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Beautiful day to ride a bike!

Watch Later
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20 degrees C, no wind, let the others pass me as fast as they want. A glass of Italian white at home, but another detour before that.
 
PXL_20220725_171252864.jpg
vbrad26
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STANDY STANDY
Ok guys

it’s time to update the mountain bike.

So it’s a Specialized 2021 or 2022

https://www.specialized.com/au/en/compare?pc=175112&pc=199585


So question is there $300 a better bike on the 2022 over the 2021. (I really can only see hydraulic brakes)

There are a handful of little things, but mechanical vs. hydro being the biggest difference.
I have only ridden one mountain bike with mechanical disc brakes and it was like an on/off switch. I was always locking them up.
With hydraulic, there is better feel, and just generally all around better performance. But it comes at a cost in terms of expense, and maintenance.
But for me, those are negligible.
So with that alone, my vote would be spring for the hydro discs, you'll be happy you did.
Other than that it looks like the next biggest difference is that the 2022 does not have a front derailleur. But with the larger rear cassette, I don't think you'd miss it. Plus, it will give you more clearance.
And then of course there are the components themselves. I have never heard of microSHIFT, but that means nothing, other than that I do not have an opinion of them.
But it is also worth noting that the 2022 with the microSHIFT is a 9 speed vs the 8 speed of the Shimano on the 2021, so again that will help with the lack of the front derailleur.

TL;DR?

Buy the 2022.
 
STANDY
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@vbrad26 less gears has sold me I think. Hell I would buy a flip flop if I could. (Locally is as flat as a pancake)
 
Turpinr
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I haven't rode any of my bikes for a few years since dog walking took over.
I didn't know Specialized were still making Rockhoppers, not that there's anything wrong with them.
Re the brakes, I've never ridden on a MTB with mechanical brakes either and the only poorish hydraulic ones were Hayes which had no modulation at all.
I noticed it has a square taper bottom brackets which is a surprise and I though they were all external bearings or press fit these days with the external being much better imo.
The price of the 8 speed version isn't much more expensive than the one I got my missus 16 years ago and bike prices rocketed up during lockdown, in the UK anyway
Edited:
 
MRC
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I have one tourer (Airnimal) with cable actuated disks and one MTB (Boardman) with hydraulic disks. The hydraulics have much superior feel and modulation, but have a tendency to drag (very badly at the moment, must get it into the shop). If I ever go to N+1 I'll be looking for hydraulic brakes.

N currently equals 11 ::facepalm1::
 
Turpinr
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MRC MRC
I have one tourer (Airnimal) with cable actuated disks and one MTB (Boardman) with hydraulic disks. The hydraulics have much superior feel and modulation, but have a tendency to drag (very badly at the moment, must get it into the shop). If I ever go to N+1 I'll be looking for hydraulic brakes.

N currently equals 11 ::facepalm1::
Are the hydraulics Shimano, SRAM (Avid) or another make ??
The best brakes I've had were Hope which never needed bleeding over about 10 years of use but even Shimano Deore's have been good and easy to bleed.
I wasn't very keen on the Avids though.
 
Wetworks
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Honestly, neither is worth your money. The mechanical brakes are a hard no nowadays, surprised they are even offered as an option the last few years. The Advent isn't a bad drivetrain, but the step up to the Elite at 1500 is worth it across the board. The base Deore from Shimano is excellent, the brakes are head and shoulders above both bikes you are considering, and Judy is a solid, if uninspiring, fork. If you're already considering a bike at 1125, the 1500 isn't a reach IMO

https://www.specialized.com/au/en/rockhopper-elite-29/p/199580?color=319800-199580
 
Turpinr
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Wetworks Wetworks
Honestly, neither is worth your money. The mechanical brakes are a hard no nowadays, surprised they are even offered as an option the last few years. The Advent isn't a bad drivetrain, but the step up to the Elite at 1500 is worth it across the board. The base Deore from Shimano is excellent, the brakes are head and shoulders above both bikes you are considering, and Judy is a solid, if uninspiring, fork. If you're already considering a bike at 1125, the 1500 isn't a reach IMO

https://www.specialized.com/au/en/rockhopper-elite-29/p/199580?color=319800-199580
I've been happy with Deore drivetrains on my bikes and rate them better than XT although the one set of XTR shifters and cassette I've got are head and shoulders above the rest.
As I said the Deore brakes I've used have been brilliant even with 160mm rotors.
 
BPD
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Turpinr Turpinr
I've been happy with Deore drivetrains on my bikes and rate them better than XT although the one set of XTR shifters and cassette I've got are head and shoulders above the rest.
As I said the Deore brakes I've used have been brilliant even with 160mm rotors.
I have been mountain biking for more than 30 years and I am absolutely loyal to Shimano when it comes to components. Shimano disc brakes, IMO, are hands down the best! And I have had Avids, SRAM etc. I currently have SRAM discs on the gravel and man, I’m glad they are just on the gravel and not on the mountain. I have full XTs and besides changing out the disc pads, I haven’t done a single thing to them for the last seven years 😀
 
Turpinr
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BPD BPD
I have been mountain biking for more than 30 years and I am absolutely loyal to Shimano when it comes to components. Shimano disc brakes, IMO, are hands down the best! And I have had Avids, SRAM etc. I currently have SRAM discs on the gravel and man, I’m glad they are just on the gravel and not on the mountain. I have full XTs and besides changing out the disc pads, I haven’t done a single thing to them for the last seven years 😀
The last bike I got had Avid Juicy's on when I bought it (second hand) so I oicked them off and put Deore on.
Apart from having to burn the pads in they're fit and forget more or less.
The Avids had to go because they wouldn't retract properly even though the pads were ok.
My Giant Anthem has a mix of SLX and Deore on and apart from the SLX having reach adjust there's no difference.

When I changed the pads first time the braking was rubbish.
I had a look at the rotors and "resin pads only" was etched on the them so I bought new rotors instead as then I could swap from Sintered to Kevlar or Organic
 
Fritz
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I retired last year and started working as a part time mechanic at a local bike shop. An unexpected benefit has been the “junk” bikes left for scrap at the shop because people deem them unworthy of repair or don’t want to try to find compatible parts for their older drivelines.

so this past summer I acquired a free 1980ish Bottecchia road bike, heavily polluted with vintage Campagnolo bits and a Panasonic built 1977 Centurion Pro Tour, a really good quality touring bike.

both needed a bit of love and I’ve turned the Italian racer into a crazed city bike, but both ride like a dream and draw a lot of comments. Especially the Centurion with all that lovely alloy!

8BBA5657-101A-45D8-8C2D-AE67B8D77EC1.jpeg 9F69A4CB-B99B-40F2-BB86-310AE2B8219B.jpeg
Edited:
 
vbrad26
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I loved working at a bike shop.
When I first moved to NYC, the job I had lined up fell through last minute so I was able to score a job at a LBS in my neighborhood.
It was awesome. I enjoyed it so much that I continued to work there even after I had lined up another job.
I always enjoyed seeing all the stuff that would come through. A lot of interesting stuff and I learned so much.
 
STANDY
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Went with a Trek

402D955F-107F-4820-A545-28101A24ED4D.jpeg
 
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