Specialized Rockhopper Retro MTB Build Pt3 - Vintage commuter bike build

[@zoltanplutzer8715]

Mate I just wanted to let you know that your channel is an absolute gem. I always wanted to give a second life to my bike which was built by my grandpa 50 years ago. After seeing your channel you were a huge motivation for me to get it done and mate I could not be more glad that I renovated it so Thanks, keep on keeping on. Keep up the good work and positive vibes. Cheers.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Zoltán this means a lot. Thanks for the comment and thanks for saving a bike! ✌🏼

[@thegrommechanic6265]

so true! Bro is posting more often then Berm Peak

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Haha cheers mate

[@dillgross6758]

I just got a retro rock hopper. Loving it so far

[@dkone1746]

Nothing but good vibes from your channel. Cheers from Canada. ✌️

[@andreasdahl717]

Another great build :D Love the reaction when you found out about the fallen over camera :D

[@buckbuchanan9807]

Ok i wanna buy a rock hopper now. ❤

[@TeeLichtet]

Man, these cream tires look dope!

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

They sure are!

[@25inspector]

Love those old ridgid bikes!

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

It’s a great bike!

[@brandoncueto]

get gold paint. paint in the rusted parts. wipe. it will be like the frame was gold inside.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

I’m gunna have to try that!!!

[@joelungaidon]

New baby and new bike! Congrats!

[@Locojoe]

Nice. Same color as my Specialized Crossroads.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

It’s a great colour! I’m actually On the hunt for the paint. Might try and get it colour matched.

[@noisepuppet]

I'm two years late but yes to the bash guard

[@plutoplatters]

Beautiful job.

[@alhernandez3699]

Thank you for sharing your work I work on old bikes to nice video

[@underbikedoverconfident1142]

Hey, cool build. Congrats on the new baby!

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Cheers! 🍻

[@pete2347]

Sweet build! Thanks for sharing!

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Thanks Pete! ✌🏼

[@easyrider75]

Looks awesome! Those cream tyres look lovely.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Cheers Tim. They will be used. I really like them.

[@Jwachter146]

Thought I’d let you know as you talked about using the antiseize on your head set. Well also used it on the brake pivot in this video and same concept here, it will probably wear those parts out. Also there’s no need for headset spacers on a threaded steerer tube, that’s why they don’t fit…

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

I’ll have to watch it back but I don’t think I used the rust converter on the brake pivot? And the spacers are not on the threaded headset. They are between the headset and the stem adapter. With the stem adapters, a lot of the taper down instead of going flush. I use the spacers to give a clean look. The gold ones where to thin and moved. I’ve put a thicker on it now and works great. In my latest video I show the replacement.

[@backyard_bicycless]

Awesome result! Congrats on the baby!

[@drewstreet4178]

Took me a good bit to figure out how to get v brakes spot-on and now I can set them up really well so good that even me at 94kg can come to a dead stop with v brakes very quickly

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Haha I hear you!! 😂

[@davidwhocares3293]

Looks good man ! I dig the black tires with the black handlebars and cranks

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Cheers man!! 🙌🏼

[@Hendaz89]

Always look forward to your restoration videos keep them coming awesome 👌 👏 👍

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Cheers Stu. I have 3 more builds coming before Christmas so stay tuned! ✌🏼

[@Hendaz89]

@@2NDLIFEBIKES I'm hopefully going to be doing some voluntary work restoring University bikes to learn how to restore bikes but I learn alot from your videos tbh

[@paulrowlett171]

You gotta get a gold Chris King on there. After the grease experiment of course

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Haha sounds like a great idea. I’ll keep my eye out for one.

[@husky0877]

Wake stems are great, used quite a few. JG Bike ones are nice too

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

It won’t be my last, I like them.

[@zoltanplutzer8715]

Great build mate, looking forward for the next one

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

✌🏼

[@mikebudka7489]

I'm hoping this is a pic of the Brick,my Bridgestone CB1 from back in the day,many changes and upgrades. It currently resides in my son's garage near Chicago, where we occasionally get our kicks on rt66

[@mattburke6558]

Sick build, I think it deserves a higher spec groupset tho

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

I’d agree, we will see what the future holds for it. ✌🏼

[@markkinna903]

Cool bike! Good work!

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Cheers mark! 🍻

[@bearded_borg]

Great build. keep up the awsome content.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Thanks! ✌🏼

[@mathieuvincent8213]

Congrats Craig!! best wishes!

[@anielyantra1]

Very nice choice in color and components. Here is my suggestion for city riding; Schalbe road cruiser tires with slime tire liners for a responsive, no flat, supple ride, and 420mm width riser handle bars to keep your head up and so you won't clip something with those 'long horn' bars. Lugs and wide handle bars better suited to single track bikes not city maneuvering.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

The title of this video is actually a little misleading. As I mention in the video, this build starts of as a commuter build and ends up being a retro trail bike.

[@burrito_bobby]

Nice 🤙🏼

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

🙌🏼

[@SeventhTenant]

Cool build! Knobbies are way to go, personally I think there is just too much Maxxis DTHs on retro mtb builds. Don't get me wrong, DTH is sweet looking and a great choice, but there is so much more character in retro mtb with modern knobbies. And glad you finally got this cooper compound grease straight ;) Cheers!

[@possibly8180]

In the DTH's defense, most of the retro mtbs puttering around have been leaning into a more street-oriented use case. Tires geared for more gnarly stuff pretty much make riding on pavement a chore ime. Hard agree on knobbies in terms of aesthetics though, there's nothing quite like a panaracer smoke and dart combo on a retro bike (green michelin wild grippers and the homage tire by simworks are a close 2nd and 3rd in no particular order lol)

[@boostaddict_]

@@possibly8180 I have a 1997 rockhopper I commute on, currently have CST Cheyenne tires on it. They're not bad, might switch to some Continental XC tires though. Good to have a bit of grip without insane rolling resistance.

[@superivaan91]

Cool! Save the rat bike!

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

🐀

[@VideoArtFan]

Reminder to myself: Always use a toothbrush greasing up any tubes inside. A bashguard would safe my jeans folded up right leg from the inevitable black spot - on the inside. My decision: no priority. Just fold down before entering the opera house. I like your aproach to the paint job. Deep shine patina, very great.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

🤣 Thanks! Yeah the paint came out way better than I expected.

[@donavan8616]

Congrats papá!!

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Thank you!! 🙏🏼

[@hellochair7202]

A vbrake setup video would be awesome man

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Sweet! I’ll get to it!

[@pdtech4524]

Sweet build, looks nice 👌

[@THEBLACKANARCHIST]

Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@peterbaskind9872]

I have used those same brakes on a couple of builds. For the price, they’re great. Compressionless housing seems to help. I rode a set 50 miles earlier today. They work.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Nice! I have a set in another bike and they have been great. Hopefully stay great on this one to!

[@jamesallen7259]

Congrats🎉

[@owenrave4602]

Hey! Love the build I am picking up a rock hopper soon myself, could you please link that stem adapter?

[@philipmartin9599]

Great build. Could you try and make an adventure bike out of something old and you can use those on one bars.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

That’s a great idea 💡 I’ll see what I can do!

[@ewartbuilt660]

May I suggest Micro Shift AdventX 10 speed as an alternative to SRAM. Cheap, reliable, and awesome performance.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

It’s funny you should suggest that. I have ordered one for a different build but it is more expensive than the SRAM kit I used. Only £20 difference but still.

[@rogerbagley791]

Great build.. pleasant new/old mix... I'd ditch the bash guard if it was me but being super picky. Am inspired to get a winter build going 👌

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Awesome to hear! And yes I think I will.

[@volcomchristo]

Hey man, awsome build there! I have the same bike and I haven't found the work around to put v brakes in the back, since the cable guide does a curve in the back to bring the cable in the middle for a cantilever, the angle is to big for my v brakes to work. I tried to sneek in the video but I cant see a close up of it. Thanks in advance, I juste subscribe

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Send me a picture on my instagram. I think I know what yours looks like. I’ll see if I can help! 🙌🏼

[@cajunrph]

Thanks!

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Thank you sooo much John. Means a lot 🙌🏼

[@cajunrph]

@@2NDLIFEBIKES no problem. I just picked up two of these. Payed way more than £25. But all good in the in. Your videos will be an inspiration for me to refurbish the bikes. Thanks for the videos.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

My absolute pleasure. I have a HardRock video coming up and I’m looking to revisit the rockhopper to at some point.

[@battlebbot]

Copper grease is intended for use as anti seize on steel parts, using it on aluminium or in bearings is not a great idea.

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Yep! But I’m not sure if there’s an issue with aluminium…

[@battlebbot]

@@2NDLIFEBIKES Any anti seize is better than none at all, but technically zinc oxide products are better than copper, for steel aluminium.

[@adrechsel]

Congrats on the baby! Also, if you don't mind, could you share the exact name/link for the handlebars and the bashguard?

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

The bars are Nukeproof Neutron V2 and the bash guard is this one amzn.to/3BVpFlh

[@juniper4009]

sick build and awesome series, buddy! I think the break setup video is a great idea also personally, Id love to see a series of how to fully break down and restore these old bikes. even though you kinda of did that in this series, but more indepth videos on what tools you need for like removing the headset and or bb would be super helpful for bike mechanic rookies like me!

[@mikebudka7489]

I liked this video,ok to send pics of some of own creations? you might find some fun and or interesting

[@thefranconian6087]

Love the build, keep up the great work and content. Do you have link/type of stem adapter you used, I bought wrong size for my Diamondback Ascent and need to get a new one. I will also pick up a t-shirt soon!

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

This is the adapter I use. amzn.to/3rfp2OF It works on most bikes if the 80/90 but there is a couple that had different sizes so I’d measure first. And thank you in advance for the T-shirt!

[@thefranconian6087]

@@2NDLIFEBIKES Cheers to you, appreciate the link and happy to support the channel.

[@RumpRoast310]

Do I need to upgrade the bottom bracket to use this setup?

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Not necessarily. The cranks I used are standard square taper so will fit most (nearly all) BBs but I would say if you are rebuilding a bike especially an old one that may have been out side a lot the BB is a cheap upgrade for about £10.

[@m.d.498]

Would a 2.3 tire fit front and back on a rockhopper?

[@aaronmoroney2066]

Yo man. This is really cool - I recently pulled a steel frame Saracen hardtail out of a skip, and just wondering if you’ve any advice on how Best to source a front suspension decent fork? They’re obviously super expensive these days - and it’s also a straight tube. Cheers

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Forks are hard to fine without spending a bomb but try bikemonger.co.uk they stock some older stuff and can be cheap.

[@aaronmoroney2066]

@@2NDLIFEBIKES thanks so much man

[@krabbykhris]

What size bottoms bracket did you use ?

[@ForGlory1]

Just take my money

[@nicebike1342]

nice video... I also bike ride with a gopro. i share good videos

[@hawg_pound]

Where did you find the stem adapter?

[@Slayvefps]

Hello I just want your opinion, I'm building a retro MTB it's a 26er and I'm using it as a commuter as well as a bike packing bike for like 100+km ride, want I want to know is which set of chainring and cogs I should use, it will be a 1×8, I'm thinking 32t front, 11-40 rear or 34t front and 11-42 rear, thanks mate! Love your videos

[@Aurelisk]

Did he say what size those tires are?

[@saavichisays]

so how much total was it to rebuild?

[@neeetan1]

Man I’m so so stoked I found your page. I’ve just picked up a Rockhopper and this has been so good for ideas. Also helping me with not overwhelming myself. Can I ask, what rims/wheels have you used?

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

Thank you! Appreciate it. The wheels are from Pro Light. Pretty budget but are solid.

[@michaelash1456]

What size frame is that? How tall are you?

[@jhomarjosemondana435]

Mate, may i ask if what is the inner diameter of the rims ? I've been planning to put 2.30s on my 26er bike. I currently have a v brake rims with 20mm inner diameter. Btw, that's a SICK BIKE 🔥🔥

[@markkinna903]

Loose the bash guard😬

[@2NDLIFEBIKES]

I think I will hahaha

[@kissmystainedglass7155]

I wonder if you could give some advice, I want to turn a retro MTB in to a touring around Britain bike, with pannier rack, but looking I’m not seeing many MTB’s with pannier fittings, thanks loving your content 👍