Image of Specialized Hardrock Mountain Bike
The Specialized Hardrock range is comprised of a selection of mountain bikes which will help you improve your skills across tough terrains without having to shell out an excessive amount of cash for the privilege.
The hardtail setup and use of premium aluminium frames across the board means that each has great geometry which is sympathetic to the needs of the rider as well being stiff and lively enough to help you maximise your power output.
The most affordable model in this range is the Specialized Hardrock SE, which benefits from the aforementioned alloy frame, the lightness of which is difficult to match in this price bracket. The SR Suntour SF11 front fork delivers 80mm of shock-absorbing travel while the tight rear end and lateral stiffness will not detract from the momentum you build up when tackling climbs.
The next Specialized Hardrock 2012 features the same A1 alloy frame and an SR Suntour XCT front fork which lends itself to post-purchase tuning if you have a desire to adapt the bike to different situations. Of course with 80mm of travel it is already quite a versatile component without the need for any tinkering, but it is nice to have the preload adjustment for those that want it. Shimano Altus gears and rapidfire shifters will let you switch cleanly each time you need to change. Meanwhile the hard-wearing Alex HR alloy double-wall rims and the Specialized Fast Trak LK Sport tyres work well together, not weighing you down or feeling like hard work across the flats while biting in on the climbs.
Specialized Hardrock Disc
The Specialized Hardrock Disc is largely identical to its cheaper sibling in many areas, from the frame and the fork to the Shimano Altus components. However, the price increase brings with it a set of Tektro Novela mechanical disc brakes at the front and rear, each with 160mm rotors. This gives you extra braking power and also promises to be easy to maintain whether you are working on your bike at home or in need of a quick replacement when you are out in the great outdoors. While this may seem like a relatively minor upgrade on paper, in practice it is something that you might come to really appreciate.
With its bright white frame and healthy dose of component upgrades, the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc lets you experience the benefits of expanding your mountain bike budget a little further. SR Suntour is still responsible for the front fork, but it is of the XCM variety and features 30mm Hi-tens stanchions along with spring-assisted seals. Shimano Acera components on the drivetrain work well with the rapidfire shifters so that there are never any misfires out on the trail. Meanwhile the Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brakes are a good step up from the Novela range, offering increased responsiveness and power in equal measure.
The entirety of the Hardrock range is suitably tough for the 2012 season, willing you to take the tougher routes and the bigger hits to see how far you can push yourself.
