Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Münich
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2003
Strengths: Frame Strength-weight-geometry-, Deore Shifters and Front Der, LX Rear Der
Weaknesses: Seat, Rims and Hubs, Pedals, Manitou Comp Forks
Bottom Line:
Awesome Frameset for the Price, I love my Rockhoppoer. Sure i have upgraded a lot of components, but what do you expect for the price ? I haven't ridden serously for over 5 years and I now have a pretty good starter config that i really wanted to begin with. The forks will definately be the Next to go. The Stumpjumper was just to expensive and the RH fitted my budget perfectly. Everything i throw at this bike street and trail it loves. So for value this has to get 5 Chilis and Overall 4. What a great bike to start on and upgrade !! Wicked !!
Bike Setup: Upgraded seat, seat post - Ritchie Comp, Shorter Ritchie Stem, Mavic 223 Rims and Deore Hubs, Magura Julie Disks, V8 Pedals, Gel Grips etc etc
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Fremont, CA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003
Strengths: Frame is super strong. I'm 200+ lbs and this frame takes it all and flexes very little. Components are great for the price. No problems with over 1,000 miles on the bike. Love the geometry and the look of the bike. Very sturdy and robust design.
Weaknesses: Seat was brutal at first. Since I've worked it in however, it's much better now. Tires are OK. Decent in soft ground, great on anything firm.
Bottom Line:
This bike is the absolute best value for the money. Great for weekend warriors like me and those with less and more experience. Have had friends with much more expensive bikes tell me they love this bike. Has taken all I have thrown at it and not given me a problem yet. This bike is as good as a stumpjumper, and is hundreds less. The frame is awesome and the rest of the bike is solid and will last for years. Downhills great, climbing is smooth, and riding is generally very comfortable. Buy it and keep it for years of riding.
Bike Setup: Stock with added rack. Shimano Deore and LX components. Mity computer.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Teague
a Weekend Warrior
from Menlo Park, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2003
Strengths: Frame is extremely strong, rims=ok
Weaknesses: manitou fork springs are crap - always bottom out, i reccomend getting a spring upgrade from dealer. Seat terribly uncomfortable. Tires have minimal traction.
Bottom Line:
Nice bike but needs upgrades - especially if you want to beat it up around town. Springs need to be stiffer. Could do with better rims. Otherwise ride the crap out of it. It takes a beating. If you want a good off and on road bike for a nice price this would be the one to get. For a rider wanting to start on his interest of urban freeriding this bike works out ok. Takes stairs, ledges, jumps.
Submitted by
duane
a Cross Country Rider
from aurora colorado
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2003
Strengths: shifting, climbing, weight.
Weaknesses: seat, pedals, tires.
Bottom Line:
this bike kicks butt as a trail climber. the fork is too soft,but it costs half as much as the bike to upgrade. for rythym and dirt jumping purposes you will need a much shorter stem.this bike is still the best value for a 2002 hardtail that i have found.absolutely no buyer's remorse after a year of almost daily riding.
Similar Products Used: diamond back ascent, trek 930 and 830.
Bike Setup: stock except for pedals,tires,seat, and race face diabolus stem,
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rich
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2003
Strengths: Componentry, frame.
Weaknesses: Tires, seat
Bottom Line:
This is my first bike, but here's my assessment after a few weekends of trail riding. The stock seat is HORRIBLE. I traded it in after two rides and found that I wasn't the only one... the trade-in bucket was full of the same seat. The tires are also lacking. Not much grip and very prone to flats. But for everything else, it's great so far. Seems to take everything I dish at it.
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Scottsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2002
Strengths: Low price, entry level mountain bike
Weaknesses: Seat post, hubs, and cranks will all fail quickly, with use.
Bottom Line:
I rode this bike 3-4 days a week for 6 solid months. The good news is that I didn't break the frame. The bad news is that the frame was the only thing I didn't replace. The seat went first...dang that thing was uncomfortable. Then the seat tube went to the junk pile. The stock clamp simply doesn't work. All the while, the stock crank was giving me extreme grief, most likely because it didn't spin true. That was replaced with an XT crank and front der, and life was much better (and less injury prone). The hubs then blew out and were replaced under warranty. That prompted a new wheelset, with XTR hubs, cassette, and rapid rise. Somewhere along the way, those really heavy baskets were dumped for XTR pedals.
The front fork is pretty heavy for a 3" travel fork, and quite honestly does very little shock absorption. Mostly the input is transmitted as the output, acting very much like a very heavy rigid fork. If you ever get a chance to ride a good fork that actually erases a bump, you'll know what I mean.
The LX rear der and deore shifters and levers work well. As well, the deore V-brakes are more than adequate. It's too bad there were more of this quality part on the bike.
To be fair, for the money, it's difficult to get a better bike...perhaps a Giant? Instead I would encourage those seaking an entry level hardtail to seriously consider a Stumpjumper over a Rockhopper, if they actually plan on using this bike on trails, and not just on the sidewalk.
Submitted by
Raleigh Cox
a Weekend Warrior
from Provo, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2002
Strengths: Good components & nice frame for the price. Shifts smoothly.
Weaknesses: My biggest complaints are the fork and the seatpost.
I thought that the Manitou fork was way to plush--I'm only 150 lbs, and when the preload is maxed out, it's still too soft. I already upgraded to an '02 Marzocchi MXR and I love it!
The seat will not stay at the angle that I like for more than a minute before it starts to slip back--it creaks like crazy, too. I'm upgrading to a Thomson.
I will eventually upgrade the pedals to clipless, and the cranks will have to go, too.
Bottom Line:
I'm just getting back into the sport after not riding for a few years.
Despite all the weaknesses that I listed above, I love this bike! As soon as I get my Thomson seatpost, I will be set for awhile. I don't think that this bike can be beat for the price. You pay $150 more for the A1 FS Comp, and the "upgraded" components wouldn't be my first choice anyway.
I wish that Specialized sold just the frame--that would be the best for me, because then I could put exactly what I want on it.
Submitted by
Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Canberra, ACT, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002
Strengths: Solid and upgradable frame, great components for the price
Weaknesses: The tyres are crap, the seat takes a while to get used to (if you don't replace after the first couple of rides), and the seat post won't hold the seat in place.
Bottom Line:
I am relatively new to mountain biking so I wanted a bike with a great frame, without breaking the bank, that I could upgrade as my skills improve. This bike delivers on all accounts. I have found climbing and all day treking a breeze, but you need to replace the tyres before trying any testing single tracks as the tread is crap. The bike could be better served from a better seat post out of the factor as the one it comes with threads very easily, but a minor replacement. Overall I give this bike a big thumbs up.
Bike Setup: Standard except for a set of SPD pedals, Michelin tyres and a Ritchey seat post.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Matthew
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Myers, Florida
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2002
Strengths: The components for the money. Value compared to other bikes tested. Deore LX rear shifts well.
Weaknesses: Stock pedals and Tires. The pedals are week, The tires have no grip for trials in Florida. Specialized feels the need to write !Specialized! all over everything...
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for the Price. I shoped around for a while and this bike had everything I was looking for. I dont think you can get a better Bike for the price.
Weaknesses: everything except the 3 mentioned above.
Bottom Line:
This bike is garbage. I have to redo my whole drivtrain and wheels because it's all falling apart. It Ghost shifts like crazy won't catch on the cogs of the cassette, screws fall out of everywhere and it's loaded with all this specialized crap!!
Similar Products Used: *((all similar products cost over $100 more))* Trek 6500, K2 Zed 4.0, GT Avalanche 0.0
Bike Setup: Stock w/ M424 pedals
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gordon
a
from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2002
Strengths: Great frame, good parts, decent price.
Weaknesses: The tires are awful on anything but dry hardpack and pavement. Get a lizard skin to protect the chainstays, the gear ratios make for some nasty chainslap all the time.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for entry level competition (if you change the tires). The bike is solid, light, and the rider position is comfortable on even the longest trips. Though a few of my friends found it too upright. The seat takes a while to get used to if you haven't used the "nut-saver" seats before. Also, the shocks seem a little soft, I'm only 140lbs and on max preload it still bottoms out now and again. If you do road biking, the shocks are way too soft and you'll probably need to purchase the lockout upgrade from manitou.
Strengths: I think thid bike a great value. I had a Cannondale 400 with a softride stem that was wonderful but it got stolen. I needed a good replacement that wasn't going to break the bank. The Rockhopper was it. Great value and excellent quality.
Weaknesses: Non so far.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a great value that you can feel good about upgradeing in the future then this bike is the one.
Similar Products Used: Treck 6500, Kona Cinder Cone, or Schwinn Moab 3
Bike Setup: stock...adding a Rock Shock seat post and heavier fork spring
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Fat Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft.Myers, FL US of A
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2002
Strengths: Solid Frame, nice fork... just all around a nice starter bike. I like the components included
Weaknesses: the pedals are garbage. first thing that should go. The rims are decent, but I bent one hitting a tree... (that was a fun ride back...) Somehow I bent the bottom bracket when the pedal slammed into a huge stump. I have yet to replace that cause I've gotten use to it by now.
Bottom Line:
Overall, I give this ride a pair of thumbs. It's a good entry level bike that will even go a little past that. I love mine and intend to keep it for a while, just upgrading parts..I'm a heavy fella so, you lighter guys might not have troubles with rims and all, but you know how it goes.. I suggest this to anyone that is trying to get the most bang for their buck. I'll be riding mine for somw time, and once it dies, I'll probably get another specialized.
Similar Products Used: I rode my uncle's REALLY old rock hopper before I rode this one.
Bike Setup: mostly stock... Titec Hellbent bars, new grips, Sun Mammoth rims, Kore GASS Pedals (I don't recomend these unless you are on a tite budget), some non-stock rear tire (I forget exactly what it is), and a new set of rear pads (I need to learn to ride the front brake)
Strengths: good control, good brakes, and its real purrty. its a well constructed bike.
Weaknesses: having some problems with my shifter, and i've been told that i may need to replace them. it seems they may be defective. phooey.
Bottom Line:
although this is my first mountain bike, i don't have much to compare it to. however, i have gone on several 25+ mile rides and the bike performed superbly. i always felt in controls. i have quickly grown to love mountain biking. this is a good bike for someone just starting in mountain biking who is athletic enough to try all different trail types immediately.
I want to complete my xtr grouppo on my bike, I have the brakes and the shifters. What model 952 derailuer do I need for front and rear, and what is the proper rear cog set?
Read More »
I am wanting to put a full xtr setup on my rockhopper, I am wanting to get the 1999/2000ish xtr parts, m952 derailleur series, what is the proper parts I need, I already have t Read More »
Had this bike since new... been great. After getting back into cycling (road) a year back I'm wondering if the project is really worth it i.e. fresh paint, 2010/11 XT groupo, new f Read More »
I found a 2001 Rockhopper A1 FS Comp Disc on craigslist. It is the black/red/white frame, Rock Shox Judy C fork, stock bars, stock saddle, Deore front derailleur, stock crankset/bb Read More »
women's version...good mechanical (stock) condition...anyone have a ballpark range?
[url]http://www.bikepedia.com/Quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2000&Brand=Specialized&Model=Rock Read More »
