1989 Rockhopper Comp

[Jamiedyer]

Rockhopper

Hi Agentorange.

Lovely lovely Rockhopper. The Dinucci green is a great colour, well it is now, back then it was like someone had covered a cool bike in toothpaste :shock:
The paint woould be easy to replicate but certainly not the decals. You would end up having to put a later type decal that takes away from it.
They, like Stumpies were built to be used so use and enjoy. It was a great buy.
And yeah, looking at that seatpost you must be huuuuge

Jamie

 

[agentorange]

It's funny, the first propper bike I bought was a Exage Mountain equipped Rockhopper in 89 & bizzarely I removed the decals the day after I bought it as I thought they made it look cheap & of course, I'd never heard of Specialized. Now, I'd do anything for a set of those decals.

This bike has all the great design features of the period including U-brake, perfectly horizontal top tube, totally bare seat-stays plus some slight lazy angles left over from the 85 era.

Currently awaiting a seat-tube from another RB member plus I need a 6-speed pre-hyperglide block as sadly the 6-speed Deore thumbies don't have the 7th click.

That Stumpy is a 91/92 BTW.

 

[nimbus]

Are you sure your 'hopper is from 1989 and not '88? Mine has a rear canti brake and was bought new in summer 1990, but I always thought it was a (remaindered) 1989 model. I may be wrong though. It was originally pale grey with pink and blue decals. I'll ask my mum if she has a photo of it BITD (this request will please her no end - she loves going through photo albums from when we were kids, especially when friends/wives/GFs are visiting :roll:.

Incidentally, does anyone know when Specialized changed the style of the main decals from those on this bike to the ones on that Stumpy? 1991ish? (Think this q may have been answered on here recently, but can't find the link).

And, the $64m question, does anyone have a source of repro decals in the older style, or is it a job for the fabled gil_m??

(Edit - attached a pic of a similar bike to mine. Geometry/fork rake also appears to have changed at some point. Yours, as you say, has lazy angles and lots of rake, while the bikes in the 1990 catalogue have forks/angles as per this picture).

 

[boy"O"boy]

That Stumpy is a 91/92 BTW.

Thanks agentorange, I'll pass the info on to the owner.

Cheers,
boy"O"boy

 

[Jamiedyer]

Rockhopper

Hi Guys
That is an 88 Dinucci green Rockhopper comp according to the specs. It had the U brake and was available in the green or white/blue combo. I know with the Stumpies that U brake changed to canti for 89 models and the decals changed when the paint on all offerings went to one solid colour in 1990. Angles were also quicken around this time.
The decals are hard to reproduce because of the wrap around style and they ussually have 3 or more colours. There is quiet a few variations of colours.
They do come up now and again and are priced pretty reasonably, generally because nobody wants them. Ebay US has had a couple of sets the last few years and they can be found in older shops. This refers to Stumpies more than Rockhoppers. I have a set for when my Stumpie comp gets a makeover. This was complete but without the two little comp decals, bit with the Tange japan one.
I hopefully have a orange and Mauve :shock: set on the way for my Single speed project. If I find any others I will let you guys now straight away as I have mine sorted but still keep an eye out.

88 Stumpy comp

And yes thats a 91/92 Stumpie in the other pic.

Cheers
Jamie

 

[Stick Legs]

Love those underthestayUbrake Specializeds. Take me back to my wee small days!

 

[agentorange]

drgd

Just an update for those that were interested in my old Rockhopper.

Here she is today, used weekly, a real joy.

 

[Augustus]

Really really cool.