Mountain Biking - Specialized Hardrock hype

When I first started reading this board, I grinned at the number of people who were seemingly big fans of the Hardrock. I grinned because the Hardrock was the first bike my wife ever rode. Waaaay back in 1988, we both bought mountain bikes; a Rockhopper for me and a Hardrock for her. The Hardrock was, at the time, Specialized lowest end bike. I assumed, based on the the number of pro-hardrock posts here, that Specialized now uses the name on a top bike.

"If they only knew how the Hardrock started!" I quipped.

So recently I checked out the Hardrock on the Specialized page. Uh...waa? It's still a very low end bike with some of the cheapest Shimano/generic components available. What's the hype for? Is it simply one of the better extreme-low-end MTB's available or am I missing something?

They are not that bad with components. Just because it doenst say XT doesnt mean its bad. Looking at their 05 specs I see a lot of altus/alivio. Overall for the price your paying, i mean the msrp for the Comp disc is 550. Its a good buy, good to start with. Most likely if a persons looking in this price range they are just wanting to try the sport, so i doubt they are doing these epic rides.

Well, for the price, you get a lifetime warranty on a very decent frame, and components that are generally on-par with or greater than bikes in the price range. You also get the Specialized name which is a big deal for those who like recognizable brands for warranty and help services.

Basically, for the price, the Hardrock is kind of the best bet at a bike if he wants to ride single track or do a little free riding on. And the components are spread out through out the bike, giving it a fairly balanced ride compared to some manufacturers that put more into the frame or fork or wheelset.

It's also one of the most readily available bikes and the paint jobs are generally nice on them.

they have reasonable brand name stuff too.
Truvativ cranks, marzocchi fork, Hayes.

am I missing something?

Yeah, the price. Show me a better bike with better parts for the same price and Ill never promote the HR again.

I went with my friend to the bike shop today and he bought a hard-rock sport, pretty nice bike. I personally didn't like the ride all that much, just felt weird to me, but he took to it right away, probably from his BMX riding. He can already bunnyhop UP 1- 1 and a half foot legdes. We rode home from the shop and rode for like 6-7 hours today and he loved it, so im guessing they are also good bikes to start on, considering its his first MTB. We did switch the fork from the RST Gila T5 to my old MZ COMP. But all-in-all its a great bike for the money.

So recently I checked out the Hardrock on the Specialized page. Uh...waa? It's still a very low end bike with some of the cheapest Shimano/generic components available. What's the hype for? Is it simply one of the better extreme-low-end MTB's available or am I missing something?

show me something better for the money!!!i think you can answer your question yourself.its a great bike for people like me that just kinda start getting into the "crazy" stuff.the frame is pretty nice and can be used for all kinds off ridind .well and if the components brake and you stick with the sport you can just upgrade.though i think the HR pro should have a better stock fork,iam willing to lay down another 100 $,not sure what part of this deal specialized doesn't understand,oh well.

I do not see what you do not get!!!

Mine has great suff on it. It's a single speed!!!

Looking at their 05 specs I see a lot of altus/alivio.

Altus are VERY low end, did you mean acera? Usually department store bikes have altus deraileurs. I personally don't get the hype of the hardrock either, I mean, the price is great and it's an ok first mtb, but I've riden them, and they arn't THAT great. The discs on the one I tried were horrible and cheapo's. I'd much rather buy a different bike myself.

^You'd much rather buy a different bike yeah, but how much more would it cost?

go to my Threads its the one that sayd there is not one??.............................go to and see what you think I am in a crisis

I'd rather get the Trek Bruiser 1 for that price.

for what price? as much as a hardrock

The one without disk brakes is pretty dang good. I have Specialized's cheapest mountain bike, with a couple upgrades, and even before the upgrades it was a good bike.

"Extreme low end"... Extreme low end is a pos moutain bike you pick up for 5 bucks at a yard sale. The gears skip around, the rims are bent, everything rusted, the seat is destroyed. Slightly higher on the chain is a department store bike... The hardrock is a far cry from a department store bike.

I m picking up a 2005 Hardrock sport in black v brakes prolly this week, hopefully i ll like it. I think other freeride bikes might be better but they also cost more unless you get a discount /used

the hayes bearing disc brakes a pretty darn good ,i don't know what you are talking about ?if you take 5 minutes to set em up right they stop you on a dime,and iam close to 200 pounds.they aren't hydraulics ,but doh!

I'd rather get the Trek Bruiser 1 for that price.
The Bruiser is 75 euros more expensive than the Hardrock here, and even if it wasn't, well, I'd still go with the Hardrock, I just don't like the feel of the Bruiser. ;)

I just don't like the feel of the Bruiser.
Wow, how can you not? I love the feel of them. They feel so sturdy, especially with those big Bontrager Earl 2.4's. Travel wise, the Bruiser 1 beats the Hardrock any day, 120mm of travel. I've got a friend with one, and he has beaten the crap out of his, he rides it every day for at least 4 hours, and takes like 2-5 foot jumps/drops, and it's still rides like it did when it was new.

Wow, how can you not?
Easy. Treks handle like dump trucks. You're happy with what you have and that's great, however Drunken Chicken doesn't like how they feel. You do leave it at that.

So recently I checked out the Hardrock on the Specialized page. Uh...waa? It's still a very low end bike with some of the cheapest Shimano/generic components available. What's the hype for? Is it simply one of the better extreme-low-end MTB's available or am I missing something?

They are a value bike. Not a good bike. Theres a diff. When people come here asking for a good bike for the lowest possible coin, the hardrock is tough to beat.

If you came here and said, I have 1000$, intend to really abuse the bike/frame. I would not recommend a hardrock.

The hardrock cant be beaten on price, and many people (including me) dont like TREKS, I have a hardrock, and it was my first proper mountain bike, this bioke appeals to first time buyers, younger people and people who are low on means but big on enthusiasm. And it ride pretty well too, apart from the fork, which is pretty crap, but apart from that your not going to get a better bike for the money, and it can handle some reasonably tough stuff.

Treks handle like dump trucks.
That's your opinion.

I don't think that Hardrocks are all that cheap, you can get a trek 4300 disc for the same price. Hardrocks are just sold more widely in more LBS's than other bikes are. If you're really looking for a cheap bike go for a Gt, they're even better for the buck.

If you're really looking for a cheap bike go for a Gt, they're even better for the buck.


Which model?

I just bought a Hardrock Pro Disc so I think my opinion may be of some value here. Before I made my final decision to buy I test rode a number of bikes in the Sub $600 price range including the GF Tass and Marlin, Specialized Rockhopper, Trek's you name it I rode it. I felt the most comfortable on the Hardrock and to me since I am the one plunking the $$$ down and the one riding it I could give a rip what other's opinions where on the Hardrock. I like it and that my friend is the most important thing.....

I really like the Hardrock, but I have to say when it all comes down to it the Bruiser 2 is the bike that fit me the best, it takes a serious beating under my 210lbs frame.

I don't really like the feeling of the hardrock either, and as far as treks handling like dump trucks, which treks specifically, they cant all handle the same. I have abused my Trek which i happen to like the very sturdy(dump truck-like) feeling of. I too would have taken a Bruiser 1 over a hardrock. It isnt much more than the hardrock sport, maybe 50 usd something like that. I have rode my friends bike more and can't adjust to the feeling of it, i hate it.

The Hardrock served my purpose just fine last year and would still be going strong but someone needed it more than I did (climbed the fence and rode it away). This time I bought a Haro 8.1 and have ridden it twice. There is a difference but for the $$$ The Hardrock was sufficient and I enjoyed it.