For those of you wanting to know more about a first hand ride- it’s really good. Breaking is amazing the fork eats up bumps on the trail and it’s the best climbing hardtail I’ve been ridden
We picked up a ‘22 elite 29 for my wife and it’s been great. She is an advanced rider who has been riding for a long time and I wanted to throw in here that it isn’t just a hood beginner bike but can make a great simplistic, affordable bike for an advanced rider too. We were considering getting a 29+ wheel setup for her carbon beargrease and a fork to make it a swift summer whip but she also wanted to get a gravel bike. For the cost of a mid level wheel set we bought the RH Elite. She was surprised how fast it was and it is so quiet. In a world of loud, obnoxious freewheels, having an utterly silent bike is pretty awesome, especially for encountering wildlife in the trail. For gravel grinding the thing is crazy fast too. Yeah it has QR and no boost spacing… but who cares? Can you really feel a difference? Maybe someone can but I can’t. It has brought us back to a more simple era of riding and the relative light weight of this thing and it’s speed makes it pretty fun. It’s fun to do kids with less and after she dusted one of our buddies on his spendy trail bike I had a new appreciation for it. No it wouldn’t handle the roughest stuff with the ease of a full sus trail bike but it also makes more moderate stuff fun and challenging and the extra speed you get on mellow singletrack makes that kind of riding more fun. In a world of ever more slack, heavy, ever more expensive trail bikes… it’s a bit of fresh air honestly. We are going to rig it up for bike packing next summer too. So yeah, for 1k, a fun, fast bike that can grind gravel, rip singletrack, and bike pack… that’s pretty cool. And if it gets beaten to hell, NBD. Definitely a value to that 👍
This is by far the best review on the rockhopper elite 2021. i bought this bike 2 months ago while im deployed in cyprus and its at home waiting for me in the UK. i go home next week and can finally ride it ! i must have watched this bike review about 100 times while deployed. i got the XL version. the only disapointment for me is the not having through axels.... i can live without for the money i paid its a sweet bike.. iv already bought a dropped for it which is waiting for me aswell back home !! thanks for the epic review buddy !!
Thanks for the great review James! Great information, great snapshot of the features of the bike. I used this review (and some of your other reviews) to help me as I narrowed down which hardtail to purchase and recently purchased a Rockhopper Elite 29er!
I own this bike in a 29 xl frame. I'm happy with it as a climbing bike but as a commuter the 10th gear is a little light. It definitely needs a taller front sprocket to give it a little more on the street. The issue is the crawling it will do in the lower gears, lots of pedalling and very little acceleration with a taller front sprocket. As for off road climbs, the gearing is perfect.
I also own an xl which I purchased this month. After riding it the first day I replaced the 30T front ring with a 34 T ring because I didn't like spinning out while going down mild hills. This required a new crankset and bottom bracket. It cost about $150 after the credit the dealer gave me for the "old" parts which he will reuse. This may not be a problem for riders who use their bikes exclusively for trail riding but I use mine most often on tamer trails and bike paths. Also after about 250 miles I have found that I have never used the 2 largest rings in the back; before I changed to the 34T in the front I had no need for the 3 largest rings in the back (the largest ring is a 50 or 51T; a 42T would have been more than enough for me I think which I think may be the official spec). The other major modification I made was to install a 3" riser for the stem/handlebars for a more comfortable ride. I previously rode a hybrid with 42mm wide tires. The new bike hasn't really lowered my average speed much though, going from about 13 or 14 mph to about 12 or 13 mph. If I were doing it again I would probably get a 36T ring in the front, although if my largest rear ring was only 42T I would probably stick with the 34T in front.
@@Korps412 I am 6’5” and have an XL. It fits fine but I did add a 3” handlebar riser. I might have gotten an XXL but it wasn’t available. But even if I had gotten an XXL I would still probably have gotten the riser.
Superb review James I have had the Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29er for 2 months and it is a tank ! Mental in the wet. Value for money Looks Great and is Great
Picking my new rockhopper expert 29“ up today after work. Gonna be fun trying it out 🤘🏻 Had a Trek fuel ex 5 before that but riding almost 100% gravel roads and some light trails I feel that an hardtail will do just great 😊
Beautiful bike packed with quality components. I really like the Rockshox Judy air fork. The quality forks will make trail and singletrack riding much more fun. Will be able to take on any rough urban pothole filled routes as well. Interesting video too.
Wow your sons so lucky! I’m 13 and am legit dreaming of getting this bike lol. I’m asking for money this year to get it. I already have saved up 500$! Hopefully I’m able to get 500 more!
@@matthew5172 good luck Matt, hope you get the cash to buy it. Bike still not arrived and I found out it’s not arriving till February 2021, my sons birthday mid January so will have to be a late birthday pressie, oh he will be 13 in January. Hopefully no stock problems when you order yours. Take care👍
Just picked up my Elite today. Bought it without seeing it in person and I’m so happy that the “gloss wood red” is actually orange. Such a nice color. This is the only review online I’ve seen where it looks even a little orange…but it’s way more orange in person. Swapped out the pedals for some race face Chester’s and went tubeless. I took the day off just for that. Got home and took it for a quick spin around the block before going to the trail and “boom” nasty thunderstorms came through. Can’t wait to ride this thing
I can't wait to get my black 29er. I'm hoping it'll arrive on the 4th of November but it's already been delayed from October, so who knows. Thanks for the review, James.
@@Sternodox The same one I was supposed to collect this month but Evans weren't able to get a hold of it, sadly. I'm now hoping that a local company will be able to send a 2021 Trek X-Calibre my way. Fingers crossed. Looks like you've got a good steed there. Enjoy the trails :-)
Very nice review, thank you! Too bad the supply this year is so difficult, but fingers crossed for next year... I wonder how the Rockhopper Elite would be against a Marlin 8 though. :)
Sport and elite are completely two different bikes the sport is absolutely shit compared to this the elite has way better rims tires 1x drive and air fork , tue sport is ment to be riden on fire roads
Don't know if I'm to late on you're decision but definitely Rockhopper, the Marlin 7 is more geared torwards Xc so the geometry is based for speed and pedalling efficiency, so you will be slightly inclined on it.
Does it have a derailleur hanger? Not sure if I missed that part or not. It's key to avoid bending the frame and limit the damage if you do bang that area. The only thing this thing needs now is some Race Face Chester or One-Up flat pedals ($40-$50) for great foot grip and at some point a value-brand dropper post and it should get years of great use. 28.2 pounds for an aluminum mountain bike is pretty good. My Pivot Trail 429 full-suspension bike comes in at 27 lbs. with the carbon wheels, but costs $8,000 more ,so you are getting a great value.
Called my LBS this morning and asked if they had any Rockhopper Elites in large. They said they had one so I said please hold it. I rushed right over and bought it! Can't believe they had one in stock.
@@Jamesthebikeguy Thanks man! Your video is what spurred me to snag this bike. I had cancer surgery two years ago and was in bed for 7 weeks. Afterwards I was barely able to walk. So I bought a Specialized Roll Sport and started riding that every day. I got up to 40 miles a day and started taking it on mild trails and having a blast! Then I started taking it on gnarlier trails and quickly realized I was going to kill myself if I kept that up. So I bought a proper mountain bike. I'm psyched!
Just keep watching videos and read reviews. You’ll get a feeling of what seems right to you. So far I bought two bikes without touching them first and couldn’t be happier with my choices.
I say choose based on which one has the most modern geometry. That way it will have some of the newest standards and you can easily upgrade it. I think geometry is the biggest factor neither new bikes these days
29 rolls faster but takes longer to hit full speed and break whereas 275s are much easier to monouver through technical and tight trials and can break much faster so it just depends what u want but I personally like 29s more
Don't know if I'm to late for this, but what type of riding are you?. 70% commuting and 30% Mtb Or more mtb than commuting. If you commute alot, X-Caliber will definitely help, since it's designed to go fast and you will feel it in the geometry since you're position is slacker. If you shred on the mountain go for Specialized, since it has a good fork, good gears and can take a beating, it will be perfect for trail riding.
Entry level bike? It's only 1 bike down from the top spec rockhopper expert. Still waiting on delivery of mine but I was kind of hoping it was mid to upper range of hard tail bikes.
Great Review..I found a 2021 XS Rock Hopper Comp 27.5 about 3 months ago for my wife..I see Specialized raised the MSRP $50.00..I'm waiting for the 2021 Roll Elite when is that going to be available?
I was looking at getting the Rockhopper Expert in a medium frame with 27.5 tyres. Im between 5.7ft - 5.8ft tall, but i think the reach on the medium frame may be too short at 425mm. Not sure.
@@Kothas01 Thanks. Ive been looking for ages but can't find a bike to buy in the uk. Seems like all the good ones are impossible to get now and totally sold out. Maybe the shops will stock up through the winter, seeing as how nobody really gonna want to buy one then.
I got mine elite 2 days ago in satin cast black. Love it. Why dont you do a Sport review, that is the only one you did not cover and I think most of people would buy it for example in satin forest green colour.
Hey James love the channel and I am in the market for a new bike in large which I was hoping would have Sram SX drivetrain and a RockShox fork which will also ideally have Shimano or SRAM brakes I was hoping there was a bike that piped to mind for about sub £900 or $1200 ish
Deore drive chain set up is better than scram sx...it does have a rockshox Judy fork which are great for the pricing level. Best bike for money market and I've been mtbing for 20 plus years...Happy days
hey guys...im wondering, i do like this bike but im afraid of the possibility to handle my weight. im 202cm height and cca 115kg. im not sure if there would be no problem with wheels or even fork...do you have any experiences in this kind of matter? thank you very much :)
It's a beginner bike? I had no idea. I thought professionals road hardtails too? Do you have to have a carbon frame for this to be considered a professional bike?
This is a beginner to intermediate bike. But that has to do with geometry, and parts more than anything. Any frame material can be made into a high-end performer and hardtails can be great too
I am a road guy, just picked up one of these. i'm nervous about the 750 handle bars, i will mainly ride tame trails (till i get hooked) would it be crazy to cut them down to 650?
750mm now considered on the medium to narrow side in modern mountain biking. It is a good compromise between stability for more challenging trails and maneuvering for fast windy trails. You'll get used to it and not want to go much narrower from that point forward. If you've ever had your wheel turn completely turn to the right or left and crash, it's because your handlebar were way to narrow. It can happen running into a pothole on pavement or an eroded part of trail so it's better to have that torsion control.
Nice film. Would you choose this, or the Trek X-Caliber 7? Trek is £50.00 more than the Rockhopper Elite in the UK, but does have a few upgrades on this one. Thanks
Hey James ,is the rockhopper elite rim is same size and the wheels only is not the same,but it’s ok to change it with 27.5 wheels,thank you for your respond.
I believe the larger rims smooth out the curbs. The climb by wheel diameter the 29er is going to move a few more inches of tire diameter with same gear as 27.5 but its probably negligible in effort.
How many millions of riders popped their MTB cherry on Rockhopper? Glad to see the Rockhopper tradition going strong. This bike will give 1,000's of hours of trouble free fun.
The 27.5 is a bit easier to handle, it’s a bit lighter, it’s a little bit better for shorter rides. The 29 rolls over thing a little bit better, you feel a bit higher, they are bit better for longer rides. It’s basically based on your personal preference.
Just bought this as my first mountain bike!! Should be ready for pick up in the next few days and I'm pumped!! Any advice as far as taking care of a new bike? Anything I need to buy to make sure she lasts well into the future?!
jamesthebikeguy- why don't you ride the bikes you review so you can give us an insight of the bike? Edit: like this so that jamesthebikeguy can reply to this
I think No one wants their chain to bounce around with the clutch open(as presented) it’s mostly for easier chain removal/maintenance, isn’t it? Thanks 🙏 BB
No tapered head tube on a $1400 CAN is a fail in my book....At least your getting shimano hubs instead of Specialized rebrand Formula hubs. Nice colour though...200 bucks more, gets you a Chisel. Thur axle, 12 speed, better brakes and wheels...and recon fork.
Not a fan of the high end rockhoppers referred to as entry level. To me the low end rockhoppers are entry. I have had rockhoppers for years and love them but I am in no way a beginner.
I guess its all relative. Bike prices start $500ish and go to $10,000ish so while a more advanced rider can ride a lower priced bike that doesnt change that it is still on the "entry level". Best part is even the least expensive bikes are a ton of fun and can be used just about everywhere a super expensive one can be ridden.
@@Jamesthebikeguy I find it very hard to find any hardtails much over 2000 dollars unless they are sworks or some special version they are not common as the shops only stock dual suspension bikes over a certain price point. Anyway your bike video are top notch with great info for a new buyer. you should consider expanding into some reviews.
For those of you wanting to know more about a first hand ride- it’s really good. Breaking is amazing the fork eats up bumps on the trail and it’s the best climbing hardtail I’ve been ridden
Sweet, thanks for your experience
We picked up a ‘22 elite 29 for my wife and it’s been great. She is an advanced rider who has been riding for a long time and I wanted to throw in here that it isn’t just a hood beginner bike but can make a great simplistic, affordable bike for an advanced rider too. We were considering getting a 29+ wheel setup for her carbon beargrease and a fork to make it a swift summer whip but she also wanted to get a gravel bike. For the cost of a mid level wheel set we bought the RH Elite. She was surprised how fast it was and it is so quiet. In a world of loud, obnoxious freewheels, having an utterly silent bike is pretty awesome, especially for encountering wildlife in the trail. For gravel grinding the thing is crazy fast too. Yeah it has QR and no boost spacing… but who cares? Can you really feel a difference? Maybe someone can but I can’t. It has brought us back to a more simple era of riding and the relative light weight of this thing and it’s speed makes it pretty fun. It’s fun to do kids with less and after she dusted one of our buddies on his spendy trail bike I had a new appreciation for it. No it wouldn’t handle the roughest stuff with the ease of a full sus trail bike but it also makes more moderate stuff fun and challenging and the extra speed you get on mellow singletrack makes that kind of riding more fun. In a world of ever more slack, heavy, ever more expensive trail bikes… it’s a bit of fresh air honestly. We are going to rig it up for bike packing next summer too. So yeah, for 1k, a fun, fast bike that can grind gravel, rip singletrack, and bike pack… that’s pretty cool. And if it gets beaten to hell, NBD. Definitely a value to that 👍
And I should add, the ‘22 version with the 11 speed Deore shifts really well. Compliments the bike’s strengths.
This is by far the best review on the rockhopper elite 2021. i bought this bike 2 months ago while im deployed in cyprus and its at home waiting for me in the UK. i go home next week and can finally ride it ! i must have watched this bike review about 100 times while deployed. i got the XL version. the only disapointment for me is the not having through axels.... i can live without for the money i paid its a sweet bike.. iv already bought a dropped for it which is waiting for me aswell back home !! thanks for the epic review buddy !!
Thanks for the kind words and happy riding.
I have the 27.5" version rockhopper elite and I love it. Recently, I converted to tubeless and it rock and rolls so smooth now. Good review!
Yeah I’m getting a 29 tomorrow
Does the elite comes tubuless originaly?
I changed tires over for street to Schwalby Big Apple. Very happy with the roll.
@@ruiseverino7609 no
Thanks for the great review James! Great information, great snapshot of the features of the bike. I used this review (and some of your other reviews) to help me as I narrowed down which hardtail to purchase and recently purchased a Rockhopper Elite 29er!
I own this bike in a 29 xl frame. I'm happy with it as a climbing bike but as a commuter the 10th gear is a little light. It definitely needs a taller front sprocket to give it a little more on the street. The issue is the crawling it will do in the lower gears, lots of pedalling and very little acceleration with a taller front sprocket.
As for off road climbs, the gearing is perfect.
This exactly. Just came From store where they said lots of people end up changing crank because maximium speed is kinda ligth.
I also own an xl which I purchased this month. After riding it the first day I replaced the 30T front ring with a 34 T ring because I didn't like spinning out while going down mild hills. This required a new crankset and bottom bracket. It cost about $150 after the credit the dealer gave me for the "old" parts which he will reuse. This may not be a problem for riders who use their bikes exclusively for trail riding but I use mine most often on tamer trails and bike paths. Also after about 250 miles I have found that I have never used the 2 largest rings in the back; before I changed to the 34T in the front I had no need for the 3 largest rings in the back (the largest ring is a 50 or 51T; a 42T would have been more than enough for me I think which I think may be the official spec). The other major modification I made was to install a 3" riser for the stem/handlebars for a more comfortable ride. I previously rode a hybrid with 42mm wide tires. The new bike hasn't really lowered my average speed much though, going from about 13 or 14 mph to about 12 or 13 mph. If I were doing it again I would probably get a 36T ring in the front, although if my largest rear ring was only 42T I would probably stick with the 34T in front.
@@philiptreuer9088 Outstanding sir!
If I may know ,how tall are You and how the XL frame fits You?
@@Korps412 I am 6’5” and have an XL. It fits fine but I did add a 3” handlebar riser. I might have gotten an XXL but it wasn’t available. But even if I had gotten an XXL I would still probably have gotten the riser.
Superb review James
I have had the Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29er for 2 months and it is a tank !
Mental in the wet.
Value for money
Looks Great and is Great
Awesome, happy riding!
Does it comes tubeless? Or needs to be changed.
Is it heavy like a tank too?
Picking my new rockhopper expert 29“ up today after work. Gonna be fun trying it out 🤘🏻 Had a Trek fuel ex 5 before that but riding almost 100% gravel roads and some light trails I feel that an hardtail will do just great 😊
Have fun!
MSRP listing on BBB is $1029. That seems like a very reasonable price for a sub-30lb bike with the specs and the Judy air fork. Not bad at all.
Beautiful bike packed with quality components. I really like the Rockshox Judy air fork. The quality forks will make trail and singletrack riding much more fun. Will be able to take on any rough urban pothole filled routes as well. Interesting video too.
Couldn't agree more!
It is a tank off-road especially in the wet mud. Get a mudguard on the front.
Pretty fast on the road.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Got one of these on order in Medium, 29er for my boy, Christmas pressie👍 I’ve not even touched it myself, so glad your review was positive James😊👍
Wow your sons so lucky! I’m 13 and am legit dreaming of getting this bike lol. I’m asking for money this year to get it. I already have saved up 500$! Hopefully I’m able to get 500 more!
@@matthew5172 good luck Matt, hope you get the cash to buy it. Bike still not arrived and I found out it’s not arriving till February 2021, my sons birthday mid January so will have to be a late birthday pressie, oh he will be 13 in January. Hopefully no stock problems when you order yours. Take care👍
Just picked up my Elite today. Bought it without seeing it in person and I’m so happy that the “gloss wood red” is actually orange. Such a nice color. This is the only review online I’ve seen where it looks even a little orange…but it’s way more orange in person.
Swapped out the pedals for some race face Chester’s and went tubeless. I took the day off just for that. Got home and took it for a quick spin around the block before going to the trail and “boom” nasty thunderstorms came through. Can’t wait to ride this thing
I can't wait to get my black 29er. I'm hoping it'll arrive on the 4th of November but it's already been delayed from October, so who knows.
Thanks for the review, James.
what size frame did you order mate?
I got the black 29er. Beautiful bike. You're gonna love it!
@@Sternodox The same one I was supposed to collect this month but Evans weren't able to get a hold of it, sadly.
I'm now hoping that a local company will be able to send a 2021 Trek X-Calibre my way.
Fingers crossed.
Looks like you've got a good steed there. Enjoy the trails :-)
Updates now!
That bike is me ! Now if I can only find one.
This one will be my second specialized bike. Nice color.
Really helpful video, thanks. Ordered mine yesterday now have to wait a painful 6 weeks!
Best of luck!
Very nice review, thank you!
Too bad the supply this year is so difficult, but fingers crossed for next year... I wonder how the Rockhopper Elite would be against a Marlin 8 though. :)
I just got the rockhopper sport in xxl, and Holy shit it feels so good for being only 800 usd. Highly recommend.
Lmao
Sport and elite are completely two different bikes the sport is absolutely shit compared to this the elite has way better rims tires 1x drive and air fork , tue sport is ment to be riden on fire roads
And I Got a elite new 2021 u should have shopped round a lil more before getin a over priced Walmart bike
I have the 2021 specialized rockhopper 27.5 sport
Great bike!!!
I just got a 29 sport,i`m in my 60s and i LOVE it.
I'm 48 and waiting on a new hip..... debating on whether to buy the Elite 29 or throw in the towel due to medical crap.
@@beri232 Never give up!!!
Hey James, What bike do you think has a more upright comfortable seating position, the 2021 Marlin 7 or this one? Thanks
Don't know if I'm to late on you're decision but definitely Rockhopper, the Marlin 7 is more geared torwards Xc so the geometry is based for speed and pedalling efficiency, so you will be slightly inclined on it.
Does it have a derailleur hanger? Not sure if I missed that part or not. It's key to avoid bending the frame and limit the damage if you do bang that area. The only thing this thing needs now is some Race Face Chester or One-Up flat pedals ($40-$50) for great foot grip and at some point a value-brand dropper post and it should get years of great use. 28.2 pounds for an aluminum mountain bike is pretty good. My Pivot Trail 429 full-suspension bike comes in at 27 lbs. with the carbon wheels, but costs $8,000 more ,so you are getting a great value.
Why does my Rockhopper have Taper head while others dont
Called my LBS this morning and asked if they had any Rockhopper Elites in large. They said they had one so I said please hold it. I rushed right over and bought it! Can't believe they had one in stock.
Sick, congrats!
@@Jamesthebikeguy Thanks man! Your video is what spurred me to snag this bike. I had cancer surgery two years ago and was in bed for 7 weeks. Afterwards I was barely able to walk. So I bought a Specialized Roll Sport and started riding that every day. I got up to 40 miles a day and started taking it on mild trails and having a blast! Then I started taking it on gnarlier trails and quickly realized I was going to kill myself if I kept that up. So I bought a proper mountain bike. I'm psyched!
I just bought a 2020 Rockhopper Expert 1x. She's a beaut!🥰
Sick!
Can I fit a ridgid front fork to a rockhopper elite?
This one is on my list of about a dozen that I'm looking at. How to choose without even being able to touch one ?
Depending on what your looking at, you can make an informed decision. In the hand this bike was quite nice
I got mine from a bike shop so I could sit on it
Just keep watching videos and read reviews. You’ll get a feeling of what seems right to you. So far I bought two bikes without touching them first and couldn’t be happier with my choices.
I say choose based on which one has the most modern geometry. That way it will have some of the newest standards and you can easily upgrade it. I think geometry is the biggest factor neither new bikes these days
Go to Poshladdie Rockhopper for my review.
It is a great bike.
Looks great
I got this same bike 27.5” few days ago..I wonder if I should have went with 29”...
29 rolls faster but takes longer to hit full speed and break whereas 275s are much easier to monouver through technical and tight trials and can break much faster so it just depends what u want but I personally like 29s more
Can you please review the 2021 Trek Roscoe 6!
Will you be doing a review of the 2021 Specialized Chisel at some point?
You did not mention the rebound adjustment on the Judy shocks.
An oversight (Hard to list every feature) but yes the damper has rebound on the bottom of the fork leg.
I don't know which one to buy between the RH Elite or the x caliber 7. I hope you can help me.
Don't know if I'm to late for this, but what type of riding are you?.
70% commuting and 30% Mtb
Or more mtb than commuting.
If you commute alot, X-Caliber will definitely help, since it's designed to go fast and you will feel it in the geometry since you're position is slacker.
If you shred on the mountain go for Specialized, since it has a good fork, good gears and can take a beating, it will be perfect for trail riding.
I even have this bike in this color. but they told me that this is a 2022 model. this is not true? and there was a 2022 sticker on the bike
Gonna get this soon, sounds awesome!
I just got a stabdard rockhopper 27.5 for my bday, and I love it. Only complaints is that the brakes are rubbing and they don't work the best.
Bring it back to the shop, I am sure they can fix the rubbing.
What type of rear hub adapter is it? HG, XD or Micro Spline?
Entry level bike? It's only 1 bike down from the top spec rockhopper expert.
Still waiting on delivery of mine but I was kind of hoping it was mid to upper range of hard tail bikes.
It it upper in the rockhopper but you can spend 10000 dollars on a hard tail so it it technically more entry level
Great Review..I found a 2021 XS Rock Hopper Comp 27.5 about 3 months ago for my wife..I see Specialized raised the MSRP $50.00..I'm waiting for the 2021 Roll Elite when is that going to be available?
The price went up by $50
I was looking at getting the Rockhopper Expert in a medium frame with 27.5 tyres. Im between 5.7ft - 5.8ft tall, but i think the reach on the medium frame may be too short at 425mm. Not sure.
I think if you got a medium frame 29er you would love it. Got my wife a 29er medium frame rockhopper. Fits perfect she is 5'8"
@@Kothas01
Thanks. Ive been looking for ages but can't find a bike to buy in the uk. Seems like all the good ones are impossible to get now and totally sold out. Maybe the shops will stock up through the winter, seeing as how nobody really gonna want to buy one then.
@@Tony-1971 I had to get on list. The shops know when the stock is expected. They told me 2 weeks I could take possession after assembly.
I love ur channel. Really like how u check the weight on each bike. Please list the price of each.
Prices can vary so I do not include them. I do however link the bikes in my description should you want to see current price in my area.
I got mine elite 2 days ago in satin cast black. Love it.
Why dont you do a Sport review, that is the only one you did not cover and I think most of people would buy it for example in satin forest green colour.
No Sport get, simply because I haven't come across one. If I do I'll be sure to video it regardless of the color!
is this bike model made in Vietnam now?
would you get L or XL for someone 6"1
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hi im just wondring if the 27.5 is a hardtail
No tapered heattube limits fork upgradability?
on the spec sheet it says tapered campy style with a 1 1/8 reducer so i think you can remove the reducer
What size is?
Hey James love the channel and I am in the market for a new bike in large which I was hoping would have Sram SX drivetrain and a RockShox fork which will also ideally have Shimano or SRAM brakes I was hoping there was a bike that piped to mind for about sub £900 or $1200 ish
Those specs fall in the rockhopper expert at more like $1400
Deore drive chain set up is better than scram sx...it does have a rockshox Judy fork which are great for the pricing level.
Best bike for money market and I've been mtbing for 20 plus years...Happy days
Any chance you can get ahold of the new new chisel
Why are the LBSs and the warehouses out of stock on all these mountain bikes??
Supply issues. Pre-Order one so you get it as quick as possible.
hey guys...im wondering, i do like this bike but im afraid of the possibility to handle my weight. im 202cm height and cca 115kg. im not sure if there would be no problem with wheels or even fork...do you have any experiences in this kind of matter? thank you very much :)
I have it too
I though the Elite was more of a red color, but it looks orange in this video
@@rayb6350 I have that exact bike, it’s red looking in the evenings with less sun, more of a red/orange root beer color in the sun.
What to choose from Specialized rockhopper elite 2021 and Gt avalanche elite 2021? Please reply with some good answers. Thanks in advance.
Specialized
Is the handlebar stem adjustable?
It's a beginner bike? I had no idea. I thought professionals road hardtails too? Do you have to have a carbon frame for this to be considered a professional bike?
This is a beginner to intermediate bike. But that has to do with geometry, and parts more than anything. Any frame material can be made into a high-end performer and hardtails can be great too
jamesthebikeguy- what are some things I can upgrade on this bike?
Virtually everything!
I have the same exact bike
1. Grips
2. Pedals
3. Tubeless
4. Dropper seat post
And that’s all you really need
I am a road guy, just picked up one of these. i'm nervous about the 750 handle bars, i will mainly ride tame trails (till i get hooked) would it be crazy to cut them down to 650?
750mm now considered on the medium to narrow side in modern mountain biking. It is a good compromise between stability for more challenging trails and maneuvering for fast windy trails. You'll get used to it and not want to go much narrower from that point forward. If you've ever had your wheel turn completely turn to the right or left and crash, it's because your handlebar were way to narrow. It can happen running into a pothole on pavement or an eroded part of trail so it's better to have that torsion control.
Nice film. Would you choose this, or the Trek X-Caliber 7? Trek is £50.00 more than the Rockhopper Elite in the UK, but does have a few upgrades on this one. Thanks
X-cal no longer produced. It is now a Marlin 8 and for that the Rockhopper and Marlin are super similiar
Just bought my self the 2021 Merida big nine 100. How do u think this would compare to the elite
I think how it compares is you have a new bike and should have fun riding it.
Hey James ,is the rockhopper elite rim is same size and the wheels only is not the same,but it’s ok to change it with 27.5 wheels,thank you for your respond.
Dont change the wheel size
Are the wheels boosted and does it have a tapered fork?
No and no
Does the 29er climb better than the 27.5? What's the difference?
I believe the larger rims smooth out the curbs. The climb by wheel diameter the 29er is going to move a few more inches of tire diameter with same gear as 27.5 but its probably negligible in effort.
*easy to use and very well*
What? How about riding it. You are just reading the specs. I can read. I would love a review of how it rides.
Is it a good idea to upgrade from the 2019 pitch?
Yeahm for sure!
Hi James, is there a difference between 2021 and 2020 version of this bike?
Not so long as you got the new bike. The mid season launch of the new Rockhopper is carried into 2021
I just bought a Rockhopper Elite in September 2022 and it is an 11 speed. Colors are different for the 11 speed.
How many millions of riders popped their MTB cherry on Rockhopper? Glad to see the Rockhopper tradition going strong. This bike will give 1,000's of hours of trouble free fun.
So true.
@@TWO9UNS.do it! This will also be my first beginner bike just ordered my elite Im so hyped
Con Llantas Chaoyang Rin 29 quedaría bien
I have this in a medium it is a great bike
What camera are you using? it’s really good quality
Gopro hero 8
Pros and Cons of the 27.5 vs 29?
The 27.5 is a bit easier to handle, it’s a bit lighter, it’s a little bit better for shorter rides. The 29 rolls over thing a little bit better, you feel a bit higher, they are bit better for longer rides. It’s basically based on your personal preference.
Just bought this as my first mountain bike!! Should be ready for pick up in the next few days and I'm pumped!! Any advice as far as taking care of a new bike? Anything I need to buy to make sure she lasts well into the future?!
Get yourself some plastic protectors for the paint, it's the first thing to get damaged on the mountain.
jamesthebikeguy- why don't you ride the bikes you review so you can give us an insight of the bike?
Edit: like this so that jamesthebikeguy can reply to this
how much is this?
1000 usd
This is my next bike
Awesome!
I love specialized and especially red specializeds... Thanks from Sunderland England
I'd get this, but the 100mm of travel is too XC for me.
Send it.
It is good with jumping
Have you been riding one ? Doing trails ? Can it take a little bit of a beating ?
They take all the beating
I don’t like the grips tho
That is what I just got
Awesome!
Are those double walled rims? Tubeless ready?
Double walled, and tubeless ready!
I think No one wants their chain to bounce around with the clutch open(as presented) it’s mostly for easier chain removal/maintenance, isn’t it?
Thanks 🙏
BB
I cant even find a 2021 rockhopper. Every shop I've called says it's gonna be about 6 months.
yea
No tapered head tube on a $1400 CAN is a fail in my book....At least your getting shimano hubs instead of Specialized rebrand Formula hubs. Nice colour though...200 bucks more, gets you a Chisel. Thur axle, 12 speed, better brakes and wheels...and recon fork.
Does anyone know if this exact bike is able to accommodate through axles????
No it will not.
@@Jamesthebikeguy bummer.
Not a fan of the high end rockhoppers referred to as entry level. To me the low end rockhoppers are entry. I have had rockhoppers for years and love them but I am in no way a beginner.
I guess its all relative. Bike prices start $500ish and go to $10,000ish so while a more advanced rider can ride a lower priced bike that doesnt change that it is still on the "entry level". Best part is even the least expensive bikes are a ton of fun and can be used just about everywhere a super expensive one can be ridden.
@@Jamesthebikeguy I find it very hard to find any hardtails much over 2000 dollars unless they are sworks or some special version they are not common as the shops only stock dual suspension bikes over a certain price point. Anyway your bike video are top notch with great info for a new buyer. you should consider expanding into some reviews.
is made in china or taiwan
Made in the USA
Hardtail!
No thru axle or tapered headtube. 👎🏼
But it's xc
z
👍
Specialized and Trek bikes eat Rocky Mountain bikes for breakfast with better frames, and aren’t overpriced like Rocky Mountain