I used to have a 2009 Trek 7.3FX but sold it after a while because I wasn't riding it. I recently picked up this Rockhopper off CL for $150 (may have overpaid?). I need help identifying the model year. I'm thinking 1995 or 1996 but not sure. See the below link.

Rockhopper

I'd guess 1996. (https://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...r+A1&Type=bike)

The crank isn't what bikepedia says it should be, but everything else seems plausible.

Thanks for the input. Anything worth upgrading here? I'm thinking of maybe converting to a hybird with slicks and keeping it rigid. The teeth on the front cranks are a little bent and the brakes are only just adequate. Any suggestions?

The Crank is fine. The teeth do not wear down, but warp into what you could think of as "shark fins". If your crank teeth have fins, the crank is bad and has to be replaced. And no, you cannot just replace the chain rings. But it's fine.

Cantilever brakes are very finicky, but after you have set them correctly, then they work fine. Make sure the pads will touch the rim perfectly on contact and also sand flat the pad surface. Otherwise you'd like to replace the pads. I got a good deal for 4 pads at nashbar for $5. I highly stress how the pads hit the rim, because if they are off by a small bit, then they will not work as well and squeal.

Tear down the bike, oil-grease-lube everything, assemble correctly and clean up. You can add slicks, but make sure you get a thin 26" tires. Grips, saddle, pedals, and you'd might want to look into SS the bike if you'd only go around the town with it.

What's worth upgrading depends on how much you'll ride it.

If you want to keep the brakes you have, you may want to upgrade to some Kool Stop pads. You'd need new levers if you got V-brakes, so that's probably about a $65 upgrade, just in parts, to get decent brakes and levers.

The other thing I'd definitely change out is the tires. You're probably not going to do the kind of riding on that bike that would require knobby tires like it has. A set of semi-slick tires like 26x1.5 Panaracer Pasela TG's will be much more efficient on pavement. Or, if you want a really plush ride, get Schwalbe Big Apples.

I have an '89 Rockhopper that I upgraded to a 9-speed drivetrain, V-brakes and new wheels. I'm pretty happy with the results, but unless you're going to ride it a lot it probably isn't worth sinking that kind of money into it. Upgrades like that don't really improve resale value as much as you'd wish they would.

I recently moved to an area that is a little more bike friendly I feel. My girlfriend wanted to get a bike to ride so I wanted one to go with her but wanted something nicer than a Walmart bike. Now that I have that I'm feeling the spirit quite a bit again. I stopped riding before because some of my route to work required riding on roads with heavy tractor/trailer traffic and it got a little scary!

Looks like a '96.

I bought a Hardrock back in '96, and a clearance Stumpjumper in January '97. That Rockhopper looks very familiar.

Ah, good times back then.