Description:Recreational XC Hardtail
A reliable, efficient and trail-tough hardtail that packs a ton of performance into a light and easy-to-love package. Maybe you're just rediscovering riding, or perhaps just discovering the unbeatable joy of exploring long, fast, sweet trails. With nearly 25 years of continual refinement and race-bred performance trickled down from our Stumpjumper line, the Rockhopper is a reliable, efficient and trail-tough hardtail that packs a whole lot of performance into one easy package. The Rockhopper's entirely redesigned frame is lighter than ever and classically tuned for trail riding, with just the right blend of quickness and composure.
Submitted by
Tooth McGavin
a Cross Country Rider
from St Charles, Illinois, USA Date Reviewed: November 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Spring Lake
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At:
Local Bike Shop
Strengths:
Strong frame. Takes plenty of beatings
Weaknesses:
Bottom Bracket is terrible. Price. Handlebars were weak. rims.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 6000
Bike Setup:
Easton EA50 Bars.
Avid BB7 Mechanical Disc Brakes.
Mavic CrossRide Rims.
LX components.
Sram chain and cassette.
Michelin Cross Country Tires
Rock Shox Judy.
Specialized Grips.
Bottom Line:
Great Bike. Amazing for beginner riders. I have owned mine for over 7 years now and I am just getting ready to sell it. Awesome bike though, takes on any trail you throw at it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mfanelli81
a Weekend Warrior
from Winter Springs, FL Date Reviewed: October 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Snow Hill (really its any trail in Ithica, NY ....born and raised in Syracuse)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Bike Works
Strengths:
Frame! hands down (aslo....it was a gift from the girlfriend....thanks babe! :) )
Weaknesses:
its compents are weak and the wheels are the weakest I've seen.
Similar Products Used:
pogo stick
Bike Setup:
Upgraded to BB7 brakes/Jagwire Ripcord cable and Mavic 729 rims/Halo Spin Dotor Hubs(36)....Everything else is stock (replace as I break)
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for the money. You can end up building a pretty sweet bike as compents start to break (which they will). Since the frame is the best part you have a good base/foundation to go off of. With that said the compents are defently weak and will eventually have to be replaced. I have only had this bike for about 6 months and I have bent my front derailur (bent it back and works fine) and the pedals are better for leaving a marks on your shins, roots and rocks then actually riding(low clearence to the ground...175mm). So if you ride over anything really technical you may get annoyed. I have decided to ditch the front derailur and go with a single speed up front (saint m-800-1...165mm). Can't wait for x-mas to come so I can install.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bmplace
a Weekend Warrior
from Houghton MI Date Reviewed: October 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Time trials
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
Ray's Bike shop, Mid
Strengths:
light frame for price, good shifting, comfortable ride
I use this bike to go to class but also hit the trails on the weekends. This bike is a great base for upgrades the frame is the best part on it and everything else is good but can be upgraded I have done a few upgrades to it and will do more. over all great bike and well worth the money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bikerman24
a Weekend Warrior
from Date Reviewed: September 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
NoHuman in Wharncliffe
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
bike shop
Strengths:
not bad bike components bought for cousin got cheap
Weaknesses:
the wheel set and the tires are crap. Derailleur got bent because of a tree, my bad.
Similar Products Used:
yeti 575,
Bike Setup:
maverick 2008 ml8 with Fox Racing Shox 32 Vanilla RLC
Bottom Line:
The bike is good for beginners to the whole idea or biking. the front fork is decent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clootie
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Louis MO Date Reviewed: August 5, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Chubb
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$590.00
Purchased At:
Mesacycles
Strengths:
Great Frame,surprisingly light.
Weaknesses:
wheel set, components.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Tassajara
Bike Setup:
2008 Rockhopper-Mavic rims/Chris King hubs wheelset, ODI grips,Deore XT pedals, and Avid Single Digit Ti brakes.
Bottom Line:
I love the geometry of the frame.I ride 50+ miles a week of fairly technical trails with the occasional race thrown in and I know that at some point in the future I will have to replace nearly every component. The wheels are junk, the alivio derailleurs are junk, ditto with the acera shifters. The paint on the frame is very thin and chips way to easy and the headset creeks like a bed in a brothel.
Despite the bad I still think this is a very good bike and would be great deal for the occasional rider. I actually don't have any complaints about the fork as it does pretty good job for a cheap fork. I use multiple brands/styles tires for multiple trail conditions and find that the stock fast traks are great for packed dirt single track.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kuru
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore, MD, USA Date Reviewed: July 14, 2008
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Good solid, dependable bike. I rode one for 7 years before I finally cracked the frame.
Weaknesses:
The original fork was not great but not too bad either. The original wheelset was weak.
Bottom Line:
This is an excellent entry level bike. If you are looking for a first bike but do not want to spend a lot, give this one serious consideration.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Miriam
a Weekend Warrior
from Marysville, OH Date Reviewed: June 26, 2008
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$600.00
Strengths:
Light bike, handles amazingly, shifts pretty well, comfortable for long rides.
Weaknesses:
The stock tires are not the best for climbing, they slip quite a bit on the loose stuff. The pedals really need to be upgraded if you want to ride a lot. The seat is not too bad, but there are more comfortable ones out there. If you can, get the disc brakes, they are probably worth the extra $100... I wish I would have.
Bike Setup:
Changed the seat and put toe clips on the pedals until I am ready to upgrade to clip-less.
Bottom Line:
I've had this bike for about a year now, and I thought I would give it a re-review.
I ride this bike at least twice a week (off-road) and I have to say that I'm definitely not disappointed. It is really light, which is awesome, and it handles extremely well. After riding a few trails I had some friends test it out, and immediately after they sat on it and rode around the parking lot, they were impressed with the bike.
The only things I would change are:
-Get the disc brake version if you can!!! The brakes are not really good, and after riding the trails I always ride with a bike that had disc brakes, I know that I should have spent the extra $100 for the brakes.
- It is a GREAT beginner bike, but if you start riding a lot, you might want to get new pedals. My feet would slip off of the pedals all the time and I ended up with really bad bruises and scratches on my legs.
- The seat is not too bad, I just happened to have a more comfortable bike seat around and put it on.
Overall, great bike for the price, definitely a MUST for beginners! It is a lot of fun to ride, and the components are actually pretty decent.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
zachgator8937
a Cross Country Rider
from Chattanooga, TN, USA Date Reviewed: June 20, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Megawatt, Raccoon Mountain
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$520.00
Purchased At:
River City Bicycles
Strengths:
light for the price- 27 lbs. with Kenda Small Block Eight 1.95 tires, fork lockout really helps- once youve used one you cant live without it
Weaknesses:
Rockshox Dart 3 fork stiffens up so much in cold weather it feels locked out, brakes are weak- spending the extra hundred dollars for disc brakes would be worth it, stock tires and tubes are heavy
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
stock except for Kenda Small Block Eight 1.95 tires
Bottom Line:
a good bike for the money but definitely go for the disc brake version if you can afford it. great bike for beginners though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Delphi IN USA Date Reviewed: June 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
kickapoo St Park.
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$588.00
Purchased At:
Hodsons Bay Company
Strengths:
Its a light nimble bike great for single track. I have also found that it climbs very well.
Weaknesses:
The bars and break levers are weak but all of the other components are worth the price.
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the price!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mbriggs2
a Weekend Warrior
from Flagstaff/Tucson, AZ and Denver,CO Date Reviewed: June 17, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$570.00
Purchased At:
Tucson Bicycles
Strengths:
Frame, Most Components, Fork, Seat (surprisingly!)
Weaknesses:
Tires
Similar Products Used:
'90s Trek 950
Bike Setup:
Stock...for now
Bottom Line:
I am a 20-something college student who was looking for something to use as a commuter bike, but that would also perform on the trails virtually every weekend. It sounds like a simple request, but finding something to fit this request was actually a little difficult.
I grew up riding my dad's Trek (trusting father, I know!) and thought it was a pretty good bike. When I started my trek (HA!) for a new bike I first looked at Trek because it was really the only trustworthy brand I knew. I found the 4500 online, which looked like it would work and was in my price range (remember: COLLEGE STUDENT), but wasn't too striking. I thought it would be best to keep an open mind and take other brands into consideration as well. I found the Specialized Rockhopper online and thought it looked pretty cool. I talked to a friend who rides a Specialized road bike and she told me how much she loves hers.
I went to look at the Rockhopper before the 4500 and instantly fell in love. The fit was perfect, it felt like a solid bike, and looked AMAZING (green paint which is just really cool). I knew that there was no need to look at the 4500.
About a week later I bought the bike from Tucson Bikes (amazing people. Super reliable and really nice. They know what they are doing.) and was riding it around on the streets that day.
So far I have put about 10-20 miles per day almost everyday on it, both on and off road, for about a month. Simply put, I would marry this bike if I could (don't tell my girlfriend!). It has done everything I ask of it all without complaining. On the road it climbs and descends the concrete like no other. I have had very little problem shifting and breaking and the lockout feature on the Rock Shox is great for climbing hills. The seat is actually amazingly comfortable for what it is (plastic, fabric, and a tiny bit of foam) and the ride on the road is very smooth.
Off road is really where this bike performs. I never realized how much the Trek was actually riding ME until I took my Specialized on a few trails. With the Trek I had to wrestle it around every turn and it always felt like I was just holding on for dear life. With the Specialized I feel like it is responding to my every request, letting me do what I want, not just taking me along for the ride. One of the most outstanding things on the trail is the fork (Rock Shox Dart 3). It has tons of travel and sucks up the bumps making for a smooth ride.
I do have to say that the tires are not very good off road. Actually, they are horrendous. On hardpack they are acceptable, but anything looser and they feel very squirrely. I am still very cautious in the dirt corners. I guess that's what you get for tires that work both on and off road though.
Bottom line: I would recommend this bike to anyone in the beginner to advanced range. The frame is solid and feels like it will last a lifetime. The only thing this bike can't do is psychotic downhill racing where you need full suspension. Other than that, it will do anything your heart desires.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Kissimmee, FL, USA Date Reviewed: May 18, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Santos
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
BikeWorks
Strengths:
Overall great bike, nothing better out there for the price.
Weaknesses:
Deraileurs could have been a class higher.
Similar Products Used:
Rockhopper, Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
Time Attac Z Pedals, SD Ti Brake levers, Koolstop brake pads, RaceFace Bashguard, Spring upgrade on the Dart 3 fork.
Bottom Line:
I've tried to HardRock and it was too heavy, i've tried the Stumpjumper and even though it is a great bike it was a little hard to justify the high cost for a "getting back into biking" bike. I've dropped 400 miles (50/50 on/off road)and just about everything is awesome. It has the Stumpy M4 frame which is a hughe upgrade from the A1. I can't seem to scratch the paint of the frame either regardless how often I dropped it. I don't know how people bend up their wheels I sure can't (trust I tried, i want to get lighter wheels and upgrade to discs).
The only thing was the brake levers are garbage, I had to upgrade to AVID Single Digit Ti, as well as the brake pads had to be upgraded to the KoolStop pads.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
matt h
a Weekend Warrior
from parlin, nj Date Reviewed: May 9, 2008
Favorite Trail:
6 mile run
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
Highgear
Strengths:
Weight, value
Weaknesses:
None, considering the price. If I wanted better parts, then I would paid more for higher end model.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Hardrock Sport.
Bike Setup:
Shimano M324 SPD Pedals. Specialized BG Comfort Plus saddle.
Bottom Line:
I love this Bike. Used it on single tracks, packed dirt and just to cruise. Took many falls with it but the Bike works just well. I took it to the NYC Fibo tour last week with Specilized Hemisphere tires. I previously had Hardrock Sport and I just wanted similar quality in lighter weight. Rockhopper came with slightly better parts and weighed much less. Highly recommend for any weekend worriers like me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chad D.
a Cross Country Rider
from San Marcos, TX, USA Date Reviewed: May 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Trespassing on ranch land
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$520.00
Purchased At:
Pedal Power Bicycles
Strengths:
Strong frame and rides extremely smooth. The rock shoxs with the lock out is a must if you plan on ascending on hilly roads or loose dirt. The V brakes work are good but if you ride down mountains I would recommend that you should buy the disc brakes.
Weaknesses:
The manufacture tires are more for flat/small hill riding rather than loose dirt and rocks. I have slipped a few but no serious accidents so far. Other than that for a XC bike it's awesome for the buck.Oh yeah, get a new seat.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 4300 and 4500, Kona Blast, GF Wahoo and Marlin
Bike Setup:
2008 STOCK, YELLOW, 23"
Bottom Line:
Great bike, great buy so far.I can't wait to start upgrading on newer components once I break the original ones or wear them out. I have put this bike through some serious abuse already going down extremely rocky single tracks. This is a great bike for people wanting to get grim in XC riding. I live in central Texas and you can never expect what kind on terrain you might run into. The bike handles great on rocky creek bottoms, gravel trails, steep dirt trails although expect some slippage with the stock tires. The only thing I would have done different is save up more money for a bike with front and back suspension$$$
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steven
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Date Reviewed: April 16, 2008
2003 Rockhopper in blue Body Geometry seat Rhino Lite wheelset new tires new bar grips
Bottom Line:
Overall,a great hardtail, frame is really nice but you may want to get a new seat , I personally do not like the feel of the stock and it makes the bike look bad. Changed wheels on mine because I bent them :(. A little more expensive than some other stuff out there that is just as good but its worth it for the frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joel Aguilera
a Weekend Warrior
from La Quinta, Ca Date Reviewed: March 13, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$590.00
Purchased At:
Palm Desert Cyclery
Strengths:
Great Feeling, Lightweight, Smooth, Durable.
Weaknesses:
I am to new to the game to really complain about anything... LOL
Similar Products Used:
Tested Trek, Giant in the same price range cant remember exact models...
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I purchase this bike to get back into riding, and so far I'm loving it! I read so many reviews on MTBR, everything was positive, so I gave it a try... After testing many bikes, this just felt right. Its held up to everything I have thrown at it so far. So for my first real mountain bike purchase I couldnt ask for more!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from College Station, TX, USA Date Reviewed: February 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Lake Bryan
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$590.00
Purchased At:
Aggieland Cycling
Strengths:
Great Frame, Great Price, Good Equipment for Price
Weaknesses:
Pedals, Bottom bracket super low
Similar Products Used:
Trek 4500, Giant Yukon
Bike Setup:
Stock, just a pump and some lights
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike to step up into true cross-country mountain biking. I heavily consulted MTBR and the local mountain bikers that I knew. Every recommendation pointed me toward Specialized, and in particular the Rockhopper line. Since I'm a college student on a budget, the entry level would have to do.
Buying this bike is like buying a V6 Camaro. It's great, but not stellar. However, should I want to make it that great, it'll take some investment. That said, it tears up the trails here amazingly well for an entry-level "high-end" bike.
The front fork is good, the lockout is good for riding on campus. I've not had any problems with the wheels, but I go easy on hopping curbs and logs on the trails. The tires are a bit iffy on loose terrain, but they'll get the job done until they're worn out. The shifters are fantastic, I love them. The brakes are good and strong, not quite disc power, but I don't need all that around these mostly flat trails. The front derailleur is good enough to get the job done. The rear is fantastic and has only once had a balky shift. That might have been more related to the rider than anything. I do notice a lot of chain slap on rough trails, I'll probably have to get a bash guard at some point. The seat is fantastic, and I have no complaints.
Overall, the Rockhopper a great way to start off in mountain biking and I am extremely happy with my purchase. Every part of the frame is high quality, which is exactly why I went with the Specialized. Even if components break, I know the frame will take the abuse and come back for more.
Recommended.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brent
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, FL, USA Date Reviewed: January 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Little Big Econ
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$570.00
Purchased At:
Orange Cycle
Strengths:
M4 frame, front fork, lightweight, overall good bike for price
08 Rockhopper w/ Welgo WAM-B25 pedals and Continental Explorers in front
Bottom Line:
I've just gotten seriously into mountain biking within the last year, and my early 90's rigid Mongoose that I still had from when I was in high school wasn't cutting it.
For the money, this is a great bike. The components could be (a lot) better, but you can't expect that much for under 600. The Specialized Fast Track tires are crap. They don't hold traction in tight corners at all, and the sidewall on the front tire tore during a blowout, so the shop replaced it with Cont. Explorers. I plan on upgrading to Hutchinson Barracudas front and back soon.
This bike also isn't the best for really technical trails, but it's not really designed for that. I'm hoping to pick up a used full suspension all-mountain ride at some point for more technical riding and keeping the Rockhopper for smoother trails
I've had a great time on this bike so far. If you're just getting into mountain biking or you're just strapped for cash (or both), the Rockhopper is a great value.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Thomas Coffin
a Weekend Warrior
from Manquin, Va. USA Date Reviewed: December 13, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Buttermilk/ North trail loop
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Agee's Bicycles
Strengths:
Frame. Frame, Frame. Also Price.
Weaknesses:
Front shocks, crankset, bb, wheels, tires, brakes. seat and post
Similar Products Used:
Shwinn Mesa
Bike Setup:
Manitou Axel shocks, Truvativ crankset, Shimano square taper BB, Lizard skins grips, Veulta Starlite rims. Avid Juicy disk brakes, Deore XT shifters,WTB Weirwolf 2.3 tires, Thudbuster seatpost, Specialized gel seat. Shimano Deore XT front and rear derailer. Wellgo clippless pedals.
Bottom Line:
This is a re-review after having the bike for some time. I have had to upgrade everything on it, as I am a rider that puts 100 miles on it a week. At the time of purchase, I did not have the money to buy a better bike, so I chose this one. After I started wearing parts out, I replaced the with better parts. Ebay is great for this as I have got parts for a fraction of the cost than I would at the LBS. With this bike, you have to change the rims to accomodate for disk brakes. I bought the Vuelta Starlights from Bikeworld.com for 169.00. Nashbar was selling them for 399.00 a set. I got a deal. The are great, and I have had no problems with them. I replaced the BB in the first year, as a square taper tends to break very easy. This summer, I am going to get a new crank set, so I will get a differnet set up as far as the bb goes. Not sure what, I have time to think about it. I upgraded the seat post to a Cane Creek Thudbuster. Takes the edge off the drops, but still keeps the traditional hardtail function for hill climbing. I like the upgrade to my Weirwolf tires. Nice bite over the stock wheels, but a slow roll to them. I might try the duel compound Nevengals the next time. Not as sticky, maybe a better roll? Disk brakes are great, don't go cheap. My juicy's are good for mech. disk brakes. Hydros are just too expensive. Bike came with Alivio shifters, Alivio Front derailer. I would suggest to "Alivio" them home and upgrade to the Deore XT. Fast shifts, especially on uphill climbs. I like the Deore stock rear derailer, but when the hanger bent on a rock, I just changed it to an XT. Worth the money. Overall, this frame is so solid, I think this bike will last forever, as long as I keep up the maintainance and repair or replace the broken parts. I love this hardtail, especially how I have it set up now. It is yellow and black, looks like a bumblebee. I get lot's of looks as it is a flashy color. If you like an entry level bike, then this is for you. Keep in mind though, that you will need to upgrade if you do any real single track riding. The Rockhopper Disk Comp will be a good upgrade from the start. It is about 200 more than the Rockhopper, but it is better equipped. I have 1500.00 invested in my bike in three years. Some say I should have bought a FS at that price. Well, Richmond VA. is flat, and a FS is more for downhill, so no need for one of those. Plus, I like to feel the trail as I ride. It is mountain biking afer all, you will feel the bumps every once and awhile. I recently took up road biking too, so that lets my tired 36 year old body recover from the trail rides I put it through. Overall, this is the best bike in it's class, hands down. I have enjoyed it evry time I have ridden it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
doug lewis
a Cross Country Rider
from ssf ca usa Date Reviewed: December 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
any trail at el corte de madera
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$499.00
Purchased At:
american cyclery
Strengths:
best bang for the buck.awesome trail handling
Weaknesses:
kept breaking spokes in the rear. v brakes constantly needed adjusting completely wore out pads in 6 months
Similar Products Used:
trek santa cruz
Bike Setup:
upgraded to cyclepro rims with xt hubs to cure problem with breaking spokes and added avid bb5 cable disc brakes odi lockon grips otherwise as equipped for 2007 rockhopper
Bottom Line:
for the type of riding i do i should have bought the bike a little better equipped (disc brakes!)i would have saved money to buy it properly equipped instead of upgrading it later. but otherwise i love this bike i highly recommend
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mo petkov
a Racer
from Ithaca.N.Y Date Reviewed: November 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
shindagin
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$540.00
Purchased At:
TheBikeRack
Strengths:
I like the front fork I also LOVE the frame.the crank is light and so are the drailers. if you like shimanos push pull shifters but don't like Shimano you might like the SRAM push pull shifters on the Rock Hopper.
Weaknesses:
the handle bars are a bit to thin in circumfrence to fit a light.
Similar Products Used:
Rock Hopper pro disc (a friends bike)
Bike Setup:
2005 rockhopper with nashbar barends
Bottom Line:
I LOVE this bike I recamend for peapol to try this bike out espesaly peapol how have week legs (no offense)or racers like me for weight.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zach
a Weekend Warrior
from Texas Date Reviewed: September 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
POLICE BIKE COP- Anywhere they wanna run! :)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
LBS - Lubbock, TX
Strengths:
It has a great solid frame that's light and has more of a race feel to it. It also comes with some decent componets for the price. Bike also allows for complete upgrade!
Weaknesses:
Stem, derailleurs, and pedals. O, and need a bashgaurd or or it will eat loose fitting patol pants. haha
Similar Products Used:
Trek and Giant
Bike Setup:
Police Set-up: 19" Bike Upgraded Specialiazed XC Mountian Stem S-Works Carbon Bars ODI Grips w/ Lock On End Plugs WTB Peddals Power Grip Straps Panaracer Tires Marwi "The Slammer" Police Lights Cycle Siren Mini-Siren Cycle Siren Mini-Siren Upgraded Tail Lights (red/blue) Inertia Designs Expandable Trunk Bag Vetta VL 110HD Computer
Bottom Line:
This review is more geared to the Police Bike Officer, but will have some good insite for the others.
I bought this bike out of my own pocket knowing that I would also want to take it out on some trails every now and then for personal use. So far it has been a great set up for the money, even b4 upgrades. The travel on the front suspension is great for taking curbs and steps w/out problems and the Lock Out is a MUST needed for beating the streets up. The derailleurs need to be upgraded after purchase. Going off curbs, not to mention stairs, the front d sometimes allows the chain to drop down off its gear causing problems when in a hurry. With a little tunning of the front d, that issue has gotten better. The front stem was a little weak for mounting lights and the alike up front. For a police bike, Disc breaks was not something that high on the needs list. Either way I would not bother buying the Disc-Cable breaks... If you are in need of Disc breaks go for a hydraulic set-up!
Things that I will be upgrading soon will be the Front and Rear Derailleurs, Carbon Seat Post, Spinergy Wheels, Hydralic Breaks and maybe possiblily trying the E-13 DRS soon.
Bottom line... When you start looking for Police package bikes (Trek, Fuji, S&W) you will be needing to spend in the $1000 price range for a decent all day rideable set-up. I have those beat in price and will eat any of the Police package bikes put up against me in the urban "police" enviroment. I will also weigh less, even when loaded w/ gear. haha The Specialized has taken the police enviroment beating and all around abuse. Either way this bike has held up unbelievable and it will have a long life ahead of it. I would say take a long look into this bike for putting together a Police Bike. The packages are nice (all in one) but they also aren't near the bike that for the same money you can put together yourself.
I give it 4 on the Value because they could have beefed up the stem and used better derailleurs(which I think they have done on the 08')
5 for Overall because for the price... You can't beat specialized!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Miriam S
a Weekend Warrior
from Marysville, OH Date Reviewed: September 28, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$629.00
Strengths:
Light, easy to setup/ride, good components, price is very decent for what this bike has to offer.
Weaknesses:
Pedals need to be upgraded to at least toe-clips! I wish I would have spent the extra $100 for disc brakes, but these aren't all that bad.
Bottom Line:
This is the first bike I've purchased (not the first I've been on) and I'm pretty satisfied. I'm a beginner/intermediate and it's been great so far!
I was looking for a moderately priced bike so I can learn and get my skills up, and this was definitely a great choice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daniel A
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, Florida, USA Date Reviewed: August 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Santos
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Bikeworks - Orlando
Strengths:
Feather light, decent components, a pleasure to ride
Weaknesses:
ProMax Brakes are sub standard, first thing to be upgraded
Bike Setup:
08 Rockhopper, AVID Single Digit TI Levers and calipers, Koolstop Pads.
Bottom Line:
This is by far the best bike in its price class. The bike is very light, and stable in all conditions.
The only complaint I have was the brakes as they faded after a few miles on the trail. I since replaced the brakes with the AVID Single Digit TI (Levers and calipers) and got me the Koolstop MTB Salmon/black pads. I outbreak my friends with more expensive Disk break setups.
I shopped far and long for a bike and i was drawn to this bike from the beginning
$ 440.00
Overall Rating:
