Rockhopper for Touring?
09-22-08, 10:26 AM
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Rockhopper for Touring?
I would like to know if the Specialized Rochopper is a nice bike for touring. I know that doesn't have a touring frame, is not steel, and has front suspension, but I don't want to make only nice roads...I want to go to some mountain tracks too, that's way the on/off front suspension, maybe it's nice! I don't pretend to put panniers on it, but to use an Extrawheel trailer, so it doesn't have to be steel frame (I think) to support all the things. I'm planning to begin in Europe first and then go to Asia. I want to change the tires too and the handlebar, of course. It has Deore Lx and no disc brakes. Do you think it's a good bike to do it, or you think that a normal touring bike, it's better?
Thanks a lot!
Thanks a lot!
09-22-08, 11:17 AM
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Is this a bike you already have or are you planning to buy one?
It is fine as a touring bike. You can fit a luggage rack and full sized panniers without any problems, it wont break. It is a well made bike and the gearing and brakes are good. The suspension fork cannot easily take panniers but it is possible to tour with just rear luggage.
With suspension forks, coil springs are usually more reliable on a tour than air springs but people use both.
It is fine as a touring bike. You can fit a luggage rack and full sized panniers without any problems, it wont break. It is a well made bike and the gearing and brakes are good. The suspension fork cannot easily take panniers but it is possible to tour with just rear luggage.
With suspension forks, coil springs are usually more reliable on a tour than air springs but people use both.
09-23-08, 08:05 AM
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I have a Rockhopper and a Surly LHT. If I was going to do the Great Divide Trail, I'd hook my Bob trailer to the Rockhopper and go with that. If I was going to do a mostly road tour with occasional dirt and gravel I'd take the LHT, maybe with some wider tires. (I've got Schwalbe 32's on it now.) If I was going to go to a third-world country I'd probably go with the Rockhopper due to the 26-inch wheels, though I'd do a lot of research before deciding, because I've never toured in a third-world country.
