Summary
Based off of many user reviews the Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc is a good value for entry level Mountain Bikers. The frame is universally liked, but the stock fork and brakes do not scale well as the biker's skill increases.
Positives
A great frame that is very versatile for many different sizes and weights. The frame can stand a lot of weight and handle some decent drop heights. Disc brakes are widely felt to be superior to the traditional kind, so even if the stock brakes on this bike aren't the best, they're still better than non-disc brakes. The price of the bike is very reasonable and affordable so it makes for a great entry into the sport, and with the solid frame the components can be easily replaced as the rider's skilsl increase.
Negatives
For more experienced riders there are some issues with the stock components. The biggest complaint from users had to do with the included front suspension fork. Some of the more aggressive riders found the fork to be too weak for anything more than light trail riding. The other big issues dealt with the gears and the brakes. A few users reported problems with the disc brakes malfunctioning or at the very least producing a squeeking noise. The brakes are Tektro brand which appear to have a bad reputation among some riders. A lot of people didn't have any complaints about the brakes though, so it's not severe problem, but definitely something you should keep in mind and check out if you're looking at this bike. In regards to the gears (derailleur) some users found it difficult to hit the higher gears without performing some kind of tricks. These higher gears aren't that common to use anyway, so not many people complained about them, and again, you can always replace the gear system quite easily.
