I have an 89 rockhopper comp and an 89 or 90 hardrock and the RHC has a piece welded into the dropouts to make sure the wheel is properly positioned relative to the derailleur and brakes when the wheel is removed and replaced. The HR doesn't. Both are fully rigid. I'd probably look for an 05-10 MTB as they have threadless headsets, suspension fork geometry, disc brake tabs, and are at the bottom of their depreciation curve.