Submitted by
8nbanka !!!
a Weekend Warrior
from Gateshead, England
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2008
Strengths: Longevity, I have had it over 10 yrs from new. Only the frame remains unchanged. Paint job definitely star quality. When cleaned its orange paintwork still gleams.
Weaknesses: It was never meant to take disc brakes, though with a little bit of work it has.
Bottom Line:
I have thrown a lot of money at / away on this bike but I have become worryingly attached to it and its lovely orange ness.Whenever I think of replacing it I just clean it and look at it glow. I would sat effervesce even.
Similar Products Used: All my serious off road bikin g has been done on this. Though I did own a Townsend psuedo mountain bike prior to this
Bike Setup: Full xt drvitrain and hubs, mavic717 rims, roll x tyres (not tires) Charge Spoon saddle, Thomson layback post (27.2 shimmed up) Reba race forks, juicy 5 (185 rotors)-via an adaptor meant for FSR- easton ea30 bars and Time alium pedals. About 28-29 lbs in all
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Submitted by
Chuck Woolery
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2006
Strengths: Durability. Quick and light.
Weaknesses: Stock components.
Bottom Line:
I'll probably be the last person to add to this thread, but after ten happy years with this bike, I had to. I have gradually replaced, through need or desire, litterally everything on this bike with the exception of the seat post and the stem, many parts more than once. I'm not the most aggressive rider, but I'm big and strong and have ridden many miles. Frame is still solid as a rock.
Bike Setup: Mavic 517 rims, White Ind front hub, XT rear, RaceFace cranks, Synchros rings, Cane Creek Headset, RockShox Duke SL fork, XT brakes & shifters, XT derailuers & cassette.
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Submitted by
Tiny
a Weekend Warrior
from Cork, Ireland
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003
Strengths: light, takes a beating, easily upgraded, light!
Weaknesses: got a crap fork - Jett XC, but must get that upgraded
Bottom Line:
sweet, sweet bike. Bought mine from a friend who worked in a bike shop, so this was treated like a baby! he added some nice components (XT rear, lx front and those Maggie brakes - which are very, very good) and sold me the bike at a pretty good price. A new hardrock is more expensive than this, and even though hardrocks are aluminium, they still weigh about the same as this steel thing. When I added in all the after market components this was a great deal.
Bike Setup: specialized hubs, ritchey OCR rims, xt rear derailleur, lx front derailleur, lx shifters, magura hydraulic rim brakes, wam d-1 pedals (with specialized sport mountain spd shoes), body geometry saddle
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Submitted by
Jeremiah
a Weekend Warrior
from the post about four posts down
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2002
Bottom Line:
Just a quick update to my post below:
After seven years, I finaly developed a small (1/8") crack in the headtube. Specialized warrantied the frame for free/no questions asked, so now I have a 2002 frame.
Favorite Trail: not scioto anymore, I dig the Knob!
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
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Submitted by
René M. Sánchez
a Weekend Warrior
from Santiago, Chile
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2002
Strengths: Very good Frame, very strong, and it's a funny little kid, mine is 13" so I can do Dhill. Bmx, DSlalom, what I want. Its a very good frame.
Weaknesses: Maybe the stays, it doesn't have snake stays.
Bottom Line:
I bought the frame alone one year ago. I allways faund the frame amazig, in everyway, angry look, and cool specs. What can I say, we don't have a official Specilized dealer in Chile, so I was very lucky .
Strengths: Excellent frame, XT rear, rims and hubs, and also the headset.
Weaknesses: Fork (Manitou SX E), crank, and brakes are the major weaknesses on this bike. There are things like the STX RC components, but I feel this stuff is alright at first!
Bottom Line:
This bike is an excellent bike for it's cost, though I do believe it is only worth buying it with the components it comes with, if it is on sale! The bike has a super strong frame; I believe from my own experience that it is excellent for trials and jumping ( Dirt, Urban, etc...) if you get the right size ( meaning 17" or less ). But this bike is setup up for cross country when it is sent from the factory! It has protential for much more aggressive riding, but that is when those weak components must go, and the hardcore/freeride style components come in. I must say one thing about the fork. Mine came with a Manitou I listed in the weaknesses section, and it is a P.O.S.S ( piece of soft **** ). I don't understand how a fork is that soft! All in all, I could of bought a bike already setup for what I want to do, but I didn't because I wasn't into freeriding when I first purchased it! Do yourself a favour, just research what you are going to get and what you are going or planning to do with it, come and get reviews here, and never let a bike shop try and sell you something if you feel it might not be what you want! You can always swap components, if they say they can't, THEY ARE LYING!!!! Keep riding!
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z.3 QR20, XT & XTR components, Magura Disc brake Front & Rim Rear, Riser bar, platforms, and Raceface crank with Bashguard!
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from shenandoah,va
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2001
Strengths: little in weight,heavy in performance! solid frame,good climbing bike.
Weaknesses: If your serious about off road,you must upgrade some components.shocks,brakes and rear derailler
Bottom Line:
My friends say "as much as you ride i'm surprised you don't have a full suspension yeti or fisher.Well,i did'nt think this bike would last this long in the rocky terrain i ride in.Its still going strong waiting to be pounded.After riding this bike and given the steep rocky terrian i ride,i may never own another bike.
I bought this bike new in '98, and beleived at that time (and still do) that it was the best bike for the buck then. But now I see what $700 or so can buy today, and it brings tears to my eyes. Shoulda ridden out the old StreetStomper for just two more years. Oh well.
I have ridden this bike ruthlessly for over three years, and have not had yet had to even true the wheels or tune it up. It is indestructable. I had to ditch the stock LX derailleur becasuse it wouldn't shift going up hills, the new XT worked great. The bike was heavy (31 lbs) when I bought it, and being the fan of bolting on aftermarket crap that I am, it now weighs a healthy 36 lbs fully loaded. Not one for racing, but I have had much success using it for light to medium trail duty.
The stock Answer shock was decent middle-market quality and technology for 1998, but I think that they are using them on Huffys now. I am in the process of getting a new one, just as soon as I can find a sucker to buy my old one (my wide has imposed a "zero net bike crap gain" rule upon me). Make me an offer!
I am 6' tall, and have always ridden 21" frames, but you would need gorilla arms to get comfortable on this one. A shorty high degree rise stem took care of that.
Bottom line - Great survivor, This will be the preferred mode of transportation after they drop the big one. Buy it if you prefer visiting the mechanic once a decade instead of annually. PLan on dropping a few extra bucks into comfort items and componentry.
Similar Products Used: Specialized StreetStomper (remember that one?)
Bike Setup: Stock, with XT drivetrain, panniers, dirt baldy team tires (they rule when not in mud), Dirt Control/Master tires when in the mud, 40 degree rise headdset.
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Submitted by
Jeremiah
a Weekend Warrior
from Hilly part o' Ohio
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2000
Strengths: I have to warn you, I've been riding my wifes '95 rockhopper since I destroyed my Scott in a crash, and So thats what I'm reviewing. after about 6 years and much abuse, its still in fantastic shape. Still no frame flex, cracks in weld... nothing! This is an amazingly strong bike for the price. its a great parts pick out of the box for the $$, but I've been upgrading everything I break/wear out.
Anyway, Strengths- Stiff, strong frame. Built to last. Flies great, lands even better. Excelent wheels for the price.
Weaknesses: Not sure what they're running now, but mine came with a specialized 'future shock', which currently resides in a landfill right now. Heavy BB (for 600 bucks, ya gotta cut cost somewhere).
Bottom Line:
Want a bike thats a solid performer and will last, then this ones for you.
Purchased At: Montgomery Cyclery, Cinci (btw, they're the best for price & service!!!)
Similar Products Used: Scott mtb, Stumpjumper (I noticed no difference in the frame), misc cruisers, rd bikes. I'm a former shop rat & rode everything I could get my hands on.
Bike Setup: after 6 years... Stock frame, stock wheels, stock rear deraileur & shifters.
Submitted by
Canzogal
a Cross Country Rider
from San Mateo, California
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000
Strengths: The right size for a short girl like me Nice components Specialized rocks!!!
Weaknesses: ??? haven't found any in 1,600 miles
Bottom Line:
I ride the 17 inch frame. Love it! I must admit that I'm very biased towards Specialized in general - they make a great product at a reasonable price. Just a real nice, comfortable reach and feel overall. I got it on sale in January '99 from my local shop for $599 and have really put the miles on it since. Actually I'm buying another Specialized - a 2000 Allez Comp road bike. I have absolutely no desire at this time to get a MTB to replace my 'Hopper, although I may replace the handlebars with riser bars and upgrade the fork at some point.
Similar Products Used: Trek 8000, Gary Fisher Marlin
Bike Setup: Just as it was out of the box except added Terry Liberator saddle, bar ends and Ritchey semi-slick tires - also changed the pedals to platforms from the Ritchey clipless (more my riding style)
Weaknesses: Too stiff for me The damn Manitou Spyder The bottom bracket
Bottom Line:
The frma ruled. I loved evry minuite of riding it. I was very pissed when I signed with a team that rides Kona's and I had to sell it....:-( This is a perfect bike for anyone who is a weekend warrior, or races very lightly. I know i pushed this frame as hard as I could, and it still begged for more.
The only down sides were the fork, the spyder sucks. It absorbs, next to nothing, and it doesn't work in the cold, and the bottom bracket. I replaced the bb after about three monthes riding it, and put a UN-72 bb in. It made the ride so sweet.
Bottom line is this is a sweet bike for your girlfriend/wife, or anyone who rides on the weekend. But if you race, buy a KONA they kick ass!
Strengths: strong light frame, good componentry, great ride, awsome fork, more responsive ride than my friend's trek 7000
Weaknesses: diacompe brakes, try to swich them out w/ avids
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE ROX, i cant believe that i havent reviewed it yet. The frame is strong, light, and does exactly what you want it to do. Im gonna switch out the brakes soon, but other than that awsome ride. I ride this thing all over technical singletrack, placed 6 in state cycleocross on it, (dont ask y i was riding cycleocross, i dont know) and has survived huge air. Get this bike if you want to FLY!!! oh ya, the spyder r's rock as well, u can check out my review on that lata.
Similar Products Used: trek 7000 ralegh m55 trek 830 shx giant 830 some other stuff
Bike Setup: stock
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Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Mexico, MO
Date Reviewed: August 20, 1999
Strengths: Super light frameage Speed Shifters Ritchey componentry
Weaknesses: short, thin handlebars STX RC from Derailer no barends
Bottom Line:
This is a massive bike. I'm not a pro by any stretch, but I love this bike. Anything I can handle, it can handle. Nothing has phased it yet. I got ahold of this pup from Nicolette South Bike Shop in Nicolette, MN for a VERY reasonable price just as the 99's hit the shelves, and have been overly impressed with it's performance. In all reality this is too much bike for me. One negative is the very thin handlebars both length and diameter. I'm a bit worried about the length being too short if I added barends, and either way, they are much too thin for my hands. Still a kick ass ride. 5 flaming red blotches for the Specialized Rockhopper A1 Comp FS.
Similar Products Used: 99 Mongoose Pro 7.1 97 Gary Fisher Marlin
Bike Setup: 97 Rock Shox Judy XC
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Submitted by
Peter Lütken
a Cross-Country Rider
from Oslo, Norway
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1999
Strengths: Very nice frame, good components specially the fork and Ritchey wheel/Specialized tire combo
Weaknesses: NO barends, annoying carrier screws on seat stays and pedals (slippery in mud)
Bottom Line:
These mods adds to the already awesome ride and makes it a true racer altough somewhat heavy -I guess the Ritchey wheels will have to take some of the blame (a quick comparison revealed that my chum Roy's Mavic Crossmax REAR wheel was at least the same weight as my FRONT! And that's with similar type Kevlar tires...) Stock the Dia Compe vee-brakes provide good stopping but nothing compares (at least in my opinion) to a good set of maguras!If you want a sweet (budget) singletrack bike that handles good, climbs like a goat and has control to take it all out on downhills get a Rockhopper!!
Similar Products Used: Kona AA ('96) & Merida Dura Carbon 970 ('95)
Bike Setup: switched to a Manitou SX-R (98) fork and Magura HS-22 brakes and added a pair of those crazy-bend CODA barends as well as a set of Time ATAC pedals
Strengths: THE FRAME. I HAVE BEEN IN TWO MAJOR CRASHES (BOTH OF THEM SPLIT MY FORK IN TWO, NOT TO MENTION I THREW IT OFF AND 10 FT CLIFF, AND STILL NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE).
Weaknesses: NOT AN EXPENSIVE HIGH END BIKE BUT PERFORMS JUST AS WELL!!!
Bottom Line:
GREAT BIKE!!!!!!! HANDLES TURNS AND STEERS LIKE A CHAMP. RIDES LIKE A TOP RATED PORNO QUEEN!!! I TRY MY BEST TO PUSH THE BIKE TO THE LIMIT OF CRACKING THE FRAME(ROCKY TRAILS, WICKED JUMPS) BUT IT NEVER BREAKS. I WANNA GET A SOFT TAIL. BUT EVERY RIDE ON MY ROCKHOPPER MAKES ME NOT WANT TO GIVE UP MY HARDTAIL.
Similar Products Used: CANNONDALE, ZASKAR, STUMPJUMPER, KLEIN AND GIANT XTC
Bike Setup: TITEC STEM, XT BRAKES, XT FR RR DERAILER,XT BOTTOM BRACKET, MAVIC SUP 121 RIMMS WITH MACHINE TECH HUBS, AZONIC RISER BAR WITH AN ORBIT HEADSET. THE ONLY LEFT OVER PARTS ARE THE CRANKS (STX) AND FRAME
