What would you do to this Rockhopper? Update 16-12-09

[scant]

(are those spokes non-stainless? look quite tired anyway).

Hmm, on second look they look a bit knackered

i've seen "a spoke" for sale on ebay...

 

[cannondale king]

(are those spokes non-stainless? look quite tired anyway).

Hmm, on second look they look a bit knackered

i've seen "a spoke" for sale on ebay...

but this guys gonna need 262mm spokes for them wheels lol so close yet so far

 

[JustKev]

Paintwork looks okay to me. Clean it up, new cables, replace drivechain parts if broken but otherwise just go ride it.

 

[dirtjumper_dmr]

Needs a 'deep clean', degrease chain/cassette etc then, as everyone else says, fit a lower rise stem and loose the barends...

Not much else I'd do really, a nice wholesome mountain bike

 

[legrandefromage]

I sold my one of these for bugger all - wished I'd kept it....

 

[scant]

small size zasker = the worlds first dirt jump mountain bike.

 

[mynchiboy]

Leave it well alone as with the majority of comments here

I also agree with switching cables, stem and losing the bar ends.

The wheels seem to be drawing comment re the spoke condition. Would probabaly ditch them altogether and source out a similar age set with better hubs maybe? There's some rather nice Mavic M231's on xt hubs for sale on here I believe

 

[mynchiboy]

small size zasker = the worlds first dirt jump mountain bike.

Ahhh...

Brings back memories of Hans Rey

 

[gradeAfailure]

Echo what the others have said - clean it, flatter stem, new cables, and go ride!

 

[Anthony]

Re: What would you do to this Rockhopper?

Here are a couple of options that I am considering.
1. Strip paint myself and respray in current colour scheme ( I do feel confident on spraying the frame)
2. Powercoat the frame white and add black decals.

The paint is good, just clean it and polish it - don't T-cut it, that's too severe, but a good polish has some fine abrasive elements that will remove minor imperfections and it'll look great.

Current rebuild plan:
1. Replace gearset with new Deore LX equipment
2. Replace stem, Saddle & seat stay.
2. Fit some retro Pace forks

If the gears work, I'd keep them. You need a better stem and seat post, every bike needs a Flite and that's probably a steel handlebar that weighs a pound - save over half a pound with an aluminium one. Dynamically, the biggest improvements you could make to that bike would be:

1. fit handbuilt wheels - lighter, tighter, faster in every way. If the ride is too harsh, get fat tyres and maybe a Stan's tubeless system so you can run low pressures without getting punctures.
2. V brakes

Or: put the money towards a lightweight Kona rebuild?

Both