Have an opportunity for a 2003 Rockhopper FSR...
04-16-06, 03:27 AM
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Have an opportunity for a 2003 Rockhopper FSR...
Hello everyone!
I went from a Sears bike to a Trek 820 with a Rock Shox Indy C shock up front. Wow, that was a huge jump! I loved my bike and took it everywhere. I use my bike as a commuter and for fun in the coulees around here.
Well, some jerk(s) decided to cut my lock and take my bicycle, so I have been without wheels since mid August of 2005. I have been looking around at the LBS here, learning TONS about bicycles... my hav ethings changed in 6 or so years!
Long story short, I am very interested in Specialized's Stumpjumper line, but I cannot afford it
I am consequwntly very interested in the FSR line. My local bike store, however, has a 2003 Rockhopper FSR in stock in my frame size. The price is below my upper limit (The '06 entry FSR bike is above my limit). However, a few things concern me.
1) The link for the rear suspension doesn't look as beefy as it is on the new FSRs
2) V-brakes, but it is Disc compatible
3) Manitou shock: Looks like Marzocci and Fox are the forks to use these days, but I know little about these things
4) Is the rear shock any good?
I am wondering if this bicycle is a great deal that I can upgrade later, or if it would just be better to keep saving for the '06 FSR. The price difference is $750, but after changing the front fork, adding disc brakes, changing the rear linkage (if my concern is a real one), maybe I'd be better off going with the '06!
I don't ride that aggressively, and I won't be dropping off of houses, if you know what I mean. My Trek 820 seemed liek a great biek to me, and it was a steel framed bike with a shock that had a single elastomer in it. I'm sure the 2003 Rockhopper would be a huge upgrade from my old Trek, but I don't want to get the '03 bike just because the price is right if the components don't offer the best bang for the buck. Also, is the '03 frame upgrade-worthy? The guy at my local bike store told me the rear shock can be changed, as long as it is a 6" shock. I am just learning about these things, and I don't know if that means it is no problem, or that 6" shocks WERE standard but will be hard to find in the near future. Things have changed so much when I bought my Trek in 1998, I'd hate to save some money to end up with a somehwat aging ride to begin with.
Thanks for listening to my concerns! I appreciate any help you can give.
I went from a Sears bike to a Trek 820 with a Rock Shox Indy C shock up front. Wow, that was a huge jump! I loved my bike and took it everywhere. I use my bike as a commuter and for fun in the coulees around here.
Well, some jerk(s) decided to cut my lock and take my bicycle, so I have been without wheels since mid August of 2005. I have been looking around at the LBS here, learning TONS about bicycles... my hav ethings changed in 6 or so years!
Long story short, I am very interested in Specialized's Stumpjumper line, but I cannot afford it
I am consequwntly very interested in the FSR line. My local bike store, however, has a 2003 Rockhopper FSR in stock in my frame size. The price is below my upper limit (The '06 entry FSR bike is above my limit). However, a few things concern me.1) The link for the rear suspension doesn't look as beefy as it is on the new FSRs
2) V-brakes, but it is Disc compatible
3) Manitou shock: Looks like Marzocci and Fox are the forks to use these days, but I know little about these things
4) Is the rear shock any good?
I am wondering if this bicycle is a great deal that I can upgrade later, or if it would just be better to keep saving for the '06 FSR. The price difference is $750, but after changing the front fork, adding disc brakes, changing the rear linkage (if my concern is a real one), maybe I'd be better off going with the '06!
I don't ride that aggressively, and I won't be dropping off of houses, if you know what I mean. My Trek 820 seemed liek a great biek to me, and it was a steel framed bike with a shock that had a single elastomer in it. I'm sure the 2003 Rockhopper would be a huge upgrade from my old Trek, but I don't want to get the '03 bike just because the price is right if the components don't offer the best bang for the buck. Also, is the '03 frame upgrade-worthy? The guy at my local bike store told me the rear shock can be changed, as long as it is a 6" shock. I am just learning about these things, and I don't know if that means it is no problem, or that 6" shocks WERE standard but will be hard to find in the near future. Things have changed so much when I bought my Trek in 1998, I'd hate to save some money to end up with a somehwat aging ride to begin with.
Thanks for listening to my concerns! I appreciate any help you can give.
04-16-06, 06:39 AM
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would it be this?
it looks like a nice bike, apparently it's the 2002 Stumpjumper FSR frame... i don't know too much about it, but my friend has a blue Comp Disc and i can tell you it's a pretty sweet ride. You don't necessarily need Disc brakes (as a matter of fact, i regret getting them now... with the money i could have saved i could have got a new front hub and an avid BB7), and i think the brakes on that are actually pretty good.
the link for the rear sus should be OK for cross country (which it is clearly intended for)
the manitou fork has been known to have some problems, but i have ridden my friend's and it's very plush and smooth, reports will varie however.
i know nothing about rear shocks, sorry.
basically i think that it's upgradeable, as long as you're not going to be hucking with it. it's clearly an XC bike that can take a bit of a beating, but that's about it.
it looks like a nice bike, apparently it's the 2002 Stumpjumper FSR frame... i don't know too much about it, but my friend has a blue Comp Disc and i can tell you it's a pretty sweet ride. You don't necessarily need Disc brakes (as a matter of fact, i regret getting them now... with the money i could have saved i could have got a new front hub and an avid BB7), and i think the brakes on that are actually pretty good.
the link for the rear sus should be OK for cross country (which it is clearly intended for)
the manitou fork has been known to have some problems, but i have ridden my friend's and it's very plush and smooth, reports will varie however.
i know nothing about rear shocks, sorry.
basically i think that it's upgradeable, as long as you're not going to be hucking with it. it's clearly an XC bike that can take a bit of a beating, but that's about it.
04-18-06, 12:22 AM
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revmonkey,
thanks for your reply!
That is the bicycle I was looking at, though in blue. I appreciate your insight on this. I also found a newer FSR in a pawn shop in town, complete with a Fox rear shock and a nicer fork, though I am very weary about a bicycle from a pawn shop. Who knows what that bike went through.
I'm sure whatever I get will be better than the old Trek 820 I had, but liek th eguy at the LBS told me, I should still look to get the best I can for my money. Thanks for the help!
thanks for your reply!
That is the bicycle I was looking at, though in blue. I appreciate your insight on this. I also found a newer FSR in a pawn shop in town, complete with a Fox rear shock and a nicer fork, though I am very weary about a bicycle from a pawn shop. Who knows what that bike went through.
I'm sure whatever I get will be better than the old Trek 820 I had, but liek th eguy at the LBS told me, I should still look to get the best I can for my money. Thanks for the help!
