You could quickly put more money in upgrades to that bike than it's worth. I think the RH is nice but components are expensive.

The upgrade you would notice the most performance wise would be lighter wheels. Not cheap.

You might like disk brakes but it looks like your current wheels don't have hubs that will accept rotors which is at the least a hub upgrade. I prefer disks but plenty of riders still use v and canti brakes. They work fine in most conditions. Actually, adding disks would probably add some weight over your current setup.

Fork. I think it would be a worthwhile upgrade but keep in mind that if you decide to upgrade then you need to find a fork that has v brake bosses if you want to stick with your current setup.

If it were me I would ride the bike the way that it is and just replace things as they break. As you can see, upgrades can quickly add up to the cost of a new bike.

However, if you're the type that likes to tinker and wrench then you can always upgrade the RH to your hearts content and one day transfer the upgraded parts to a new frame.

$$$$$ either way. Have fun whatever you decide to do.

 

You could quickly put more money in upgrades to that bike than it's worth. I think the RH is nice but components are expensive.

The upgrade you would notice the most performance wise would be lighter wheels. Not cheap.

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I beg to differ on the "it's worth" comment. There is nothing wrong with a Rockhopper frame an XL weighs in @ 4 lbs (I know) I think Specalized does not do this bike justice with the parts it hangs off of it.

My first upgrade would be a disk specific wheelset and a set of BB7's then I'd do a fork and crankset. then you will have a really trail worthy/do almost anything bike!

 

^^ Thanks for the info :thumbsup:

 

First off go with clipless pedals and shoes if possible. Then I would say a new Rear Derailleurs like deore or a nicer one if you have the cash, Bars like the easton carbon fiber on jensonUSA.com they are sper light on a SUPER SALE and all around better, there is the possibility of a new step, Tubeless kit will do wonders and will probably the best thing you could do to any bike, LIghter seatpost, seat clamp, seat, rockshox tora is cheap, really light, and very smooth. there is alot you could do, buy what will be better and what you can afford, small steps.

 

I agree that these could be good upgrades but the fork isn't what I would call "really light". The best thing about the Tora over the Dart is that their is more adjustability. However, it still weighs over 5 Lbs for the coil version. The air version may be a tad bit lighter but not by much. I'm looking at a Reba or Sid to replace the Tora that I have. All in all, it's not a bad fork if you're ok with the weight.

 

^^ I appreciate the info..thanks

 

Nice bike man, i picked up a 2012 spec hard rock disc as my first bike and im already going to add some upgrades which i think would suit me just fine, and i could always transfer them to a new frame or bike later down the road. If you do any mods, i think you should do mods that will atleast cover you for 1-2 years without you wanting to upgrade again unless you want to transfer the mods over.

 

^^ I was def thinking about getting a new wheelset..it seems everyone has disc brakes now . i know thats gonna run me some $$ , but it would be worth it to me since i will be riding this bike for awhile

 

I appreciate all this great info! thanks:thumbsup:

 

Wheels/hubs/tires. If your serious, don't skimp out here. Go tubeless and it will be a new bike

Fork. 100mm at least. You can shave alot of weight here as well, but it's expensive. Middle of the road prices will get you great performance, and just a little more weight than the top models. At this point, consider running disc front. That requires a new hub though.

Drivetrain. Ride for a while and figure what gearing you use most. Then upgrade your drivetrain when your bottom bracket goes. 2x10, 3x9,1x10, single speed, lots of choices here. Ride what fits you.

Cockpit. Bars, stem, saddle, post. Change these around until it fits you perfect. Then upgrade to lighter stuff with same geometry.

Do all of this yourself and you will have a bad ass bike, and learned alot about bicycles in general. Well worth the extra price in my book.

 

^^^^Haha. I forgot rear brakes. There are great rim brakes out there and they are relitavely cheap. So do it with the fork.

 

Bang-for-the-buck Parts Changes

I hate "upgrades" because anything that objectively increases the value or performance of the bike is really expensive.

But there are some cheap things you can do that will make it much more fun to ride. It's all about places you touch the bike and the bike touches the ground. So start by getting the cockpit dialed in for you. Maybe a new saddle, maybe a different stem, maybe different handlebars. I'm quite happy with an inexpensive saddle (well, inexpensive because it's old - it was sold as a racing model, ten years ago) and alloy handlebars because it's a saddle that fits my butt well and the stem and bars I use put the grips in "my" spot. I'm a clipless pedal guy, but I think clipless vs. flats is a stupid argument and you should use whatever makes you happy. But whatever it is, getting something that works well is huge. There are recommendations for both clipless and flats, at all pricepoints, all over the site. Good pedals do cost money - mine are something like $65, I think, but I have the luxury of not having to know what a lot of bike parts cost.

Good tires make a huge difference too. Go and ride your local trails, talk to local riders, and see what people like. It's not the same in every area.

After that - you can really replace everything on a bike, but it gets more and more expensive, fast. Try and ride for a season or so before you spend any serious money.

 

:thumbsup: This is some great information