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-   -   Old Rockhoppers (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/482242-old-rockhoppers.html)

jgedwa 10-06-09 07:10 PM

2 Attachment(s)
I have two Specialized MTBs that see lots of use. One on left is a Stumpy with a modern 1x9 drivetrain and huge Big Apple tires. A real tank and about as much fun as a bike can be. One on left is a heavily modified Rockhopper that has been powdercoated and has a fixed drivetrain. It is a surprisingly sweet ride.

And sorry, I have posted these two photos a million times in various threads.

jim

cudak888 10-06-09 07:22 PM


Originally Posted by bigwoo (Post 8176861)
Here's my 1991 w/ full Suntour X-Press

I love Suntour X-press. Best upright-bar shifting I've ever seen. One single pass of the thumb can shift through the entire cluster. Fantastic!

Take that, ShimaNO.

-Kurt

cs1 10-07-09 03:04 AM


Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 9810876)
I love Suntour X-press. Best upright-bar shifting I've ever seen. One single pass of the thumb can shift through the entire cluster. Fantastic!

Take that, ShimaNO.

-Kurt

Kurt you can do that with any 6 or 7 sp SL-M62 thumb shifter. I've got 3 bikes with them now.

Karloman 03-10-10 09:53 AM

OK it's time to dust this thread, because the steel Rockhopper deserves it !

Here's another pic of my 1994 "roadsterised" RH.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/...f2eb848d_b.jpg

And here's a pic of my mint 1997 Rockhopper, the last of the steel RHs.
I love that silver color !

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/...0a86e0b1_b.jpg

It features a Nitanium frame (Ritchey specified steel with traces of titanium and niobium), Ritchey wheels, XT rear der, STX-RC front der and shifters, Dia Compe brakes and headset, Spesh cranks.
Since the picture I've put on a less dork saddle, a 17deg Procraft stem with a Truvativ Stylo 45mm handlebar. One last thing I want to change is the tires, maybe for fat fast rolling ones from Continental or Schwalbe. The idea is to turn it into a 50% town, 50% country fun machine.

I haven't weighted it yet but it feels like it's in the 29lbs range, and if I'm not mistaken heavier than my 1994, surprisingly.
But anyway it has a brilliant geometry and is super very fun to ride !

SJX426 03-10-10 10:21 AM

2 Attachment(s)
OK now there is a late 90's I will post pics of my 97 purchased new. Used it as a commuter and put over 700 miles on it in 2008 after 30 years of no riding.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=140975
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=140974

jhefner 03-10-10 11:30 AM


Originally Posted by knzn (Post 7770918)
Here is mine. According you your chart, and mine being a RockHopper "Comp," it should be a 1988 model and DiNucci Green or White/Blue. Mine is a slate grey though. Hmm.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...010072-1-1.jpg

What caught my attention when I saw this picture was not the bike or the kickstand, but the Cannondale water bottle. I am impressed that you managed to keep it clean for this long; my was trash several years ago.

I have heard that this design was discontinued because trail riders had problems with the bottle falling off. Has this been a problem for you? I recall it happening a few times on the road on my Viscount.

I am afraid to see what the clamp did to the paint on the frame; so I recently bought another bottle that was close in size and some velcro strips with adhesive on the back, stuck them to the bottle, and I am back in business.

-James

The Golden Boy 03-10-10 12:33 PM

Oh goody!

An excuse to post my 1984 Stumjumper Sport!!!

I bought it from the original owner in January- he gave me a copy of the receipt from the bike store, dated in Dec of 84.

When I got it, it had a Bontrager rear rim, LX rear hub, XT RD, AG Tech FD, Mongoose pedals with a replacement gel saddle. The frame and paint are in nice shape- and it's a great bike and a great rider.

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/904/10jan10012.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3993/10jan10020.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/341/10jan10013.jpg

knzn 03-11-10 06:23 AM


Originally Posted by jhefner (Post 10506578)
What caught my attention when I saw this picture was not the bike or the kickstand, but the Cannondale water bottle. I am impressed that you managed to keep it clean for this long; my was trash several years ago.

I have heard that this design was discontinued because trail riders had problems with the bottle falling off. Has this been a problem for you?

-James

I got the bike as is off of craigs list a few years ago. It had barely been ridden and garaged the whole time by the original owner. The water bottle is still clean and in tact because I don't use it! lol-----I thought it was kind of a collector thing so I take it off when I ride and drink out of a camelback.

Maddox 03-11-10 04:15 PM

Nice - love the lugs and the fork crown on the Stumpy, but I have to say...it was really hard to keep my eyes on the bike when you've got SEVERAL thousand dollars worth of quality British amplification sitting behind it. :twitchy:

I'll trade you an old Stumpjumper for your Vox AC30, or maybe for the Orange head. :innocent:

Nice rig. I have a somewhat-old Stumpy I picked up at a Garage sale for $10, currently sitting waiting to be rebuilt. This thread is really making me wonder why I haven't built it up...

The Golden Boy 03-11-10 08:32 PM


Originally Posted by Maddox (Post 10512908)
Nice - love the lugs and the fork crown on the Stumpy, but I have to say...it was really hard to keep my eyes on the bike when you've got SEVERAL thousand dollars worth of quality British amplification sitting behind it. :twitchy:

I'll trade you an old Stumpjumper for your Vox AC30, or maybe for the Orange head. :innocent:

Nice rig. I have a somewhat-old Stumpy I picked up at a Garage sale for $10, currently sitting waiting to be rebuilt. This thread is really making me wonder why I haven't built it up...

Thanks!!!

:D

The Marshall on the right and the bass rig on the left get most of the use. I'm pretty much "just" a bass player these days.

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/6237/18jan10002.jpg

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/6681/18jan10004.jpg


<edit>

Notice in that first picture- on the black Marshall cab- that's a bag of ear plugs- needed when you crank up the Orange. 80w of Orange through a 4x12 will lay a hurtin' on your ears without hearing protection...

rnzinser 08-04-10 08:23 PM


Originally Posted by Karloman (Post 10506099)
OK it's time to dust this thread, because the steel Rockhopper deserves it !

Here's another pic of my 1994 "roadsterised" RH.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/...f2eb848d_b.jpg

I am just getting back into cycling since I was a kid, and decided to go the used route first. Picked up what looks to be an identical Specialized RockHopper (minus the roadsterization), the 1994 model. Its got all Shimano goodies, and the original (though in great shape) Specialized tires. The seat has been replaced and is pretty nice, there is some rust and scratches, so I might look into getting some touch up paint.

Going to take it to my local bike shop tomorrow or the next day to have it tuned up! I am really excited to work on this bike, I feel like from what people in this thread have said, its a good solid bike to work with. I took it for the first official ride and really enjoyed the ride, it was surprisingly fast on a paved trail, and it feels sturdy.

It looks like these are V-brakes (excuse my ignorance), I have read that the side-pull breaks are best, is this something worth considering? The pads still have 1/4" left on the grooves.

palu 08-04-10 09:16 PM


Originally Posted by rnzinser (Post 11234568)
I am just getting back into cycling since I was a kid, and decided to go the used route first. Picked up what looks to be an identical Specialized RockHopper (minus the roadsterization), the 1994 model. Its got all Shimano goodies, and the original (though in great shape) Specialized tires. The seat has been replaced and is pretty nice, there is some rust and scratches, so I might look into getting some touch up paint.

Going to take it to my local bike shop tomorrow or the next day to have it tuned up! I am really excited to work on this bike, I feel like from what people in this thread have said, its a good solid bike to work with. I took it for the first official ride and really enjoyed the ride, it was surprisingly fast on a paved trail, and it feels sturdy.

It looks like these are V-brakes (excuse my ignorance), I have read that the side-pull breaks are best, is this something worth considering? The pads still have 1/4" left on the grooves.

No, those are canti brakes. They'll work just fine. Personally, I'd just keep the original equipment on there. Yes, the V-Brakes (aka side-pull brakes) are more powerful, and discs are even more powerful than that, but people rode and raced canti's for years. Still do today (cyclocross). Just get some good pads (kool stop) and you're good to go.

I actually just picked up a 93 Rockhopper Sport. I'm trying to decide whether I should give her a good tune up or de-gear it and go singlespeed/fixed.

rnzinser 08-04-10 09:57 PM

Ah thanks for the correction, when I have it tuned up I will mention that brand of brake pads. Nice to know people are still rolling in the vintage gear =)

cs1 12-25-11 10:33 AM

Stumbled on this one again while doing a search. My contribution to the old Rockhoppers.

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/img_1812.jpg

oddjob2 03-03-13 05:25 PM

BOTTOM BRACKET

Moving parts from a medium to a large Rockhopper Comp. Sold the medium, so does anyone have any idea of BB cartridge length? Year of bike is probably early-mid 90s. No suspension, TIG steel, dark green with magenta lettering. Looks like the photo above in post #62.

Thank you!

Chris_in_Miami 03-03-13 10:37 PM

I believe the spindle on my 1990 Comp is 126.5mm, and the BB shell is 73mm wide. I installed a Deore 7EL spindle in the bike just a few months ago when Loosescrews had them on their closeout list.

Seems like a good time for a pic :)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R...303_160235.jpg

Drummerboy1975 03-04-13 12:04 PM

My 1992 purple to blue fade, with a bunch of upgrades. New Bontrager saddle, FSA seat post, Salsa bars, Vintage ergo grips, STX thumb shifter/brake combo, upgraded to LX rear derailour, SPD clipless pedals. It's steal and heavy, but a great riding bike.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/...228_164803.jpg

danec99 03-04-13 01:31 PM

Oh, 1991 Rockhopper Comp. Just off the stand. A $40 grab off of CL - stripped, cleaned and purpled. It's a 1X9 with SRAM X7. Added a pair of Velociraptors.
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...9/IMG_4279.jpg
In the wild, still having seatpost issues, never got on well with QR seatpost binders - and the seat is a bit upturned. Would have liked it to be a size bigger but in a real nice ride at 24 lbs.
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...DF723457CF.jpg

SJX426 03-04-13 02:30 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Updated with Marathon SL. Added a Avid bb7 I found on CL this week.
[IMG]http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...sFrontside.jpg[/IMG]

onespeedbiker 03-04-13 05:48 PM

2 Attachment(s)
When I joined the Santa Cruz Police Department in 1991 I was soon put in charge of the bicycle patrol program. At the time the department had bought some low end gas pipe Bridgestones, but we also had our pick of recovered and unclaimed bikes. I immediately glaumed on to a 1988 Rockhopper identical to the one pictured. Even after we picked up some Superlights years later, I left them for the younger officers and rode the bike until I retired. This post makes me wonder if they still have the bike today; I'll have to check.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=302470

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=302469

Drummerboy1975 03-04-13 07:05 PM


Originally Posted by SJX426 (Post 15343696)
Updated with Marathon SL. Added a Avid bb7 I found on CL this week.
[IMG]http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...sFrontside.jpg[/IMG]

Did you add that fork? If so, you really through your geometry way off.

SJX426 03-05-13 07:53 AM

I did, once my weight is on it it goes to the normal geometry. I was worried about that initially, but with air pressure adjustment, I can get it back to normal and still have a good ride.

Grand Bois 03-05-13 07:56 AM


Originally Posted by Karloman (Post 10506099)
And here's a pic of my mint 1997 Rockhopper, the last of the steel RHs.
I love that silver color !

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/...0a86e0b1_b.jpg

It features a Nitanium frame (Ritchey specified steel with traces of titanium and niobium), Ritchey wheels, XT rear der, STX-RC front der and shifters, Dia Compe brakes and headset, Spesh cranks.
Since the picture I've put on a less dork saddle, a 17deg Procraft stem with a Truvativ Stylo 45mm handlebar. One last thing I want to change is the tires, maybe for fat fast rolling ones from Continental or Schwalbe. The idea is to turn it into a 50% town, 50% country fun machine.

I haven't weighted it yet but it feels like it's in the 29lbs range, and if I'm not mistaken heavier than my 1994, surprisingly.
But anyway it has a brilliant geometry and is super very fun to ride !

The "dork" saddle was the first thing that caught my eye and I like it.

Maybe I'm a dork.

The Golden Boy 03-05-13 08:05 AM


Originally Posted by SJX426 (Post 15343696)
Updated with Marathon SL. Added a Avid bb7 I found on CL this week.
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...sFrontside.jpg

I like that downtube logo on there.

Little Darwin 05-23-14 08:55 AM

The chain is an easy fix, and if the seat adjustment is ok for you, then it is only academic. :) However, value on that bike because of condition is not very much. At 1.5 miles, you can always walk in a pinch, but if you are looking for dependability, I would be concerned about whether the BB and headset may be partly corroded due to the fact that the chain and rear cluster look as if they have been exposed to the elements, and the seat post could indicate the same... Possibly not stored real well.

I would personally keep looking.


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