One of the most anticipated releases of the 2018 summer, the all new Specialized Stumpjumper. Dating back to 1985, this bike has a long heritage and is often at the forefront of the MTB world. We were super excited to have a closer look at the Stumpjumper Comp.
— SPECIALIZED CUSTOM STUMPJUMPER EXPERT PHOTO GALLERY —
Don’t worry S-Works doesn’t get to have all of the fun—the new Stumpjumper Comp Carbon 29 features the same frame as the S-Works with a full 11m carbon chassis and rear-end. Only here Specialized have included a solid list of no-fuss components including a SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed group set for the every mans budget.
Lifted straight from the Specialized website the company claim “The new Stumpjumper is the ultimate trail bike. Seriously, the damn thing rides like it’s on rails. It’s the most versatile trail bike we’ve ever made. And yeah, we’re stoked about that, but we’re even more excited about how well it’s tuned to you. We’ve said goodbye to proprietary bulls&@t, focused on your needs, and made, what we feel, is the new benchmark in trail bikes.”
What’s new?
Some of the major changes to the Stumpjumper Comp include the all-new sidearm frame. To make the frame lighter and stiffer the side-arm has moved to the side and directly connects all three mounting points of the rear-end and shock to the frame. This gives a real performance boost to the bike when taking on bumps. Along with a 150mm dropper post to keep you comfortable in the saddle at any height.
Claiming the new shape of the Stumpjumper Comp is 20% more efficient than the previous iteration, it’s no surprise that Specialized can say it’s one of the lightest trail frames on the market. With all the engineering departments working in harmony, the stump jumper relies more on the frame kinematics and less on the shock damper for a high quality ride.
Specialized continued down the suspension path with a custom Rx Trail Tune on both the fork and rear shock. Suspension performance is highly dependent on frame wheel and rider size. Because of this Specialized have used their Rx Tune to get each bike to land in the middle of the adjustment spectrum. This will offer you the biggest possible range to fine-tune your ride.
Another focal point of the tune was matching the suspension characteristics between wheel sizes—we developed a specific Rx Tune for each platform. So no matter what wheel size you prefer you’ll get perfectly linear suspension. Threaded bottom brackets make a triumphant return and although the bike comes with 2.6in tyres as standard, Specialized have made room for up to a 3.0 tyre.
— 5 REASONS TO BE COMMUTING BY BIKE —
With a new chain stay guard the noise is massively reduced on the Stumpjumper Comp. Chain slap can be a thing of the past. This disruption of the slap reduces the overall movement and sound of the chain, making for an all round smoother drive phase. The bike has a full single run, internal cable and hose routing to keep it clean and compact.
A redesign to the SWAT hole is probably the last of the major changes list. An easily clip on/off bottle holder gives way to a storage area inside the carbon tube with a tool mounted to the outside. This will hold any tools or spares that you may want to carry out on the ride.
The build on this Comp model comes with a list of components that deliver undeniable quality like a 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain SRAM Guide R disc brakes FOX front and rear suspension and Roval Traverse 29 wheels.
— IS MTB RACING GOING TO MAKE AN ELECTRIC SHIFT —
Verdict:
This bike is the perfect all round mid travel 29er. With plenty of adjustment from rider to rider, you’ll be able to make yourself feel right at home. Available in a very fun, chameleon blue or black at the price point of £3,799, you wont regret the investment!
-
Performance - 87%87%
-
Value - 82%82%
-
Durability - 84%84%
-
Aesthetic - 83%83%
