Help identifying the year/spec of Specialized Rockhopper.

[Sotr]

I recently picked up a mid-90s specialised Rockhopper for a very good price. I am planning a restoration, but before starting I have been trying to identify the year and model/spec. I would welcome some help! From my research so far (including checking the frame number against some useful guidance I found elsewhere in this site), I believe it is a late 1994 frame, built for the 1995 model year. That also fits with the colour combo and design available on the base rockhopper from this year. So far so good…

But, the thing that makes me unsure is the forks, which should not be on the base model bike. Does anyone know if the rst zeta forks are original? They are so close in colour to the frame that it looks like they are matching, but I wonder if they were aftermarket? It has certainly had a new headset, stem and handlebar (ignore the front wheel, that was swapped in by me off an old trek 3500 for a test run as it was missing a front tyre when I got it). This makes me think that it has been upgraded and increases the chance of the forks being an upgrade? And I am also unsure if the Shimano Deore XT components are original either? The fact that the cable shrouds for the rear derailleur not fit in the factory lugs, and so they need to be held on by zip ties to the top bar makes me think not?

Any views welcome!

Thanks. S

By the way, I took it for a test ride this evening. Great fun, and the forks are very smooth, although that lovely race face stem is way too long for me!

 

[slackboy]

Hi. That looks like a 95 model. The cable noodle instead of cable boss is characteristic of the 95 s specialized frames.

I'd say that nothing on that frame is original, the forks are upgrades as are the xt kit and stx shifters. It would have originally had cantilevers rather than v brakes, hence the black cable stop on the top tube.

If you are looking to put it back to original spec I've got a specialised chainset and saddle for sale at the moment that would work quite well

 

[Repacker]

This was the 95 Catalog pic and spec.

 

[Sotr]

Many thanks is Slackboy and Repacker.

Really helpful, and I confirms what I had begun to suspect that it was heavily upgraded. Given it’s generally well used state (fine from a distance, very scratched and dinged up close) I am not planning on restoring to original, but will probably give it a strip down and rebuild with the same components. I needs a new saddle (I have a later 90 specialized one that looks good), and I’ll replace the grips, and sort out the cabling, but otherwise will probably enjoy it as is, it is a fun ride (especially now I have put a shorter stem on it).