Hi all
Back in 1988, aged 18, a young lad from Hull popped down the local bike shop and bought a brand new yellow Specialized Rockhopper. There began a love affair that is still raging today. I have recently managed to get my grubby little hands on an almost standard 1988 Specialized Rockhopper in the same crazy yellow.
The bike received 'The Treatment' within a few days of it being delivered to me, it got stripped down to component level and cleaned, service and polished. The bottom bracket, hubs and headset seemed to have been untouched since it was built. As far as i can tell the only non standard kit are the tyres and peddles. I have the peddles which came with it but they need a service, hence them not being fitted.
The plan is to keep the 'Spesh' standard and in this condition, it will be the family cruiser and will have mudguards and a child seat fitted for my 7 month old daughter, not going to put her on it until she's 12 months old though so don't get all shouty at me.
Now the pictures, the first set are of the bike I just bought, the second set as you will see are of my original 1988 one which I rode for many years. Note the components on the old one:
Standard groupset was the heavy but strong Shimano Exage Mountain.
Bike now weighs: 29.6lb
Slowly replaced with:
Acerbis Hand Guards
Selle Italia Turbo white saddle
Shimano Deore XT thumb shifters (Only sold these recently, now kicking myself)
Tange Prestige handle bar
Tioga T-Bone 150mm bar stem
Shimano 105 rear mech
Deore XT rear mech (Only sold these recently, now kicking myself)
Deore XT front mech (Only sold these recently, now kicking myself)
Campag headset
Project 2 forks
Suntour XC9000 chainset (I think it was the 9000)
Deore XT Shark Fin
Deore U-Brake, removed from chainstay, re brazed onto seat stay, complete with new cable hangar
Deore front cantilevers
Tioga peddles
Tioga Farmer John (Rear) and Farmer John's Cousin (Front) tyres
The new bike, bought a few weeks ago:
Now the old bike, bought 1988 (Pictures taken in 1988/89):
Back in 1988, aged 18, a young lad from Hull popped down the local bike shop and bought a brand new yellow Specialized Rockhopper. There began a love affair that is still raging today. I have recently managed to get my grubby little hands on an almost standard 1988 Specialized Rockhopper in the same crazy yellow.
The bike received 'The Treatment' within a few days of it being delivered to me, it got stripped down to component level and cleaned, service and polished. The bottom bracket, hubs and headset seemed to have been untouched since it was built. As far as i can tell the only non standard kit are the tyres and peddles. I have the peddles which came with it but they need a service, hence them not being fitted.
The plan is to keep the 'Spesh' standard and in this condition, it will be the family cruiser and will have mudguards and a child seat fitted for my 7 month old daughter, not going to put her on it until she's 12 months old though so don't get all shouty at me.
Now the pictures, the first set are of the bike I just bought, the second set as you will see are of my original 1988 one which I rode for many years. Note the components on the old one:
Standard groupset was the heavy but strong Shimano Exage Mountain.
Bike now weighs: 29.6lb
Slowly replaced with:
Acerbis Hand Guards
Selle Italia Turbo white saddle
Shimano Deore XT thumb shifters (Only sold these recently, now kicking myself)
Tange Prestige handle bar
Tioga T-Bone 150mm bar stem
Shimano 105 rear mech
Deore XT rear mech (Only sold these recently, now kicking myself)
Deore XT front mech (Only sold these recently, now kicking myself)
Campag headset
Project 2 forks
Suntour XC9000 chainset (I think it was the 9000)
Deore XT Shark Fin
Deore U-Brake, removed from chainstay, re brazed onto seat stay, complete with new cable hangar
Deore front cantilevers
Tioga peddles
Tioga Farmer John (Rear) and Farmer John's Cousin (Front) tyres
The new bike, bought a few weeks ago:
Now the old bike, bought 1988 (Pictures taken in 1988/89):
