Mountain Biking - New bike - what should we upgrade?

Hi everyone,

I am ordering a Specialized Rockhopper Disc for my girlfriend and have some credit with the shop. Thinking about upgrading some parts. What do you think I should upgrade in order of priority?

We will probably be getting a women's specific seat.
How important would it be to get dual piston brakes - juicy 5 say?
It is an 8 speed. What is the cost benefit of upgrading shifters, crank, derailler or cassette/chain?
It is an extra small and she is pretty light weight so I would expect the forks to be adequate.

We will be using the bike to ride some trails fairly hard. We have signed up for a 100km fairly technical ride in Feb.

The spec is as follows:
Thanks for your comments.


FRAME A1 Premium Aluminium, disc only, double butted TT and ORE DT, externally relieved head tube, internally relieved BB shell, reinforced disc mount, forged 3D dropouts w/ replaceable 98954020 hanger

FORK RockShox Dart 3 SL, 100mm, Mag Lower, 28.6mm Cro-Mo stanchions, coil spring, alloy steer, rebound adjust w/ lockout and preload adjust

HEADSET 1 1/8" threadless

STEM Specialized 3D forged alloy, two bolt, 25.4mm, 10 degree rise

HANDLEBARS Alloy 25.4mm XC Rise, 640mm wide, 8 degree back, 6 degree up sweep, 3.2mm thick

TAPE / GRIPS Specialized Enduro, dual density Kraton

FRONT BRAKE Hayes sole, hydro disc, 6" Centre Lock rotors

REAR BRAKE Hayes sole, hrydro disc, 6" Centre Lock rotors

BRAKE LEVERS Shimano EF-50 integrated

FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Acera M-330

REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Deore

SHIFT LEVERS Shimano Alivio

CASSETTE / FREEWHEEL Shimano HG-40, 8-speed, 11-32t

CHAIN Shimano HG-50, 1/2" x 3/32"

CRANKSET Shimano FCM-341-8, Octalink Spline, replaceable rings

CHAINRINGS 42S/32S/22S

BOTTOM BRACKET Shimano ES-25, Octalink Spline, cartridge bearing, 68 x 126mm for 50mm chain line

PEDALS Steel cage, plastic body, 9/16"

RIMS Specialized/Alex RHD 26, double wall disc

FRONT HUB Shimano HB-M475L, Centre Lock disc, 32h, QR

REAR HUB Shimano FH-M475L, cassette, Centre Lock disc, 32h, QR

SPOKES 1.8mm (15g) stainless

FRONT TIRE Specialized Fast Trak, 26x2.0", 60TPI, wire bead

REAR TIRE Specialized Fast Trak, 26x2.0", 60TPI, wire bead

TUBES Specialized schraeder valve

SADDLE Specialized Body Geometry, ATB

SEAT POST Alloy micro adjust, 30.9mm

SEAT BINDER Specialized forged alloy w/ QR

NOTES Chain stay protector, reflectors, clear coat, owners manual

maybe we can get wheelhot to respond to this one for this guy...

Id upgrade the ergo's to fit her perfectly first, wont want to ride it if she's not comfy!

What about gear?

it would be cheaper for you to simply get a better specced bike. go stumpjumper or something if you can.

Id upgrade the ergo's to fit her perfectly first, wont want to ride it if she's not comfy!

What about gear?
We will be looking at getting a women's specific gel seat, nice short headstem and probably shorter cranks. Any other ergo suggestions? Bull horns?


it would be cheaper for you to simply get a better specced bike. go stumpjumper or something if you can.
We thought about that, but it is a huge price increase for us. There are not many XS bikes available over here to chose from - It has been a long story of not available - too expensive - too cheap - wrong colour etc - I won't bore you with the saga..

my wife just bought herself a GT Zaskar expert about ten days ago. a 2006 version, it came with v brakes but we upgraded to shimano xt discs and changed her wheels to mavic 717s with xt hubs. i know GTs are not popular etc right now, but man i was very surprised when i saw the bike and have no regrets picking the bike up. the frame is very nice, well made and is very light. lighter than the zr9000 trek 8500s i think. its a beautiful bike. the frame's much better than my trek 6500 for sure. if you can find a 2006 zaskar, im sure you could get one for cheap. the 2007 is specced the same but with LX disc brakes/disc hubs. the 2006 comes with a Recon fork without motion control but the 2007 comes with the motion control model. anyway, just thought i would throw that in there. my wife didnt want to get a non womens specific design model but she tried the smallest size GT and it fit her very well. she was a little particular about color too, (she didnt wanna get the pink 2006 trek 6700, and after looking at the GT, im glad i didnt convince her to get it anyway) but she loves the bike we got her. she had a nasty fall the other day though, dented her helmet! it was scary cuz this time it wasnt i falling but me watching her fall. brrr.

about seat, this one is personal i guess, but i find gel seats to be a little uncomfortable. and surprisingly my wife does too. specialised has some good seats though and i never had the chance to try any of theirs out. a terry butterfly is a popular seat for women. i would get one for my wife but i cant find one here.

best of luck man. hope you guys find what you are looking for.

When I read the first post I thought this was a joke from someone who has too much time on their hands...so you're serious? You want to buy a mediocre bike and upgrade it?

Buy a better Rockhopper. The Rockshox Dart is a deal-buster for me. I won't go any less than a Tora. I mean seriously man!!! You're gonna buy a bike that's spec'd with a cheap'o 8 speed drivetrain and a crappo fork and then consider putting som top shelf Avid Hydraulic brakes on it? Looking at the spec of the bike, you'd probably pay as much for a set of Juicy's as you would a the whole bike.

Keep looking, sir. Buy a nice 9 spd bike with an LX or X.7 group that has a decent set of V-brakes and a fork that's not just "dead weight".

YESS Im here!!!, here is what you should upgrade from your lists, now or later doesnt matter, only a matter of preference :D

1. Front and Rear Brake, change to Avid Juicy 3 (if you can find one) or Juicy 5 or Avid Ball Bearing 7
2. Shifter pods to a 9 speed, Deore (cheapest), LX - XT (Mid range), XTR (if you have a lot of money :D)
3. Casette and chain (must if you are upgrading your shifter pods to 9 Speed)
4. Front and rear hub (Avid's only accept 6 bolt style rotor, unless you can fit your Avid calipers onto a Shimano rotor)
5. Make sure your gf seatpost length is enough for her (unlike mine)
6. Ask her if her saddle is comfortable, if not change it.

Kay now the explanation part:
1. I strongly suggest upgrading your brakes first because people say Sole is the weakest hydraulic break, Avid is one of the best in the market. Sole is a single piston, Avid's are two piston, two is better then one, better breaking power, modulation and etc etc. You get the deal.
2. More number of casette = easier to cycle because there are a extra lower gear ratio which makes climbing steep mountain easier
3. You must upgrade your chain, casette and shifter pods to be able to use 9 speed gearing, your Deore accepts 9 speed, chain upgrade to 9 speed or add a extra link, casette so you have a extra lower gear, shifter pods so you can shift to that lower gear.

Pretty confusing but you get the point :D, I wont mind explaining again which part you dont understand

Huh? Why not get the next model or two up from that start, rather than upgrading a lower model? At least if you're buying new from the start.

The shop should be able to swap to a shorter stem, women's seat, and whatever else right at purchase. Do it before you even take the bike out of the shop. That way you can get some credit for the traded in parts, rather than being stuck with them at home, and paying more for the replacement stuff.

Any decent shop should be letting you do that anyhow. They may not offer it, but they should be doing it if you ask.

nice short headstem and probably shorter cranks.

If the bike is an extra small size, it should come with 170mm cranks, and the stem should be proportionate as well. My wife got an '07 Cannondale, size small, and it had 170mm cranks.

YESS Im here!!!, here is what you should upgrade from your lists, now or later doesnt matter, only a matter of preference :D


AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*runs away madly into traffic with hands covering ears*

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*runs away madly into traffic with hands covering ears*

unfortunately, it was inevitable, i figured we might as well get it out of the way early...:p

It's your fault, CaptMatt. :cry: ALL your fault..... *sits in corner, curled into a ball, wimpering*

Typically you want to upgrade the frame first. Then the spokes, then the grips. In that order.

I'm glad I could be of service good sir.

:roflmao:
Typically you want to upgrade the frame first. Then the spokes, then the grips. In that order.

I'm glad I could be of service good sir.:roflmao:

:roflmao: :roflmao:
Those smiley's are hilarious looking on my dad's dial up internet. They are soooo slOooo0oowww.

It's your fault, CaptMatt. :cry: ALL your fault..... *sits in corner, curled into a ball, wimpering*

:p

*Tears , you all dont like me :(

Uhhh.... guys, bikes are really expensive over here, especially compared to what your used to in the states. If this guy has store credit he can save a lot of money up-specing a standard sort of buy. Let Expatriate tell you about Aussie bike prices.

How about just ride until it breaks, then upgrade. Then you'll know for sure wich part was the weakest.

There ya go. (high five) *slap!* :D

PS. Wheelhot, I like you. You're a good sport and I know you can take the ribbing ((hugs)) :)

dont upgrade anything till it breaks. your better off if you ride it for awhile and get used to it then you can make a more confident decision about what you want to upgrade. you have a nice new bike.....ride :)

Uhhh.... guys, bikes are really expensive over here, especially compared to what your used to in the states. If this guy has store credit he can save a lot of money up-specing a standard sort of buy. Let Expatriate tell you about Aussie bike prices.

using that store credit to help ugrade the bike purchase from the start should still be cheaper. and result in a better bike than buying the bike, then using the store credit to upgrade parts.

haha, no I cant take the rubbing :(, haha just kidding, I know that all long XD

YESS Im here!!!, here is what you should upgrade from your lists, now or later doesnt matter, only a matter of preference :D .........


4. Front and rear hub (Avid's only accept 6 bolt style rotor, unless you can fit your Avid calipers onto a Shimano rotor)
.....


Thanks Wheelhot, good advice. The shop told me they can't get juicy 3, but I have found some on ebay and ordered them. I have read some poor reviews of the sole brakes and keen to take them off when they are still in new condition and sell them. I have not got the bike yet and hope the hubs are still 6 bolt fittings.

Given we need to upgrade the chain and cassette to upgrade the shifters, I think we will keep them the same.

I am pretty good mechanically and will try to fit the juicy 3's myself. They are pre bled and I hope the hydraulic lines are long enough for an XS frame. Any advice on fitting the juicy brakes?

Thanks,

well, here is the URL for fitting your Juicy 3 brakes,

http://www.sram.com/en/service/avid/view.php?catID=1&subcatID=1

Juicy 3 Installation is at the bottom of the screen

Glad to help :D

Thanks Wheelhot, good advice. The shop told me they can't get juicy 3, but I have found some on ebay and ordered them. I have read some poor reviews of the sole brakes and keen to take them off when they are still in new condition and sell them. I have not got the bike yet and hope the hubs are still 6 bolt fittings.

Given we need to upgrade the chain and cassette to upgrade the shifters, I think we will keep them the same.

I am pretty good mechanically and will try to fit the juicy 3's myself. They are pre bled and I hope the hydraulic lines are long enough for an XS frame. Any advice on fitting the juicy brakes?

Thanks,

The shop can't get them cause they are OE only.

yeah, but it seems Juicy 3 looks like Juicy 5 last year, most of Juicy 3 feature is like 5 last year