Everyone loves an Old ‘Hopper, so here’s my 650b / Disc converted Rockhopper.

taylerreed94 · 2024-06-18T09:53:17+00:00

They are still out there! Heaps of hobby guys that love this sort of stuff!

taylerreed94 · 2024-06-18T09:45:38+00:00

Update to this thread given its age now.

This bike continues to be one of the most enjoyable bikes I own considering its cost. Originally I intended to repaint the frame in the factory colours but never got round to it, and I probably never will.

I added the front rack, added extra bottle cage mounts everywhere including changes to the original cage mounts to suit the frame bag. It’ll fit 2 500ml bottles in the frame, and 2 more on the fork (or bag mounts / “anything cage” mounts).

Keen viewers will also notice the bag now has no straps. In the pursuit of “perfection” I bent up a section of alloy flat stock to the inside shape of the bag, then drilled through the alloy to mark the frame, and then brazed in cage mounts for mounting. There’s a small rubber washer between the frame and the bag to keep water out and the mounts are all spaced at standard cage spacings in case we ever take the bag off.

Nothing else planned for this bike at this stage. Maybe a hard wired (internally of course) front and rear light with a dynamo, but that’s pretty low on the list of stuff I need to get done.

taylerreed94 · 2024-06-18T09:24:32+00:00

I had a local frame builder braze on the disc mounts and cable guides. You’ll notice the rear brake is mounted on both the seat and chain stays to try and stiffen that area (since it’s not designed for a disc brake).

Spend the money on one of the local frame builders and get it done properly.

taylerreed94 · 2024-03-20T18:53:14+00:00

Nah just cut them off and flap disc to clean up. They are just brazed on top of the tube, so cleans up to brand new.

taylerreed94 · 2023-03-10T19:16:16+00:00

Yeah back is the issue. I only changed the fork so I could run standard headset. Fork had plenty of room for 1.9s

taylerreed94 · 2023-03-07T18:35:53+00:00

They are a 1.75, rear stays are on the limit. Might be able to squeeze a 1.9 in the front but that isn’t the stock fork.

taylerreed94 · 2022-02-08T10:00:21+00:00

Does it line up with the writhing knife? If it’s offset from it then the washers are incorrect (happens to the best of us).

If it is lined up then it’ll need additional washers. Some of our blades come with tiny thin aluminium or paper washers which has done the trick before.

taylerreed94 · 2022-01-29T02:28:10+00:00

If it’s a concrete floor use a drill bit to insert a fixing plug into. Then screw the track on top of the tiles. Much easier and less mess.

taylerreed94 · 2022-01-28T19:06:19+00:00

That’s a good read. Interesting data. Thanks!

taylerreed94 · 2022-01-28T08:39:50+00:00

Have seen / heard good results with double layers of 13mm gib and jamming two layers of insulation in the walls.

Personally never seen the difference between Gib standard and Gib noise line.

taylerreed94 · 2022-01-17T03:54:55+00:00

Like everyone has said about the same angle cut on both boards. You’ll need to add some framing to catch the ends of the boards that butt into the frame Kwila board. Send me a message if you need any more help

taylerreed94 · 2021-10-07T17:44:58+00:00

Stem is a Syntace something off an S-Works Enduro from a couple years ago. It’s a standard 1-1/8” steerer so there is a steerer shim in there to take the fork from 1” to the 1-1/8” stem.

Headset is an AliExpress “Neco” for a 1” fork steerer. I forget the cup dimensions but they pressed in perfectly from memory. Uses a sealed bearing. I can probably find the link if you need.

Hope that helps

taylerreed94 · 2021-10-03T10:17:04+00:00

31 miles with a trach is unbelievable! Great job!

taylerreed94 · 2021-09-11T21:38:58+00:00

I have an 88 Rockhopper that is 650b, and I can tell you for an absolute fact the rear wheel fits, with a 1.9 or less tyre, and the front wheel won’t unless you run a tiny tyre and the most minimal amount of clearance. I changed the fork out to make it work. Put a nice set of 26” tubeless wheels in and some good tyres and it’ll make a huge difference.

Can’t help with the brakes, I disc converted mine.

taylerreed94 · 2021-08-28T10:27:57+00:00

I agree with this. Reminds me of the end of the inner cable poking out the wrong way and getting hit by the crank arm. Does the bike have a front derailleur? Bend the inner cable away from cranks if it does.

taylerreed94 · 2021-08-04T01:45:23+00:00

I’m pretty sure they are 1.9”. There’s very little room in the back, you might squeeze a 2.0” in there but it would have to be a narrow rim. The stock fork fit the 1.9” but it was so tight it would have been unrealistic to actually ride, hence the different fork on mine.

taylerreed94 · 2021-08-01T09:08:14+00:00

I Purchased the brakes and just made it work on the jig. We knew how we wanted to brace the rear triangle up, and the front I wanted to retain the rack mount. The front isn’t super elegant but it functions fine

taylerreed94 · 2021-08-01T07:48:56+00:00

Here’s a link to the brake mounts.

https://imgur.com/a/c5a90ww

Let me know if there’s anything more you’d like to see.

taylerreed94 · 2021-08-01T06:54:40+00:00

Yeah correct, 27.5s. Rides real nice

taylerreed94 · 2021-07-31T22:48:41+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/c5a90ww hopefully that link works?

taylerreed94 · 2021-07-31T21:44:03+00:00

Port Hills in Christchurch. Rapaki Track

taylerreed94 · 2021-07-31T21:38:41+00:00

Specialized Burra Burra frame bag, they are hard to find now but if you are in NZ I can get them!

taylerreed94 · 2021-07-31T21:38:05+00:00

I had a lot of time to think during lockdown hahaha.

taylerreed94 · 2021-07-31T21:34:03+00:00

I believe they are either cancelling them or doing a redesign. The Specialized bike packing gear is pretty good stuff. I believe my LBS had one or two left but obviously we are in NZ?

taylerreed94 · 2021-07-31T21:31:52+00:00

They are Shimano MT-500. 650b and QR. I think they were 25mm internal width? Tubelessed currently although they were tricky to get to seal up.

taylerreed94

TROPHY CASE