Specialized Stumpjumper 2016 – The Details

Stumpjumper 29

Firstly, this story is about the 29 & 27.5 models. More on the 6Fattie version and the Ladies Rhyme later.

We rode the 29r version but the principal difference between this and the 27.5 version is a .5 degree difference in the head angle (slacker on the 27.5) and the length of the rear chain stays. All other specs are the same for both. Now apart from the slight slackening of the head angles the big news in the geometry field is the shortening of the chainstays on this year’s Stumpy. It’s not just a few mm either – Specialized have really gone to town with the hacksaw and shortened them from 450 to just 437mm for the 29r. For the 27.5 version the shortening is even more dramatic and is now down to 420mm. More dramatic because up until now there was no real difference between the frame geometry of both models. The previous Stumpy 27.5 frame was basically the 29r frame modified slightly to allow the smaller wheels. This year they get a more personal treatment, hence the different stay lengths and slightly slacker head angle on the 27.5 to suit the longer fork.

On the Carbon models the shock is a Fox Float Factory CTD with Autosag, Boost, RX Trail Tune and well, basically all the trimmings. The Fork is an RS Pike RCT3 (140mm for 29r & 150mm for 27.5). Interestingly, the groupset is a real mixed bag of SRAM, Shimano and Specialized’s in house S-Works components. Gearing is mostly SRAM with Shimano brakes. Cranks by S-Works. Despite having a 29r version with a clearly more ‘rad’ geometry than we’d consider more ‘normal’ for a wagon wheeled bike, there’s no Boost 148 rear end – it’s standard 142 here. Maybe this is because Specialized are going to be selling framesets as well as complete bikes and recognise that most home builders are going to still be using 142 rears. It’s not a company Boost aversion policy, as they have Boosted the rear of the new 6Fattie Stumpjumper.

The front mech mounting system is new. Specialized have devised what they call a Taco plate to mount the front mech on. It’s a bent plate that attaches very neatly and flushly to the bridge between the chainstays (You can see it in the gallery above). It’s recessed into the bridge so that it doesn’t take up valuable clearance space from those shortened chain stays and it also means there’s no seat post bosses to blank off if you want to run it 1x. It’s all rather neat.

The technical stuff for the 29r

• BB Height – 336mm
• Chainstay – 437mm
• Wheelbase – 1143mm (Medium)
• TT Length (Horizontal) – 594mm (Medium)
• Standover – 757mm (Medium)
• Seat Tube Angle – 74 degrees
• Handlebar width – 750mm
• Stem length – 60mm (Medium)
• Seatpost – 430mm
• Head Angle – 67.5

And the 27.5 Stumpy

• BB Height – 335mm
• Chainstay – 420mm
• Wheelbase – 1126mm (Medium)
• TT Length (Horizontal) – 587mm (Medium)
• Standover – 743mm (Medium)
• Seat Tube Angle – 74 degrees
• Handlebar width – 750mm
• Stem length – 60mm (Medium)
• Seatpost – 430mm
• Head Angle – 67

And the bad news… Prices.

£3000 is the starting point for the carbon models. The 29r and 27.5 are both priced the same. The next model up is the Expert Carbon at £4500 and the top of the line is the 1L Carbon at £6500

There’s an aluminium Stumpjumper that starts at £2200. The Aluminium version doesn’t have the SWAT door.

That little door!

The SWAT door on the downtube has got tongues wagging over on our Facebook page and one of the most common comments has been about weakening of the frame. Now, we can’t vouch for it’s strength as we’ve only ridden it for an hour but we can relate to you the theory and a little of the engineering details that we were told about at the launch.

The door is only available on the carbon models because the ability to create a hole in that particular place is down to the carbon weave of the downtube. But more than that is the fact that inside the downtube and running down both sides are internal carbon fibre cable guides. These tubes run the full length of the tube and act as a reinforcing structure. It was described to us as a ‘carbon fibre RSJ running down both sides of the tube’. You get a tool wrap and some spare wrapping for anything else you want to store in there that might rattle about and there’s a removable mesh guard at the bottom of the cavity just above the BB area to stop you losing things down inside the BB. Specialized have also included drainage holes in the BB so if your can of Irn Bru bursts it will all trickle out of the bottom as if your bike was having a wee.

Here’s a little demo video of the SWAT Door. Watch for those internal cable guides.

First ride thoughts

Specialized Rhyme full report

Mark Alker

Singletrack Owner/Publisher

What Mark doesn’t know about social media isn’t worth knowing and his ability to balance “The Stack” is bested only by his agility on a snowboard. Graphs are what gets his engine revving, at least they would if his car wasn’t electric, and data is what you’ll find him poring over in the office. Mark enjoys good whisky, sci-fi and the latest Apple gadget, he is also the best boss in the world (Yes, he is paying me to write this).

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