How do the shocks work (break?) on Specialized Rock Hopper Comp FS

post back with the make/model of the fork and we'll be able to
help you better.

my Specialized Rockhopper Comp FS bike has two shocks,
Specialized Future FS Shock Sport (made in USA)
Basically they bottom out with the slightest pressure.
I was wondering how to rebuild or even get the parts.
What is inside? Foam? Spring? Rubber? Piston? Air?

Your bike is a goner.Not worth repairing.

Specialized forks are all made of high tension cold pressed aluminum
alloy spring steel and are not repairable.You can replace the entire
front fork assembly, including the handlebars but that will cost you
more than a new bike.

Best to put it up for sale and hope the new prospective owner doesn't
notice the two broken springs.You might even part it out on Ebay if
you need to make up the cost.

TC

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S o r n i

2004-08-12 16:20:04 UTC

Post by Terena Chang
Best to put it up for sale and hope the new prospective owner doesn't
notice the two broken springs.

Ethical much?

Bill "E-Bayers Beware" S.

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Gwood

2004-08-12 21:55:02 UTC

Nice. Suggest selling an unsafe bike to an unknowing buyer. That would be
a serious shmuck move.

Post by Terena Chang
Best to put it up for sale and hope the new prospective owner doesn't
notice the two broken springs.You might even part it out on Ebay if
you need to make up the cost.
TC

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Michael Dart

2004-08-12 15:10:05 UTC

post back with the make/model of the fork and we'll be able to
help you better.

I do not know how to tell you the make & model of the forks
on my Specialized Rockhopper Comp FS bike. It has two shocks,
rubber coils on top, no air opening visable, a black plastic
or rubber cap on top held in tightly (apparently) by a bolt
cinching a circle around the top holding the forks on.
There is a circular sticker on the right side fork which
Specialized Future FS Shock Sport (made in USA)
Does that provide enough information for you to help me?
Basically they bottom out with the slightest pressure.
I was wondering how to rebuild or even get the parts.
What is inside? Foam? Spring? Rubber? Piston? Air?

I googled the fork and all I found was a recall notice which may apply
depending on how old your bike is.

http://www.recall-warnings.com/cpsc-content-94-94112.html

I'm not at all familiar with the fork and can find no other info on it.
You'll need to take it to a Specialized Dealer for service.

Mike

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Jim Edgar

2004-08-13 01:55:04 UTC

The forks are flat. What I mean is there isn't any rebound
(to speak of) in the forks anymore.
When I sit on the bike, they just bottom out.

<and>

Linda -
Specialized offered three Future Shocks that I'm aware of . Of the
two common ones, the Future Shock FS you describe is probably the one
which was a reworked Rock Shox Mag21 with upgraded legs. (There was
also a Future Shock which was a Rock Shox Judy that had thicker legs
that did not taper, but it probably wouldn't exhibit the failure you
are describing.)

If your shock is the Mag21, it used an air spring, so if someone used
it and "blew the seals", it would remain fully compressed as you
describe.

It does date back to the early days of suspension - it was a fairly
standard fork, so a shop who can (or wants to) work on the old Rock
Shox Mag21's can probably help you if they still have parts and proper
tools. But, you may want to compare the cost of repair to just
replacing it - or just replacing the bike for that matter. If the
shop is willing to work on it, get an idea of what they'll charge you
- you might get lucky and find someone who has all the Mag21 tools and
can find some seals for you, but for $250-300, you can get a brand new
& complete bike with a suspension fork.

If you _really_ like the bike and want to keep it, you might ask the
shop if they have any old "take-off" forks lying around for
"super-cheap/free" - either rigid or suspension - that would work for
you. The FS Comp you own probably has a 1" steerer tube diameter,
which will make finding a currently manufactured fork reasonably
problematic...(most are 1 1/8" now and use a different type of stem).
Bike mechanics generally appreciate a quality beverage for bribery.

You could also drop by your local version of Trips for Kids/Recyclery
( http://www.webcom.com/tfk/ ) and probably find a 1" rigid
(non-suspension) fork for $20-40. Then you need to have a shop
install it - probably $20+.

Hope that's of some help,

-- Jim

http://www.cyclofiend.com

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Linda Donovan

2004-08-13 23:40:01 UTC

Post by Linda Donovan
There is a circular sticker on the right side fork which
says Specialized Future FS Shock Sport (made in USA)

... the Future Shock FS you describe is probably what you have
... the Rock Shox Judy had thicker legs that did not taper

I just looked and these shocks taper ever so slightly, at the bottom.

If your shock is the Mag21, it used an air spring, so if someone used
it and "blew the seals", it would remain fully compressed as you
describe.

That *does* explain some things.

It does date back to the early days of suspension

The bike is about 5 years old (is that the 'early days' of
suspension)?

... for $250-300, you can get a brand new & complete bike with
a suspension fork.

Wow. Prices must have come *way* down! I paid over 700 dollars for
this mountain bike about 5 years ago in the bay area. I haven't priced
anything recently, but, $300 seems almost free. Even so, it seems like
forks should be a wear-and-tear item so parts & instructions would be
very accessible I would have thought.

The FS Comp you own probably has a 1" steerer tube diameter,
which will make finding a currently manufactured fork reasonably
problematic...(most are 1 1/8" now and use a different type of stem).

Just a few weeks ago I added a three-inch or so handlebar stem. The
bike shop was *not* a Specialized shop (so they didn't know anything
about the forks) but they did remove the handlebars and measure the
stem to be a standard that the off-the-shelf "Delta" adapter fit (to
compensate by adding height height due, in part, to the collapsed
forks).

probably find a 1" rigid (non-suspension) fork for $20-40.
Then you need to have a shop install it - probably $20+.

Wow. At those prices, it makes no sense to fix the shocks. But, I
really did like those bouncy things when I rode down the Santa Cruz
mountains along the San Andreas fault line. The rocks on the steep
4000 foot trail are as big as houses and the ride was as smooth as ...
well, as smooth as can be on a rocky trail.

Are my shocks that old (about 4 or 5 years) that it would be so hard
to find replacements?

regards,
Linda

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Threeducks

2004-08-14 11:30:01 UTC

Post by Linda Donovan
There is a circular sticker on the right side fork which
says Specialized Future FS Shock Sport (made in USA)

... the Future Shock FS you describe is probably what you have
... the Rock Shox Judy had thicker legs that did not taper

I just looked and these shocks taper ever so slightly, at the bottom.

If your shock is the Mag21, it used an air spring, so if someone used
it and "blew the seals", it would remain fully compressed as you
describe.

That *does* explain some things.

It does date back to the early days of suspension

The bike is about 5 years old (is that the 'early days' of
suspension)?

No. The "early days" of suspension were about 5-6 years before that.

... for $250-300, you can get a brand new & complete bike with
a suspension fork.

Not really. For $250-$300 you will get a piece of junk. Your
Rockhopper FS Comp was/is a nice bike. It would be worth it to get the
shock fixed.

The FS Comp you own probably has a 1" steerer tube diameter,
which will make finding a currently manufactured fork reasonably
problematic...(most are 1 1/8" now and use a different type of stem).

Stem doesn't matter. You just match it to whatever fork you have. Back
in '94 the Rockhopper FS Comp was using an Ahead-Set, so I would assume
that it still would be in '99. If I remember correctly, it was an 1
1/8" steerer.

Post by Linda Donovan
Just a few weeks ago I added a three-inch or so handlebar stem. The
bike shop was *not* a Specialized shop (so they didn't know anything
about the forks) but they did remove the handlebars and measure the
stem to be a standard that the off-the-shelf "Delta" adapter fit (to
compensate by adding height height due, in part, to the collapsed
forks).

probably find a 1" rigid (non-suspension) fork for $20-40.
Then you need to have a shop install it - probably $20+.

No. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a shop that can fix your
bicycle correctly, or replace the shock with a more modern version.

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Orak Listalavostok

2004-08-16 13:27:18 UTC

Post by Jim Edgar
If your shock is the Mag21, it used an air spring, so if someone used
it and "blew the seals", it would remain fully compressed as you
describe.

I have borrowed a Specialized Rock Hopper Comp FS mountain bike with
dual shocks of about the same age as yours (4 or 5 years). I think it
has metal springs. So, whoever borrowed your bike almost certainly
abused it beyond belief. I would consider ditching that friend if I
were you as it's almost impossible to break those metal springs. They
are like garage door torsion springs, they are so strong. I suspect
your friend purposefully broke them as they are really very hard to
break. Can't say how they did it, but, I'd confront them if I were
you. Shocks just don't break on their own.

Post by Linda Donovan
The bike is about 5 years old (is that the 'early days' of
suspension)?

No. The "early days" of suspension were about 5-6 years before that.

Actually, the early days of suspension were about 1902, but, bicycles
(being the low tech things they are) never caught on. For example, I
wonder when bikes will finally get seats that don't require padded
panties for the rider to compensate for the poor engineering which
bike engineers pass off on consumers. The poor consumer has to add 10%
of the bike price for pads to compensate for lazy engineering. Amazing
we put up with that. They should all be fired ... or better yet,
offshored & bangalored in my opinion.

Orak Listalavostok

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Orak Listalavostok

2004-08-16 12:40:01 UTC

Post by Jim Edgar
If your shock is the Mag21, it used an air spring, so if someone used
it and "blew the seals", it would remain fully compressed as you
describe.

Post by Linda Donovan
The bike is about 5 years old (is that the 'early days' of
suspension)?

No. The "early days" of suspension were about 5-6 years before that.

Chris Phillipo

2004-08-14 16:10:01 UTC