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Specialized
'98 Rockhopper A1 Comp FS
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Submitted by
8nbanka !!!
a Weekend Warrior
from Gateshead, England
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Beamish Woods | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Hardisty Cycles (long gone ) | | 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. | | 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 | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chuck Woolery
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlotte, NC
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in Pisgah NF | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeSource | | Strengths: | Durability. Quick and light. | | Weaknesses: | Stock components. | | 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. | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tiny
a Weekend Warrior
from Cork, Ireland
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Local Roads | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | friend | | Strengths: | light, takes a beating, easily upgraded, light! | | Weaknesses: | got a crap fork - Jett XC, but must get that upgraded | | Similar Products Used: | trek 4500, 2003 hardrock | | 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 | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremiah
a Weekend Warrior
from the post about four posts down
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | not scioto anymore, I dig the Knob! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | 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.
Specialized customer service rocks.
five more cajun shripm! god, I love seafood. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
René M. Sánchez
a Weekend Warrior
from Santiago, Chile
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All!! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike New, Santiago de Chile | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4500, GT Backwoods, Scott Yacora | | Bike Setup: | Rock Schox Judy XC' 97 full whote titanium kit 80mm. Matrix dubble wall rims, intense whells, lx'98 hubs. Azonic Piramid Wall handelbar, world force stem. SDG TITANIUM SADDLE, magura HS 33 Race line brakes, FSA Satellite .
Primo BMX grips, XT & LX drive chain. Bontrager crank set
Shimano 515 clipes or Wellgo bmx flat pedals. | | 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 . | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | stir fryed | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | 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! | | Similar Products Used: | To many to list! | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Z.3 QR20, XT & XTR components, Magura Disc brake Front & Rim Rear, Riser bar, platforms, and Raceface crank with Bashguard! | | 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!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from shenandoah,va
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | scarhthorn gap | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | molehill bikeshop | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: | trek 7000,ridgid fishers. | | Bike Setup: | xt componetry,manitou sx ti fork. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | Eddy's Bike Shop Montrose | | Strengths: | Looks good, high-quality manufacture, built like a tank, Stock Ritchie wheels and hubs bulletproof, decent components. | | Weaknesses: | Weight, questionable geometry, stock LX front derailleur worthless, stock Answer Manitou Spider shock kinda wimpy. | | 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. | | Bottom Line: | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremiah
a Weekend Warrior
from Hilly part o' Ohio
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Scioto Trails SF | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | Montgomery Cyclery, Cinci (btw, they're the best for price & service!!!) | | 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). | | 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.
Newer stuff...
xt hollowtech cranks, xt front deraileur, xt v-brakes, sram levers, syncros stem, azonic bars, manitou sx-r fork, nashbar clipless spuds, | | Bottom Line: | Want a bike thats a solid performer and will last, then this ones for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Canzogal
a Cross Country Rider
from San Mateo, California
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Waterdog, Belmont | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | The right size for a short girl like me
Nice components
Specialized rocks!!! | | Weaknesses: | ??? haven't found any in 1,600 miles | | 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) | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian
a Racer
from WA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Helena Ridge MT | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Stiff light frame
Cost | | Weaknesses: | Too stiff for me
The damn Manitou Spyder
The bottom bracket | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Calder Custom
GT Zascar
Schwinn Moab
Many many other bikes | | Bike Setup: | Stock set up except I put an XTR rear der, and Ritchey clipless pedals | | 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! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Racer
from edmonds WA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
tiger mountain | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: |
trek 7000
ralegh m55
trek 830 shx
giant 830
some other stuff | | Bike Setup: |
stock | | 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. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Mexico, MO
Date Reviewed: August 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Rockbridge State Park | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Super light frameage
Speed Shifters
Ritchey componentry | | Weaknesses: |
short, thin handlebars
STX RC from Derailer
no barends | | Similar Products Used: |
99 Mongoose Pro 7.1
97 Gary Fisher Marlin | | Bike Setup: |
97 Rock Shox Judy XC | | 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. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Lütken
a Cross-Country Rider
from Oslo, Norway
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | 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) | | 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 | | 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!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
erik
a Racer
from van nuys
Date Reviewed: June 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
mt wilson | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | 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!!! | | 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 | | 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. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a weekend warrior
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: February 16, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
GREAT BIKE
I purchased a '98 rockhopper A1 Comp Fs from Bikesale.com for $600!! This site is great i got the bike in 3 days and got it cheap. The people who work there are helpful and nice. There isnt a great selection on their internet site but if you find the bike your looking for you will save big $$$$$. My rockhopper has worked flawlessly for me. The Breaks could be better but they work. They stop me just as well as i would need them to. The shimano Parts work well. The shock is unbelievable for the price. The bike is light enough to sprint with it on your shoulder. This bike is great. I recommend it to anyone who wants a good, cheap bike. 5 chilis for this baby | | Overall Rating: |
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