my bike clean. It also kinda sucks that in order to upgrade to disc brakes you'll need to get new wheels. The frame is setup for disc but the wheels aren't.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 4500, Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc.
Bike Setup:
Stock baby, I got no money. But I plan on getting clipins and replace the front deraileur. Maybe hydraulic disc brakes down the line. Oh yea I took off the reflectors! Heavy Mods
Bottom Line:
If you're looking for a solid bike under $500 that has a decent frame to modify this is the bike for you! It's trail worthy, it climbs well but the deraileurs are an issue that requires attention. If you are a beginner to intermediate this bikes great it's tough and can handle abuse. But I think it can go without saying, that if you are "hardcore" you should be looking somewhere else.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dennis
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, Tx Date Reviewed: July 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Rowlette Creek, Northshore
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Plano Cycling
Strengths:
-Decent compnents for the price. -Good Fork. -Fairly light. -Looks cool (maybe a bit too dirt jumper'ish though)
Weaknesses:
-Brakes -Seat -Pedals -Crank -
Similar Products Used:
05' Specialized Hardrock Sport 02' Specialized Hotrock (no one told me it was a kids bike..)
Bike Setup:
Stock except for:
-Deore Front Derailer -Shimano PD-506 Clipless pedals -Oury Lock-on Grips
Bottom Line:
I had previously owned an 05' Hardrock Sport for less then a month and became dissatisfied with it for a number of reasons. I took it back to Plano Cycling and picked up the Rockhopper and it was the best move I have ever made.
The frame is lighter then it looks, weighing in at exactly 30lbs. Its not a lightweight, but a $500, 30lb bike is a good deal. It also rides fairly soft for a hardtail.
It really does inspire confidence because everything works well together. The fork does what it is supposed to, and shifting is no longer an issue since I spent $15 on a Deore Front Derailer.
The brakes seem to work alright but there is far to much play in the setup, I might try throwing some washers under the brake arms and see what happens.
The seat is improved from the old design but it still kills your taint and it seems to be getting worse. The crank is also crap and the BB is starting to make a grindng sound, i'll ride it till it explodes and buy something else.
Overall I am very happy with my ride. I no longer find myself online looking at all the other bikes I would like to own instead of the one sitting in my garage. Now I find myself on the internet looking at all the things I would like to put on my bike... I guess thats an improvement.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a
from Philly, PA USA Date Reviewed: June 21, 2005
Brakes brakes brakes brakes brakes brakes brakes. Oh, and the saddle takes getting used to.
Bike Setup:
Stock w/ Shimano clipless, Avid Single Digit 7 brakes
Bottom Line:
--2005 model--- Excellent bike. Takes lots of abuse. I've been riding it regularly since August '04 and nothing has broken on it. The cables are starting to crap out, but you can't really blame them. The fork is probably the best you'll get in the price range. I had to send mine in for warrenty work, and got it back within a week working properly. Components are nothing fancy; they do what they need to do and don't make a big fuss about it. This is my first MTB and it inspires lots of confidence. Very happy with it, I'll keep it for a long time. Great for beginners and experienced riders looking for a solid hardtail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan Irby
a Cross Country Rider
from Syracuse, NY Date Reviewed: March 23, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Advanced Cyclery
Strengths:
Excellent frame (2005), very nice fork
Weaknesses:
At this price point.....none
Similar Products Used:
K2 EVO, Specialized Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
Stock excepting longer stem and Ritchey V2 clipless pedals
Bottom Line:
I needed an inexpensive hardtail and guess what...this bike has the total fun factor of bikes 4 times the price. I don't mind 8-speed (Heck I like 7 speed set-ups). This bike is a tad heavy due mainly to the fork, but it is a real gem. I personally can't see spending alot more for recreational riding. I like riding this bike easily as much as my $1500.00 FS bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Wichita Falls, TX, USA Date Reviewed: January 22, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$440.00
Purchased At:
Texoma Cycling Center(they ROCK!)
Strengths:
Super frame, decent paint, comfortable riding position, great accessories for the price, great for beginners such as myself
Weaknesses:
bent the seat rails(my fault!), chainstay takes a beating
Similar Products Used:
This is my first QUALITY mtb
Bike Setup:
stock '04 model(Manitou Six fork, Tektro V's, Alivio front-Deore rear derailleurs, Alex rims,Truvativ 5-D cranks)Specialized chainstay protector
Bottom Line:
I'm a neophyte mtb rider, and after reading reviews here, and riding my brother-in-laws Hardrock pro disc model, I jumped in and bought the Rockhopper hardtail.I bought the 21" model(I'm 6'2", 185) as advised by my bike shop owner, and am extremely happy with it. I admit I rode a discount store Mongoose at first. This 'hopper is a Cadillac compared to that. Only problems I've encountered is the chainstay getting beat up, but a protector eliminated that, and of course the seat rails bent because I mounted the seat too far back on the post(I'm learning!)Forks are pretty decent so far. If you are new to riding mountain bikes, you cannot beat the value of this bike. The frame is a solid foundation and can be easily upgraded as your skill level rises.(already has disc mounts)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clifton Gardner
a Cross Country Rider
from Pinson, AL, USA Date Reviewed: January 4, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Douglas
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Bike Link Inverness
Strengths:
Good forks, rims are solid, the seat is actually decent. This frame rocks my world. (Keep in mind I'm reviewing a 2005 model)
Weaknesses:
Brakes (tektro v-brakes, ugh. But at least they stop OK when they're dry.) Front Derailleur is an Alivio, but it works fine for me. Pedals.... Oh please, not the pedals...
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock Comp Disc, Gary Fisher Marlin, Haro V4, and a Specialized Hardrock comp from the earlier 90's.
Bike Setup:
Stock, nothing new.
Bottom Line:
Had this bike for almost a month now, and I know that's a bit short to review a bike's performance, but I'm going to give you the low-down on this bike if you're planning to buy:
I'm 6' 2", 160 lbs., rides a 21" frame (2005 model) and this bike does really well on the trails (however, if you're into downhilling or freeriding or dirtjumping, this one isn't the greatest, though it will take you downhill.) The Manitou Axel Comps are great, plush, full, and rather bottom-less. The rear Deore derailleur shifts gears well even if you are tackling some major roots and rocks. The front Alivio may knock the chain off if you take an especially big hit, but it works fine for the time. Pedals are junk. My friends Hardrock Comp has the same pedals on it and they broke within days - and the the thing had never taken a wreck or endo. The frame rules, literally. Incredible center of balance, stable, beefy... Yeah, Wal-Mart better watch out about their bikes, because this one takes the cake. I imagine with some heftier suspension forks, this thing could take some major poundings (not that the forks aren't good, just not enough to give me confidence in jumping around a lot.) Overall, this bike gives great value for the money, it feels solid, and if it survives like my Specialized Hardrock Sport from way-back-when, I plan to be riding this bike for quite a while.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
D. Dass
a Cross Country Rider
from Duluth, MN, USA Date Reviewed: August 27, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Ski Hut, Duluth, MN
Strengths:
Very good frame, excellent components for the money and a sensational price. A really great bike all around with little not to like.
Weaknesses:
The Manitou fork leaks but the shop says just keep wiping it off. Tire clearance is minimal, so mounting wider tires could be a problem on both ends of the bike. The chainstays are shaped in such a manner that it's nearly impossible to fit a Lizardskin onto one. Specialized offers a protector that will work but you have to order it. And you'll need it... the chainstays take a beating in a hurry, even under gentle usage. In fact my biggest complaint about this bike is the paint. This one is silver and it looks like somebody sprayed it with Krylon. In addition the finish seems very soft and mars much too easily. I have a 2001 Rockhopper Disc Comp with a much higher quality paint job. (No comparison in fact.) That one was built in Taiwan and this one is from China, so maybe that's the problem. On the other hand it's no doubt part of the reason why the price is so low. Specialized paint schemes seem to have become pretty plain recently. This is an eight speed setup so some people might not like that, especially since higher end shifters and derailleurs for upgrades seem to be getting harder to find. I actually like the eight speed because I don't ride things into extreme situations a whole lot. The seat feels like a piece of lumber.
This is actually my son's bike and I just happen to get opportunities to ride and tweak it. It shifts pretty nicely and the layout is good. I've always thought a lot of Specialized quality and value, so they just need to nip a couple of things up. It looks like there are some frame modifications for 2005 so maybe that will set things right in the tire clearance department. For comparison purposes, this particular bike weighs in at 29 lbs with the mods I've mentioned. My Disc Comp, admittedly with lots of mods, comes in at 25; my Trek 7000, with only quite a few mods, at just 24.
This is an excellent choice for someone looking for a fun, reliable ride that can actually go places. It especially makes sense for someone on a budget because it can take plenty of abuse and is well worth upgrading with some better components.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin Neidorf
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft. Lauderdale Fl. Date Reviewed: August 16, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Mega Cycle
Strengths:
Durable, light frame, great shifters, great brakes, a blast to ride.
Weaknesses:
Front derailer won't seem to shift in to low gear while a good deal of pressure is on it. Handgrips are slippery
For the price I paid, I think that there is no better bike around. I first tried the Palisades Trail which had discs and I thought that it would be cool to get a bike that had them. I was in a totally new store to me that a friend told me about, and I went home with the bike the same day. The brakes destroy all that praises mech. disc brakes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Clara, CA Date Reviewed: August 12, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Tractor
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
The Off Ramp
Strengths:
Extremely strong frame
Weaknesses:
Brakes, Wheelset, Front Derailleur, Tires
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike with the intentions of only riding it on the weekends, on relatively easy trails. After a few rides that would now bore me to death, I got very comfortable tackling more aggressive singletrack with this bike. The bike feels very light and easy to maneuver. As someone else posted, you could probably drop this frame off the empire state building, go down, pick it up, and ride away. Riding position is comfortable for either around town or on the trails.
I have had a few problems with it, though. I've had to true the wheels three times (I'm 6'4", 200#). The rear tire lasted about 3 weeks (no skids or anything, just wore out very fast). I still have problems with the front derailluer not wanting to shift even under virtually no load. The rear hub was making a very loud grinding noise. It was torn down and rust was found inside. The brakes, for someone my size, are not very powerful and fade on downhills. They also require CONSTANT adjustment.
However, I love the bike. I am planning on about $500 in upgrades to make this a killer bike. The stock fork is so-so. It does the job. I guess you could say it's better than nothing. I am going to be putting on a Marz. Drop Off II, some Rhyno Lite Rims w/ XT disc hubs, Avid 185mm disc brakes, and M520 pedals. After that, I think I am going to be extremely happy with the bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from indianapolis, in Date Reviewed: August 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
avon, in
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$399.00
Purchased At:
Carmel Cycle % Fitness
Strengths:
Stability, shifting, responsiveness, comfort
Weaknesses:
grips, tires
Similar Products Used:
GT Tequesta, Gary Fisher Joshua Y
Bike Setup:
stock except for comfort (bar ends, road/trail tires, serfas grips.
Bottom Line:
Have ridden approx 50 miles in 3 weeks, about 75% city roads. Awesome comfort, upright posture helps maintain control. I am 5'10", 235lb's and still feel good after 45 minutes of riding. Front suspension might be a little soft for my weight, but the Manitou fork can be lengthened to 100mm, so I have plenty of travel for my big butt. handles well on road and trails equally well. Shifts very easily, much better than bikes in the $300 range. I also tested Gary Fisher Wahoo, Trek, and Giant bikes. For $399, I got better overall setup than Giant and Fisher for $50 more.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a
from USA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$449.00
Purchased At:
Babylon Bicycle Store
Strengths:
The bike is great for newbies. It has top of line features at a great price. I love this bike. The shifters work great. I love the trigger shift. Overall the bike provdies a smooth ride on those rough trails. It is lightweight so if you need to carry you won't have a problem.
Bottom Line:
Superior quality products at a great price. This bike handles very well. There are better bikes out there but they cost a crap load of money. For the price this is one of the best mountain bikes on the markeet.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: July 5, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Chimney Rock
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At:
Jay's Cycle Center
Strengths:
Great Frame, good components
Weaknesses:
Tires
Similar Products Used:
Fuji Thrill, Jamis Durango Sport SX
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
Excellent Bike. I'm a intermediate rider and this bike has been bullet-proof, the components have been outstanding and have taken any punishment that I've thrown at them. The tires need more grip, but are fine for casual riding. I tried several other bikes in this class, and this was by far the most durable and quick.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
buster mcdougal
a Weekend Warrior
from birmingham, al Date Reviewed: June 9, 2004
Favorite Trail:
oak mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$430.00
Purchased At:
bike link hoover
Strengths:
lightwieght frame, good shifters, fast tires
Weaknesses:
i've had trouble with the front derailleur (alivio)- just can't seem to get it adjusted right
Similar Products Used:
tried out trek 4300, 4500, gary fisher rincon
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
i just got into mountain biking a few months ago- i got the rockhopper- a great bike for a beginer- it's a smooth ride with quality BEGINER components - this fram can be easily upgraded when ever i get ready which is a big plus for me. i too thought the tires looked weak- but when i got on the trails they did thier job just fine- i read that everyone thinks the manitou six is too soft- i agree it is soft- but mine has never bottomed out- it could be more stiff- but it's not really a big deal. this is a solid bike- perfect for a beginner like me! bottom line: i love this bike- i think it is one of the best beginer bikes out there! i highly reccomend it to anyone who is just starting out or who wants a solid bike without having to spend a fortune!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, IL, USA Date Reviewed: May 31, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Still looking
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Village Cycle
Strengths:
Solid frame, good geometry, decent components for a bicycle in this price range. pretty smooth, quite ride except
Weaknesses:
nothing stands out, derailleurs could be better, but don't expect smooth sailing every time out with so-so shimano components; tires are not very good. seat can cause some pain on a long ride
Bike Setup:
stock
Bottom Line:
i recommand this bicycle to people who are looking to do occasional trail and mountain biking on top of casual commute. it's not very fast, but then again, it's not a road bike and for the price, it's a very solid value. frame is the best part i think. i have done some serious stomping the last two weekends, and it never complains. overall very nice bicycle.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Harrison
a Cross Country Rider
from Powhatan, Va Date Reviewed: May 26, 2004
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$430.00
Purchased At:
Agee's
Strengths:
Nice light frame with a good warranty. Good entry level bike that can be upgraded easily.
Weaknesses:
Tires. The stock tires lasted about 60 miles of trail riding.
Similar Products Used:
KHS FXT Trail
Bike Setup:
04 Rockhopper, Manitou Black Platnium Forks, Avid Mechanical disk brakes, Mavic 717 wheels
Bottom Line:
Great bike. A converted road rider I bought this bike because it was inexpensive enough so that if I did not like trail riding I wouldn't be out a whole bunch of money. I have the 21 inch frame and this bike fits me perfect (better than the KHS). Shifting is good and the bikes balance feels good. I thought the stock front fork were a bit soft (Manitou 6) and like I said before the tires are terrible. Other than that I'm really am glad I got this bike. I've done a couple of ugrades and I'm very very happy. Weight of the bike all decked out for riding (spare tube, some tools, and pump) is 26 pounds (which I think is pretty good). With all this said. If your looking for a bike thats less than $450.00 this is a pretty good buy!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Louis, MO, USA Date Reviewed: April 20, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$390.00
Purchased At:
Local Bike Shop
Strengths:
Great lightweight frame. Nice adjustable Manitou 100mm fork. Nice components and crank. Good tires and wheels. Comfortable seat.
Weaknesses:
Poor color choices. Shifter and brakes mounted together (though they can be mounted seperately).
Similar Products Used:
Older steel frame GT Terra with Rock Shox.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for toe clips.
Bottom Line:
I'm an intermediate mountain biker, but also a college student, so I needed an extremely durable and reliable bike that wouldn't break my budget. I spent a lot of time researching and testing bikes in the $300-400 price range and found this bike to have the most bang for the buck. This bike has some great features that make it an outstanding bike for beginner/intermediate riders.
I was comparing the Specialized Hardrock Sprort, the Trek 4300, and the Specialized Hardrock Comp. I was worried about reliability of the Acera derailers and the RST fork on the Sport, and I thought the frame on the Sport and Comp didn't feel right. The Trek 4300 was nice, but the NSync fork is only 80mm and the plastic shifters seemed cheesy. Plus, the Rockhopper is almost the same price as the Hardrock Comp (and is a step up). I decided to spend a little more and get a much nicer bike.
The Rockhopper is great! The biggest difference I noticed from my old GT (aside from the weight) was in the smoothness of the gear train. Riding around and going up hills is much smoother/easier! Plus, it's big 100mm fork makes going over rocks and stumps a breeze. The frame feels much more solid. Riding is much more comfortable, which lets me ride twice as long as I usually did.
The only quams I have is with the stupid colors -- turqoise blue/white or silver/black (called dream). The blue is awful. The silver is cool, but I would have prefered a silver that wasn't so metallic or a power coated finish (like the Rockhopper Comp).
Overall, you can't beat it for the price! For those of you just getting into the sport, this is a great entry level model (and great for intermediate riders also). It's so tempting to get the lowest end bike of a big name. But tt's well worth paying a little more over the $300 basic models to get this bike. It will ride much better and will last longer, making the sport that much more enjoyable.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Travis Ham
a Weekend Warrior
from Florence, SC USA Date Reviewed: March 29, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Isaqueena Trail/Clemson
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Center, Columbia, SC
Strengths:
As the previous reveiwer stated, this is my first 'bicycle shop' quality bike. I live and ride in South Carolina with an occasional trip to Pisgah in NC, so I am not what you would call an expert -- but I feel I am the average guy that enjoys fast singletrack with out killin myself on some intense ridiculous climbs. This bike handles everything I've thrown at it over the past year or so. The '21' size is great for my tall, slender frame (6'4" about 200 lbs.). I like the clip-less pedals (it has straps over the shoe for better hold). Everyone says that the front shock is too soft ?? I don't feel it or notice it -- maybe they are much more experienced than me. The gears shift lightning fast, the seat is great, the brakes are average I would say. Overall, it easily handles everything I hit it with but then again there aren't too many serious challenges in SC.
Weaknesses:
Average Brakes -- that's it so far.
Similar Products Used:
Old hard front and rear Rockhopper. Again, I'm just getting into the sport (about 2.5 years give or take).
Bike Setup:
Factory.
Bottom Line:
Good looking, good handling and performing bike for the cheap price I paid. It has everything I need and nothing I don't (sorry, borrowed that from Xterra ads). If you are an expert, then I assume this is a little dinky bike to you. But for the average guy that rides 5 or 10 times in the spring and again in the fall (it's mostly too hot and humid here in the summer) on mostly intermediate trails, then this bike should do great. I love it, my friends love riding it too -- it's the best for the dough. I'd give it 5 chili's but I'm sure there are better bikes out there. BOTTOM LINE, if you're an expert, you probably aren't reading this... if you are beginning or intermediate, this bike is probably all you need.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Maple Grove Date Reviewed: March 13, 2004
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$380.00
Purchased At:
Erik's Bike Shop
Strengths:
There isn't anything I can put my finger on that is a great strength of the bike but overall it's a solid piece of equipment. The tires, fork, components, frame and rims are all much better quality than I had in my previous bike.
Weaknesses:
The front suspension is a little too soft.
Similar Products Used:
None, this is my first "bike shop" quality bike.
Bike Setup:
Stock with a speedometer
Bottom Line:
A great mountain bike to introduce beginners into the sport.
$ 440.00
Overall Rating:
