Of all of the bikes in the Specialized line up, the Stumpjumper is perhaps the most well known. Introduced in 1981 and considered the first production mountain bike, over the years much has changed but the name carries on. Eventually the Stumpjumper lineage grew to include the first full suspension Stumpy, the FSR.
Today, Specialized continues the Stumpjumper FSR blood line with the latest version of their ‘trail legend.’ The previous version of the Stumpy FSR was already an impressive ride – so how do you go about improving it? For Specialized that meant the latest development in their SWAT technology offering a new, fully integrated way to store your flat kit…
Meant as a happy aggressive trail medium between the Enduro and the Epic, the 2016 Stumpjumper FSR includes a few changes to the geometry to make it even more capable when the trail points down. Built with specific geometry for either 650b or 29″ wheels, the vital measurements now sit at 67/67.5° for the head tube angles and 150/135mm travel along with shorter 420/437mm chainstays (650b/29”). Not yet shown, the FSR mini site also lists 6Fattie versions as a future option.
The suspension continues with their FSR platform, but the bikes gain new RX Trail Tuned rear shocks that have custom volume, compression, and rebound settings for the Stumpjumper. All of the Stumpjumper FSR frames are listed with 142 x 12 rear dropouts regardless of wheel size.
If you’re not one for seat packs, back packs, or fanny packs, the new SWAT door may be of particular interest. No longer just a box built onto the outside of the frame, the SWAT door makes for a useful compartment that will store an extra tube, pumps, and co2 cartridges in a rattle free SWAT wrap. Located under the water bottle cage, the SWAT door also keeps the added weight of tools mounted low on the bike for a better center of gravity.
Other holes in the frame allow for fully internal cable routing with in-molded carbon tubes for guides. Specialized caps off every Stumpjumper FSR with their Command Post IRcc, wide Traverse rims, and is 2x compatible with the Taco Blade.
With every complete and frame available in both 650b or 29″, the range is crowned as usual with the Stumpjumper S-Works FSR. Of all five of the different spec levels of the new Stumpjumper, the S-Works is the only level with a difference in price between the wheel sizes which is due to the S-Works 29er being treated to a full Fact 11m Carbon frame. The S-Works 650b on the other hand sees a Fact 10m carbon front triangle and seat stay but uses M5 aluminum for the chainstay. Priced at $8,900/$8,600 (29/650b), that price nets you a Pike RCT3 Solo Air fork, Custom Fox Float Factory CTD Autosag Kashima shock, and SRAM XX1 drivetrain, XTR Trail brakes, and carbon Roval Traverse SL wheels.
Step down to the Expert and the price drops to a slightly more attainable $5,900 for both wheel sizes thanks to a Fact 9m carbon frame and M5 alloy rear end. Spec highlights include a Rhockshox Pike RC fork, the same rear shock as the S-Works model, SRAM X1 drivetrain, Shimano XT brakes, and Roval Traverse Alloy wheels.
The aluminum Stumpjumper FSR Elite comes in at $4,300, but still boasts an impressive build including the Command Post IRcc. The move to M5 alloy instead of carbon means there is no SWAT Door option for the Elite, but most of the other frame features stay the same.
The last of the carbon Stumpjumper FSRs, the SWAT Door equipped Comp Carbon clicks in at $3,800. As the only carbon model with a 2x drivetrain, the Comp uses a Fact 9M chassis with M5 aluminum rear end and a blend of Shimano and SRAM components for the Drivetrain and brakes.
The comparative bargain of the group is the $2,900 alloy Comp. The full M5 alloy frame is like the Elite’s but a lower spec keeps the price under three grand.
Stumpjumper FSR framesets will also be available in both the S-Works and standard Carbon models. The S-Works frame sells for $4,000/$3,700 (29/650b) thanks to the Fact 11/10m carbon difference, while the Carbon frames are both priced at $3,000. Framesets include rear shock, SWAT Door, “Hella Flush” headset, and Command Post IRcc dropper post.