Fuggedabout what Little Darwin said! :)
Having just been in NYC in April, that Rockhopper qualifies as pristine by local standards! If your friend is letting it go for a portrait of Ulysses Grant, buy it.

I didn't notice it was NYC... Sometimes I forget to look, and I know that markets differ. Even though I am only 2 hours from NYC, the CL bikes here are a lot cheaper.

haha. What is the market rate for portraits of Ulysses Grant?

$50

I may have one of the oldest ones here I have already posted it on MTN/Drop/Conversions.
http://m2.i.pbase.com/g9/21/513721/2...2.p5maFhtq.jpg

I believe it’s an 85 I acquired it in 87 the owner said he bought it two years prior. I did find this 85 Specialized catalog that shows the Rockhopper. It is specked. differently than mine if the original owner had made any upgrades I think he would have told me so to sweeten the buy.

12 | Specialized Catalogue 1985 | Retrobike


I have the Deore derailleurs and shifters but BR-AT 50 brakeset and Shimano 14-30 Freewheel I see this specs. Suntour for the derailleurs and freewheel.

Here’s a shot of what’s left of the serial number for you mystery buffs

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=382375

I was going to say no more than a Double Andy.

Mine is blue, built 70,000 bikes before yours, and matches the catalog specs. The oldest ones I've seen have all been blue. Not sure if the blue is a coincidence or not.

Just picked one up off CL exactly like this, bull moose bars and everything. Took it to the LBS for a full tune up (they're way faster than me and I've discovered that by the time I buy replacement parts, it's not that much more expensive either) and the co-owner suggested that I donate it to a local bicycle museum since it was such a nice example in original condition. Certainly made me rethink my plans about that drop bar conversion.

I'll post pics as soon as I get it back this week.

can't wait to see it!

Here is a Rockhopper Comp that I picked up at Goodwill. I got it all cleaned up, lubricated and tuned and then flipped it.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=418539

From the date stamp G0585: Built by Giant of Taiwan in May of 1985. The serial number matches the Giant format for that year. There is one earlier Rockhopper at the start of this thread.

Here it is, in all of its pie plate / wheel reflector glory

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419444
Paid $130, which isn't a screaming deal, but not too bad either considering the condition.

Old Suntour Mountech RD:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419447

It was listed on CL as a Specialized "Hybrid" bike, but as soon as I saw the bullmoose bars I knew better.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419445
Paint's in pretty good shape other than some chips and spots where the cable routing wore through the paint.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419446
I've since covered those spots with gaffer's tape, may do the clear nail polish thing later, but then I'll still have the same problems with cable rub. Welds aren't the nicest, but I really like the geometry of the bike; it feels much quicker than my similar vintage Mongoose ATB, though the Mongoose feels like it has a faster top speed (that may be due to gearing/tires more than anything). I'm going to replace those terrible plastic grips (which are likely original) with some cheap foam Ritchey grips, and replace the tires with some budget-friendly Kendas since they're starting to dry rot, but other than that I think I'll keep it as is. I initially picked it up for a drop bar conversion, but I'm pretty enamored with the bullmoose bars. I think this will be a fun bike. :)

You did a fantastic job. I had those Suntour thumb shifters on my '85 Sekai Bigfoot and now they're on my Motobecane. I really like these shifters. They look and behave very simply and, for me, there is beauty in simplicity. Your rear Derailleur looks like it might be a Suntour Cycline Mark II or an ARX. Either way should shift wonderfully. Clear fingernail polish works or clear enamel from a craft or hobby store.

Thanks! I really didn't do much to it at all, didn't have to. The RD is definitely Mountech, you can't really read the worn lettering in the photo, but it definitely says "Mountech". Good tip on clear enamel, I'll have to look into that.

Goodwill find, but not a rockhopper. Instead, it is a "streetstomper," which is quite the name..

http://i.imgur.com/BQpCeX1.jpg

I like that color scheme. How's the Street Stomoer different from some of the other Specialized mountain type bikes? Is it like a hybrid?

I think it was a low-end hybrid produced around 1987. There is very little info out there. Someone on this board did a drop bar conversion with the on-one midge rando bars and it looks great- i'd like to get it there some day.

Here we go:

I've used clear nail polish as a thread locker for years. I just covered the screening on my Suntour LeTech and AR derailleurs- since those do seem to get abraded off pretty quickly.

While it hasn't clouded up or destroyed the ink on the screen- I haven't actually used either derailleur, so I don't know how well it'll protect that screen.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...psd66afbd8.jpg

My '85 RockHopper looked like this one. Maybe it was an '86? Anyway, I found one to replace it with a few years ago.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419610


Also had the next year model. A yellow one with chainstay U brake.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419641


Have one of these now also. Which is just like the yellow RH, only Dinucci Green.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419642


And one of these, with 24" wheels but in gray/silver, waiting to be cleaned up/built up.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=419645


Had a Magenta/DGreen SJ and a Green/white RockCombo that same decade. Was working at a multi sport shop (cycle, ski, hike, camp, canoe/kayak, fly fishing) that sold Specs, Treks, C'Dales, Centurions (have an '85 Ironman) and Euro frames. Most fun job I ever had.

I didn't hear mention of the fact that the RockHopper took the place of the StumpJumper Sport model in the lineup in 1985, so price-wise seems to have actually been a re-designed StumpJumper Sport, with extensive yearly updating (Unicrown fork, Specialized crankset, Saturae rims and a return to the lugless <<mostly TIG>> construction of the very first StumpJumpers) that occurred going into 1985.

My first MTB was a 1984 StumpJumper Sport that was lugged and had Mountech Derailers and Shimano MC70 brakes.

I bought an all-original 1986 RockHopper the other day, a red one (just like ofgit's, above) with deer-head mech's and Shimano MC70 brakes. I wanted it for the parts that I could use to build up my 1981 StumpJumper frame, 95th one ever built, but now have decided that this RockHopper needs to remain stone-stock as it is in very good condition overall. I payed $70 for it at Salvation Army. It sold for 30% off of $100 because of the color of the price tag.

I never find those kinda deals!

Nice find! That's my only gripe about the '85 RockHopper, it doesn't have the Deore components. The Suntour works fine, but 80's Deore is great.
And thanks for the info on where the RockHopper fell in the Specialized lineup, pretty interesting.

One Owner 1985 Rockhopper
 

18 speed.
All original components, except tires & tubes.
Frame: Double Butted CrMo Custom Gauge, Made In Taiwan.
Derailleurs: Shimano Deore.
Crank wheel decal: Computer Designed Drive System Biopace, Shimano crank arms.
Quick release on hubs & seat post "Specialized".
Saddle: Vetta Italy.
Wheels: Saturae, 26 X 1.5 Japan.
Pedals: G-5000 MKS.
Shifters: Shimano Deore Light Action SIS (system indexed shifting).
Brake levers & calipers: Shimano.

The bike has been ridden a lot, many touched-up paint chips.
It is a favorite, which is why it is still kept in the house.
These were built when Shimano & Specialized were establishing their excellent reputations.
They are dream bikes in excellence & quality.
And, most important, rideability. Sweet ride.

That must be a couple of years later than '85, given that the 86 model still had the non-indexed, original Deore "deer head" parts with seatstay-mounted rear brakes.

The StumpJumper from around that same year seemed to have what some would consider "the worst of everything", including Suntour indexing, BioPace chainrings, delicate 6sp freewheel axle and the under-chainstay-mounted U-brakes, but the frame geometry was at least finally getting modernized.

Around 1990 was when nearly everything seemed to be in order with Shimano MTB componentry, even the Exage gruppos were excellent but perhaps for the early "push-push" Rapid-Fire shifting, and only a bad suspension fork might present itself to mess things up.