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Specialized
Rockhopper FSR Disc
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Submitted by
Greg
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1130.00 | | Purchased At: | Strathpine Cycles | | Strengths: | Good climber
nice light bike for the price
quite rigid
good clean finish
Good brakes | | Weaknesses: | Stainless steel bolt holding rear shock too soft
Mavic X139 Disc rims are soft and weak
No bearings at any of the pivot points | | Similar Products Used: | first semi serious bike | | Bike Setup: | The bike is set up pretty much standard. the rear travel is set to maximum. | | Bottom Line: | Good all round performer for the price, brakes are fantastic compared to anything I have ridden in the past. Have had some trouble with the rear wheel moving out of position in the swing arm. Bike handles well in the rough stuff with enough adjustment to keep me happy in both the front and rear suspension. Great bike for someone looking to enter the sport at a pallatable cost, but not suitable for any really nasty downhill tracks. Also, if you can convince the shop, change the rims before you leave and get a decent trade for the unused ones. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Earl Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Eagle trail plus extensions, for 2 hours of cardio exercise | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1250.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Village, Boulder CO, very helpful shop | | Strengths: | disk brakes, rear suspension fully active in all gears, outstanding climber, great control at high speed over rough ground | | Weaknesses: | not sure about the seat, seems a bit hard | | Similar Products Used: | 02 Specialized Rockhopper hardtail, 02 Specialized Rockhopper FSR, 03 Jamis xc comp, my old rigid frame steel bike | | Bike Setup: | basically stock; changed to conventional pedals, added SKS fenders front & rear plus lizard skins on rear shock & chainstay | | Bottom Line: | I got tired of shaking my teeth out on washboard roads and rocky trails so I rented an 02 Rockhopper hardtail and an 02 Rockhopper FSR for 1 day each; I also did extensive test rides on a Jamis xc comp. I decided to try a new Rockhopper FSR but the shop did not have the basic model in my size (although they could get one in from Denver quickly enough) so I test rode a Rockhopper FSR disc with Shimano M525 hydraulic disk brakes, mainly to check out the frame (which is not the same as the 02 model I had rented). I did various tests of the suspension, climbing, riding in rocks, etc. and finally, just for a chuckle, I rode down a paved section of bikepath at about 15 mph and stopped as quickly as possible using only the front brake. The modulation was amazing. I could stop incredibly fast and never locked up the wheel in 18 similar tests, even going downhill. After this, I went back to the shop where I had already done a long test ride on an 03 Jamis xc comp with Avid SD7 brakes. According to postings on this board, the SD7s are about the best V brakes available, and supposedly comparable to disk brakes in stopping power. I did the same brake test with the Jamis and the front wheel locked up 6 times out of 18 test runs. The bike probably stopped about as quickly as the Rockhopper disc when it did not lock up, but locking the front wheel was unpredictable. On the last run, with no change in pressure on the brake lever, the bike began stopping nicely but, after it slowed slightly, the front wheel locked and I almost went over the bars (that is why it was my last test run). The next day I bought the Rockhopper FSR disc.
I did a 2 hour ride on my new Rockhopper FSR disc yesterday. I went on a rocky uphill run where I have often had to stop because I lose control on my rigid frame bike (the same thing happened with the rented 02 Rockhopper hardtail). With my new Rockhopper FSR disc (and with the rented 02 Rockhopper FSR) it felt like a paved municipal bikepath. I also went down a steep rocky trail where I have fallen twice in the last year. Previous drill: rear brake locks up, rear tire slides, cant keep my speed down, squeeze harder on the front brake, hit a small rock, front brake locks, I flip over the handlebars and thereby reinforce my Pavlovian aversion to squeezing the front brake lever. With full suspension and disk brakes the hill is now tame. I went down a short section using only the front brake and had complete control over my speed. I also went faster than usual down the rest of the hill and could still reduce speed at any time without locking either wheel. What a great bike; I am now getting over my fear of the front brake lever !
I spent a long time reading comments on this message board and they played a large role in my decision making process. Thanks a lot guys, and thanks to MTBR as well.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
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