Mountain Biking - Trek Bruiser 1 vs. Specialized Hardrock Sport?

What are the main difference between these two bikes? Which one is better and why?

Haven't seen the Bruiser on sale so I'm just wondering how it is like..

And could I learn to jump curbs and bunny hop on those?

Thanks :)

Before the crowd of people that trash Trek because for whatever reason they think it makes them cool to do so jump into this question, let me give you the most honest answer you can hope for. They would both allow you to learn to jump curbs and both hold up fine to bunny hops. Ride them both and buy the one that feels best to you, period. If neither does, keep looking..

The two required capabilities you are after are not very taxing and just about any bike with two wheels (excluding road bikes obviously) would handle them. You may be better off looking further down the road if possible to see where you might find yourself at as far as this sport goes and ask the question to suite those needs. However, barring extraordinary circumstances (you weigh 320lbs, by "Curb" you mean highway median walls, or by "bunny hope" you mean jump from point A to point B two miles away while bouncing constantly on both rims) you'll be more than fine with either..

The Bruiser is definitely more of a Street/Freeride kind of bike, The Hardrock is more general XC use I believe. So there will be a factor of what kind of riding you do. If you only ride XC for instance, A Bruiser will not be your best choice.

Bruiser 1 is a tad more Freeride oriented as joelsp said but a Hardrock can go just as big. I'd consider the Hardrock as a more all around bike. It's your choice, ride them, see what feels better.

chicken, how are the forks on the hardrock? because i know they're RST, and i've had tons of experience with them... are they okay for general XC action?

You'd be better saving up (IMO) abit to get the hardrock pro (asuming its the harcrock you go for) it has a much better fork (MZ comp) and disc brakes.

You'd be better saving up (IMO) abit to get the hardrock pro (asuming its the harcrock you go for) it has a much better fork (MZ comp) and disc brakes.
DMN is right, the fork is far from state of the art. ;) As long as you lube it really well before each ride, it should feel between crap and acceptable. :) Definately go for the Hardrock Pro (Or even Comp) for the MZ Comp fork, much nicer.
The Bruiser 1's fork is really bad quality, both my friends' forks were found to be defective. Then one of them got a RS Judy TT (don't ask, dumb :p) and the other an MZ Race.

For XC, it'd be fine, but don't expect it to soak bumps up too well. But hey, I'm out here dirtjumping, doing urban, freeriding with it and it's held up so far. :)

The rst on my Hardrock lasted for 2 years of everyday riding and weekend xc/all mountain riding, i started doing freeride on it because i was desperate and snapped it across the arch.

By the end of 2 years however it was so much bouncy as a ful on rigid, probably my fault for not lubing it however but it shiould be fine for a while, and will be better than the treks fork.

I suppose it really comes down to how much cash you have. You could always get the cheaper FS or sport version (with the RST) and ride it to death and then upgrade the fork (if you wanted too) or you could put down a few extra pennies and get a better fork straight out.

BTW as we're talking about these two bikes, how does the cable routing on the Hardrock (ie on the down-tube) stand up to abuse? Does the front wheel not kick up loads of dirt? What about the seeming inability to be able to fit a mud guard because of the cabl'e routing? I've been down trails (pre-mud guard) and struggled to be able to keep my eyes open for mud being kicked up in my face.

http://tinypic.com/5yunh5

I like the Bruiser 1. It is a little heavier then what I'm used to, but it does well on long bike rides and around town. I haven't REALLY tested it out on a technical trail yet becuase I can't get any of my buddies to go with me. Overall, I like it even if its not as fast as I would like it to be on straight aways. That is because it has some nice low gears.

uh oh! in my mind, the trek now has competition. i might be able to get a hardrock now, and it's becoming choice because i got a specialized helmet. it's gotta match, ya kno? (RAIYN THAT WAS ON PURPOSE)

Uh oh! In my mind the trek now has competition. I might be able to get a hardrock now. It's becoming choice because I got a specialized helmet. It's got to match, you know? (RAIYN THAT WAS ON PURPOSE)


Due to my ever increasingly limited funds, my choice for next bike has gone from a Coiler or a Patriot to a choice of Hardrock Pro or Bruiser 2. :mad:

I like the fact that the Hardrock comes in bigger sizes than the Bruiser, which only comes in 14.5 and 16.5 The fact thats theres a dealer on my poxy little Island also helps, but I don't think it'd surive a week of my riding, and I'm not a fan of cables being on the downtube. For an extra £50 the Bruiser two gets better brakes and forks (well 30mm more travel). Better cranks and BB as well, I've heard many a bad thing about Hardrock BB's.

Bonus marks for the person who can spot what I've done. ;)

i do! i do! you added capitals!

XP

i see what you did ;)

I did more than that.

They're both around the same price, the Bruiser is probably heavier since it's built to take abuse, if you want to ride trails and stuff get the Hardrock, you can bunny hop and jump curbs fine with it... I'm 220lbs. and I bunny hop my Hardrock and jump off curbs all the time, it takes it fine.

My Hardrock is definitely the fastest of my 3 mountain bikes (I've got 1.5" slicks on them though).

I did more than that.

all I can think of is that you noted in your signature that the above has grammar and spelling mistakes to annoy. And worse, your signature has a spelling error. That is some pro work.

edit: make that several spelling errors.

all I can think of is that you noted in your signature that the above has grammar and spelling mistakes to annoy. And worse, your signature has a spelling error.
I corrected his grammer as well (capitalised the I's for example). I'm resisting doing yours as well. :rolleyes:





That is some pro work.

When the going gets wierd....

weird?

weird?

Ain't it.

...capitalised...

Isn't capitalized spelled with a "Z"? :D ;)

Isn't capitalized spelled with a "Z"? :D ;)

Bloody upstart colonials.
;)