What bars are you running? I've got the same slingshot stem on my 89 Stumpy Comp & I love the bmx vibe on this sweet hopper. Thanks!

95 rockhopper
13.5 frame
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a0469e3bcd.jpg

:twitchy: Yes you should have kept it and disagree with the too sunny thing, looks full on classy beast mode from here. ;)

1995 as found on Facebook Marketplace. $75 for bike and a Thule 4-bike carry rack.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5b72f998e.jpeg
And after some modifications. Replaced the stem to reduce the reach. Free new groupset, FD, and chain courtesy of Shimano crank recall. Schwalbe Land Cruiser tires that run smooth on pavement and give me the option of exploring gravel roads and two tracks.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6bb8a7bb4.jpeg

Here's mine. 1993 Rockhopper Expert.
All original except for the tires, grips, XTR SPDs, and full carbon saddle :D
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...447bc5d817.jpg

I picked up an 86 Rockhopper for $20 the other day, with the Deer Head components and everything. Couldn't believe they stocked nutted axles (not QR) on that thing, but apparently they did. This bike is missing only the seat and seat post (which makes me think they were stolen, as the seat post is QR, but not the wheels, Ugh). Does anyone know what the stock seat and seat post was on the 86, and what diameter? It looks like they used SR Laprade for the seat post in 85 and Avocet Touring for the seat in 85 (85 catalog is available online, but I cant find the 86). I would like to see if I can restore to original, but maybe I will just put a comfy seat on and call it good. Thanks
I will post pics to this thread when I get to 10 posts.

Yup a lot of mtb's of that era were still nutted.
This is the closest catalog I found. Retrobike UK always has some good info:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2...atalogue+1985/

IME mtb’s fit best with quite a bit of seatpost showing…if the pic shows the bike as you rode it, I would suggest trying a smaller frame.

Good advice, but the bike was the right size, don't remember why the seat is slammed in pic? but it wasn't ridden like that. I am riding the same size/brand frame (with a lot more seatpost showing), with different cockpit, and it is very comfortable. This was early on for me before I learned not to take pics in the sun, put the seat at the right height, position cranks intentionally & have stems and tire labels aligned. Pretty sure I would have happy on that bike with a different stem.

They used solid axles for strength. The move to hollow/QR axles roughly coincided with the advent of the cassette/freehub era, which relocated the drive-side bearings further outboard. Come to think of it, the solid axle / cassette wheel I'm working on presently is probably the only such combination I've come across.

Thanks for the explanation. Come to think of it, the specialized hubs do look and spin unusually nice for a nearly 40 year old bike. I just think my experience with road bikes makes me think "nutted axle = junk", not to mention highly inconvenient. You learn something new every day.

I just brought this one owner 1988 Rockhopper Comp home. Once cleaned it’s going to look great. The paint and decals are in really good shape.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9af0a6eed.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1787bfcb8.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0b6662028.jpeg

That will clean up very nicely! It's rare to find any of the 80's Specialized MTBs where the decals aren't totally trashed so that's a really nice find. Beginning in 1990 I believe they started using better, thinner (and revised) graphics that were clear coated and they seem to hold up much better. Also rare to find one where the paint on the chainstay hasn't been eaten down to the metal from chainslap.

Still Hoppin'
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b5d3b5be82.jpg

A few gratuitous pics of my '89 and '91 Rockhopper Comps. I've posted then elsewhere but not in this thread.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ba1b521646.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2cd0e98a96.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...740cbc30c7.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...224ff25c53.jpg

The 88 Rockhopper Comp cleaned up nice.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...653236c00.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a412fcaab.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9136470be.jpeg

Looks great!

Thanks! Yes it does. It's a keeper. Makes me want to find my old Walkman and dig out some hair metal cassettes and listen while I ride...

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b2495f1035.jpg
I don't have any old Hoppers just yet but I enjoy seeing them. Here is my 2022 (21 maybe?) Rockhopper 29 with some careful mods. Losing the cheap spring fork was about a 5 pound improvement. The gold wheels I assembled for aesthetic purposes.

Ok, so here is my (I think) 1996 rockhopper. This was an impulse facebook purchase. All original except for the saddle. I liked the vintage vibes with the bit more modern flairs like the 1-1/8" threadless set up and v-brakes. I have a shorter stem on the way and some bars with some rise. I want to get some quieter and smoother rolling tires. I love gum walls but I think black would look better on this one. Maybe some silver or accent colored cables. Any thoughts or ideas?https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c9f142f4a.jpeg

I like !

Maxxis DTH 2.15 is one good option - available in tan wall, dark tan wall, black wall. All would look great on this bike. ( note: regular tan wall versions are a challenge to find)

Nice clean find! Braided silver cable housing maybe? I have some on a bike from Jagwire.

I agree with the others; Maxxis DTHs and braided silver housing would be perfect for this beautiful bike. Man, what a score! Congrats!

Thanks! I have the braided cable set ready to install and some Billy Bonkers black-walls on the way. Been playing around with stems and bars. I have been toying with the idea of new forks. Surly troll forks would give me a longer steer tube for shorter reach and higher stack, plus loads of braze on mounts for disc or rim brakes, racks, bottle cages, etc.

Local REI Bike Mechanic pulled one of these I think for $75 in the last year off of CL.

In all my years of bike digging I have never found a vintage Specialized MB. I missed on a beautiful tan frame with brown lettering one 12 years ago. Pissed me off. $25.