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Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Essex
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | the cycle store | | Strengths: | The frame is great to ride and is feels solid and it handles jumps and drop offs really well! | | Weaknesses: | the oly thing i could possibly think of is the gearing, this is because when changing from 2nd to the 1st chainring on the front derailliuer the chain persisted on dismounting. The only other thing i coyuld say is that my trousers kept getting stuck it he front derailliur and now i have a foot ong rip up my favourite biking trousers, so quick hint do not wear very baggy trousers! | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | ?????????????????????? | | Bottom Line: | its a great bike that alot of people will enjoy riding i would recomend it to people who mainly ride cross country the brakes i thing are pretty good and are not to abrupt and have worked very well so far. the front FSR have taken a while to soften up but once they did they really cane into their own and soak up the bumps and roots a treat. the tyres sre great and provide great grip on most surfaces and the puncture resistant ness is a ausome extra. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zach West
a Cross Country Rider
from B. L CA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Pogonip | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | friend | | Strengths: | The frame is very sturdy and can handle a beating. It feels very comfortable for riding in the mountains. | | Weaknesses: | The fork, V-Brakes, shifters, derailleurs, almost all the components. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Hayes solo brakes w/ 8" rotors, Shimano LX shifters, LX front and rear derailleur, Marzocchi Dirt Jam comp fork, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I think the frame is a good starter bike, but some of the components are really weak. If you pick up the bike used a few hundred dollars in upgrades goes along way as far a beginner bike. It is worth the money for a starter and it is tough as hell. Because if you are like me and other beginners, you will fall a few times. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dylan Heck
a Cross Country Rider
from Silverthorne
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | colorado | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$390.00 | | Purchased At: | mso | | Strengths: | great storng good for every thing you would use it for good paint and very good for wheelies
| | Weaknesses: | tires suck and a little heavy | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock with kenda k rad tires and avid bb7 disk brakes | | Bottom Line: | 2006 hard rick is the best and looks sick to | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Barton
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Tough as nails. Has not broken in 4 years of mostly xc stuff.
Paint is really sturdy and has not scratched at all. With the longer travel fork it handles alot better. Great for all rider levels. | | Weaknesses: | Bottom bracket creaks no matter what I do. Have changed it out twice and still the same old noise. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn hardtail, Raleigh M7000, Dirt Works Piranha(still have). | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Specialized Hard Rock A-1 comp hardtail frame. Rock Shox Psylo SL. XT shifters, brakes, bottom bracket, cranks, head set, hubs. XTR derailleurs, cassette. White Bros. ti bars. Spcialized stem. Post modern seat post and Bontrager ceramic rims and seat. | | Bottom Line: | Paid $100 for the frame and stock post and Deore crankset and bottom bracket. This is a very tough bike and smoothes out the bumps with the seat post and forks. I am thinking about getting another full suspension bike because I'm getting older and the big bangs now get me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rj smiley
a
from canada
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | urban riding | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | martin bike shop southampton | | Strengths: | (03) ligh wieght, good for starting, can handle bigger things with upgrades | | Weaknesses: | crank set and bottum bracket arn't strong enough( i've gone through about 3 crank sets before finally getting new bottum brackey) forks need more travel i moved to an EXR seat is too hardm, better brakes needed | | Similar Products Used: | havn't bothered | | Bike Setup: | truvative hussilfelt cranks, bomber EXR forks, roller pro tires | | Bottom Line: | i like the bike, it lasted about 2 months before i dicided to upgrade, it's a great starting bike and is good for trail riding, smaller drops, and would be good for urban riding if it had better brakes | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Aarhus, DK
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | coopers rock, West Virginia | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | co-worker | | Strengths: | unbelievably solid, great feel for the weekend warrior and someone who wants a solid bike that wont break down. On the trail it feels like a tank, but goes like one too. Never been on high-speed trails/offroad but for west virginia logging roads you cant beat it. | | Weaknesses: | front forks. Not a huge fan of front shocks but my hardrock would make your wrist sore in the first couple miles. | | Similar Products Used: | Taarnby Wild Creek. | | Bike Setup: | All stock except new crank to replace the aluminum original crank which finally gave out on it's 5th year. It was a treeclimber before, now it's a bit too extreme and lacking top end i like having on the road with the new gearing. | | Bottom Line: | Moved to europe and that's the one thing i wish i still had. Not doing any downhill or major offroad action here, yet that old hardrock was as good on the nice flat roads here as any out there.
New taarnby is nice, front disk breaks, acera all around, omni sfront shock. But already experiencing problems i've not had thought the life of my specialized (rear wheel slip on a hard pull, unfixable derailer grind in certain gears).
it's sitting in a box back in the states, next flight in and i'm packing it in the plane with me, NO EXCEPTIONS hehe.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris lowery
a Cross Country Rider
from western new york
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | snowmobile trails around here | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | This bike climbs like a goat. i dont have any problem climbing the steepest hills around here. The frame is pretty durable,i've done some 5-6 ft. drops with it and it handled them like a beast. | | Weaknesses: | The stock fork is a rigid,so if your going to be wanting to do a lot of cross-country and want to have fun,you should probably upgrade forks. all the other parts on it get the job done. | | Similar Products Used: | nothing,this thing rocks | | Bike Setup: | Rock Shock Quadra 21,ritchey logic headset,stock | | Bottom Line: | If your going to start doing cross country,and are on a budget,find one of these. for about 500$'s total i have made this bike a blast to ride,sure its not the newest one out there,but they are definatley worth the money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jun salaya
a Weekend Warrior
from san jose , ca
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | saratoga gap trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Strengths: | durable frame | | Weaknesses: | heavy, cheap components, not a mountain bike | | Bike Setup: | upgraded now to shimano lx and now it's a real mountain bike | | Bottom Line: | I purchase this bike in 1994 for going around the block. A friend invited me at joseph grant and realized it is not a mountain bike.In 99, i purchased a santa cruz heckler, upon upgrading the heckler components, i transferred it to the hardrock, and now it has mostly LX and avid components with 9 speed, oh, man, this bike is a bonafide mountain bike, all components had been replaced, only framed was untouched,wow it now performs, its like a wolf in sheeps clothing. Hats-off to Specialize bike, what a frame, it is really taking a lot of beating. I take good care of this now, yes it is a lttle bit heavy, is fully restored. Friend or relatives who wants to start mountain biking, i loan this they always loved it. I know it sounds crazy, but one of this days, it will have a chris king headset. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Neale
a Cross Country Rider
from Chirstchurch, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Rapaki, Fringe Hill, Wharfedale | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeline Riccarton | | Strengths: | Great hillclimber. Good handling. | | Weaknesses: | Crappy bottom bracket, GX (rigid) model doesn't fit standard shocks. | | Similar Products Used: | Avanti Hurricane | | Bike Setup: | Bauer "I-Beam" alloy stem, LX bottom bracket, Weinmann Alloy rims, DT spokes, Specialized Team Master and Team Control Tires, Grip Shift, Kool-Stop carbon/ceramic brake pads. | | Bottom Line: | I take the bike out about 3 times a week, mainly uphill and single track. The Wharfedale track is known for being pretty brutal on any bike, although I've only suffered from a couple of bent wheels and a cracked fork. (The original rigid Cr-Mo one.)
I've had the HardRock longer than any of my previous bikes (4 years - my previous bike was an Avanti Hurricane which lasted about 6 months.) and it's still going, despite being abused well beyond what the owners manual says it should.
The bottom bracket broke after about 400Km so I put an LX one in, and have had no probs since.
Excellent value, I've had my moneys worth, I have yet to find a better handling hardtail, and, despite the Cr-Mo frame being a tad heavy, this puppy climbs with the best.
I'd reccomend this for intermediate riders on a student budget. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Abec
a Weekend Warrior
from xfthzxdgh
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | gagag | | Weaknesses: | sgasfg | | Similar Products Used: | gsefgsergaaegae | | Bike Setup: | fgsdfgsfgsegsdf | | Bottom Line: | Alright bike, some dsdof the stuff on it isnt the best. but overall its okxcvbzdfgzdfgm nsdjdfjwdfhawuioefuiawefhashjvashd fadfhauwhafwefawuuia wefhaifawufh uiafh uawiehrawuirfhawefyawuiaiwfh aivhiawrufh auilcbuilwerbvyaetagu wgfzsjkzvn iact uilty 7i byygacyiwbaaerhin aasafilqefhiabgidsya iawerhfaifawuifh wruihawgyeh ytibylwfhb aihg ss | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hand-rail
a Cross Country Rider
from st. louis, MO, USA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$315.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | The hardrock AX, alum frame, is fairly light and strong. I purchased my 1997 in early 98 on close out, so i got a good deal. The gripshifters, although not top of the line, have never given my troubles. | | Weaknesses: | Having problems stabilizing steer tube after upgrade to syncros stem, fork will not sit still. Weak brakes, replaced the rear canti with a V brake, works great now. The components were shimano A, not the best, replaced rear derail with STX. Also bent the weak ass inner major ring the first time i took it on a trail. The tires are a bit on the cheap side, but do the trick for moderate to heavy use. | | Bottom Line: | Not a bad bike for the money. Came with cheap comps. If buying used, check for component upgrades before purchasing. I am shying away from specialized bikes in the future after hearing many horror stories in regards to customer service. The Hardrock AX is worth the cash, but beware of the required upgrades. Good bike for beginners looking for a aluminum frame set-up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robyn A
a Weekend Warrior
from Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Three jump trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$220.00 | | Purchased At: | Found it in my driveway. | | Strengths: | Good bike for beginers. Cheap and pretty light. | | Weaknesses: | Bottom bracket makes cracking noises. | | Similar Products Used: | Supercycle and CCM rigid bikes | | Bike Setup: | Zac19 rim on the back. Acrea derailers. Sweet $35 tires that I don't know the name of. A crank off of a Leader bike. | | Bottom Line: | This bike isn't really worth the money unless you put shocks on it. To repair this bike cost more than it does. Unless you stay on the road and don't do any jumps or drops. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mountain maniac
a Weekend Warrior
from new zealand
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Good value, good beginners bike ok hillclimber | | Weaknesses: | the crap standard specialized tyres, noisy bottom bracket(does anyone else have this problem) the gripshifters have cracked my model cant fit standard shocks | | Bike Setup: | acera x components no shocks basically standard | | Bottom Line: | This is an okay beginners bike but it lacks the real handling of a more expensive machine.
Value its great i picked mine up for NZ$ 250 and it has lasted me well.
The only thing thats the problem is when my crap rear derailleur busted taking a pee wee jump. Costing me about $100 to fix (nearly half the price).
Apart from the crappy bottom bracket arrangment I think this is a fine bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Maverick
a Downhiller
from Uniontown,Ohio,USA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Killington , Vermont | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Well, let's face it. the damn thing was a tank. Cro-Mo has to be about the most burly of all the fames I've ever ridden, but it came with nice fat mud kickers both front and rear. I have never gotten a flat with the tires, and I would try to bend the stock Arya rims and couldn't seem to do it. I would have to also say that as much as I hated climbing with that ride, it climbed like no other hardtail I have ever ridden. On her last ride, I took her up to Killington, VT, for some sick downhill and I was really planning on leaving it up there in pieces; but she actually made it and is in the hands of my buddy making it her 6th year. | | Weaknesses: | Well, the first thing has to be the OEM shock, I think that it worked for about 3 days of the 6 years that I have had it. It was tough, but it was way too damn heavy.
Plastic components made replacing them an inevitable, just alot sooner than I had anticipated. The bottom braket is about as watertight as a screen door in a sub, which also made replacing the bearings a pretty regular thing. I also broke my first frame in a bout a week, and was down from riding for about a week. | | Similar Products Used: | Comparable Treks, and Giants that for the same amount of bread; were not nearly as sturdy and rugged. | | Bike Setup: | Alivio components,RST front shock,Araya rims with the Specialized "More Control" up front, and the "More Extreme" in the rear to put all that weight to work just the way it came from the factory. | | Bottom Line: | It rode like a tank, and was heavy as hell; but; it all came together to make one hell of a mountain bike. For being six years old, it was pretty tough for it's time. That bike was like a lady, just the right words and the right touch; and she would get you to the top or bottom as long as you didn't mind the stiff ride. Since my last trip to VT, I invested in a K2 1000 Full Suspension, and if it weren't for that, I'd still be riding her to this day. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Cheap, and light compare to other bikes at the same price. Nice and stiff (or maybe I'm light) | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, Heavy, Heavy. Cheap components. Horrible breaks. Heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Rock Hopper | | Bike Setup: | '95 Judy XC.. thats about the only thing worth mentioning. | | Bottom Line: | The stock parts break pretty fast. Plastic pedals broke, deuraillers broke, headset proke, untrued wheel, worn out rim, horrible tires, horrible brakes... any way, my bike needs some tuning.
Not a bad bike for the price, definetly better then the bikes at the same price in Wal-mart or alike.
..
I can't make it any lighter! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Troy
a Weekend Warrior
from Holyoke, MA
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Solid Frame
Nice looking bike
| | Weaknesses: | Fell apart on me | | Bike Setup: | All Alivio components | | Bottom Line: | The guy who built my bike was on crack. In the first month I lost my rear derrailleur twice, the front and back brakes twice each, and the bike was totally out of true when I brought it home the first day. After getting those problems sorted out, my left crank FELL OFF riding on the street. I had nothing but problems with this bike and from the looks of the last couple of reviews, I wouldn't recommend this bike to anyone. I was told it was a great beginner's bike, but I saw no evidence of this. Traded in for a Rock Hopper and I am the happiest guy alive.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from StCatharines ON
Date Reviewed: December 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Provincial Parks | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
inexpensive
solid
good starter | | Weaknesses: |
kinda heavy
no fork (for me anyways) | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
everything stock so far
AceraX all around
with some really heavy wheels | | Bottom Line: | Good starting bike, but if you catch onto to moutain biking you'll quickly want to upgrade.
(as I'm going to do soon)
one hell of a lot better than anything from Wal-Mart or Canadian Tire. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Telly
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester
Date Reviewed: September 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Snowdonia area, North Wales | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
The colour. | | Weaknesses: |
Poor Components. Gears are awful, brakes are worse. A bit expensive for this sort of bike. | | Similar Products Used: |
Specialised rock hopper - way better. | | Bottom Line: | My bike was like one of those things from a bargin basement shop, everything went wrong, but the moral of the story is get a better job, don't be a skin-flint and buy a better bike. Maybe I got a particulaly wonky one, I'm usually lucky like that. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Judd
a Cross-Country Rider
from Tracy, CA
Date Reviewed: August 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Clark's Fork Service Road | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Frame geometry, frame strength, components | | Weaknesses: |
Would like a little better selection of front chain wheels available. | | Similar Products Used: |
Owned a Hardrock FS for about 1 1/2 yrs. | | Bike Setup: |
New, Hardrock Comp FS A1. Added Gyro Fixi;k seat and lighter mavic rims. also, I got a smaller frame this time. | | Bottom Line: | Very impressed with the handling of this bike. Very quick. Way lighter than my Hardrock FS (Cro-mo). The frame geometry in aluminum and the few added components I've made. made a quick light bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
michael
a Weekend Warrior
from belmont
Date Reviewed: June 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
bear brook state park,nh,usa | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
quality of frame, ease of use for novice, ride quality | | Weaknesses: |
seats were bad | | Bottom Line: | have had 2 hardrocks for 1 year now, one is an a1 and other is a sport. after 1 year of pretty good use i have had no problems. both bikes are working great. had to replace seats for more comfort. no repair work needed as of this time. i run around 22o lbs and drive pretty hard, my a1 has done nothing but ask for more. great bikes. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Speed Demon
a Cross-Country Rider
from Baltimore
Date Reviewed: June 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Vineland | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Good starter bike, fairly light with ok components for its time
frame is bombproof and stiff | | Weaknesses: |
Heavy compared to now's stuff
fork sucked (on the '97 AX FS model)
brakes sucked | | Similar Products Used: |
'99 Giant XTC SE-2 | | Bike Setup: |
Many upgrades-XT rear deraillur, new wheels, seat, pedals, etc. (don't use anymore-converting it to a trash-at-ski-resort-bike) | | Bottom Line: | This was a pretty good bike for the money for its time. One thing was was that I bought it right before v-brakes were popular and cheep. shocks I thought were pretty ok, but them the elastomers stopped being able to be compressed, after them being set up to hard for me already. The bike became a rigid.
ratings:
4 flamers for the deal then
4 flamers for the bike them
4 Flamers for how I upgraded it
1 flamer for it stock to anything now
average: 3 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rob
a Cross-Country Rider
from san bruno,ca.
Date Reviewed: April 5, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
purisma OSP | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Bike Setup: |
RST 381R fork
Ritchey Aheadset
Ritchey stem
Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires (26 x 2.0)
GT saddle
Kore Lite bar
Serfas grips | | Bottom Line: | I found this bike near our dumpster sans front wheel. Dusty, a little bit of rust but a little TLC helped bring it back to life. Took it on some hard trails for the first couple of months. It did pretty good considering it's only a cro-mo and hardtail. Then I upgraded to an RST 381r with Ritchey steering components and a pair of Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires.. Much much ipmroved. Don't even know what year this bike is. If anyone can help my, here is the description : 17 frame, Hardrock Sport, old Specialized logo on toptube, came with someDia-Compe 21-speed rapids , cantis, Araya rim and Sugino 5-arm crank | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian
a Weekend Warrior
from Spokane, WA
Date Reviewed: March 27, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great! I love it. Specialized sure knows how to build a cheap bike. I had a Trek 800 sport before it, but the Hardrock Sport is twice the bike. Also it came with great tires. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barnesy
a weekend warrior
from Geneva, NY
Date Reviewed: March 10, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This bike is a hunk of shit best left to beginners. I got it when I was a beginner, way back in 96. Mine was equipped OEM with a suntour shock and Acera X components. It wasn 't bad, the shock just plain didn't work. I crashed once and somehow bent the crap OEM stem. I gutted the derailleur on a stick on the trail. I did ride it all over hell and gone though. Overall, a fair to poor beginners bike. Go buy a C'Dale, but just the frame, not their overpriced schwag-assed components. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruce
a weekend warrior
from Burnaby BC Canada
Date Reviewed: January 5, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
PS; When I wrote the review below I had not yet gone to the Specialized web site to see the host of models they have. For the record I got the Hardrock Sport model. This is Cro-Mol frame version with the butted Ritchey tube set and hard forks. I bought this because the TREK 970 is my road commuter and I wanted a second bike for trail riding so I don't have to change the tires (a set of LX whells is about $280 up here and I got the bike for $380). As I said before buy this package for cheap and upgrade to your heart's content. The frame is much better than the price would indicate. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruce
a weekend warrior
from Burnaby BC Canada
Date Reviewed: January 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This is my 3rd mountain bike. The other two a former TREK 830 shx and a current TREK 970. The old 830 at the same price range does not hold a candle to the new Hardrock. Lighter frame and super light accurate steering for those technical sections. It feels a lot closer to my 970 which is a real good thing (read the reviews of the 970, it KICKS and it's all true). Yes the acera is weak but when new it is just fine. Buy this bike for the frame and wear out the parts and change them for STX, eyeleted rims and maybe a better fork but LOVE THE FRAME! This is the way an entry level or fun bike should be. Get the buyer hooked with good handling in a medium weight package and keep the components cheap to avoid the initial sticker shock and let them upgrade to suit there wallet and desires. Nice work Specialized! As a bike the components should reduce the rating but for such a fun frame at this price point I gotta go with a full pull. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jesus Levy
a weekend warrior
from Mexico City, Mexico
Date Reviewed: November 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have owned a Hardrock since 1988. All I have to say is that for the price, it is indeed a very nice bike. It is quite durable. Mine has over 12,000 miles on it, and I still use it to train regularly, taking it for 40+ miles rides.The Suntour original group did a good job, but the bike really took a quantum leap when I decided to install a Shimano Allivio group. The bike is somewhat heavy, but when you train on it and then ride some other fancier bike, you can really tell the difference.This is not a fancy machine or a light bike. This is a bike for budget conscious people in mind who would not care carrying a few additional pounds, but wants overall durability.Original price was $250. After more than 10 years of faithfull service, I think 4 flaming carrots is just fair. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a cross-country rider
from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have a 93 Hard Rock Sport that I bought in early 95 from a triathelete who was trying out MTBing and realized he didn't like it. With 120 kms on it (!) it was still in brand new condition. The Crossroads tires still had the little rubber nibs on them. Anyway, in the almost four years I've owned it, I've really enjoyed it. I've had to replace the drivetrain, but that's to be expected after a couple of years of hard riding (it's actually good for such low end parts - a guy at the LBS only gets one season out of his higher end stuff!) Anyway, the stock deraileurs aren't great, but have lasted fairly well (Altus C-10, about the same level in '93 as STX is now). Both deraileurs need to be replaced now, but for fairly cheap stuff, I'm pleased with how long they've lasted.Recently picked up some XT cantis from CBO with LX shifter levers really cheap, seem to be much nicer stuff than the old stuff. I've never had to touch the Bottom bracket. Never. I've never taken it apart to clean or anything, and it's still really nice. Headset's worn out, but again, it's almost six years old!I bought a Marzocchi XCR fork on closeout a couple years ago, and contrary to what the guy said below about forks, it hasn't affected the handling in a negative manner. Quite the opposite. I run it with a little bit of sag and thus the front end of the bike is no higher than it was before.I'm a powerful rider, and the bike has held up well underneath me. The pedals were good, but I junked them. It's like any lower end bike - those nylon pedals just don't hold up. Now have 535s on.I did wear out the seatpost this year, but I do weigh ~190 lbs ;-) That's lots of weight to be carrying around.Finally, the only real criticism I have is the seat that came with the bike. Specialized Air/Gel. What a piece of junk. Really uncomfy. I replaced it with a Vetta TT trishock with Manganese side rails. Quite nice.Like a guy mentioned earlier, no problems keeping up with people on much more expensive and fancier (read: lighter) bikes. Of course, it's not all the bike...In summary: I've been really pleased with the performance of the bike. Sure, I've had to replace stuff, but I'm an aggressive rider, and the stuff is old. The frame is great, and Specialized has a customer for a long time.Cheers,
Andrew | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom P
a cross-country rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: November 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
First of all I have to say this bike is lousy. It comes with poor components and wheels and the frame is quite heavy. I bought my Hardrock about 2 1/2 years ago. It was the first real(non Huffy) mountain bike I ever bought. At first I loved it. I rode it everywhere; to school, to work, on trails, even on road rides(30mi+). Unfortunatly, after about eight months, I couldn't even take it on short commutes anymore. Everything was wacked; shifters, deraillurs, wheels, etc.. It was unrideable so it sat in the garage for a year and a half while I spent my time on a road bike. After a while I decided I wanted to do some mountain biking again. Ibought new wheels, shifters, derailleurs, and a crank. I still did most of my riding on the road. After about six months I was cleaning my frame after a ride and discovered a crack in one of the dropouts. I couldn't believe it. This frame is so heavy, it should never brake! Especially because it's hardly been used. Specialized replaced the frame for free, but the new frame they sent doesn't work with non-vbrakes, a one inch steerer, my seatpost or my front der. Now I'm very disapointed, I hoped this bike would last a very long time, but I feel I've only gotten one year of real riding out of it. Therefore I give it One Chili. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim the =-T-O-O-L-= fan.
a weekend warrior
from melbourne!
Date Reviewed: November 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Overall, i am pretty happy with my Hardrock FS A1. Although I have abused the absolute crap out of it with my own style of riding, it is holding up well. I got a pair of JUDY XC's for the front (they were new and $325 aussie dollars), then about a month later I had a monumental crash that bent the crown and the headset on the forks and mangled the front end, but the frame was fine, and the bike shop fixed everything up! I managed to get a new crown for AUD $80, and now everythings happy again....i dont care what you people say about it having crappy breaks, they rock, sure, you have to squeez abit more than if it had XT, but when they stop, they stop. LX is fine!!!! my only anoyance is the cranks which come loose all the time, but thats minor!..... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christopher James Barratt
a downhiller
from Warwickshire,UK
Date Reviewed: October 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Now let me see. I first got my beloved Hardrock back in the golden age of mountain biking in 1992, when I paid a mere £250 pounds for a bike with a high calibre chromium-molydenum alloy of steel frame. This bike has served me well over the years with the original Crossroads tyres still in use as they offer all the traction that I ever need on my local trails. I have made some upgrades to the bike after careful deliberation, and I opted to replace the ageing 200GS chainset with something a little more becoming to a bike of this calibre, a Shimano 1998 Alivio to be exact which I fitted. I didn't even need to adjust the gear mechanisms for it worked perfectly for my needs, and it is only occasionally when I am unable to select the appropriate ratio of my choice. I am now no longer embarrassed to let people see my crankset. I have also upgraded the brakes to 1995 STX-RC cantilevers which have not been fettled with at all. I find that the springyness of the lively ride of this quality steel frame really puts a smile on my face as I cruise the local highways and byways. I have resisted the temptation to add telescopic suspension forks to the bike as I feel it would detract somewhat from the ride characteristics that first inspired me to purchase this steed. I am sure it will serve me well in years and decades to come, though recently I have been thinking about the aquisition of a rigid chromium-molybdenum alloy of steel Kona to extend my current plethora of steel beasts which adorn the inside of my shed. However I am not sure whether I will be able to afford the excruciatingly long periods of time that will be required in order to maintain its pristine condition, as I already spend far too long on trivial matters of this nature at the current moment. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hardcore
a weekend warrior
from canada
Date Reviewed: October 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
i got my hard rock bout 3 years ago, and absolutely rode the shi-t out of it.. and well im sad to say, it showed very much..this year i had to drop at least 250 bucks into the damn thing! i havent been impressed at all. i foiled my original rim extremely fast, had to put a new rear derailer on it, a new cog set, and all that good stuff. the only thing that i can say good about this bike is that even though ive taken a few spills, the heavy as-s frame hasent bent. i personally was extremely disapointed in this bike, and have been totally turned off of specilaized... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ROBERT RICO
a cross-country rider
from SAN ANTONIO,TX
Date Reviewed: October 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line:< |
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$ 450.00
