Bikes & Gear

Reviews

Bike Features

Workshops

Buyers Guides

Specialized Rockhopper SL Expert review

|

$1350

Change Currency What's this?
Specialized Rockhopper SL Expert

BikeRadar verdict

3.5 out of 5 stars

"Typically polished all-round performance with natural speed and enthusiasm despite a limiting fork"

5 comments
Mon 10 May 2010, 9:00 am BSTBy

Shopping partners

It’s a subtle looker with colour matched components and detailing but the Rockhopper SL Expert rides really well from the first ride to the final mile of an epic. Naturally fast, agile and enthusiastic, it's a cracking all-rounder and good value too. The fork is the only weak link in the package, but it doesn’t manage to dampen the fast and exciting ride.

Ride & handling: Sweetly balanced, always enjoyable and naturally rapid all-rounder

It’s the overall balance of the bike that really stands out rather than anything specific. Low weight and easy rolling tyres make it quick to pick up speed, and it whipped down the cinder path to the singletrack double-quick on every ride.

It’s also slow to shed its speed, even when the trail points up steeply, and the enthusiastic pedal response amplifies fitness all day long. Handling balance is equally enthusiastic, with enough control and feedback to stay on top of the ‘summer’ tyres even when the snow was falling thick and fast.

The slidy rubber does have its limits in dirtier conditions though, so something chunkier will be needed for natural riding in winter. The compact dimensions make it a natural ‘flick and flare’ bike off every lip or line change you can get some air off too.

Even in the smoother coil format you’ll soon outrun the TurnKey damped RockShox Recon fork’s consistent control limits on stepped or rocky runs, but the ease with which it ‘rides light’ and a generous carcass size on the nominal 2.0in tyres takes some heat off the fork. If you have an extra £150, the RockShox Reba SL-equipped Rockhopper Pro is a tempting option.

Frame & equipment: Lightweight and mostly well specced, but deserves a better fork if you can afford it

The frame is based around time-proven M4 tubing and Specialized were one of the first manufacturers to introduce curved and hydroformed shapes on their chassis. There are some neat touches on the SL Expert like the asymmetric wishbone seatstay design with rack mounts on the shoulders.

Tyre space is plentiful, and the forward facing seat slot keeps rear wheel spray out. Check fit before you buy though as Specialized bikes generally come up small for a given size.  The comfort of the Body Geometry saddle was widely commented on and the thumbwheel-and-bolt seatpost makes correct angling a cinch.

Specialized always do a good job of making really attractive complete bikes and the Rockhopper is right on the money. Fork, saddle and grips are colour matched to the frame while red anodised nipples pick up details on the fork adjusters and other pieces.

Low tread tyres add easy speed and there’s a lockout for smooth climbs. The coil fork is smoother than the air equivalent and the overall weight is impressive despite the extra mass. Avid Elixir brakes, a Shimano XT rear mech and Octalink splined cranks all sharpen up the stop/go feel too.

What's the score with BikeRadar reviews? You can find a full explanation of our ratings here.

You might also like...

User Reviews

There are 5 reviews on this post

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 comments

  • Is it Just me but all the reviews for 2010 bikes expressing disapointment with the quality of the forks. Perhaps we should look back on this year and maybe next years models as 'Credit Crunch Models' . They certainly won't be remembered as a vintage years.

  • octalink cranks on a 1k machine. wow the consumer is truly spoiled

  • I don't get it, some reviews say Recon SL's are good, others say they aren't good enough. Please add some continuity...

  • Covered 1000miles on that bike. Did ride at trail centers and local woods.

    Strangely, Eilixirs as specified on list are actually Juicy's ... discovered that when had to change brake pads. Weird from Specialized to slap Elixir stickers on brakes and cheekily fit Juicy's instead. Brakes are powerfull enough and do stop well.

    Coil Recon SL's are a good smooth short travel fork for medium weight rider, myself weighing at 15+ stones coped well, only bottomed them out on weird-crazy front wheel landings and a couple of times on black graded trails. Upgrading that fork would depend on riders weight and style of riding really, otherwise most of bikes components are A+.

    DT Swiss wheels are light and roll-accelerate really well, nice and easy for all day epics, but if your riding becomes more aggressive or mad ... they won't hold for that long. You certainly get those Specialized mysterious issues of exploded nipples and broken spokes.

    The bike as a whole package isn't really shouty in terms of appearance, but you will feel quality of it once ridden for few miles. It is very light yet strong enough for aggressive riding, the faster you go on it, the more it rewards you. It does give you plenty of crisp accelleration either on uphills or in narrow sections between trees,roots,rocks. Wouldn't call it a hooligan, but it asks to be ridden hard'n'fast. When you ride it, it kinda asks you -is it all you can do?* I certainly realised how unfit and overmotivated I was and I had to push really hard to give it enoough of desired speed, then smiles and grins followed in spades!

    On fast trails the bike is agile and chuckable like a sega rally*, but then wouldn't want to go with it into mad drops or big jumps ... that's when I think you may require a bigger fork, and those steep angles on a bike would make you feel on steep downhills quite nervous and the bike twitchy.

    Would recommend it to anyone as a short travel HT bike,it did give me plenty of smiles and grins and it is a very nice bike to have especially if you are a beginner. My large frame bike weighed at under 12kg which is to me, more than light enough!

  • You may as well buy a Boardman HT team and save the £100 for some seriously over priced after market accessories.

    The weak pound has certainly stretched the definition of 'value' over the last year or so, instead of squeezing margins all the bike companies have just down graded specifications. I'm no rocket scientist but even in these tough times you should be able to get a reba or equivalent spec fork on a HT for under the all important £1k cycle 2 work 'limit'.

    I bet you could buy a Boardman HT Pro on Cycle 2 Work, disassemble it, and sell the components individually for a very tidy profit. Fair play to Boardman and Co they seem to have the value market all but sewn up.

Submit Your Review:

You need to login or register to post comments.

Specification

Name:
Rockhopper SL Expert (10)
Built by:
Specialized
Price:
$1350.00

Available Sizes:
13", 15", 17", 19", 21 Inches, 23 Inches
Weight (kg):
11.9
Weight (lb):
26.1

Frame & Fork:

 
Frame Material:
Specialized M4 fully manipulated alloy frame
Fork Brand:
RockShox
Fork Model:
Recon SLite, 80/100mm

Geometry:

 
Seat Angle:
73 Degrees
Head Angle:
70 Degrees

Brakes:

 
Brakes Model:
Avid Elixir 4 hydraulic 160mm rotors

Transmission:

 
Cranks Brand:
Shimano
Cranks Model:
FC-M521, Hollowtech, Octalink
Rear Derailleur Brand:
Deore
Rear Derailleur Model:
Shimano
Front Derailleur Model:
Shimano
Shifters Brand:
Deore XT Shadow
Shifters Model:
Shimano
Cassette:
Shimano HG50 9spd, 11-34T

Contact Points:

 
Saddle Model:
Specialized Enduro dual density
Seatpost Model:
Alloy two bolt
Stem Model:
3D forged, 90mm
Handlebar Model:
Butted alloy riser, 660mm

:

 
Bottom Bracket Height (in):
12 in
Chainstays (in):
16.7
Seat Tube (in):
17 in
Standover Height (in):
30.4 (in)
Top Tube (in):
23.2 in
Wheelbase (in):
42.4 in
Tyres:
Specialized Fast Trak LK Control, 2.0in
Front Wheel:
DT-Swiss 445D rim on forged alloy disc hub
Rear Wheel:
DT-Swiss 445D rim on forged alloy disc hub

Related links

BikeRadar is not responsible for the content of external websites

Also on BikeRadar