No other candidate was as relaxed on the tarmac ramp of our test track. Downhill, however, others have the edge. Above all, the narrow tyres with a hard rubber compound and the mediocre suspension fork limit the downhill thrust. Although the air fork is easy to adjust, it is not as sensitive as the best models, and the steep steering angle does not provide a great deal of security. However, thanks to the attractive cockpit with wide handlebars and short stem, the bike handles with confidence. The curved frame is of high quality, and the equipment with in-house parts is also impressive. Specialized relies on a 2x9 drivetrain with a relaxed mountain gear. The range should be sufficient, but the jump between the chainrings is large.
ConclusionA sporty riding position, reasonable weight and fast tyres make the Rockhopper a winner on the climbs.
PLUS High-quality frame, weight, strong propulsion
MINUS Tyres offer little grip, air fork not very sensitive
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Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
