Submitted by
Dave Q
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, Az
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2008
Strengths: 1)Price, 2)quality, 3)components (some of them)
Weaknesses: The stock seat...the pawn shop guys don't keep air in the tires.
Bottom Line:
A great cruiser, what a sweet frame. Smooth and responsive. The Ritchey cantis are great stoppers. I've set it up as a "two-fer", so I can run it as 42 x 18 or 32 x 18 if I hit some hills
Bike Setup: Ritchey Logic tubing, Mavic 221 w/ LX hubs. Kona P2 fork, Specialized Alias saddle, XT levers with Ritchey cantis. Specialized cranks, 42 x 18: It's single speed baby!
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Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, Az
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2007
Strengths: Like it just rolled off the showroom floor. Couldn't beat the price...$100!!! Ritchey Nitanium tubing
Weaknesses: Didn't like the stock seat...the guys at the pawn shop couldn't figure how to put air in the tires.
Bottom Line:
I replaced the brakes with AVID Ti brakes, as well as the seat (WTB). I swapped out the Jett fork for a rigid Kona P2 fork. The stock Specialized stem was replaced with a cool "SIC" stem. I just picked up some LX / Mavic rims, so will use the Ritchey wheels on my next project. How can you beat this bike for $100?
Similar Products Used: Cannondale, Specialized, GT, Kona, Haro
Bike Setup: The bike was set up stock...STX front deraileur, Dia-Compe V-brakes and levers, cheap Specialized seat. It got better once I got to the Ritchey rims, and the LX rear deraileur.
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Submitted by
Hadley Movin'
a Cross Country Rider
from Riverview, New Brunswick
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2005
Strengths: Good frame, decent components.
Weaknesses: Front fork, resin pedals, older frame geometry. OEM flat bar was apparently recalled for premature failures, but I never had a problem in 6 years xc riding.
Bottom Line:
I purchased this 20" 1994 Specialized Rockhopper Comp FS in 1998 for $250 (CDN). Used it mainly for daily commute, bike trails and some single track. Not a lot of miles (2000+), but the bike was basically stock until this year. Had maybe one tune up in 6 years and lots of neglect, plus I'm a clydesdale at 200 lbs. Overall a good, solid performer for light riding.
Weaknesses: Specialized components : Wheel Hubs, cranks, poor seat (but still better than a Coda seat). V-Brakes.
Bottom Line:
The FS Comp seems more suited to being a cross country bike than a serious mountain bike. The bike was great on cross country rides, but when I tried the bike on a some difficult trails, but I found the traditional geometry of the Specialized didn't work well especially on steeper hills. The stock brakes were poor, and the Rock Shock was a little weak. Rather than spending a small fortune to upgrade this bike to disks and a better fork, I decided to buy a Brodie Evolution for my mountain bike needs, and relegate this bike to a commuter/touring bike. The freeride geometry of the Brodie is much better for mountain biking than the Specialized. The Brodie has more clearance and is a lot better for climbing than this bike. The Brodie was twice the price of the Specialized new, but if I add up everything I had to replace, the Specialized cost me almost as much. The original Specialized rear hub self destructed after ~1.5 years of use, and it was replaced with an XT hub (which is still going strong). I have had to replace several other stock components like the cranks, bottom bracket, seat, seat post, stem, V-brakes and levers. The bike now has Avid SD brakes which are almost as good as the disk brakes on the Brodie (4 chilis for the brakes). I replaced the cranks with a Shimano crank set. The LX Hollowtech crankset performs better than the original Specialized cranks. Now that I have swapped out a lot of the stock components, it is a great bike. The Richie Nitanium frame is very comfortable, and was the number one reason I bought this bike (5 chilis for the frame). It is good for riding long distances, and using as a commuter bike every day.
This bike may seem like a bargain at first compared to other bikes, but be prepared to replace the cheaper components if you use it a lot. My Brodie takes a lot more abuse than this bike, but after 4 years of use it still had most of the factory components (It's time to replace the fork now). I don't think the geometry is well suited for serious mountain biking, but it does make a reasonable cross country bike or a great commuter bike. It is a bit heavy for touring and long distance rides, but it is still comfortable after being in the saddle for 5+ hours. (It is still light enough that I use it when I ride with the roadies in the bike club). It rides better than the Cannondale I had before I bought this, but unfortunately, I don't think they are offering the Richie Nitanium frames anymore. This is my principle riding bike. I ride it for ~8 months of the year, and I have over 12,000 Km's on this bike. I expect the frame will outlast me.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale, Brodie, GT, Rocky Mountain.
Bike Setup: The bike came with what appeared to be a good basic setup. The FS Comp came complete with an XT deraileur, and 9 speed LX shifters. The Rock Shock fork is OK, but a little weak for biger riders. It now has XT deraileurs/shifters/chain with an LX Hollowtech crank and bottom bracket. The rear wheel is a Rhino Lite with an XT hub (a great wheel combination for big riders. 5 chilis for the wheel). The brakes were replaced with Avid SD VBrakes and levers.
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Submitted by
Joe Keffan
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2002
Strengths: Good all round bike i've done a bit of every thing on this bike. i learnt to jump 6 foot and drop 10 foot on this bike
Weaknesses: Forks can't take downhill and the rim died in 3 months. Made in to a 9 speed. Hated the stem
Bottom Line:
Great bike for someone between XC DH freeride jumps street
Bike Setup: specialized frame 24/7 bar stem combo flat pedals magura/disc mammoths muddy fox seat ddg m2 chaindevice
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Submitted by
Blair Toland
a Downhiller
from Somerville Ma
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2001
Strengths: inexpensive, durable frame, good looking with nice geometery
Weaknesses: Poor components off the shelf, Cheap rims die quickly, seatposts and seats break soon as well, Frame did finally crack on my lower chainstays infront of the small crosspiece, but only after two years of a 200lb guy abusing it. Lifetime frame warrenty should cover it.
Bottom Line:
Great entry level hardtail frame just negotiate for some good components, it will save you time, money and headaches.
Similar Products Used: none, this is my only mountain bike
Bike Setup: Z2 alloy fork with heavy springs, Xt rd derailler, brakes, Lx crank and front derailler, Bontrager rims with Xt hubs, easton riser bars and post, SDG ti seat, Shimano m646 pedals OURY grips, avid 2.0 shifters
Strengths: balanced frame, durable, awesome color scheme (matte blue w/ gold lettering)
Weaknesses: frame is on the heavy side
Bottom Line:
i have the matte blue/gold lettering frame- best looking mtb frame specialized ever made! i always get compliments. it came with a rockshox elastomer fork and full stx. i was very happy with it and gave it NO maintenence in over 4 years- loved it. i am starting xc racing and upgraded everything. the frame, i love and kept on. over 4 years and still going strong- have to give it 5 flamers for value! it performs and is very inexpensive, a very rare combination! not sure how many people have the matte blue, i have never come across another one. i think i got it around 1995-6.
Submitted by
BenT
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2000
Strengths: Great frame, cool color(mine is a really great looking silver)
Weaknesses: The fork will need to be upgraded
Bottom Line:
Great performer. Good bike for the money. Some parts wil need to go. All STX will go and a new fork will be in order. But if you are like me making your bike look the best is fun and replacing parts will not be a hassle.
Oh yeah, always make sure that your wheels are secured tightly to you roof rack. This is why my wheels do not match.
Similar Products Used: This is my first good moutnain bike
Bike Setup: LX/Mavarick front Ritchey OCR rear. XT shifter and rear derailluer. Avid 2.0 levers and brakes. Selle Flite Ti and Hutchinson Mosquito 1.85 on front and Python 2.0 on rear. Specialized Son of Stron Arm Crank and Specialized Ti pedals. Specialized stem and Ritchey Pro flat bar. Manitou Pro fork.
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Submitted by
KC
a Weekend Warrior
from Boissevain,MB, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2000
Strengths: -good solid frame, but super light too. -descent quality of parts.
Weaknesses: -manitou fork sucked. -brakes are getting worse.
Bottom Line:
This bike has treated me great, but I've had to put alot of parts into it to make it work for me.
Similar Products Used: trek 6500, fisher tassajara, gt zaskar
Bike Setup: XT rear derr., XT front derr., XT brakes, XT brake lever/shifter cluster, XT cassette. XT BB, Club Roost Go Fast riser, Yeti lock on grips, Thompson elite post, Shimano 636 platform spd's, salsa brake reinforcer on rear brake, XT crank and rings, Specialuzed stem, Ritchey logic headset, Manitou pro fork, XT hubs, Sun Rhynolite rims, Specialized team tires 2.1 fr. 1.95 r.
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Submitted by
Ben Tewes
a Cross Country Rider
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2000
Strengths: Great frame Asome brakes, the Avid's rock XT rear derailer
Weaknesses: I would like to see this bike come with a better fork.
Bottom Line:
I think this is an awsome bike for the money, I got mine for 450 two years after it came out. If you got the Diacomp setup go for the upgrade and get Avids. They are only like 80.00 for the levers and brakes and they are so worth it. Also it is important to get good deraillers.
Bike Setup: Manitou Pro XT/STX Ritchey wheels Avid 2.0 levers and brakes Ritchey Forcelite Shimano Rapidfire Shifters
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Submitted by
bigpappa sloth
a Weekend Warrior
from okc, ok usa
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2000
Strengths: light for cro-mo, very stiff, tough as nails frame that can take a beating
Weaknesses: why the hell did i buy a frame with a 1" steerer tube, burgandy color is ugly
Bottom Line:
dia compe brakes suck (swapped to xt..much much better), haven't had any real problems with the bike except its a pain in the ass replacing the headset, rs fork flexes alot (being replaced by a marzocchi z-4) nice responsive, lightweight bike for the weekend warrior, frame can take a hell of alot abuse, bike is for sale on e-bay
Strengths: Great tough frame, very well reinforced. Handles very well, good looking bike, nice choice of parts. It's light, nice fork, all around high quality
Weaknesses: Could improve on crank quality,better warantee
Bike Setup: specialized comp FS whith rockshox indy XC
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Submitted by
dan
a Cross-Country Rider
from edmonds, wa
Date Reviewed: August 3, 1999
Strengths: light, responsive, maneuverable
Weaknesses: brakes
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE ROCKS!! i love how the bike responds to my every command! it took me a little while to get used to the stiffness of the bike, but its causes the bike to feel directly connected to the rider. once u get the spyders dialed in they work perfectly. the only thing wrong w/ the bike are its brakes: here's what u do, switch the HANDLES w/ avid 1.0s (or 2.0s) u can switch the brakes if u want, but it isnt nessacary. these avids are MUCH more stiff and firm, giving u more confident braking. w/ those i give the bike
