That left riders to determine on their own which size was best for them amid a bloated product line with somewhat redundant and confusing options. Merging the two lines allowed the brand to cut unnecessary costs and pass those savings to riders in the form of a revamped frame design and superior components selection.
Updated geometry brings the bike in line with the modern trend in off-road frame design. The reach on our XL test bike was mm, longer than the previous generation but now falling squarely in the middle of the spectrum.
Stack height also strikes a nice middle ground. At mm, our XL is a centimeter higher than the race-oriented Marlin 7 and 3mm lower than the Giant. That leaves riders with the ability to tailor their position on the Rockhopper Expert to their fit and preferences.
The frame also got a stylistic makeover in the form of more aggressive tube shapes. Look fast, feel fast, go fast, right? On the functional side, internal shift cable and brake line routing keeps the bike looking clean and sleek, and the frame is compatible with internally routed dropper posts. Carried forward from the previous generation are rear rack mounts, a kickstand mount, and a quick-release seat post clamp.
And the findings led it to settle on producing nine sizes of the Rockhopper with overlapping wheel and frame sizes to give as many riders as possible a wide selection of frame and wheel combinations. Size XXS rolls on inch wheels, bridging the gap between kids bikes with inch wheels and adult bikes with XS, S, and M have Alex moved to Morzine in the French Alps at 19 to pursue a career as a bike bum and clocked up an enormous amount of riding.
Riding those famous tracks day in, day out for eight years, he broke more bikes than he can remember. Alex then moved back to the UK and put his vast knowledge of mountain biking to good use by landing a job working for MBUK magazine as features editor.
He's one of BikeRadar's lead testers, knows how to push bikes and products to the limit, and wants to search out the equipment that represents the best value for money. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission, but this never influences our opinion. Latest deals. Our review Perfectly adequate for blue-graded trails, but its geometry limits its potential to help you progress.
Pros: Fast-rolling tyres with plenty of grip for trail centres; solid performance for beginner riders. Skip to view product specifications. The internally routed cables tended to rattle when descending.
The Shimano brake levers encouraged two finger braking. I loved the Bridge saddle. Spesh has fitted an own-brand stem. Find photos and details here…. Sure is. One Rockhopper, with versatility and performance for all. Of course, this might not be our first recommendation for tackling the Oregon Timber Trail, but for families looking to pick up multiple bikes this summer, the Rockhopper lineup is certainly worth checking out.
Our pick? Not a bad place to start when discovering the joys of trail riding and bikepacking, especially for newer or younger riders. A jump up to the Rockhopper Expert gets you a proper air-fork, a worthwhile upgrade if the budget allows it.
Head over to Specialized.
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