Submitted by
mtbrmike
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha, NE, USA
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2009
Strengths: The frame is strong and light weight and most of the components are top quality. Tires are great XC and sloppy trail tires. Rockshoc fork (JUDY TT)can handle anything you can throw at it.
Weaknesses: Found brakes were okay for most riding but will need to be upgraded for any hard trail riding. Stem has to high of a pitch (rise) for down hill trail rides, would switch to a 0 degree stem.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that this is a great bike for the weekend person to hit the trails with and you don't need to do anything to the bike to have a great ride. If you are looking for a true comp bike that can handle the hardest of rocky teeth busting trails this is the bike for you, if you don't mind making a few upgrades. This bike has a great frame and fork that can easily be upgraded in just a day. I would buy this bike again!
Similar Products Used: Specialized rockhopper comp.
Bike Setup: 0 degree Kore stem, Raceface XCL threadless headset, Avid BB7 disc brakes (160 mm)with full metal jacket brake cables from Avid, Shimano Deore disc wheelset with Sun Rhyno lite rims (26 inch), and wilderness trails comfort zone saddle
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Submitted by
mr ben
a Weekend Warrior
from pittsburgh, PA USA
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2006
Strengths: frame is the best ive ever ridden. the giant tires make anything easy. i've read a lot of ppl dont like the fork. they are dumb. its adjustible for a reason. i make mine hard on roads/hills and squishy on trails. i love it
Weaknesses: after my first rough rides my bb started to pop. ??? it still rides fine. but the ugly.. the grips wouldnt hold wet mud, much less my sweaty hands. the front derailler craked after my first bad fall. the seat is a pain! my feet slip off the pedals a lot too.
Bottom Line:
buy this bike if you want a deal. i dont think i'll ever spend my hard earned bucks on anything but Specialized. i am very fond of hardtails, and i think this is the best for your money. but you will need gloves
Bike Setup: new seat and front derailler, other wise just ride it!
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Submitted by
Annie
a Weekend Warrior
from Galashiels, Scotland
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2005
Strengths: Tough frame Reasonably good components Price Looks and colour (red) Position a little too upright
Weaknesses: Paint chips easily Bottom bracket Uncomfortable seat Gearchanges aren't as smooth as I'd like
Bottom Line:
This is a tough bike for allround use. I used it for two years three times a week on roads, doing between 40 and 60 miles a week, and the only problem I had with it was a less than satisfactory gear change, which despite adjustments has never totally cleared up. I've just started using it on mountain bike trails, and it handles all the berms, bumps and small drop-offs admirably well. The bottom bracket was shot after a couple of times out there, but after being used for two years on the road that's not a problem; I've upgraded the bottom bracket and hopefully that'll last me a while. The standard tyres are fine for dry dirt tracks, but on gloopy mud you'd need a more hardcore tread, and I prefer my semi-slicks for easier rolling on road in summer.
All in all, a very good bike for the price, which can do most things you ask of it; I'm sure I'll eventually be tempted to buy a full-suspension bike for offroading, but for now it makes more sense to upgrade the components on this Hardrock as and when needed.
Similar Products Used: None (unless you count my old Raleigh steel-framed rigid bike); it came tops in an MBR magazine review for hardtails of a similar price, so bought it on the strength of that
Bike Setup: Standard setup except changed saddle for Specialized Body Geometry Womens (not that comfy, but good for xc where you sometimes have to get right off the back of the saddle) and a wider, more comfy Selle Italia Zero women's saddle for road work, and Specialized Hemisphere Ex tyres for road work; however, I have also ordered a Truvativ Hussefelt stem (much shorter), an upgraded bottom bracket, and S-Works grips, which hopefully should be with me this week
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Submitted by
wesley jones
a Downhiller
from lakeside CA, US
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2004
Strengths: ( i actually have an 03) very good suspension and very strong frame and also has disc brakes switches gear on the fly very good fun bike.
Weaknesses: well the brakes don't work very good and they start to squeak after about 3 weeks pedals aren't very good
Bottom Line:
this is a great freeride bike for beginner to advance. it is good for dirt jumping and also good for downhill trail riding and street riding. it is so much fun to do wheelies on and it is so effortless. it is awesome i love that bike i ride everyday. if you're gonna buy a harftail then buy the Hardrock Comp. it is a great bike.
Bike Setup: as soft as the forks will go i love it
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Submitted by
patrick culhane
a Cross Country Rider
from omaha, nebraska, U.S.
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2003
Strengths: very nice drivetrain, front fork. Very sturdy and light frame. That frame can live through anything.
Weaknesses: The only downside to this bike is that the saddle goes right up ur ass. I had to get another saddle cuz i couldnt take it any more
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. Ive had it for 2 years and its held up very well. Ive crashed numerous times and there was hardly a scratch. very solid drivetrain, you select a gear and it stays there, unlike some other bikes that jumps out of the gear under pressure. i would only advise to get new tire with more grip and a new seat that doesnt go up ur ass. I hope u choose this bike, im glad i did
Submitted by
Marco Elenes
a Racer
from Hanford CA USA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003
Strengths: Good frame, light considering size, Sturdy frame taking a couple of nasty falls,easy to move around by hand whenever nessacary.
Weaknesses: Seat hurts at the first couple of days then i guess ones bum gets used to it, the fork sux from other reviews that i have heard. The tock pedals suck big ones.
Bottom Line:
Good bike for ans entry rider as myself and alot of bike for the buck.
Bike Setup: Sigma 1200 Computer, Serafas rear light and and Krypto lite Lock
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Submitted by
Gordon Zapatos
a Racer
from Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2003
Strengths: Great for just cruisin' the ave with some good friends on a tuesday or thursday night or for going to the zoo to observe some endangered birds of prey. This bicycle really does have it going on!
Weaknesses: Every once in a while the front tire will come off. this only happens when you are ridng too hard though. It isn't a huge problem as long as you always have your torque wrench on hand, or at least a jelly sandwich.
Bottom Line:
I'll tell you the bottom line, great biking with great friends. The Specialized hardrock series is truly an excellant line of scooter bikes that can easily be converted into xylophone earings for when you ride your bike to the banquet hall or the waiting room at a dentists office. The most important thing to remember when riding this bike is to just have fun! If you are cruisin' the ave and you come upon a large group of african americans drinking forty ounce bottles of schlitz's malt liquor don't hesitate to kill them. This bike is definitely fast enough to get you away from any dangerous african americans or police officers. One other important freature of the Specialized Hard Rock is that it has an integrated tomato paste dispesnsor for when you need to make pizzas on the run. Have fun and ride hard!
Purchased At: Tyree's Mom's friend's sister's cousin's zoo store
Similar Products Used: Thompson's brand baby cooking microwave and baby cabobs
Bike Setup: two tires mounted on an air intake system valve connected to a bike frame with seven...yes sevenn seats so that you can ride with your friends. The under water dog catching unit, which is mounted on the handle bars is detatchable, so you can take it off when you don't want to race.
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Submitted by
Marc-André Coté
a Weekend Warrior
from Québec Canada
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2003
Strengths: The frame is very strong even after going on big drops.
Weaknesses: The chain keeps banging on the rear tube which makes the paint come off. You can easily overcome this by putting an old inner tube round the bit where the chain keeps banging and wrecking the paintjob.
Bottom Line:
I think this is a very good bike even if you go on big jumps or you are a cross country rider. The frame is very strong and light.I think this bike is a good all around bike if you do not have a million dollars to spend.
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Omaha
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2003
Strengths: **** This is a follow-up review ****
The Frame is great. The wheels have held up well.
Weaknesses: The original seat was terrible. The Judy TT is not a good fork.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that there are parts on this bike that did not hold up after a year of riding. I now run a Duke SL-100 which is one heck of a peice of hardware. Beats the heck out of the Judy. Much lighter and much more adjustable.
I changed out the stem and handlebars. I have never liked risers and the riding position was too up-right. The original tires were not good, so I put on Fire Pro 1.8's which are great. I ride it 4 times a week when there is no snow on the ground. Great bike.
Bike Setup: stock except the stem, pedals and tires which are maxxis highrollers.
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Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2003
Strengths: awsome frame, very strong, very light, and awsome solid yellow paintjob
Weaknesses: the components on it
Bottom Line:
this is an awsome bike to ride, even though my bike is nothing like the stock hardrock comp, i was doint a 6' drop's into a steep transition(once landed it was about 8') when the bike was completely stock, bike does have a lot of potential as mine now is set up better than friends brand new $1200 kona roast. this is a great all around bike, ive done xc, free ride, moderate dh, distance races, urban assualt. this bike kicks and is worth every dollar you put into it, so what if you wont get it back when u try seling it, if you ride it for a year you wont even think about selling it, im no. im keppin mine for a long time to come
Similar Products Used: aggressor 1.0's, azonic ds1, kona roast
Bike Setup: 02 psylo race, xt/mavic 517's, avid sd7 brakes and levers, xt-shifters, derailers, hubs, chain, race face prodigy dh crank and prodigy bb, odi lock ons, tioga factory dh 2.1's, primo platforms
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Submitted by
Gabe
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2003
Strengths: Good frame, not that heavy. Decent components.
Weaknesses: Front derailer, fork, tires, pedals
Bottom Line:
Pretty good bike for the money, its held up will. Pretty good for urban/dirt jumps. But, its not great for XC. I only paid like $480 and i got what i paid for.
Bike Setup: Rockshock Judy, Black Spire Bashguard, MTB raptor tires, rest is stock
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Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Milledgeville
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2002
Strengths: the frame can take some pretty decent hits (I've taken up to a 10 foot drop and average 4 to 5 flatground drops) rims have stood up to everything pretty much but take into consideration I'm only 140 pounds
Weaknesses: cheap rear derailer flexy bottom bracket can we say judy tt shox???
Bottom Line:
it's a nice bang for your buck. Its like a freaking timex it just keeps on ticking. one nice frame, but the componets are cheap. And with the frames warrenty, why not upgrade when you find what you like.
Strengths: I have so much trust in the frame of this bike that I am undergoing a project to build a 4.5ft drop off into a downhill valley. Around 6ft once landed on slope.
Weaknesses: Chain hits. corection: Tighten up rear derailer or take out chain links.
Bottom Bracket Burns out-Correction: Get a VP Cartridge BB for only 40 Canadian.
Brake pads bad in wet-Correction:get new all weather ones for 12 bucks
Pedals,Small-Correction:get flats
I have just listed everything I could possibly list thats negative of the bike.
Bottom Line:
A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALL SPECIALIZED BIKES...............................................................................................Thank you.
Similar Products Used: I did not bother when I rode and saw this bike. I saw it a purcased it and never really gave any other bike a 2nd thought for under $700.00000000000000000000000000 Canadian.
Bike Setup: Flats, Deore brake system, Titec half inch riser, Shimano LX B/B
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Submitted by
Walt
a Weekend Warrior
from Cincinnati
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2002
Strengths: light and strong frame, the judy tt is great for the price . AFFORDABLE.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
for the $$$great bike for the money it is the best you can buy for 450 or under
I have a 21 inch model hardrock comp in aluminum. I believe I do not have enough clearance while standing over it, but I have logged many miles on this bike. So, the time has come Read More »
