Specialized Hardrock as a commuter?
 

Edit: The guy that I am buying the bike from sent me a couple pictures.

Personally it looks like it would be a good commuter bike, but I want everyone's opinion. It's a 2009 model that was stored in his air conditioned house in pristine condition and it looks and rides like new. I haven't been able to test ride it yet because I just called the guy, but we settled on $250 and I will pick it up monday. It has no suspension other than shocks in the front. If I buy it, are slicks and smaller tires worth it, or should I save the money since they are basically brand new? I might buy bar ends though.

Oh! If you ride one as your commuter, feel free to post pics!

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...1946/photo.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...946/photo1.jpg

I wouldn't be so concerned with smaller tires but something that is smoother if it still has knobbies on it. Knobbies make for a rough ride and just isn't fun but they work. I think a guy your size should look at Schwalbe Big Apples. That tire would ride very nice and give you some cushion to absorb some of the road shock in the rear since you have the shock in the front. I myself would lock the front fork and go with the Big Apples if I was commuting on that bike.

As for bar ends my suggestion are the Ergon grips with bar ends. You get a better grip for your hands with the added bonus of the bar end.

Very impressed with your stats in your signature line

How do those tires fare against flats?

My wife commutes every day on a Hard Rock. It's a great bike. We put on some Vittoria Randonneur Cross tires (26 x 1.75) and they've been great.

How long is your commute?

16 miles round trip.

We have a couple commuting hardtail MTBs in the family, fun bikes to commute on.

The Continental TravelCOntacts are nice tire if you want to have the MTB tread on the outside, slick down the middle http://www.conti-online.com/generato...ontact_en.html

Maybe a set of riser bars or a riser stem if you want to ride more upright. Done.

Reminds me a bit of this thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...light=hardrock

It will do very well as a commuter. Just make sure it fits you right.

Mine's been a great commuter. I've added and upgraded parts over the 7 years I've had mine, and I think it's going to outlive me.

I had a 90s Fuji Discovery which was a hardtail/fork, 3x7 gearing that I rode for about 5 years. Very similar bike. W/t aforementioned 1.75x26 flat resistant street tires it will make an excellent commuter. Just lock out the front shock/suspension system as it'll slow you down on asphalt. 1.50x26 will allow for less rolling resistance, but may be a little more prone to flats. Depends on what you get. Specialized Armadillos? Great. Kenda Kwest? Not so much. My rig had a Delta Universal Mega-Rack and Jandd Saddlebags. The combo worked really well. Carried all the necessary tubes, toolage, etc. in a Jandd medium-sized under saddle bag. My rt was 20 miles, so very similar. Snap it up! :thumb:

Added two pictures.

http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/f...The_Brit-1.jpg

I know its not commuting but this guy landed in San Fransisco and is touring all the way to DC on his. I took this picture in KY.

don't buy it
 

Yes it will work. But, I wouldn't recommend it for your commute. I would want something that rolls a little faster for a 16 mile commute. Assuming your route is relatively flat you don't really need that triple chainring up front and you are paying for a front shock that will only take away from your pedaling efficiency. Does the bike have rack and fender mounts? Those are nice features to have on a commuter. What do you need bar ends for?

You might be better off looking for an older steel rigid Hardrock. Maybe something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Specialized-...#ht_500wt_1413

Wouldn't be my first choice, but some slick 1.5" or so tires will make the commute more pleasant. Once you've been commuting on that for a while, you'll be a beast if/when you switch to a road bike.

I have a Rockhopper of that year and it's got a pretty long top tube. Also, I'd emphatically agree with the decision to upgrade to 1.5" slicks like a Serfas Drifter as I have one and holy crap does my bike fly compared to before.

I commute 25km RT on a hardtail with knobbies. I'll switch to smooth tires when I wear the knobbies out (speculation is around 5000 km or so based on how they're wearing.) I actually like it and the increased resistance is good for training, but it will feel better when I finally switch.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=267100

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/bik/3201172871.html

My other choice is a mirage sport. I got the guy down to $250 for it. New chain, sprocket, bottom bracket, cables, seat and bar tape. They also swapped the cromo fork for carbon and added two water bottle cages.