Spesh's new 2012 Rockhopper range...

adrenalinemunki

Noticed that the new 2012 models are starting to filter through... what do people reckon to the new tact they have taken? They've lost the top model (no more pro) and apart from the entry model have gone all 29er...

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBC ... rly+Launch

Personally I'm pretty much over the moon that I got a cracking deal on a late-season 2011 model...

supersonic

The UK versions are usually differently specced.

benpinnick

I doubt thats the whole range. Probably released them early as either - the old ones sold out too soon (the 26er), or there was a hole in the range (i.e. no 29ers). Expect more models mid Oct.

RevellRider

The 2012 Specialized range is launched today. The entry level Rockhopper has dropped in price, but also been downgraded in spec. You now get Acera and Alivio spec drivetrain, Suntor forks and Tektro brakes for £600. The Comp is pretty much same as last years Rockhopper except for an upgrade to Elixir 1 brakes (Suntor forks again with Acera/Deore 9 Speed) and a £700 price tag.

The range topping Expert is £800 and gets a Rock Shox XC30 fork, Alivio/SLX 9 speed drivetrain (in short just a SLX rear mech) and Shimano brakes. Then it's a £500 jump to their next 26" hardtail, which is the Stumpy.

swift_wraith

am getting a new 2012 rockhopper frame due to the brake squeal fault. Local LBS is being sent a new frame for them to swap over. Will hopefully sort the problem.

adrenalinemunki

What's that about? My brakes squeal too I figured it was something a service would cure??

swift_wraith

is a problem with a batch of the frames. apparently due to the metals being too light in the bottom bracket/chainstay area. After a short while the back brake makes the frame reverberate and emit an annoying squeal. A lot of people put it down to the avid juicy 3's but my local LBS have, after all sorts of jiggery pokery with the frame including refacing all bosses etc, spoke to the tech staff @ Specialized and someone admitted there was a fault with a batch of frames. They now have no stock of the 2011 frames so am getting a free upgrade to the 2012.

If you're having the same problem then get the local LBS to check the bosses, if it still happens then speak to Specialized

toasty

Seems pretty tragic when the TOP of the line Rockhopper has Suntour forks and an Acera crankset. Good to see the 29er tax is in full effect.

If they do end up doing a straight dollars to pounds conversion it'll be hideous value. You could build up a Scandal or Inbred with better spec for less.

mattv

No, top Rockhopper has rockshox xc30 fork, for £800. The sad thing is, that is the highest spec 26" HT in the range now! My Rockhopper comp should arrive today!

toasty

The one above is $1100, which I'd assume will come out as more than £800 over here. I think they're taking the mick a bit now. Merlin can do a Deore groupset with wheels and brakes for £350, a Recon Gold for £200 and the rest of the finishing kit Specialized make in house.

Given the size of the company and ubdoubtably staggering buying power, I'm baffled how things have got that bad.

On the plus side British companies can compete at last, the On-One range is awesome value compared to that lot.

mattv

I work in a spesh dealership, they are £600 basic, £700 comp and £800 top spec. Carve is the next HT in the range, between £1000 and £1500, all 29er, then stumpy hts start about £2k again all 29er.

toasty

Can't help but feel they don't understand the market over here anymore.

Until very recently you could also have a top end Scandal for the same price as the top end Carve, they're out of stock atm and there is a new frame design coming, I'll be intruiged how the prices compare.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO29SCXT/on-one-scandal-29er-xt-race
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Carve-Pro-29-Mountain-Bike-2012-Hardtail-Race-MTB_47020.htm

Full XT vs mainly Deore
Reba vs Recon Gold
£200/1900g wheelset vs bottom end factory job

Seems bonkers comparing a tiny company to the buying power of one of the biggest bike companies in the world.

mattv

The UK is a relatively small market in the whole company of specialized. They have to manufacture bikes to appeal to the entire world. Also, they see buying trends internationally. They know more about trends and tech than most other people.

toasty

I dont think "cheap components" is a buying trend exactly. I've owned an Enduro, Stumpjumper HT, Pitch Pro, FSR XC and currently commute on a Tricross, the missus has a 2009 Stumpjumper FSR Elite. I just think their current pricing is completely falling apart, I don't know if they're suddenly pretending to be boutique or something.

A £1400 Giant XTC 29er 1 has Fox Floats and Deore/SLX.
£1200 Trek Gary Fisher Paragon has X9/Floats.

Or you could buy Specialized! Want Floats? Get ready to spend £2000.

Even this year, they can't knock out Epics or Stumpjumpers anywhere near the price point of Anthems or Trances. Why they ditched the Pitch I'll also never know.

Their fantastic tech has also lead to expensive wheels, directly comparable to Stans at double the price. Forks and shocks that people will pay money to avoid or replace. Generic imported finishing components with their name on it. The Command Post, behind before it even came out. Their own tech is supposed to be a way of avoiding costs, not a reason to raise it.

mattv

You cannot compare an on one frame to a specialized. The development that has been put into a Rockhopper shows over an on-one, and the warranty is worth a lot too. Lets wait and see what prices the new models from other brands are launched at. Bikes are definitely getting more expensive across the board, but you pay for quality.

adrenalinemunki

Yeah I do think they have dropped a bit of a clanger with the pricing and specs of the new ranges, and going all out for 29ers seems a very strange decision...

I know Spesh is usually quite pricey but I actually got phenomenal VFM with my Comp as I got it for under £600 (rrp of £900) which is a right barry-argain!

(By the time they'd thrown in a few things and we'd haggled it out I reckon my bike cost me around £570)

toasty

mattv wrote:

You cannot compare an on one frame to a specialized. The development that has been put into a Rockhopper shows over an on-one, and the warranty is worth a lot too. Lets wait and see what prices the new models from other brands are launched at. Bikes are definitely getting more expensive across the board, but you pay for quality.

Latest Rockhopper wrote:

Fully butted M4 alloy frame for lightweight confidence over the roughest trails

Really? Whats changed on the Specialized? Looks to me it's the same alloy they were pushing 10 years ago. The very latest Rockhopper looks VERY similar to my 2001 Stumpjumper HT frame, both M4, both similar weights, hydroformed toptube, curved downtube, where is this magic you're paying for? No tapered headtubes or axle options the other brands offer. In those 10 years they've slackened the head angle by a degree and changed their seat stay design, revolutionary indeed.

The On-One is a 3.5lb frame made in a decent factory, the same place as the Niner frames.

jayson

Theres a very simple solution to the rip off pricing structures, dont buy a specialized bike. Well, you can, just make it a previous years model and you'll get a cracking bike for your money.

I saved £600 on one of my bikes and nearly £700 on the other buying a 2010 model over the 2011 which has essentially the same spec just a different frame colour, really not enough to justify the higher price in my eyes and wallet more importantly.

R+P+K

swift_wraith wrote:

is a problem with a batch of the frames. apparently due to the metals being too light in the bottom bracket/chainstay area. After a short while the back brake makes the frame reverberate and emit an annoying squeal. A lot of people put it down to the avid juicy 3's but my local LBS have, after all sorts of jiggery pokery with the frame including refacing all bosses etc, spoke to the tech staff @ Specialized and someone admitted there was a fault with a batch of frames. They now have no stock of the 2011 frames so am getting a free upgrade to the 2012.

If you're having the same problem then get the local LBS to check the bosses, if it still happens then speak to Specialized

Have you got any other web links referencing this problem? I just got a 2011 RH Comp 29 last week and now I'm worried I'm going to have these problems. I've noticed my back brakes shuddering a bit but I put it down to them just needing to bed in.

supersonic

mattv wrote:

You cannot compare an on one frame to a specialized. The development that has been put into a Rockhopper shows over an on-one, and the warranty is worth a lot too. Lets wait and see what prices the new models from other brands are launched at. Bikes are definitely getting more expensive across the board, but you pay for quality.

Yes you can. The scandal is lighter than a rockhopper frame for a start. Merida make the hopper.

toasty

They're in a few shops now:

http://www.cyclesuk.com/product/Rockhopper_Comp_2012_9122-4117-1
http://www.cyclesuk.com/product/Rockhopper_Expert_2012_9122-3217-1

XC30 is the new Dart? Saying that, the equiv Trek is fairly bad value next year too:

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/trek-6000-disc-item173984.html

At least they've managed to get 3x10 Deore on there, just really the forks they've saved money on. Expecting to see lots more Boardman/Canyon/Carreras/Btwin about next year

adrenalinemunki

Oh ok cool, first time I've seem the new stuff then... obviously completely different stuff for the uk market

Really like that new expert, seems very similar mine though for less RRP but more real world cash since I got a late season deal...

Good stuff

toasty

2011 Comp is far higher spec, even compared to the 2012 Expert. 32mm Recons would be very welcome compared to the new bikes 30mm XC30s, same goes for the groupset, the 2011 is a full rank above through out for £50 less.

They're even stopped putting folding tyres on the Comp, must save them a few pence.

I hope the economy sorts itself out quick, mountain biking is becoming less and less accessible. Only ~4 years ago a bike like that would have been £300.

Eranu

I hope the economy sorts itself out quick, mountain biking is becoming less and less accessible. Only ~4 years ago a bike like that would have been £300.

I don't think it stops it being accessible, people will just ride cheaper bikes or not change their current ride. I would say the vast majority of people I see out are riding sub-600 hardtails anyway.

I agree with about value though and those new rockhoppers do not give any..

benpinnick

Toasty wrote:

2011 Comp is far higher spec, even compared to the 2012 Expert. 32mm Recons would be very welcome compared to the new bikes 30mm XC30s, same goes for the groupset, the 2011 is a full rank above through out for £50 less.

They're even stopped putting folding tyres on the Comp, must save them a few pence.

I hope the economy sorts itself out quick, mountain biking is becoming less and less accessible. Only ~4 years ago a bike like that would have been £300.

I cant help feeling were all paying for the bike companies to tool up and split their buying power for the sake of 29ers. I hope this fad dies a death so we can stop paying for the few people that want them

swift_wraith

R+P+K wrote:

swift_wraith wrote:

is a problem with a batch of the frames. apparently due to the metals being too light in the bottom bracket/chainstay area. After a short while the back brake makes the frame reverberate and emit an annoying squeal. A lot of people put it down to the avid juicy 3's but my local LBS have, after all sorts of jiggery pokery with the frame including refacing all bosses etc, spoke to the tech staff @ Specialized and someone admitted there was a fault with a batch of frames. They now have no stock of the 2011 frames so am getting a free upgrade to the 2012.

If you're having the same problem then get the local LBS to check the bosses, if it still happens then speak to Specialized

Have you got any other web links referencing this problem? I just got a 2011 RH Comp 29 last week and now I'm worried I'm going to have these problems. I've noticed my back brakes shuddering a bit but I put it down to them just needing to bed in.

This is a video of the problem in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoVrDeiMS1E

BUT, seeing as you have the 29" frame you should be o,k and probably the brakes bedding in as you said, as its something thats happening with the 26" frame. No actual proof its a known problem but my mate who works in North West MTB has been speaking to the Specialized techs who told him what i originally quoted.

supersonic

The XC28 replaces the Dart, the XC32 replaces the basic Toras, and the XC30 is a new budget fork. WIth the Reocn Silver too being a budget fork. Why they need a new 30mm stanchioned fork is beyond me.

Most of the specs on sub 1k bikes from the big names are pretty dire this year. Then you get the occasional diamond in the pack, like this:

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/125323.html

The Spiderman

Year on year we are seeing downgraded specs and higher prices.

We must be at double the cost now if you compared a 2008 Rockhopper with a comparatively specced 2012 one.

Judging by the number of Specialized sale bikes I see I think people are beginning to kick back and not buy them.

As much as I love Giant they are becoming guilty of milking it too.Think it has become a little too easy to keep trotting out the excahnge rate/rising material costs line but its got to stop somewhere as £1000 entry level bikes are going to stop a lot of people taking up cycling.

As said above,I think we`re going to be seeing more and more Boardmans as people wise up and become less snobbish about value brands.

The likes of Rose,Ghost Cube and Canyon and the German brands will get a nice foothold in the UK market based on value too.

Still hopefully the extra competition may slow the upward price trend. :roll:

R+P+K

swift_wraith wrote:

R+P+K wrote:

swift_wraith wrote:

is a problem with a batch of the frames. apparently due to the metals being too light in the bottom bracket/chainstay area. After a short while the back brake makes the frame reverberate and emit an annoying squeal. A lot of people put it down to the avid juicy 3's but my local LBS have, after all sorts of jiggery pokery with the frame including refacing all bosses etc, spoke to the tech staff @ Specialized and someone admitted there was a fault with a batch of frames. They now have no stock of the 2011 frames so am getting a free upgrade to the 2012.

If you're having the same problem then get the local LBS to check the bosses, if it still happens then speak to Specialized

Have you got any other web links referencing this problem? I just got a 2011 RH Comp 29 last week and now I'm worried I'm going to have these problems. I've noticed my back brakes shuddering a bit but I put it down to them just needing to bed in.

This is a video of the problem in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoVrDeiMS1E

BUT, seeing as you have the 29" frame you should be o,k and probably the brakes bedding in as you said, as its something thats happening with the 26" frame. No actual proof its a known problem but my mate who works in North West MTB has been speaking to the Specialized techs who told him what i originally quoted.

Yeah I saw that video after a bit of Googling. That's not what I have. I just get a shuddering sound but since I have only done one ride so far, I'll put it down to the pads bedding in and getting used to stopping my not inconsiderable bulk

rpetrie007

From what I can see, the comp 2012 is £700 and the 2011 is £750. Which is the best buy? Is the spec of the 2012 worse than the 2011 and if so, how dramatic is the difference. Which would you buy given the choice?

I apologise for my ignorance. I have an old Y-framed rockhopper that I've had for 10 or so years. Love it to pieces but think it may be time to move on. Please offer some advice to a guy that needs to join the 21st century.

supersonic

The 2011 is the better specced.