BoTM Bike of The Month August 2025 - Blue-collar Special - now taking entries

Bike of The Month
Right let's kick this low-end MTB show off!

@27motorhead's 1988 Specialized Hardrock

This is the lowest spec and biggest MTB I have ever owned! I bought it a few years back to just rob the Suntour parts of it as the frame is a maHOOsive 22.5" (I'm only 5' 7" / 170cm).

However, I soon realised that I could ride it and the upright position makes it a super comfy cruiser and makes me grin every time I ride it.

Build thread here: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1988-specialized-hardrock.480412/

Wish I had better photos, but bikes in storage ATM...

View attachment 986542
View attachment 986543
Love this photo @27motorhead. It's like the old boy is looking longingly at the track thinking '...when I were a lad'.
 
So here we go.

No build thread I’m afraid, I had to get it down off the wall for this - which was a damn sight harder than putting it up there in the first place.

Blue collar effort from what may be considered a white collar brand, sadly not with us anymore. May I present the entry level kids/tiny person spec Off-road Mt.10+2 which will not be found in any catalogues, unlike its sister the Mt.10

This is (I believe) about an 89 vintage, and is exactly the same as the first mtb my parents bought me. I still remember the day fondly.

Equipped with 18 Shimano SIS gears and a triple up front (hence +2 as the catalogue Mt.10 sported a single) it also has Joytech hubs on what seem to be labelled KinLin rims, wonderfully ineffective LeeChi brakes and a nutted rear axle.

The chainset would make a good boat anchor or deadly weapon, and adds considerable weight to an already hefty frame. Labelled as high tensile steel, I’ve seen lighter scaffold poles. It really is bloody heavy. Once you got momentum up on its 26 inch wheels it was quite unstoppable, particularly when you hauled on the plastic bladed brake levers that flexed to the bar rather than pulled any cable.

Bar the saddle, every single thing about this bike is original, down to the dork disc and reflectors. The tubes hold air but the sidewalls on the Cheng Shin tyres have seen better days.

I bloody love it, and it will never be sold.

IMG_0974.webp
 
So here we go.

No build thread I’m afraid, I had to get it down off the wall for this - which was a damn sight harder than putting it up there in the first place.

Blue collar effort from what may be considered a white collar brand, sadly not with us anymore. May I present the entry level kids/tiny person spec Off-road Mt.10+2 which will not be found in any catalogues, unlike its sister the Mt.10

This is (I believe) about an 89 vintage, and is exactly the same as the first mtb my parents bought me. I still remember the day fondly.

Equipped with 18 Shimano SIS gears and a triple up front (hence +2 as the catalogue Mt.10 sported a single) it also has Joytech hubs on what seem to be labelled KinLin rims, wonderfully ineffective LeeChi brakes and a nutted rear axle.

The chainset would make a good boat anchor or deadly weapon, and adds considerable weight to an already hefty frame. Labelled as high tensile steel, I’ve seen lighter scaffold poles. It really is bloody heavy. Once you got momentum up on its 26 inch wheels it was quite unstoppable, particularly when you hauled on the plastic bladed brake levers that flexed to the bar rather than pulled any cable.

Bar the saddle, every single thing about this bike is original, down to the dork disc and reflectors. The tubes hold air but the sidewalls on the Cheng Shin tyres have seen better days.

I bloody love it, and it will never be sold.

View attachment 986781
Those were nice entry level rides.

And in the sizes they came in, them and the MT 10 offered shorter riders a bike shop bike.

I seem to recall they also offered a full chromoly frame and fork option with lower end parts.

Sad how many of the old companies are gone.
 
So here we go.

No build thread I’m afraid, I had to get it down off the wall for this - which was a damn sight harder than putting it up there in the first place.

Blue collar effort from what may be considered a white collar brand, sadly not with us anymore. May I present the entry level kids/tiny person spec Off-road Mt.10+2 which will not be found in any catalogues, unlike its sister the Mt.10

This is (I believe) about an 89 vintage, and is exactly the same as the first mtb my parents bought me. I still remember the day fondly.

Equipped with 18 Shimano SIS gears and a triple up front (hence +2 as the catalogue Mt.10 sported a single) it also has Joytech hubs on what seem to be labelled KinLin rims, wonderfully ineffective LeeChi brakes and a nutted rear axle.

The chainset would make a good boat anchor or deadly weapon, and adds considerable weight to an already hefty frame. Labelled as high tensile steel, I’ve seen lighter scaffold poles. It really is bloody heavy. Once you got momentum up on its 26 inch wheels it was quite unstoppable, particularly when you hauled on the plastic bladed brake levers that flexed to the bar rather than pulled any cable.

Bar the saddle, every single thing about this bike is original, down to the dork disc and reflectors. The tubes hold air but the sidewalls on the Cheng Shin tyres have seen better days.

I bloody love it, and it will never be sold.

View attachment 986781
Stunning! Just how damn bright is that paintwork! Must have been stored in a cave!

Dorkdisc and reflectortastical too!!! 😍😎👌
 

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