I've just got back into mountain biking again after about 10 years of being away
Whats everyone's thoughts on the Specialized 2018 Stumpjumper comp is this any good for xc as well as trail
I was also looking at the SANTA CRUZ TALLBOY 3 2018 CARBON C R KIT 27-5 PLUS
Thanks for any help.
Got a couple of friends who own Tallboys and they rate them very highly. "Feels like it has more travel than it does" was one thought.
Another friend has a carbon stumpy, not the latest version mind you but he also rates that now that he's made a few tweaks to it. Says it's fine for long days in the saddle, i.e. more xc rides.
Don't think you'd go far wrong with either.
I’ve got a Stumpy from that era- and I ride with a mate on a carbon tallboy. I’d say they’re relatively well matched. Both have the option to flick between plus or 29 (I stick with 29- he changes with the seasons!)
The stumpy is a surprisingly good climber and I’d happily lug it around all day. If you’re looking at the carbon version then the swat door is the best feature you never knew you needed.
Took me a little while to gel with mine. The auto shock set up was a load of shite and made the bike feel dead. A lot of fettling later it now feels fantastic, if a little linear.
The tweeks that @painey mentions were a wider lighter front tyre and a lower rise bar. The stock one felt a little perched.
Not ridden a TB but loved the stumpys I’ve had, great for all day riding, not much they’re not capable of, I just struggled with sizing...felt a bit perched until I added an offset bushing
Just built up a TB 3 29er and have had a couple of rides out on it (not ridden a Stumpy in 10 years). I really liked the bike straight away. First impressions: lively to ride, quick to accelerate, manoeuvrable, corners well, comfortable, good fit for me.
Tallboy 3 is a great bike, can do a lot of things very well and rides a lot better than its travel or geometry would suggest. Suspect it will climb a lot more efficiently than a stumpy given they're known for their bob under power. If you google the NSMB Tallboy 3 review i would suggest that it is a very fair summary of the bike.
Suspect it will climb a lot more efficiently than a stumpy given they’re known for their bob under power.
The thing that surprised me most about the Stumpy was just how good a climber it is. Sure it won't beat a carbon HT up a fire road but it does steep and technical very well.
I took a couple of minutes off my Whites Level PB on the Stumpy. and it gobbles my local South Downs climbs.
I’ve got a 2019 stumpy and love it! Awesome bike climbs well descends better, it was a love hate when I got it, had to set it up dual it in to my needs, since then it’s been my best bike, imho.
I’m not sure about the 2018 but had a 2016 camber, similar frame etc...that was a good bike but for me just a tad short. The new stumpy takes all the minor faults and makes it that much better.