So contemplating an investment for fun. I have a 95 Specialized Rockhopper A1 Comp with new tires, chain, cassette and seat and have the chance to purchase a good condition 1998 Specialized Rockhopper Fs for $75-100.

The 98 has:
ame: 19" Specialized Rockhopper (Ritchey Nitanium)
Fork: Specialized Direct Drive

Headset: 1 1/8" threadless Ritchey Logic
Stem: 1 1/8" X-Tasy High Cover (105mm ext, 35mm rise)
Handlebar: Specialized aluminium

Brakes: Dia-Compe VC757
Brake Levers: Dia-Compe DP7

Shifters: Grip Shift SRT-600
Front Derailleur: Shimano Alivio
Rear Derailleur: Shimano STX-RC
Cassette: 8-speed, 11-32
Cranks: Specialized Strong Arm Expert
Chainrings: 22/32/42

Rims: DRC MT19
Hubs: Ritchey
Front Tyre: Specialized Traction Control 26x1.95
Rear Tyre: Specialized Traction Master 26x1.95

I'm not sure if it would be worth building one bike out of the two and upgrading the stem, and handle bars or save the cash and move on.

Anyone have any success with these?

I'll vote yes on this. I kinda regret passing up a late 90's steel Rockhopper like this for $120. And that's more than I'd usually pay for a mountain bike.

From the CL ad:

Buy it.

Here is my 95 in grey and the CL listing for the 98. I feel that not much would need to be upgraded on the 98 except for the handle bars and stem. Maybe consider going SS with it.

https://ibb.co/k9yp0Q
https://ibb.co/g0eU0Q
https://ibb.co/hBiNLQ

I do like the frame but am just wanting to make sure the bike can perform decently. I've been taking it on rides up to 30miles so asking for opinions and thoughts.

Dunno where you are, but here, there are so few good bikes/deals on CL that if a good one shows up, you gotta pounce. If I took time to poll bikeforums I'd never get anything.

Pic assist:





Spotted some things immediately that might be a deal-breaker. Cheap suspension fork from Ballistic. I had never heard of them before, but they seem to be department store level. There's a recall for one of their models here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2002/cp...and-roadmaster. The front rim is 36 hole and the rear is 32. This has a quill stem. All these things point to some front end crash, fixed with cruddy replacements. Who knows what else has been swapped. The pics are pretty dark and blurry. I can no longer recommend buying this.

This is also a larger frame than your A-1. Maybe stick with what you have for now.

Thanks for checking out the photos. I've had some concerns from the start about the CL listing as the bike didn't look 100% correct for the year. Glad to dodge a $100 problem. I appreciate the help!
Now...back to the drawing board.

hello, i have the same specialized rockhopper FS a1 comp i just want to know whta size of seat post you have and Front derailleur, i lost my FD and i dont know what size of the clamp. My seatpost is 30.9 and i saw some post that they have same seat post but they used 31.8 fd clamp. Is 31.8 will fit?

[MENTION=536028]vinstark[/MENTION] - My '97 measures 32.23 with paint. It will likely fit a 31.8 clamp.
Here is mine in commuter form
Truck with packw on Flickr

It has a shorter stem, 8 speed block, Avid levers, and Cane Creek HS. The rest is stock.
The head set was swapped to be able to buy a crown race to put on the suspension fork purchased over 10 years later.
The levers were replaced as upgrades and to accommodate the Avid 7 disk brake on the fork.
Consequently, I can swap forks in about 15 min.
Since commuting by bike is no longer an option due to time to cover 30 miles, it is now in the trail configuration. Need to take a picture with the tires mentioned above as they are original.
RockHopper_ Sprung_2012_018 on Flickr

This bike has about 4000 miles on it.