1989 Specialized Hardrock Gravel Bike Conversion/Restoration

This unrideable 1989 Specialized Hardrock gets an overhaul restoration during its Gravel Bike conversion. Enjoy! Subscribe, Like, and Share! Keep on riding, have fun, and drink water.
Follow me on Instagram for more updates! --- @Cowboytomi
Tools Used:
Park Tool Threeway Hex Wrench - amzn.to/3qOixln
Park Tool Chain Breaker - amzn.to/3JLOVxK
Park Tool Grease Gun - amzn.to/3ERBd8M
Park Tool Pedal Wrench - amzn.to/33ahtAg
Park Tool Crank Puller (Splined) - amzn.to/3HTFzhN
Park Tool Threeway Wrench - amzn.to/3HuG01I
Music:
Home Sweet Home - Nashville Guitars
Bike Parts List:
Easton Bar Tape
ProMax Handlebars
26" WheelMaster Rims
9 Speed Shimano Acera Derailleur
FSA 34T 1x Chainring
Profile Design Threadless Stem Adaptor
Specialized Stem
Schwalbe Rapid Rob 26"x2.1" Tires
Selle Italia Gel Sport Saddle
Tektro Wide Cantilever Brakes
Sugino Crank Set
Tange Japan Seiki Falcon Headset
Microshift 2x9 Shifters
Microshift 11-42T Cassette

[@richardblazek4780]

Finally, a little talking and lots of fixing. I'm thrilled to watch you work, gives an old man reason to dive in himself.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@cycloneranger5354]

Love how you say "enjoy the sounds of bike maintenance" , so many content creators don't have a clue what video aesthetics are, funny how you can find it on a bike channel.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@reynoldmaravilla945]

I think KZbin can hear me.. i was planning the same restoration with my 1995 mountain bike that my dad used to ride when i was young. but i didn't know what to do .. then this video pop out from nowhere. Thank you bro!! Very helpful 👍👍

[@CowboyTomi]

Amazing! Thank you!!

[@patricktaylor4997]

Nice job! Your paint process was fun to watch. You really captured the late '80s/early '90s spirit with the color fade in the lettering and the splatter paint. Your dedication to making this as much a restoration as a conversion is admirable. I would've been lazy and replaced the BB with a cartridge unit. This was inspiring!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you so much! This was such a fun one that went to a great owner.

[@fanzybikes]

I'm actually impressed how good the paintjob looks! Great job, keep it up!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@stevekyhon]

Thanks for sharing! I bought a Hardrock from Craigslist and in the process of restoring it. Watched this video a few times from beginning to the end.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you for watching! Have fun during the restoration!

[@lgarcia67]

Great job! Looks awesome! I did something similar with my old Trek MTB. Ended up with a very nice gravel bike with front suspension for $300. I changed all train components, drop handle bar, and new shifters.

[@bananasstuff3344]

So glad I'm not the only one who strips out cranks... made that mistake earlier this year and I still havent had the bike back from the bike shop yet...

[@767bob]

You have a great bike. I have one similar to yours, an old Trek 950 from 1992. It’s a perfect all rounder (commuter, trail, touring bike and more) full fenders, friction shifting, Brooks B17, racks and bags. These types of old MTB bikes are just down to earth fun.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! They're so fun!

[@samchan8405]

When I did the same to my old Kona fire mountain 2 years ago, the cantilever brakes didn't work well with the dropbar brake levers. Problem solved by the addition of travel agents. Rides a dream lol!

[@CowboyTomi]

Nice!!!

[@meatballspear]

That paint job is so stinking cool. Great build!!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@WalkerBikes]

I have basically the same bike sitting in my basement right now! Silver with red decals. This definitely swings me towards going the gravel conversion route! Great video

[@CowboyTomi]

You should!

[@kevinborovsky3558]

Wow you nailed this one. The bike looks fantastic, paint looks great, and decal replacement is spot on. This bike should give you years of fun. Cheers

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@trailhead743]

My old Rocky Mountain has been sitting for years as it’s hard to part with. Now I know what to do with it. Thanks for the vid, great retoration

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! Good luck with the build.

[@yoBradyO11]

That paint job was sick! I do recommend using 2K clear coat. Makes an already good paint job look sema quality, for lack of a better term. Its a super thick, crystal clear, and very hard clear coat

[@Dragon1165]

Love this build.. give an older bike some love .. repurpose... also you have alot steadier hand and more patience with those stickers than I would .

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@ChadNeal71]

I have an old 1992 Haro extreme I want to convert. Thanks for this! Lots of ideas!

[@CowboyTomi]

amaziing! thank you!

[@rickymyers]

Sick build, love seeing the vintage come back to life.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@IAmASTURGEON-rv5rk]

the painting was unreal my guy

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@DonylynKnives]

That paint job came out beautifully! Well done! Looks like it would be a blast to ride!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! It was!!

[@TheParsifal1]

Ma sei serio??? tutte quelle sbavature e colature di colore le chiami ''lavoro di verniciatura venuto benissimo'' ???

[@PRH123]

Looks great...! Reminds me of my old 88 stumpjumper. That's the great thing about these old frames, no trouble to find and replace parts, as back then there was really only 1 bottom bracket standard, 1 headset standard, etc., not the variety of sizes and standards nowadays.... Interesting the approach you took to the paint, instead of taking it down to bare metal as people usually do. I like that you resisted the urge to make it a 1-by, 2x is much more useful on a gravel bike...

[@Vlasys]

that is a savage way of getting the crankset out. big like!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! The threading stripped so I had to do what I had to do!

[@deaterk]

Really nice work! Inspiring me to resurrect my early ‘90s Cannondale in a similar fashion! Thank you for posting.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you so much! Sounds like a fun build!

[@octaviodottori7072]

When I saw the 2 x 8 set up I was sad, but you did the right thing after haha. Nice work!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thanks! A lot of trial and error with this one haha

[@sergevallee6516]

Always nice to watched video like that. Thank you!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@jorgechavira7729]

That paintjob is awesome! Very nice conversion!

[@CowboyTomi]

THank you!

[@bikermonster8354]

Really amazing transformation. To give old bikes new life. Stay well and best regards from germany

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank yoU!

[@kubiaxk]

26 aint dead \m/ awesome bike dude

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@insomna_king6548]

dude, just the paint job alone was sick as hell. Nice video

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@VacavilleHandyman]

That thing turned out sweet!

[@CowboyTomi]

@@VacavilleHandyman thank you!

[@paullydca]

Brilliant use of cricut to make decals. I love how you've done this. Overall awesome restoration just. Makes me need to find a old chromo bike to do this. :)

[@craigpierce1208]

Love this video. Thank you for the generous share.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@federnais2000]

It looks great... Beautiful design! I love the retro style mix with good care of the bike it's eternal!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@sammyvo1142]

dang the sounds of bike maintenance struggles

[@CowboyTomi]

all sounds 🤠

[@khoujams]

nicely done...would love to have heard more of your thoughts as you are working...you have a great voice..

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@Terren69]

Awesome Build Cowboy. Thankyou! Greetings from Western Australia mate.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thanks mate!

[@XianEricXPROD]

Nice. Although I thought I was watching a shovel video till about half way through. That’s a good thing. Good job

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@mik3mill3r11]

Love that paint job. Nice work 👍🏼

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! Cheers.

[@going4broke1981]

Very cool finished product, i have about 20 or 30 vintage mtbs in my garage, been collecting for over 3 years, and have not finished any. I guess i get all my bike rebuild and conditioning fix through the youtube community.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! That sounds amazing, sounds like many more great working bikes will be put out into the world! KZbin community is the truth!

[@kbc163]

I've got an early 90s Mongoose Rockadile 26 incher that's about to get the same treatment. Keep that old Cro-mo alive. 👍

[@selder03]

Bro! Great build! Love the CRX in the driveway.. had two in 1997

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! Thats amazing!

[@phillipcowan1444]

26 ain't dead! haha.

[@CowboyTomi]

it sure ain’t!

[@telemachin]

Killing the 26", is a conspiracy from big bike business.

[@jnmonster1384]

It sure is still alive.

[@fishyfool]

Makes me crazy watching cowboys cut perfectly good grips off.

[@CowboyTomi]

You and me both!

[@bennettturk3206]

Me too man

[@VinJapanGuitarShop]

nice build. awesome paint!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@djkenny1202]

Surprised they wanted to charge you. That should be Free considering everything it needs. I had a 91 same color that I won from a car dealership. Wish I had not Sold before Moving. Just bought an 87 in teal with the U brake under frame in near mint shape yesterday for $90. Thumbies!

[@bryndukes2279]

Living for that paint job. Great video man keep em coming!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thanks! More to come!

[@noisepuppet]

It's wizardry

[@ianlocke794]

Thanks for the ride, man! Lovin it!

[@CowboyTomi]

Yes!!! Glad it worked out! 👍🏽 Enjoy!

[@JasonSirimanne]

Inspired to convert my kona aa 26inch into a gravel too.

[@CowboyTomi]

go for it! konas are so nice!

[@georgeraines734]

So cool man! Can’t wait to try converting my own.

[@londonpickering8675]

Oddly satisfying! Glad you saved it.....

[@CowboyTomi]

Thanks!

[@FireFox-eu1hq]

Love the build man thanks for sharing it

[@CowboyTomi]

thank you!

[@jacekkaczorowski]

Great job. Im about to do same with my Peugeot Orygin XL from 90's

[@CowboyTomi]

Thanks! Hell yeah!

[@ronwhite8503]

I have always said the old, steel MTB's are the original gravel bike and judging by the price increase other people are too.

[@CowboyTomi]

Facts 💯

[@justbreakingballs]

It’s exactly what they are. All this gravel bike nonsense. They are mountain bikes with drop bars that’s it. Load of bullshit. I should add I’m not “hating” it’s just this new concept people are talking of is just a 80 or 90s rigid mountain bike with drop bars. That’s it. Love this build though

[@JohnDoe-zb7dz]

@@justbreakingballs I do welcome the slacker frame designs. And to me drop bars are a useless mess. Anytime you drop into the lower grips you change your pelvic tilt and therefore must change your saddle tilt. Drop bars are problematic because of this. All my GG's have starlight bars. I do like bar ends. But yeah, you are correct.

[@bigbadstretch13yrago]

@@JohnDoe-zb7dz that’s why going hard on the drops is termed ‘on the rivet’. As one is leaning forward on an older leather saddle to the point that they are effectively ‘on the rivet’ at the front of the saddle. I find no problem with being in the drops with my saddles. Maybe you need to explore the world of saddles until you find one that matches your ischial tuberosity? Lastly, what on earth are starlight handlebars?? I looked it up and the main thing I could find was tap faucets?? Maybe that’s your issue😅

[@bigbadstretch13yrago]

It’s a fad. It sucks hard to real collectors of MTB/road bike history. Same way ‘Fixies’ or single speeders come along, buy a gem of a Columbus/similar framed bike, and then chop all the cable guides and derailleur hangers off, effectively ruining the frame. That’s after chucking all those quite hard to find original parts straight in the bin, as they ‘aren’t needed for a narrow wide chainring/chaintensioner style single speed build’. It’s literally destroyed the classic bike scene for the groups I’m in... that and ‘Covid tax’.... ugh😞

[@Rlim02]

Nice restoration and upgrade Sir! 😀

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@elijahzarlin9741]

Just watched three of your bike restoration videos. Thanks for making, really helpful for us aspiring mechanics!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you so much! Glad it's helped out!

[@dullbrass]

Props for the artwork. Nice bike.

[@kimkrimson]

The paint job is so sweet

[@CowboyTomi]

thank you!!

[@MartinYang]

really love the painting part

[@TamBikeOnHotToo]

Gravel bike best type/kind of bike for us gravel cyclist 😎🚲 I upgraded mine to monster gravel best convertion for me 💎🦋👍💯

[@CowboyTomi]

It is always worth the time and effort to convert any bike to a gravel bike. 👍🏽

[@NightDentist]

Good bike ! I live in Russia and have not old specialised and others old bike. Only old USSR and after 2000 year bikes. Thank you !

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!! Cheers.

[@layspeed]

First time viewer as I came here to watch a bike build. Got excited about the TGP CRX Si! I still have a '91. Anyhow the bike came out amazing dude. White/blue/orange are my favorite bike colors. I just picked up a Gary Fisher Paragon and and I've been going back and forth about converting it to drops but I already have a Marin Lombard for that purpose. Also I can see/hear the the Old Shovel style like others have mentioned as I watched a lot of his stuff since last year. Subscribed. Peace from another Southeast Asian 😃

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! Those are both amazing bikes! Much love!

[@marcopanzeri4772]

GRAZIE davvero, mi hai cambiato la giornata!!! TAKE CARE!!!!!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@thatsjimmii]

I did the same to a 91 hardrock recently, feels amazing every ride! But I kept the 3x Also from Seattle too!

[@CowboyTomi]

Sick! 👊🏽

[@bylanduck]

Impressive paint and logo job!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@ozenfant_ozn]

awesome build and great vid!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! 👍🏽

[@droneboy1562]

Looks great, what a nice build and rig 👍

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@alissonrosin]

I'm from Brazil, I'm following you, I loved the transformation of the speclzd, I want to see more bikes on the channel

[@r.s7081]

Nice job, I'm buying a 89' rockhopper tomorrow. 90.00

[@fairlyfunctional2236]

great video bro. next time you have a seized crank arm,try heating it with a propane torch for a few minutes. it works for me almost everytime. i have a medium '89 hardrock myself with a 1x drivetrain. keep building man.

[@CowboyTomi]

thank you! Yes, I wished i had a torch during this moment, but did not 👎🏽

[@danieldotter6077]

Pain job looks amazing bravo

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@fbiker79]

That looked like Seaward Park. Turned out good.

[@CowboyTomi]

Volunteer Park. Thank you!!

[@arnulfob3454]

Awww the joy of riding !

[@CowboyTomi]

Biking is the best!

[@anguscampbell2007]

insane paint job

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! I like your Santa Cruz profile pic!

[@fredtroutman2252]

I was wondering where you were going with that as far as paint, you did an amazing job on it looks awsome. I just traded a bike for a 89 specialized hard rock comp. In the pink and white yesterday, going to build another touring rig like I don't have enough, really enjoy your visions your bike looks great!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! Good luck on your build!

[@StreetFlys]

Love peace and happiness to you as well. Nice build good job

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! Much love.

[@davidziolkowski9815]

Nice build ! Keep up the good work.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!!

[@MarcoAntonioGuterres]

Awesome work! You got me inspired to do my on bike, thanks!!

[@CowboyTomi]

yes, go for it!!! Thank you!

[@DavidPulsipher]

you are an artist man!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@jamesalexander7540]

I recall selling those when they were new.

[@CowboyTomi]

Amazing!

[@lonerbikes]

GREAT PAINT JOB

[@CowboyTomi]

THANK YOU

[@vermonthillsumc]

Impressive. Great job.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@andalboyvlogs8211]

Im watching from Davao City, Philippines

[@CowboyTomi]

that’s amazing!

[@Wannaridebikes]

Very nice build. I have a steel gt frame I’m doing the same way but leaving the paint the way it is since it looks good. Like it been used.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! Sounds like a fun build! I also have a Gt that needs some TLC, possibly the next video ;)

[@Wannaridebikes]

@@CowboyTomi sub me back please

[@bwinmaine]

I did that years ago, probably a decade before gravel bikes started to be a thing, to an "Offroad" brand mountain bike made with quality components but instead of using knobby tires I used 26 by two-inch street tires and it was an awesome ride. To this day I have never seen anything quite like it but this build sure comes close.

[@CowboyTomi]

Amazing, you were well ahead of the bike build game then! Sounds like a fun bike!

[@chriswilby7679]

Nice build .love the paint job .you have some nice tools but I think your favourite is the hammer lol

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you! Hammer is reliable!

[@theretrobikeshed3392]

Great build bud, love the paint job got the decals looking real retro mate great job 👍🚲👌

[@garik.crezyrussian.7937]

What a beautiful bike! Just a dream!🚲🔥😍

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@luisbeltran7843]

Good job bro, I really love it 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@richardfabrizio8998]

Just like i woulda built it came out nice. Built a few in my time too

[@wnv-RawRow]

You know what would help me out is that sticker process. A how to would be greatly appreciated 👍

[@CowboyTomi]

Possibly!

[@robertminato2706]

Great job. Great build loved it!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@harrisp584]

First time watching your vid, loved the build! Jealous of your tools and also stoked on that paint!!! On the test ride I shouted out Laurelhurst!! Lol looks smooth and fun!

[@CowboyTomi]

haha Thanks!!!

[@savioprado9664]

Wonderful job. Congrats. I'm a rider from Brasil.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@wellstanner3216]

incredible job dude!! it turned out great!

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!!

[@yardsalecycles]

nice build I like the paint you did

[@CowboyTomi]

thanks!

[@brendachan1511]

Ooo this makes me want to get a bike!! Great job 👏🏼

[@CowboyTomi]

haha let’s ride when y’all are in town!

[@brendachan1511]

@@CowboyTomi Down!!

[@carinabarnes4611]

makes me wanna ride! 🚴

[@dannyeaton14]

Incredible! Really nice job

[@CowboyTomi]

Thank you!

[@Amar-ut3of]

Thanks for sharing, it's inspiring a beginner in France ! Salam a'leykoum

[@CowboyTomi]

You are welcome! Glad you found it helpful!

[@jayclark1551]

Hell yeah! Love the rebuild. Long time no see hope you’re well homie.

[@CowboyTomi]

Thanks bro! Likewise.