Mountain Biking - Hardrock vs Rockhopper

I am wondering the differences between these two bikes such as geometry, weight, what style of riding they can be used for, etc. I'm thinking of the base level Rockhopper and the Hardrock Comp Disc as they are very close in price. Hoping to buy my first mtb later this year and am exploring all avenues.

Thanks any opinion offered.

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I love them both *claps*

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Thank. you. :)

If everyone just used the search feature to read up, there would be no new threads. I was interested to see if there were people that had ridden both extensively who might chime in.

I've only test ridden them, but since no experienced Hardrock vs. RH people have replied I'll toss in my $0.02: the RH seems more suited for light XC and road riding. Like long dirt roads or long light to medium xc riding. very few jumps and drops.

the Hardrock seems to be built also for XC but takes a very small weight penalty to be built beefier. It has a beefier frame and a little bit more of a DJ style frame. It's still an XC bike but would be able to go do a few dirt jumps and larger drops than the Rockhopper.

I could be horribly wrong, that's just my opinion from shopping around.

The RH seems more suited for light XC and road riding. Like long dirt roads or long light to medium xc riding. very few jumps and drops.

The Hardrock seems to be built also for XC but takes a very small weight penalty to be built beefier. It has a beefier frame and a little bit more of a DJ style frame. It's still an XC bike but would be able to go do a few dirt jumps and larger drops than the Rockhopper.

This is absolutely correct. Both are great bikes; the RH is lighter, but the HR is beefier.

I could be horribly wrong, that's just my opinion from shopping around.


"the RH seems more suited for light XC and road riding."

you are hottibly wrong.

dont make that kind of comments on a bike just based on shopping around. ride them.

"the Hardrock seems to be built also for XC but takes a very small weight penalty to be built beefier. It has a beefier frame and a little bit more of a DJ style frame. It's still an XC bike but would be able to go do a few dirt jumps and larger drops than the Rockhopper."

your observation is pretty correct here.

I have ridden both. Hardrock for a shotr period of time and rockhopper for 2 years before it got stolen. There is very little difference between the Rockhopper and Hardrock frames. the Rockhopper is set up more like a trail/XC bike and its really versatile for its price.

on the other hand, Hardrock is designed for entry level new riders. with more like a dirt jump, urban stunt, little bit trail...riding styel....Hardrock is the bike you start off with and figure out which side of mountian biking spectrum you would want to be...when you figured out...you buy either a XC, dirt jump, Freeride, Urban assault, or a trail bike. so, Hardrock is for figuring it out then Rockhopper, stumpjumper etc are bikes for specific needs trail/AM or pure XC...

The reason people think Hardrocks are so tough because, Hardrock is the bike to transition from X-mart or huffy bike to a decent quality bike...so the progression is...when you go from a Huffy to a Hardrock..the difference is huge..but when you go from a Hardrock to a rockhopper...the difference is in the detail...but, new riders often get confused about the detail...

so, the bottom line is....if you are a new rider and want to do a little bit of every thing...Hardrock is probably a good choice...but if you want to do trail riding with better trail performance and handling, Rockhopper is the better bike of these two...

hope this helps...

am i ok riding a rockhopper on the road as well as trail? btw - thanks for that writeup

Lots of people around here ride or have ridden rockhoppers, myself included. I havent heard of any cracked or broken frames yet. I wouldnt call the RH frame light duty, it can take beating.

Put it this way, your body will quit before the frame does.

the thing is we are doing too much research and not much riding...

come on, its a mountian bike.....some people act like if you take a "XC" bike to the hills, the bike will disintegrate....mind you, there are hills in XC riding and hills usually means some down hills sections too...people all around the world are riding XC tails with simple lightweight hard tail bikes with less than 100mm travel, just fine....its us, who are typing too much and not riding in real situations are having these theoretical debates...

Rockhopper is a versatile bike...yes you can ride it on roads, trails, etc..yes it has its limits....but the implication that it has to be riddent on flat ground with no rocks or roots or you will not be able to do any jumps or bunny hops..is simply rediculous...


go ride it like you stole it...

Put it this way, your body will quit before the frame does.

there you go. THANK YOU FLAK...

Good thing you're thinking about the Comp Disc instead of the Sport because the forks SUCK on it. I do agree that the Hardrock will be able to take a beating, but it isn't the lightest bike ever.

Thanks for the replies everyone, exactly what I wanted. From what sherpaPeak is saying, sounds like an HR might be better for me as I'm not sure exactly what riding I will be doing. From checking the trail reviews on mtbr.com the riding seems to be quite varied around here in Vegas.

I did some reading of old threads last night and I gather from these that at this pricepoint Specialized as slightly lesser components on their bikes but better frames, compared to say Trek or other brands.

I dont think thats really the case. I think all the manufacturers make good frames bar the Trek Bruiser.

I wonder how many brands still roll off the giant factory line these days?

Why?

The search feature opens window to the universe where all past, future and present is known.:rolleyes:

Search to find the best thread ever! http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=297907

Search to find the best thread ever! http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=297907

Funny you mentioned that. I was just searching for "perfect birthday party hat" and that thread came up. Small world.

Why?

Because.

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Ass. Clown.

I had a rockhopper frame...really sturdy. I had a hardrock too...I would take the rockhopper over the hardrock any day.

I went to a store today to check prices, $550 for the Hardrock comp. Oddly, I didnt see a Rockhopper although I was short on time. The salesperson pretty much repeated what sherpaPeak said earlier in the thread with regard to it being a newbie/versatile bike. Now I just have to make a decision and pay for it :)

edit: The Rockhopper has the RockShox Dart 3 SL fork, the Hardrock Comp an RST Gilla Plus RA fork.....which is the better fork? Or similar quality?

Rockshox is better.

I had a rockhopper frame...really sturdy. I had a hardrock too...I would take the rockhopper over the hardrock any day.



Care to explain why? I returned my new Hardrock and spent an extra $120 on a RH and could use some rationalization to sleep better :)

Ass. Clown.

Oh. Really?

Search. Results:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=217153&highlight=hardrock+vs.+rockhopper

Fixed it for you.

Thanks, very kind. Now take your other thread nazi kandnhome with you and quit bothering people who might actually want to discuss something.... even if it is something that has been done before many times. Seriously, if its not something that interests you, dont read it.

Thanks again.

Care to explain why? I returned my new Hardrock and spent an extra $120 on a RH and could use some rationalization to sleep better :)
my hard rock was heavy and I could throw alot at it and it wouldnt break...it wasnt very easy to control and the components were cheap although the loadout was good for the price. The bike is for you to ride and say "yay or nay" basically. its a good bike for the money that is upgradeable to a point. But the Rockhopper is just as rigid, lighter...feels more nimble and comes with better parts where it matters. the crap on the hardrock that you would have upgraded anyway is the same stuff you would upgrade on the rockhopper. like disc brakes for instance...give me a good set of v's over a crappy set of discs any day. you would be changing them anyway...why not have a better frame and fork?
:D

Good points about the frame and fork, it makes sense to buy the best frame that you can in any style of bike as that should be the part that lasts the longest.

Good points about the frame and fork, it makes sense to buy the best frame that you can in any style of bike as that should be the part that lasts the longest.


most items out there are nothing more than the sum of the parts...but a bike is a frame and parts come and go ;)

Oh. Really?

Search. Results:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=217153&highlight=hardrock+vs.+rockhopper

Wow, a thread from 6 months ago. That's everything in a bag there.

You've got to have something better than that..

Anyway, I went to look at both bikes. I don't know, the hard rock stood out more. But I'm not a MTB owner, just someone looking to buy.

Wow, a thread from 6 months ago. That's everything in a bag there.

You've got to have something better than that..

Anyway, I went to look at both bikes. I don't know, the hard rock stood out more. But I'm not a MTB owner, just someone looking to buy.

sometimes you just have to grab the bull by the horns...and figure it out. I would say ride them both as much as you can before making up your mind...remember that parts can and most likely WILL be replaced.

Wow, a thread from 6 months ago. That's everything in a bag there.

You've got to have something better than that..

Anyway, I went to look at both bikes. I don't know, the hard rock stood out more. But I'm not a MTB owner, just someone looking to buy.


Clearly, I'm wasting my time here, but I'm a glutton for punishment, so...

The one thread I linked was a prime example of the dozens of threads on this very topic/similar topics that are easily found by searching this site. If, after reading as many of those threads as you can stand, a person has a specific question or more focused inquiry to make on the subject, then by all means....go ahead. But asking the people who know anything (i.e. the people who have seen the same thread 100 times) on the topic to repeat themselves over and over is not only wasteful of time, it's rude.

However, if you went to see the two bikes in person and all you got from the experience is that one "stands out" more, I'm amazed you haven't drowned in your own juices yet. At the very least you should have noted component spec level, quality of build (i.e. welds, materials, paint, etc), and fit differences -- and this is just sitting on the bike in the shop. If you bothered to ride them, you'd have an even better basis of comparison that would be based on what you (gasp!) prefer.

So, like I said, I know it's a waste of time, but....

sometimes you just have to grab the bull by the horns...and figure it out. I would say ride them both as much as you can before making up your mind...remember that parts can and most likely WILL be replaced.

Actually, I went to look at these two partly just to look, and also to kick around ideas with Joe at BR.. So, we got to thinking I might be able to build a custom SS 29'r rigid.

I should actually go back becuase he had some deals on both these bikes... Just to get an idea.

Actually, I went to look at these two partly just to look, and also to kick around ideas with Joe at BR.. So, we got to thinking I might be able to build a custom SS 29'r rigid.

I should actually go back becuase he had some deals on both these bikes... Just to get an idea.

its all good as long as you like riding it
good luck.