This is my first post, so please be nice 🙂
I went into my LBS yesterday with my 2006 Specialized Stumpjumper, as the rear suspension arm bushings have perished. Also the rear shock is sounding a bit squelchy. I was told that it isn’t possible to get the parts for the shock any more (internal seals I think he said). The only option is to get a replacement rear shock of the exact correct size – which would cost £600.
Although a shiny new bike would be great, of course, there’s nothing else really wrong with the Stumpie, and I’d rather not have to afford a new one. In a world in which we are being encouraged to be eco friendly, re-use, reduce waste, why is it that my bike is being committed to the scrap heap?
Is anyone else finding the same problem, or have I been advised incorrectly?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Drop Phil at Indi a message:

https://m.facebook.com/indicycleworks/

I bet that he’ll know how to sort your shock out, or at the very least give youna second opinion.

I’d bet the shock can be fixed but it’s certainly old enough that the people doing the servicing may not have the expertise or an easily-available service kit.

I bet you’ll be able to find a used shock online too.

It really depends on your need. If you have to explain to someone why you *need* a new bike, then yes, of course it’s obsolete! 😀

If you can still do all the riding you want on it and see no need to upgrade then of course it’s not – still goes, stops etc, and you can get all the parts you’d need for it, even if you might have to hunt around for things like shocks and forks.

I certainly hope it’s not, otherwise the 2004 Stumpy in the shed is also obsolete 😀

You’ve probably got a Triad shock on there? Give TF Tuned a shout, they’ll service that no probs, or sell you a service kit and you can do it yourself – it’s easy enough.

https://www.tftuned.com/servicing/11-fox-shocks-seatposts

I’ve been using TF Tuned for years, absolutely brilliant service.

2006 Stumpjumper obsolete

The bike industry would like that to be the case.

Wish I still had my 2005 Stumpy. Had a septune shock iirc I seemed much more comfortable on that than the Camber that replaced it when it got nicked.
Hope you find a solution OP.

My last car (got rid in Jan) had barely 200,000 on the clock and would have run for another 200k easily but it needed new glow plugs, tyres and possibly a new sensor and some work on the front suspension.

I was advised by the specialist indy I’ve used for years… “it’s only worth fixing if you like driving it and want to keep driving it” but its likely to cost you more from now on.” (or words to that effect)

Best car I’ve ever had and paid £6000 150k miles ago… and hardly anything inbetween but ..??

I suspect TFT can fix the shock and forks when they go… but other stuff will probably go and be increasingly hard to replace and have no easy modern equivalent.

a replacement rear shock of the exact correct size – which would cost £600.

Does it have the brain thingy ???

I’ve got a shedfull of bikes the oldest is 2012 and the newest 2015.
The 2012 will have to go as its just not economic …

Either way £600 is more than I paid for a bike ever….

Good point, might have been a Septune by 2006. Brain was on the Epic I think? Agree in principal on the hard to find other bits but I think it’ll be a long time before it becomes cost prohibitive. I have a ’93 Cinder Cone as well as the 2004 Stumpy and a 2011 ASR-5 with components ranging from 2006 – 2012. Very little breaks on them but when it has I’ve never struggled to find parts.

What’s the shock?

The shock may possibly be serviceable by one of the specialists (i.e. TF Tuned mentioned above). However, if its some weird proprietary Specialized thing (RP3 with Brane Fade maybe) then an alternative would be to buy a more easily serviceable shock second hand (e.g. Fox RP23) with the same dimensions and get it serviced and tuned for your frame. I did this a few years back for one of the first gen Specialized Cambers and the RP23 plus a tune cost £200 overall.

It all comes down to a few things though. Firstly, do you still enjoy riding the bike,

It’ll be a triad, they were shite I blew 3 up and I’m rubbish. Bet you could get a second hand rp23 or similar for not a lotMight take a bit of searching. Re obsolete they’re not long low or slack bikes but I rode everything from lakes to inners on mine and the limiting factor was definitely not the bike. Wider bars 140mm forks and chunky tyres and it was a ripper.

Yeah, if it’s a triad they withdrew support for them pretty fast because they were a bit shite. But mostly they were standard size shocks which means replacement is dead easy. I’d get on ebay/pinkbike to try and find a used shock the right length

I thought they were a slightly odd size. I remember struggling to find an exact match to replace my shock. I’m sure you’ll get something close enough. That said I replaced my 07 stumpy last year. Got a newer, but second hand bike and it is a nicer ride. I loved my stumpjumper but I’m happy to have moved on too.

Not necessarily obsolete but it does get to the point where replacing one part through necessity leads to replacing half a dozen other parts because there’s no longer any compatibility.

My MTB is in the same situation – if anything breaks it’ll be a massive faff to find compatible bits and there’s some stuff that’ll be eBay only.

I reckon the shock is probably salvageable – TF Tuned are fantastic with older stuff like that and Specialized (or eBay) for a new set of bearings/bushings.
And while the bike is in pieces, give it a complete overhaul, strip and clean everything, new cables throughout and it’ll go for another couple of years yet easily.

nickjb
Free Member

I thought they were a slightly odd size. I remember struggling to find an exact match to replace my shock.

Good point, IIRC they did a 200×55 or something daft like that in some bikes but it didn’t really matter

Hi all. This is also my first post. Unfortunately I cant really add anything useful/technical to the conversation. But im reassured by the subject matter. After more than 15 years of intermittent MTBing ive managed to accumulate no less than 3 26″ wheeled bikes, including a 2005 Kona Cinder Cone and a 2012 Lapierre Zesty, plus a folding Montague Paratrooper. Theyre all great bikes in their own way, but are clearly a bit old-fashioned. Ive yet to even swing a leg over a 27.5″ or 29″ wheeled bike. Reading the magazine its easy to feel like everyone is out riding the latest “long, low, slack” carbon-framed enduro rig. So im glad to hear thats not the case at all. Im certainly all for keeping things going as long as possible and recycling rather than replacing. So best of luck finding a replacement shock.

This is an interesting read. I have a 2004 Stumpy with that Septune shock. It’s apparently 191 x 44 so yes, odd size. Yes, the bike’s too tall, wheels are too small and all that but it was great fun over 20 odd lake district miles last weekend. I’m in the process of buying a new bike and it’s a bittersweet feeling as I’ll probably move it on.

My son is riding my 2005 Epic still. The forks got a service at the beginning of the year, but the rear brain shock is likely difficult to service, and I’m fairly sure the bushins and bearings at the back could use some TLC. But I’m not going to spend much on it cos he’s gonna ride it into the ground within a few months.
Cos i gave him that Epic (serviceable or not) i went and bought a new one. Regardless of whether the old one has any life left, the new one is soooo much better (comfort and hoon-factor) it’s rejuventated my riding and enjoyment being out on the trails.
So whether your bike is obsolete or not, think about your riding and what you want to get out of it. If the Stumpy fits the bill, all well and good. If you feel a different bike would suit you better, go with that.
THat said, I’m still occassionally riding a fettled 98 Rockhopper as a back up, but the manitou magnums are unserviceable and deliver around 10mm of travel.

Not quite the same but I’m still plugging away on my 2005 Stumpy HT. Recently invested in it getting frame powder coated, converted from 3×9 to 1 x11. I also had a 2011 Stumpy fsr elite which had the brain. Only sold that one last summer as I’d bought a new bike just before 1st lockdown. Up until last year neither had cost me a fortune, although getting the brain shocks serviced on the fsr wasn’t as cheap as other shock services ive had.

Regardless of whether the old one has any life left, the new one is soooo much better (comfort and hoon-factor) it’s rejuventated my riding and enjoyment being out on the trails.

I think this is very true. Whilst there might be nothing wrong with the Stumpy apart from the shock, it’s an old design that won’t be as capable or fun as something newer. I rode similar bikes in the 2000’s and had a whale of a time, but I’m not rushing to go back to those things.

You’d probably need to spend a couple of grand to get something significantly nicer though so I appreciate that may not be an option, especially in the current climate.

Either way, get the shock fixed.

From googling, I think the frame is designed for a 7.5″ x 1.75″ (~190 x 44mm) shock which is a slightly weird size. I’m guessing this is the shock they offered you? https://www.peddlers-cycles.co.uk/product/components/forks/fox-float-dpx2-factory-3-pos-adjust-evol-shock-2019-190x44mm-725x175quot-var-973-01-224/

However, you may be able to put a different size shock in there. It may even be advantageous to do that, but you would need to make sure the shock can compress without clearance issues. E.g. 190×45 seems relatively common and I’d be extremely surprised if the extra 0.5mm stroke caused the frame to foul itself…

If so, this shock should fit I think: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164820919754?hash=item266017a5ca:g:nnQAAOSwYRtgfH8e
Or if you want a new (budget) one: https://www.starbike.com/en/sr-suntour-rs19-edge-lor-rear-shock-metric/?country=GB&currency=GBP&keep_params#110136

Some info here: https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/75-x175-shock-size-in-mm/

Make sure the shock eyelets are standard before you order anything though.

Nice thread. I have to say that this:

the new one is soooo much better (comfort and hoon-factor) it’s rejuventated my riding and enjoyment being out on the trails.

has been at the back of my mind lately. I absolutely love my current bike (2011 ASR-5 Frankenbike) but riding with mates on shiny new bikes I do sometimes wonder if I’m due a new one.

wife still rides her 07 stumpy with the triad shock… it has a slight knock (not the bushings) early in the travel which you don’t notice once it’s loaded other wise it works pretty well. 140 mm forks helped a lot with pedal strikes(along with shorter cranks). Though she still runs 9 speed (the xtr rear mech is a mechanical marvel!) have been thinking of switching it over to 1x as she only ever uses the middle ring anyway

I absolutely love my current bike (2011 ASR-5 Frankenbike)

I’ve had a couple of bikes since I sold my ASR-5 but that’s the one bike I really loved and miss. Suspect it’s rose-tinted glasses but that thing was great!

That’s not a bad innings, I was told my 18 month old Rockshox shock was 75% worn out and as RS won’t sell air shafts for them, it really couldn’t be fixed. I’m going to run it till it dies.

Being pretty familiar with that era of Spesh, I wouldn’t think twice about fitting a 190×45 shock, I’m sure even a ‘cheap’ one would be a great upgrade from a 14 year old worn one.

The Triad shock on my 2012 Camber went fairly quickly. Parts to rebuild it were more expensive then a new shock – I think I paid about £200 for a new “OE” no Triad shock.

Is my 2006 Stumpjumper obsolete?

Yes, it is. I also have a shed full of obsolete bikes. They’re still fun to ride, but it will be harder and harder to get parts for them and a new bike will be quite a lot better.

If it was mine, I would give it a final overhaul and think about what to replace it with when it’s completely knackered. You should be able to find a shock that will fit and get it running for a few more years, but it will start costing more and more to keep it running and you are better to put that money into a new bike.

Here’s one of my obsolete bikes, still going strong.

Many thanks everyone for your great input. I will certainly follow up the suggested leads.

No fancy brain or anything on this model. It says “Fox Float R” on it. (I took photos but don’t have a Flickr account or similar, and want to get this reply posted).

Front forks are Manitou Black Elite, which seem to be doing fine. Brakes are Hope, so no problem keeping them going.

To answer a couple of other points:

Regardless of whether the old one has any life left, the new one is soooo much better (comfort and hoon-factor) it’s rejuventated my riding and enjoyment being out on the trails.
So whether your bike is obsolete or not, think about your riding and what you want

That’s really interesting to hear. I have just turned 50 years young (how did that happen?!) and am determined to improve my moderate skills and continue to enjoy riding. Therefore the temptation to invest in a nearly new bike instead is pretty strong, I must admit 🙂 I tried a couple of 27.5″ and 29″ bikes at an event at Aston Hill 3 or 4 years ago, and the 27.5″ did seem good for my style of riding.

This is going off-topic, and probably opening a large can of worms, but my recent reading has suggested dropping something like £850 on a 2020 Calibre Bossnut would be a quite inexpensive way of upgrading to something that punches above its weight (so to speak), with modern geometry.

Being pretty familiar with that era of Spesh, I wouldn’t think twice about fitting a 190×45 shock, I’m sure even a ‘cheap’ one would be a great upgrade from a 14 year old worn one.

Great advice, thanks. I will look into this. I’m a bit loath to find another of the exact same shock on eBay as I suspect it won’t be long before that gives up too, so this seems a better option.

Wish I still had my 2005 Stumpy

I’m wanting to make sure I wouldn’t say the same thing! I already have an almost-immaculate early 2000s GT Timberline (in the gorgeous green livery, still on the original tan wall tyres) so don’t really have space to repair the Stumpy and buy another 😉

So – I need to get some facts and figures together, and I suspect it will be a tough decision.

But thank you for helping make it a far more informed decision. Loving this forum 🙂

while there’s probably nowt wrong with it, it is 15 years old, any cash you throw at it is only going to be less money that you have to spend on it’s replacement when it final either breaks, or you can’t get a part for it.

while there’s probably nowt wrong with it, it is 15 years old, any cash you throw at it is only going to be less money that you have to spend on it’s replacement when it final either breaks, or you can’t get a part for it.

I’m beginning to think along those lines.

*If* so, I’ll need to search past forum posts, to learn about eco-friendly bike recycling.

Though it does seem a travesty. I wonder if in another 10 or 15 years time they will become popular again, like cars…

I had the 2005 FSR which had the Septune (with its 7 ‘pro-pedal’ settings that all felt exactly the same). The 2006 had the Triad. I remember it being an odd size (190×50?) when mine died and I had to replace it with a Fox Float R with no PP (didn’t make much difference) as it was cheaper than mending the original. Could you just risk fitting a 200mm if it’s that or write off the bike? The bottom bracket on those bikes was always way too low (imho)

I’ve had a very low mile 2006 stumpy fsr comp sitting in the man cave for years now, bought when my lad was born and I found i never had time to ride it, ended up getting into road riding as it was just more accessible.

I keep threatening to sell it but I never get around to it, now said young man is about big enough to ride it so I think ill just let him use it 🙂

I keep threatening to sell it but I never get around to it, now said young man is about big enough to ride it so I think ill just let him use it 🙂

🙂 Sounds like a plan. My 12 yr old has had his eye on the Timberline for a couple of years, though I treasure it like a museum piece 😉

I can see it would be easy to keep it and hand it down but right now you’ll get decent money for it. I put my stumpjumper frame up for sale and the metaphorical phone didn’t stop ringing. I got enough money to buy a pretty decent hard tail frame with modern geometry and space for 27.5 wheels

As above, I sold my 06 Stumpy frame and shock last year for decent money. If you don’t want to split it the complete bike would sell ok too.

That’s really interesting to hear. I have just turned 50 years young (how did that happen?!) and am determined to improve my moderate skills and continue to enjoy riding.

So I’m 5 years older than you, and thought that if I don’t buy that lovely n+1 I’ve been dreaming about, I’ll soon be too old to enjoy it properly. And I’m beating Strava PRs from 2013/4 almost every time I’m out on it.
If it lasts as long as my 05 epic it’ll see me through to 70, at which point it’ll be time for the e-bike purchase.

I had this problem with my 2007 FSR Stumpy with the brain and spesh shock.

Went to the concept store in Bristol and asked for a service. The price of which was almost as close as a brand new shock with brain at £200 and fitted.

No brainer. But this was a couple of years ago. So there might not be any in existance.

Good luck with sourcing the parts, but try your nearest concept store. Might help.

Before I bought a new bike in 2020 its predecessor I’d been very happy on since 2008, although I had made quite a few changes along the way including geometry, and it was already a more up to date geometry than a mid 00s stumpy. New bike didn’t change my riding but it is undeniably better and fundamentally different. I don’t buy bikes often, still have pretty much all the frames I’ve owned and still periodically ride an incarnation of that 07/8 full suss and a 26 Soul.

Then this week I rode a couple of trails on a friend’s 08 stumpy. Quite honestly, there was so much about it that has been improved and by so much that I would suggest trying a few fairly recent bikes before starting to spend money on repairs.

The changes over the years can seem pretty small as we go along but in my case when I returned to an old bike after getting used to newer, they suddenly seemed to multiply ten fold.

I’ve always had 26″ wheeled bikes and poo-pood all the bigger wheel sizes, wide bars, 1x11s, uppy downy seatposts and slack head angles that my mates have.

Then I got a used On One Codeine 29er (for a song) and……errr…..it’s actually pretty good.

If you can keep it going without too much cost you’ll still enjoy the Stumpjumper – so I’d do that. A couple of years ago someone gave me an old Raleigh USA rigid MTB. I was going out riding my local trail and all my other bikes were out of action so I took the Raleigh. Every twig was like a log and every stone like a boulder but I had a hoot! So if it’s fun, it doesn’t matter what you ride.

i’ve recently retired a 2007 stupmjumper s-works. it had very light use over the years because like the poster above, i got it when my first son was born.

the last trip to bike park wales last year resulted in some of the pivots needing replacing and i managed to chew the rear pivot bolts getting them out so faced with the task of finding bolts (which wasnt looking simple) then a puller to get the double blind bearings out, i bit the bullet and replaced it.

brand new on-one whippet is just the bike for the riding i get to do these days (and for the few trips to BPW i’ll just hire something) and the parts fron the s-works have gone onto an on-one jack flash jump bike for said eldest son which seems apt