Rockhopper pro V Bopardman pro

RandG

Both these bikes have came up around my area and I'm tempted. Though looking for thoughts and opinions from those who may know better.

Rockhopper is an 09 pro which on the face of things looks pretty well looked after.

Secondly, there is a Boardman Pro 2010, which the guy says is brand new, unused !

Think by the looks of the kit the boardman has better gear on it, but is looking likely to be a couple of hundred pounds dearer.

Anyone care to point me down the correct road ?

cooldad

Price, spec, pics.
ESP is weak tonight.

RandG

Hopper blurb

Rock Shox Recon 100mm air shocks, no leaks, scars on tubes.
Shimano Hollowtech Deore XT 9 speed triple front, DMR V8 pedals, front hub Tank Lights 32 hole cartridge bearings onto double butted black spokes with Mavic 321 disc rim (handbuilt wheel no play in bearings), rear wheel Shimano hub 32 hole (new bearings 6 months ago) laced with black plain gauge spokes to a Mavic 317 disc rim, both wearing Continental Race King 2.2, no tears, lots of tread.
Avid Juicy 5, 160mm rotors front and rear, bled every year, just did for this sale, lots of life in pads, no sticky pistons.
Cane Creek headset with new bearings 6 months ago, 90mm reach stem, spesh bars, saddle and post, quick release on seat clamp, neoprene chainstay protector and a chain saver ring to stop chain falling into frame at bottom bracket, bottle cage.

Boardman blurb

Boardman Pro Hardtail, 18" Medium, 27 speed, Rock shox Recon 130mm Fully adjustable and lockout Forks, Ritchey Pro wheels, Complete Ritchey & Sram X9 Componants, Avid Hydraulic Brakes with Avid HS1 200mm front and 180mm rear Rotors.

Hopper circa £250
Boardman circa £450

bartimaeus

A Rockhopper with XT (is it XT front and rear?) for £250 - that's a bargain buy in my book.

If you come across another in Extra Small let me know as I am looking for one.

paulneenan76

Sounds like the hopper has had a few upgrades which is nice if in good nick. Personally, I'd go Boardman. Lovely tubing, light, upgrade-able, ritchey finising kit, and sounds like it had an easier life - although £200 saving is not to be sniffed at.

Shame you can't sit on them to benchmark.

The Rookie

I'd be careful of the 'hopper, what year is it, are the cranks HT2 or Octalink hollowtech, shame despite all the improvements it still has the shonky spesh bars and post! The right hopper for that price is good, the wrong is bad value.

RandG

2009 hopper the chap says, owned it for four years, just upgraded to a newer bike. That's the info I have. Oh and it does have an xt rear mech.

paulneenan76

RandG wrote:

2009 hopper the chap says, owned it for four years, just upgraded to a newer bike. That's the info I have. Oh and it does have an xt rear mech.

Makes me think the Boardman would be better in the long run than the Spesh whichll be a bit long in the tooth!

Also check the classifieds for complete bikes on here - someone was selling two Carrera Furys which would also be worth consideration. But as I said, Boardman Pro if it was my choice.

The Rookie

2009 isn't long in the tooth, my Carrera is 2006!

Still haven't answered which crankset it is......if it's HT2 with an XT rear mech of latest or last gen it's a good buy as long as the forks are good, are they air or coil, silver (silver stanchions), gold (guess what colour stanchions) or XC (Burlier but good) Recon's? 'Recon' is pretty meaningless as a statement.

I guess at least with the Boardman the spec is better defined!

LJ.

The Boardman hasn't got the original Reba forks on it. They go for less money than that with the Reba forks on ebay. Get the rockhopper it's a better deal

RandG

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/speci ... 1004432564

LJ.

That looks decent. The Boardman is not even a good deal so I don't know what the debate is about

RandG

Octa cranks.


I should clarify, either of these bikes is going to be a second/winter bike for me, so may be that might sway folks opinion on choice ??

Shylock

The major difference apart from quality is the suspension, if it is only for XC then the 100mm on the Spez is fine but if you want more travel then it must be the Boardman.

But for £250 that Spez looks good...

The Rookie

Recon Gold solo air - worth about £70 on their own, I'd definately say that Spesh was worth the money.

Personally I'd bin the Avids and get XT's I did and sold the Avids for £5 more than I bought the XT's (M775) for!

chez_m356

Shylock wrote:

The major difference apart from quality is the suspension, if it is only for XC then the 100mm on the Spez is fine but if you want more travel then it must be the Boardman.

er.. doesn't the 2010 boardman pro have 100mm travel also

apreading

RandG wrote:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/specialized-rockhopper-pro-19-hardtail-size-large-perfect--no-faults-aberdour-fife/1004432564

Thats not the 2009 frame - see http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec016016

That ad is for an older bike.

He says that he has had it for 4 years, but doesnt say he bought it new 4 years ago...

Shylock

chez_m356 wrote:

Shylock wrote:

The major difference apart from quality is the suspension, if it is only for XC then the 100mm on the Spez is fine but if you want more travel then it must be the Boardman.

er.. doesn't the 2010 boardman pro have 100mm travel also

I read it as having 130mm, unless I am reading the wrong.

How much would the Spesh frames changed in that time period?

bartimaeus

apreading wrote:

That ad is for an older bike.

Looks like 2006

RandG

On balance, the hopper won. It's a second/winter bike. It was closer, it was £200 cheaper, for me, that will do.

bartimaeus

Good choice. Now you must resist the urge to upgrade it.