The Rockhopper line of bikes from specialized has been around for a long, long time. Specialized has updated these entry-level bikes for 2018. Some of the changes include a refined frame design that shaves weight and internal cable routing.

They have also reworked the geometry of the bike. Notably, the Rockhopper moves from a 71° to a 69.8° head tube angle and the chainstays have gone from 442mm down to 435mm. Here is a size medium comparison of the 2017 and 2018 versions:

2018 Size Medium 2017 Size Medium STACK 605mm 624mm REACH 418mm 412mm HEAD TUBE LENGTH 95mm 100mm HEAD TUBE ANGLE 69.8° 71° BB HEIGHT 312.5mm 310mm BB DROP 57.5mm 64mm TRAIL 82mm 80mm FORK LENGTH, FULL 506mm 505mm FORK RAKE/OFFSET 51mm 46mm FRONT CENTER 676mm 657mm CHAINSTAY LENGTH 435mm 442mm WHEELBASE 1104mm 1091mm TOP TUBE LENGTH, HORIZONTAL 595mm 615mm BIKE STANDOVER HEIGHT 775mm 810.4mm SEAT TUBE LENGTH 430mm 445mm SEAT TUBE ANGLE 73.8° 72°

The 2018 models also feature new component builds at prices ranging from $490.00 to $1100.00. The lower end models feature triple chain rings, coil spring forks and mechanical disk brakes which put them in the category of bikes that a mountain biker will quickly outgrow. The higher end models feature air forks, 2x drive trains and hydraulic brakes that make them a bit more respectable bikes. However you will be pushing near the $1000 mark for those builds and that point there are a ton of much better specced bikes available from manufacturers that don’t put “Specialized” on their downtubes.

In the end it feels like the Rockhopper still fills a price-point in the Specialized lineup without providing anything special. The updates make it an improved bike, but probably not the best bike for the money.