First Ride: 2016 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR
Specialized's Stumpjumper FSR is a mainstay in the company's lineup, a bike that's designed to bridge the gap between an XC bike and a full-blown enduro race machine. Last season saw the introduction of the Stumpjumper 650b, signalling the official end of Specialized's reluctance to enter the mid-sized wheel market. For 2016 any hint of that hesitation is gone, and there are new versions of the 650b and 29” models, a tool storage solution that's unlike anything currently on the market, and even a 27.5+ option that's sure to raise some eyebrows. As the action packed week of Crankworx came to a close in Rotorua, New Zealand, we headed to the outskirts of town for a few days to get a closer look at the updated bikes, as well as spend some time on the trails with the athletes and employees who were instrumental in the design process.
No More EVO
In years past there had been two different versions of the Stumpjumper FSR: the standard configuration, and the EVO, which had slightly more travel and slacker geometry to suit the needs of aggressive riders. The EVO designation is gone for 2016, but the longer travel and relaxed geometry remain - both the 650b and 29” options have slacker head angles than ever before. Dropper posts are also standard equipment on every single version, all the way down to the base model aluminum Stumpjumper FSR Comp. The same goes for wide rims, with every model getting either alloy rims with a 29mm internal width, or carbon rims with a 30mm internal width. There are a total of five bikes for each wheel size, three with carbon front triangles, and two with full alloy frames. Prices for the alloy version start at $2900, and carbon begins at $4300 USD.
With the exception of the Comp model, all of the Stumpjumpers come equipped with SRAM 1x11 drivetrains, and a RockShox Pike fork, either the RCT3 or the RC. Stopping duties are handled by Shimano's proven hydraulic brakes, and Specialized takes care of the tires with a Butcher up front and a Purgatory in the rear.
Frame Details
The Stumpjumper's carbon front triangle maintains a similar aesthetic to the previous model, but now has internal cable routing via channels molded into the frame, and a more svelte look around the junction of the seat and top tube. When last year's Stumpjumper 650b came out it wasn't exactly a new bike - it was the front triangle of the existing 29er joined to a new rear end, with a spacer under the head tube to correct the geometry. That's no longer the case, and there's now a dedicated frame for each wheel size. The bridge that used to be between the seat stays has been removed, and the rear end stiffness now comes from the beefed up linkage instead.
Removing the seatstay bridge also helped create the tire clearance that was needed to go along with the shortened chainstays. Many of the Stumpjumper models are spec'd with 1x11 drivetrains, but for those that aren't, the removable 'Taco Blade' mount that first made an appearance on the Enduro 29 is included, which allows for big wheels and short chainstays to coexist with a front derailleur by way of a chainstay mounted plate.
The latch for the SWAT Door can be seen underneath the water bottle cage.
SWAT Door
The last few seasons have seen Specialized release a number of solutions designed to make it easier to ditch the hydration pack, such as bib shorts with extra pockets, a multi-tool that mounts to a water bottle cage, and even a chain tool that's stored in the headset topcap. On the carbon framed Stumpjumper's Specialized takes their SWAT (Storage, Water, Air, Tools) technology to the next level with the inclusion of a secret compartment built into the down tube, an ingenious way of creating additional storage for a spare tube, a pump, and maybe a few snacks (or to fill with rocks to prank an unsuspecting riding buddy).
Underneath the water bottle mount located on the down tube is a panel that can easily be removed by flipping a latch, granting access to the inside of the down tube. To keep items from rattling around against the frame, Specialized has developed a cloth wrap that's specifically designed to hold a tube, and another one for a pump, and there's also a plastic plug in place a few inches down from the lower portion of the SWAT door opening that prevent items from dropping out of reach towards the bottom bracket shell.
There's room for a tube, pump, and more inside the down tube compartment that's found on the carbon models.
The addition of this compartment does come with a 200 gram weight penalty, but Specialized's reasoning is that the less hassle it is to get out for a ride, the better, so why not have a bike that's ready to be ridden at a moment's notice? There's no need to scramble around gathering up a pack and tools when everything is already on the bike – just fill up a water bottle and head for the trails.
Stumpjumper 650b
The Stumpjumper 650b now sits comfortably in the all-mountain category, with 150mm of travel front and rear and a relatively slack 67° head angle. Specialized has managed to shorten the Stumpjumper's chainstays even further, all the way to 420mm. There will also be a women's version of the Stumpjumper 650b called the Rhyme, which keeps the same frame geometry, but is spec'd with a shock that's been custom tuned for lighter riders, as well as a women's specific saddle and narrower bars.
Ride Impressions: It'd be fair to say this is the most capable Stumpjumper yet, a do-it-all bike that you wouldn't regret taking on a long XC ride, but one that could also be called into action for adventures on more technical trails. I've always found the Stumpjumper FSR to be an easy bike to get accustomed to, and that feeling remains with the latest version. If anything, it's more calm and collected in rough terrain than before, without a hint of twitchiness. I did end up needing to add a bit of air over what the rear shock's AutoSag feature had come up with in order to avoid finding the bottom of the travel on harsh compressions, but it was smooth sailing after that adjustment.
Compared to the longer travel Enduro 650b that's currently on the market, the Stumpjumper 650b is quicker to accelerate when hammering on the pedals, and the handling feels a touch more precise when rapid direction changes are called for. Taking flight aboard the bike wasn't any trouble, and whether it was hitting up the man-made tabletops at the bottom of one of our test loops, or popping over the countless roots that stretched across the trails, the bike had a very neutral feel that made it easy to feel comfortable launching into the unknown.
Stumpjumper 29
Like its smaller wheeled counterpart, the Stumpjumper 29 received the slacker head angle / shorter chainstay treatment, and now checks in with a 67.5° head angle and 435mm chainstays (the previous version measured in at 455mm). Travel remains the same as before, with 135mm in the rear and 140mm in the front. For the taller riders out there, Specialized will be offering an XXL version with a reach of 477mm.
Ride Impressions: The ride I took the Stumpjumper 29er on was a long out and back, with a good-sized climb and descent in each direction, and a refreshingly cool lake to jump in halfway through. After being on the carbon 650b Stumpjumper the previous day, switching to the bigger wheeled alloy version quickly brought to light the pluses and minuses of the wheel size and frame material. The ride of the aluminum tubing felt harsher than on the carbon frame, with more feedback being transmitted into my hands on rough, rocky sections of trail. At the same time, the bigger wheels saved me more than once, spanning the distance between two rocks rather than getting sucked in. Riders whose local trails are tighter and more technical will likely gravitate towards the 650b version, while those who live in locales where wide open, higher speed tracks are the norm will appreciate the stability of the bigger wheels at speed.
Stumpjumper 29 Geometry
Stumpjumper 650b Geometry
6Fattie
There's a third addition to the Stumpjumper FSR family called the 6Fattie, the first full suspension 27.5+ bike from a major manufacturer. For those that aren't familiar with the concept, 27.5+ involves taking tires that measure 2.8" wide or greater, and mounting them on a wide rim. The result is wheels that have nearly the same height as a 29er, but with a greater contact patch. It certainly catches the eye, especially when the concept is brought to a full suspension bike like the Stumpjumper - the combination of 3.0” wide tires and a Boost 110 fork make it look almost cartoonish, a child's drawing of a mountain bike come to life.
The 6Fattie joins the line of 27.5+ hardtails that Specialized introduced at Sea Otter, and has 135mm of rear travel paired with a 150mm fork up front. While the Stumpjumper 650b and 29 both use Specialized's 142+ rear spacing (12 x 142 wheels fit without any issues), in order to achieve the clearance necessary for the wider tires Specialized chose to go with the emerging Boost standard for the 6Fattie, giving it a 12 x 148mm rear end. Rather than compromise the geometry in order to fit a front derailleur, the 6Fattie is designed to be run solely with a 1x drivetrain. The spec sheet currently has all of the 6Fattie bikes coming with either a 29 or 30mm inner width, but Specialized had a carbon rim with a 38mm internal width on display at Sea Otter, so it wouldn't be surprising to see that offered as an option in the future.
Who is the 6Fattie for? There's really no clear answer at this point, and every company seems to have a slightly different spin on what the purpose of a 27.5+ bike is. Some manufactures are positioning them as being best suited for bikepacking or adventure riding, while others are presenting them as simply another option in the ever-expanding realm of mountain bike possibilities. Specialized seems to be taking the latter approach - with 650b and 29" versions available as well, think of 27.5+ as another flavor to choose from when shopping for a new bike.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | On one of our test rides the skies decided to open up, dousing everyone with a warm summer's rain, and coating the trails with a thin layer of slippery, greasy mud. Trying to chase down Mitch Ropelato and Curtis Keene (the key word is trying) on those unfamiliar trails was when it all clicked - I wasn't really thinking about the bike, I was focusing on riding and seeking out lines that would deliver the maximum amount of enjoyment. A bike that doesn't require constant attention is the ultimate goal, and it seems that Specialized has done that with the Stumpjumper. It's well mannered, predictable, and best of all, there's room for a giant bag of Skittles in the down tube for those really epic adventures. - Mike Kazimer |
www.specialized.com, @Specialized
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Mairiporã XC World Cup 2024
41700 views
41700 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
It's stuff one would or should be carrying anyways, and putting it down low on the bike frame lowers the center of gravity of the system as a whole.
The only downside is if you are trying to impress someone with your lightweight bicycle. It'll weigh a half pound more.
The horror!
*can I patent that before specialized release their 2017 TWATER** range
**Toptube Water Access Tube for Enduro Racers
covebike.com/collections/products/frames
If ever there were a reason to buy a mountain bike, there it is.
I rode down a mild gradient and inertia became quite apparent already, it's hard for me to imagine riding such thing in the big mountains at speed.
Dear Specialized if you could send me to Vancouver and give me a test bike there I could ride it all week, get used to it and then write a positive review. Riding bikes is fun.
Now as to 275+ it must be the ultimate middle ground - semi sized wheels with semi fat tyres. It's hard to count how best of how many worlds is that.
twentynineinches.com/2014/09/11/wtb-trailblazer-27-5-x-2-8-tires-exclusive-b-review-first-impresions-part-1
twentynineinches.com/2014/09/14/wtb-trailblazer-27-5-x-2-8-tires-exclusive-b-review-first-impresions-part-2
twentynineinches.com/2014/08/22/wtb-trailblazer-27-5-x-2-8-tires-exclusive-b-review-intro
twentynineinches.com/2014/10/22/vee-tire-trax-fatty-27-5-x-3-25-tires-quick-review
Cheers
Who : people seeking the above...
#iamspecializedfanboi
Oh sick burn.
I don't understand the pike up front and the fox out back. I also hate the idea of the shuttle being shock specific it would be a deal breaker for me.
I've ridden the older 26" stumpy and was really impressed but the auto sag fox was far too unsupportive and killed a great bike.
Its a shame not to see the monarch as it compliments the pike so well
I know a lot of people disagree, and that is cool, but for anyone not already decided think about this: if your body is a spring (and it should be when riding) then weight added to the bike is like unsprung weight and will effect performance more than weight on the rider. Taking a dump has less effect on performance of the bike than adding a pound to the frame. Adding 4-6lbs in water and tools means your sub 30lb bike now weighs 35. I can buy a 35lb bike and get the same performance by keeping the weight on my back, having paid a lot less money.
Just food for thought. I know if you plan to keep stuff on the frame regardless then lower weight is lower weight, and a 35 lb bike gets over 40 with a water bottle on it, but if you are not extremely averse to it you might want to consider just dealing with a sweaty back under a bsckpack in order to get higher performance. That or think carefully before dumping a lot of money on a carbon crank to save weight when your are going to put 4lbs in water right above it anyway.
That is all.
The bigger unexpected surprise was also how nice it was to leave the bag at home on winter rides. Suddenly my body could regulate its temperature and my jacket could breath, keeping me dry and warm which is pretty damn critical when it is between -5* and +10* F in the woods at night miles away from your vehicle.
The problem I see with the human body spring analogy is that this type of spring fatigues. The more weight you have to keep on your body, the more your whole body has to support. Why not let the wheels and suspension help you out a bit? I no longer ride with a pack unless it is a long-ish ride, or hot outside and I need the extra water capacity. Anyhow, I like this compartment idea Specialized.
I did recently switch to a much smaller pack, and I don't use it when shuttling because it does effect performance, opting instead to keep a drink in the truck.
I guess the takeaway here (besides to each his or her own) is don't worry too much about the weight of your frame since it isn't going to dramatically influence your ride anyway.
I think that only gets at part of the issue - rider size/body type has a big impact on which version you'll enjoy more as well. I'm squarely in the target population for bikes like these - do-it-all trail bikes that help an OK rider step it up a notch and generally disappear when you're riding. I currently ride a 29er; I've tried different 29ers and 27.5s with 120-140mm of rear travel. Most of them were awesome, with few dogs on offer. Each has its own specific take on balancing the overall package. But the theme that was really clear for me was that at 6'1" and over 200#, I'm way happier on the not-so-great 29ers than even the best 27.5s in this segment. Meanwhile, my girlfriend is 5'6" and built more like an endurance athlete. She also tried a bunch of bikes in this sort of segment - and she was way happier on all of the 27.5s than any 29er.
The roll-over and stability of the 29er mean nothing if you're not big enough to where the additional body English required to throw it around the trail isn't effortless to you (either because you're a great rider - or for most of us, because you happen to be larger and stronger). But if you're bigger, then it's really easy to take advantage of what the 29er has to offer. Yes, there are big riders who are super technical and love the agility of the smaller wheels, but for the rest of us, a 29er makes sense, feels more proportional, and makes riding well a little easier (and thus makes fun more accessible).
27.5+ is a totally different matter - I still can't quite see who's asking the question that these are supposedly answering...
I continue to ride with a pack so the added weight of the SWAT thing is weird but it might be something I would come around on.
The big question will be if this bike will now accept a CCDBA because I'm done with Fox. No CCDBA fitment is a dealbreaker.
Does this mean we can expect a new Enduro 29 next year as well? But now that the Stumpjumper is very similar to the current E29 maybe the E29 will get an even more Enduroer treatment.
Even the "S" fanboys.
Was curious in regards to the internal cable routing; Are there any lockdowns or something similar to keep the cables from moving? I don't know if you guys during your review time were able to get that detailed a look.
A couple examples, in case you're interested: the first hydraulic Avid brake, the plain 'ol "juicy" came out in '04. I bought some & ran them on my DH bike for 3 years or so, time to replace the hoses. I couldn't buy them. They made a running change to hose(&fitting) size after the small run of '04 brakes, & with such a small amount of product on the market, didn't bother to keep replacements for the small hoses on the market.
The very first year of Osprey pack reservoirs came with a custom larger hose size. The flow was better, but none of the quick disconnects, filters, etc on the market would work with them. Now, they've moved to the standard size every other manufacturer uses: try getting a replacement for a worn out bite valve for the old reservoirs: not gonna happen.
At least with Specialized, they're more likely to hook you up with a new frame that leave you in the lurch, but waiting a few weeks to avoid the problem in the first place is the better choice.
Also, it'd be smart to wait for other companies to release their bikes before making a decision yeah?
''The ride of the aluminum tubing felt harsher than on the carbon frame, with more feedback being transmitted into my hands on rough, rocky sections of trail.''
I thought that it should be the exact opposite since carbon is a lot stiffer material than alu''
Am I missing something here?
As far as the storage compartment goes, it's ugly as Hell and seems like it will weaken the downtube. Also when the latch breaks, you will have to replace all the contents that get damaged. plus the box looks riveted into the frame ; "S.O.L".!!!
"the first full suspension 27.5+ bike from a major manufacturer."
Pretty sure that Rocky Mountain qualifies as as major manufacturer, yes? Their Sherpa predates this bike.
Not saying this one is not cool, just does not deserve to take the credit for something that Rocky did.
Specialized website also claims that the 650b S-Works has FACT10 Carbon while the 29er has FACT11.
I wonder why...?
(And I've gone the other way, not used a pack in a while and so much prefer the freedom of movement.)
Now, if I could only find a way to cram an extra couple pounds into the frame I just paid so much for."
Said no one ever.
There's no need to scramble around gathering up a bike and tools when everything is already in your pack – just fill up the bladder and head for the trails.
www.bike-eu.com/sales-trends/nieuws/2013/10/eus-bike-imports-from-cambodia-grows-enormously-1019958
Because Boost is coming, if buying a new bike I want the imminent "standards" implemented. I'm ready to build new wheels but I want them for my next bike or two. I'm thinking future. The guys that complain about 26" must be sold on the idea of riding clapped out shit in 2 years. When I go into a shop, I see two wheel sizes. There is no debating it. Choose a bike, buy it, ride it.
the masses (of mtb riders) do not accept them
I still use them on my XC bike and they're great
Still a fail on the 29er in my opinion. If there going to a dedicated 1X system why the hell not make the chainstays 430 like the Enduro 29er or 420 like 650b??? Dont make them 437 like the chart says. No reason not to with bikes like the Following and the new one from Canfield with 414mm stays being released. Big RED F...
That bike was a stop-gap so they could finish the design of this new bike with proper geometry. No sympathy for anyone who ignored very available info or bought a bike after a test ride. Welcome to life where companies are always working on something newer and better.
There aren't many reasons they would have rushed a bike to market other than they were missing out on sales in the new, hot category. The chose to dump all the 26" models early and doubled down on 29" for the Stumpy FSR. All of their comments at the time criticized the 650b and claimed there was no advantage compared to the well designed 29". While they are great bikes, some riders still want/need a smaller wheel.
Most likely they saw a drop in sales that headed to Giant, Trek, and smaller makers with the new size wheels. It takes time to build molds for carbon frames and build stock. So they combed a way to use the 29" frames, a fork spacer and new rear so they could rush a bike to dealers.
Only they know if they were in the middle of the "real" 650b design and got caught just a bit behind OR if they never planned to make tweeners in the first place. Either way it was a big mistake and they are fully committed to the size now. They seem to have a well designed bike worthy of the Stumpy heritage again.
I'm really not sure who those brand's target market really is??
Same thing with the other big brands, they all waited for the little guys to come up with something and then swooped in and market the hell out of it.