Specialized Rockhopper

J

justin_nj

New Member
I am just getting back into riding again and am thinking of a new bike.

I currently have a 20 year Haro that needs some work and a 10 year old Specialized Expedition Sport that is working fine. The Expedition Sport more like Specialized current offering of a Crosstail then the current Expedition

My primary purpose of the bike is to hit the trails in local parks like Mercer County Park, Allaire State and local parks like Thompson Park.

I will also use the bike around the neigborhood or might put more road-worthy tires on my Expedition for that purpose.

I've narrowed down my potential bike to the Specialized Rockhopper and boucning between the Rockhopper and Rockhopper 29. Does anyone have any pros/cons of either of these two models or any reasons I should go to the 29er to ride these local trails?

My other option is to rebuild the Haro with up-to date components. Any thoughts on this?

I'd also be interested in hearing of other bikes in a similar price range.

Thanks for the help.

Justin
 
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Welcome. I hate to say, but old bikes are old and if you are too they will make you feel extra old; all bent over and racy with their old geometry and silly 28t low gear. New bikes with their tall front ends and long travel shocks give an old guy new life, no more going over the bars, no more aching back. That said there are a couple of threads you should peruse, starting here:
http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24423
and here
http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23864

The Google will lead you to hundreds of pages of 29er vs. 26 arguments.

IMHO, get a 29er. Beg borrow or steal a test ride on a Niner before you decide on another bike. There's a nice Niner Air9 in the bikes for sale thread, also a Misfit SS and Luke's 2008 Specialized Epic Expert (26") is a screaming deal. Good luck.
 
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Welcome back..
do check the 29'er out if you find a shop that has a loaner try it in real trails before you decide one way or the other. Myself I have an older trek that has a very strange geometry to it and feels twitchy in the trails so it is now my beater bike..what ever you decide to upgrade to make sure it fits you.
 
justin_nj said:
My other option is to rebuild the Haro with up-to date components. Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

Don't do this. This is called throwing good money after bad. Buying a new bike is a cheaper way to upgrade components + you get a new frame.

Also I'd choose 29er, they roll easier over stuff.
 
I was in similar shoes several years ago; a mix of MTB'ing and around the town with my daughter.

Picked up a Rockhopper 29r Comp and couldn't have been happier. The standard components and frame were strong enough to withstand a newbie Clyde's inability to pick the right line. I had a mash and bash riding style.....still kinda do 😱

For me, I rode the trails that 1st day back and never looked back. Point being, if you get bitten By the MTB bug, you'll want a good bike. I was very happy with my 29r Comp, but don't hesitate to look at some of the aforementioned bikes for sale here. Great bikes. How a bike fits YOU is very important. Test ride before you buy.

Either way, welcome back and good luck on the search.
 
ReggieHammond said:
Picked up a Rockhopper 29r Comp and couldn't have been happier. The standard components and frame were strong enough to withstand a newbie Clyde's inability to pick the right line. I had a mash and bash riding style.....still kinda do 😱
Click to expand...

Also have a Rockhopper Comp 29er (2009).

But... my rear derailleur & hanger didn't survive Deer Park.
 
Andy said:
If you get a good bike, you will get bitten by the MTB bug. You'll want to buy a bike that your capabilities won't surpass. Does that make sense?
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This makes a lot of sense otherwise i'd be trading up in a year. I had the MTB bug when I was younger and enjoyed riding since but a bit on the 'lighter' side.
 
ReggieHammond said:
I was in similar shoes several years ago; a mix of MTB'ing and around the town with my daughter.

Picked up a Rockhopper 29r Comp and couldn't have been happier. The standard components and frame were strong enough to withstand a newbie Clyde's inability to pick the right line. I had a mash and bash riding style.....still kinda do 😱

For me, I rode the trails that 1st day back and never looked back. Point being, if you get bitten By the MTB bug, you'll want a good bike. I was very happy with my 29r Comp, but don't hesitate to look at some of the aforementioned bikes for sale here. Great bikes. How a bike fits YOU is very important. Test ride before you buy.

Either way, welcome back and good luck on the search.
Click to expand...



tednugent said:
Also have a Rockhopper Comp 29er (2009).

But... my rear derailleur & hanger didn't survive Deer Park.
Click to expand...

i too ride a rockhopper, 29er exp '10, it's solid. i ride the hell out of it everywhere and couldn't be happier. over time i ditched the gears and have been upgrading here and there with a mix of new and used parts. eventually when my abillities warrant i will have a completely custom bike.

whichever path you take good luck and enjoy the ride!
 
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A little over a year ago I was in your same shoes. I had a Mongoose Hilltopper from '94 that I rode for about 6 years before going to college and eventually moving out of my parent's.

I briefly thought about upgrading the shocks (old mag 21s) as well as the drive train (interestingly the LX derailleurs i put on still functioned great the little bit i used it). It really becomes cost prohibitive at that point. I ended up picking up a Cannondale SL2 (it is a 29er) from Brielle Cyclery last thanksgiving on an impulse. It was a bit weird riding the bike at first but after a couple of months i never looked back. I do wish i test rode some bikes and spent a little more money as I'm now wanting to upgrade the bike.

hope that helps.
 
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