Specialized Hardrock Pro Disc?

[911p]

Thoughts on this bike? I can get the wheels professionally sprayed black FOC, so it will look something like below. Link to the details page here. Link to a BikeRadar review here.



I'm seriously considering it on my £600 budget, after riding a mates bottom-spec Hardrock and loving it, this was naturally the first thing to look at. Does anybody have any recommendations on any other MTB I should seriously consider on a £600 budget? The bike must come from Evans (massive pain but our R2W scheme is through them).

Thanks in advance, and apologies for another 'what bike' thread.

[anonymous-user]

i had a 06 or 07 hardrock pro and it was a lot of fun, very heavy (~30lbs for a 17"!)which was noticeable when we were slogging up the hills at cwmcarn but, and its a massive but, it was absolutely bombproof. although there were far from top spec components they were more than up for the likes of me, a ham fisted monkey with the off road finesse akin to a fat boy on sports day to charge around for the day without failing. cant recommend it enough for the money.

[Turbo Harry]

pablo said:

but, and its a massive but

[Brew]

I see that you live in Kent so would advise you get down to Cycles UK who are currently offering up to 20% off 2011 Specialized bikes. I know that Evans will do a price match. With the discount you can upgrade to a Rockhopper which is much lighter and has front suspension lock out. I ended up with a Rockhopper for c£560!

[Gazzab]

as mentioned above its a heavy bike and not a patch on a rockhopper. But if you never ride anything else you wont know what you are missing :-)

[anonymous-user]

I have one of those (in black) as an insurance replacement after old bike was pinched. Pretty decent bike for the price, I understand a lot of bike hire companies use them as they do the job in an unfussy fashion. Standard tyres are not great for offroad stuff...
I would have chosed Carrera Fury or Boardman over the Specialized, but I was limited to a certain stockist so couldn't...

[anonymous-user]

Turbo Harry said:

they make the rocking world go round.....

[Allblackdup]

I've got the 2010 version and its a great bike. Very pleased with it.

[911p]

Brew said:

I see that you live in Kent so would advise you get down to Cycles UK who are currently offering up to 20% off 2011 Specialized bikes. I know that Evans will do a price match. With the discount you can upgrade to a Rockhopper which is much lighter and has front suspension lock out. I ended up with a Rockhopper for c£560!

£560! Is this only in store? Not sure how I could get Evans to price match something which isn't online...

[nammynake]

I own a 2005 Hardrock, and it is indeed bomb proof. Only changed the pads and tyres in many hundreds of miles. However for sheer value for money I would take a serious look ath the Yellowstone range from Canyon. I own a Nerve XC and can confirm they make quality bikes for the money.

[anonymous-user]

The Hardrock has lockout too....:-

Fork: SR Suntour SF11-XCR-DS-26-LO-SP, 80mm, 1 piece alloy lower, 30mm steel stanchions, hydraulic damping with mic-tuned spike valve & lock-out

[911p]

Ok I phoned Evans and they won't price match something which isn't online. So my question is, if I'm getting about 30% off, is the Rockhopper worth stretching my budget an extra £70 for?

[y2blade]

I have a Hardrock Pro Disc too it is a great entry level bike imho..not as heavy as some seem to make it out to be

I'm very happy with mine I use it for all sorts of riding

[Brew]

911p said:

Ok I phoned Evans and they won't price match something which isn't online. So my question is, if I'm getting about 30% off, is the Rockhopper worth stretching my budget an extra £70 for?

If you phone Cycles UK I know for a fact that they will give you a discount code you can use online (offered me 10% - although the store beat that with 20%) - surely Evans can't ignore that?

[alfabadass]

I have a hardrock dis 2011.

I like it a lot and it fits like a glove! I would go for the best you can so just spend the extra £70! I wish I had and gone for a sport or pro instead!

[911p]

alfabadass said:

I have a hardrock dis 2011.

I like it a lot and it fits like a glove! I would go for the best you can so just spend the extra £70! I wish I had and gone for a sport or pro instead!

That's exactly how I described my mates 17" Hardrock, fits like a glove!