Mountain Biking - Need help, newb here...

I have a Specialized Rockhopper. Don't know what year it was, but i'm sure it's the older model for sure. it has a sticker on the frame that says "Designed in California" Made in Taiwan. go firgures. anyway, here are some of my questions..
1. when i shift, i noticed that some of the shift point is not accurate with the grip shift number. so there something wrong with my deraillers?
Handle Bar Grip Shift (http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/i=wMzE5OTkxNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg)

2. i want to upgrade my front fork to the suspension ones. i've seen many suggest RS Judy. I'm not hardcore MTBing, but like to do some once in a while. so far i think my fork is the threaded on top, so what else do i need to look out for?
Rockhopper (not sure what year) (http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/i=wMzE5OTg5NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg) Close ups (http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/i=wMzE5OTkyNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg)

3. i went to my LBC today and asked about changing the chain i have on there. they asked me how many speeds it was, but i didn't know. because i bought it used from my co-worker. so here it is.. there is 3 gears at the pedel part, and 7 gears on the rear wheel. so does that make it a 21 speed (7x3= 21)?
Front Gears (http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/i=wMzE5OTk1NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg)
Rear Gears (http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/i=wMzIwMDkyNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg)

4. also, anyone have a site or a DIY write up of how to degrease, clean, maintain, and tune up a bike?

i love this site.. and since i'm a newb.. i need all the help i can get.

Yes, it does mean its a 21 Speed
Also, in order to get the thing with the chain right, then do this: using your grip shift, pull both gripshifts to "1" It may be hard, unless you're riding. This is what you do. The chianes are all supposed to be to the gear closest to you. Meaning, the smallest one at the front, and the biggest one at the back. At the back, you can see the gears and an arm with a gear underneath the rear gears. Push the underarm up, and you have loosened the chain. Run your hand along the chian and when you go, you will meet the gear near the pedals. Lay the chain on the smallest, most inward gear. Now continue running your hand along the chain (you hands are probably black by now) and put the chian on the BIGGEST gear, at the rear of the bike. Everything works itself out now when you pedal. Keep in mind, you can do this anytime on any gear as long as you put it on the right gear. The biggest one in the front is gear 3, the middle one is gear 2, and the smallest one is gear 1. In the rear, its the opposite. The biggest one is gear one, and the smallest one is the gear 7. This is for your 21 speed only. Other people have 27 or 18 or 15 or 1 or 3 speed. I dont know all of them but thats how you do your chain. Make sure you lube the chain with a chian lube if you've totally deprived your chain of the lube. By the way (BTW) it's LBS not LBC.

And also, nothing is rong witht he deraillers, just that you dislodged it. It happens often. And also, try not getting a Judy. If you have money for around that, save and get something better, other people can tell you about that. Judy TT is sort of okay, but Now I don't think it's good at all. There are a lot of bad reviews on it. But also good ones. Depends on riding and your luck (Rock shox makes good ones and bad ones BY ACCIDENT). :P. The fork is threaded. You will need to replace the stem (the thing between the fork and the handle bars), the headset (the bearings) and also the fork. Make sure your fork's diameter, if it's a 1 1/8 inch, 1 1/4 inch or 1 inch. If it's a one inch, you may have problems, if it's either of the other two, 1 1/8 ist he most common right now, while you can get an adaptor to adjust your headtube's (the hole in the front of the frame for the the fork) diameter to 1 1/8 inch. It will cost over 120 US altogehter, I m pretty sure. Fork=80 USD. Stem=4, Bearings=25. +Shipping. And maybe taxes :(! And you can barely get generic ones now so you'll have to get to get quality parts. :P Hope this helps. Private Message me if you need more help or private message someone like danka24 or KleinMp99.

you could've asked your LBS all of these questions and you would've gotten them answered in person.

Exactly....I knew that :P

you could've asked your LBS all of these questions and you would've gotten them answered in person.

true, i know that.. but i work like a mofo on M-F, and extremely stressed out from my computer sales job.. therefore, i get impatient when i go to the LBS and they don't really wanna answer or help me out. the funny part is when they hear i have an old rockhopper.. they are like... u mean the one without the front suspension fork? so unless i buy a cannondale or spend more than 5 bills in there, sometimes they don't give me the time of the day. therefore, i resort to online forum for help.

for me, i find online forums are very helpful, sometimes more helpful then going to a LBS. i drive a honda civic and do my own work.. but i know i can got to a dealership to get my questions answered.. but why waste precious time going there when you can find more answers online??? besides, i'm a newb at this... so sorry for being annoying. :D

And also, nothing is rong witht he deraillers, just that you dislodged it. It happens often. And also, try not getting a Judy. If you have money for around that, save and get something better, other people can tell you about that. Judy TT is sort of okay, but Now I don't think it's good at all. There are a lot of bad reviews on it. But also good ones. Depends on riding and your luck (Rock shox makes good ones and bad ones BY ACCIDENT). :P. The fork is threaded. You will need to replace the stem (the thing between the fork and the handle bars), the headset (the bearings) and also the fork. Make sure your fork's diameter, if it's a 1 1/8 inch, 1 1/4 inch or 1 inch. If it's a one inch, you may have problems, if it's either of the other two, 1 1/8 ist he most common right now, while you can get an adaptor to adjust your headtube's (the hole in the front of the frame for the the fork) diameter to 1 1/8 inch. It will cost over 120 US altogehter, I m pretty sure. Fork=80 USD. Stem=4, Bearings=25. +Shipping. And maybe taxes :(! And you can barely get generic ones now so you'll have to get to get quality parts. :P Hope this helps. Private Message me if you need more help or private message someone like danka24 or KleinMp99.

thank you sooo much for your indepth answer. thanks soo much! i now noticed that the outer gear in the front nearest to the right side pedal has some gears missing due to wear and tear. so is it possible to just replace that gear alone?
rui

You mean the teeth are missing? Then you can go get another chian ring, I BELIEVE. Again, try to message more experts like KleinMp99 or danka24. IF they are missing and you can't replace them, well, don't ride the 3rd gear, instead go to the second in the front and the 7th (smallest) in the back and see how fast you can go.

And if you were to replace parts, I would personally, save up quite a bit, for a good and sturdy, simple and stupid (its a SAYING) new bike. Like a specialized hardrock. Transfer all the other accesories (like racks and bags) over to your new bike and get your rockhopper to retire. I think it has lived its life to the fullest. Otherwise...RIDE ON!

As for the chain, you would get one for a 7 speed. You go by the number of cogs on the rear and not the total number of gears.

:beer:

If your rockhopper is an old, steel bike with ridgid forks, then hang onto it. They make excellent utility/commuting bikes, much better than modern suspension MTBs.
Not so long ago, everyone rode ridgid bikes off-road. It will make you into a better rider.
I dont think it is cost-effective to do major upgrades on this bike, but keep it well maintained.
parktools.com have an excellent guide to bike maintenance.