bluenote157

So I came across this bike with the intent that i'm going to throw on some moustache bars and some friction shifter bar ends to convert it to a tourer.

What can you guys tell me about this year rockhopper? Any good? Worth converting it to a loaded touring/city bike?
All I know about it is that it has that strange u-brake near the bb.

Agent 9

I saw a few Rockhoppers used for touring around here, you can use a site specific google search like this https://www.google.com/#hl=en&safe=of...w=1280&bih=911

I would expect to swap the saddle, tires and tubes, brake pads and maybe the brake/ shifter cables; do a drivetrain overhaul [unbolt every piece and clean them with a degreaser, and oil/ grease any moving parts, the chain might need replacing as well, and replace the rims/ wheels if the braking track is concave]; then take any parts that have bearings like the headset, bottom bracket, wheels and freehub body and take them apart to check their condition and grease or replace them as necessary.
If it was going to be used for a decent amount of miles it would be best to do that all at minimum, otherwise you are setting yourself up for trouble when out and about.

As long as you have a decent bike that is in good condition then it can be your commuting/ touring bike, just set it up so you are comfortable riding it around, and just ride. I am in the process of rebuilding my K2 hardtail into a rigid 26" fender clad, dirt drop handle bar rig, with front and rear racks plus a frame bag [homemade] and fork mounted water bottles; It is not a fancy touring specific bike but I'm comfortable riding it and once its all set up it will be very usable.

djb

my 98 works great as an all rounder that I commute with, tour a bit too. It is however an alu frame so dont know how it compares to the 88 geometry wise etc. Mine is stable with a loaded rear and a barbag and no issues with heel strike (but I dont have big feet and who knows the chainstay length on the 88)

bradtx

bluenote157, Perhaps because so many Rockhoppers were produced, they are popular for touring conversions. If the bike fits, is in good condition and you follow Agent 9's advice there aren't likely to be many stumbling blocks from conversion to touring.

The U-Brake was a short lived production item, possibly due to the advent of the linear pull brake. They braked well, but were just in a dirty environment. If you're going to mount fenders there maybe an issue fitting them, but I'm pretty sure someone on this forum has a work-around. Chainstay length has been mentioned and will be shorter than those on a dedicated expedition level touring bike, but generally just with a large pannier and a big foot combination, but as always, there's a work-around.

Brad