Mountain Biking - OK.. Here's my dilema... HELP ME...

ok.. now i'm in a big dilema now. my lbs just told me that the hardrock sport is for $299 and the rockhopper is $399. the rockhopper seems to have better parts and fork. what should i do???

which one would you choose???
Rockhopper-Dream (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=6013&JServSessionIdroot=76r3rtx8ax.j27002) vs. Hardrock Sport-Dream (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=5970&JServSessionIdroot=76r3rtx8ax.j27002)

please enlighten me... i'm stomped! both of them seem to be good deals. are both frames equal? i'm going to do some trails and small jumps here and there.

:eek: rui

wait until you have more money and get a full suspension bike.

please enlighten me... i'm stomped! both of them seem to be good deals. are both frames equal? i'm going to do some trails and small jumps here and there.

As far as frame quality goes, yes they are equal. As far as components go, the Rockhopper has slightly better components but to be honest, I'm not sure you will notice the difference other than the fact that your wallet is now $100 lighter. Based on those two things, I'd go for the HardRock.

However...

You probably want to have a close look at the geometries. The Rockhopper is set up with a shorter top-tube but longer stem. It also has a shorter headtube and wheelbase. The fork offset is shorter too. This says to me that it's a tighter frame and probably meant for more aggressive riding. You'll want to consider that I think more than anything else. The HardRock's geometry is conducive to a slightly more upright position.

wait until you have more money and get a full suspension bike.

no thanks.. i'm only like hardtails. but thanks for the suggestions.

no thanks.. i'm only like hardtails. but thanks for the suggestions.

then save up for an even better hard tail.

As far as frame quality goes, yes they are equal. As far as components go, the Rockhopper has slightly better components but to be honest, I'm not sure you will notice the difference other than the fact that your wallet is now $100 lighter. Based on those two things, I'd go for the HardRock.

However...

You probably want to have a close look at the geometries. The Rockhopper is set up with a shorter top-tube but longer stem. It also has a shorter headtube and wheelbase. The fork offset is shorter too. This says to me that it's a tighter frame and probably meant for more aggressive riding. You'll want to consider that I think more than anything else. The HardRock's geometry is conducive to a slightly more upright position.

khuon... thanks for the suggestions. humm.. i didn't know the that the more upright geo is meant for aggressive riding. but yeah i'll keep that in mind. now i just have to go convince my wife that the rockhopper will be better choice. hehe

khuon... thanks for the suggestions. humm.. i didn't know the that the more upright geo is meant for aggressive riding. but yeah i'll keep that in mind. now i just have to go convince my wife that the rockhopper will be better choice. hehe

Actually I tend to think of it the opposite way. More upright to me means less aggressive but I guess one has to define "aggressive". Maybe I'm thinking old-school here but when someone says that a bike has a more aggressive geometry, that says "race" which tends to invoke images of lowered positioning. I suppose this was only true when speaking in terms relative to XC.

Actually I tend to think of it the opposite way. More upright to me means less aggressive but I guess one has to define "aggressive". Maybe I'm thinking old-school here but when someone says that a bike has a more aggressive geometry, that says "race" which tends to invoke images of lowered positioning. I suppose this was only true when speaking in terms relative to XC.

humm.. i was thinking about that.. i think the more upright the geo is.. the more easier it is to ride. whereas the more angled geo would be more harder to ride? on my current rockhopper.. it's fairly easy to ride because i think it's more upright.