New stumpy is electronic shifting only

“coincidently” the same day we see the new lower cost Sram AXS groupset, we get the worlds most popular (i think) all rounder bike comes without provision for cable routing.

has Sram set this up for world domination or will we see wireless shimano soon?

Is this the way the world is going or have they painted themselves into a corner.

They do seem to use their bulk buying power to make the full builds a much (comparatiely) cheaper option than the frame only, most people I know with them, but not all, seem to just ride them stock.

If it came on the bike anyway, who would be put off by electronic shifting?

Other bikes are available (and much cheaper to keep running).

If it came on the bike anyway, who would be put off by electronic shifting?

I’d be a little nervous right now but I certainly don’t look for bikes with canti bosses or able to take a front mech.  Right now I want routing for a stealth dropper rather than assume wireless so I guess I’m not ready to make the wireless gears only leap

I’m so glad they are rather pricey…I do so love a Stumpy 😂

Given that axs has been around for 5 years now, I’m not sure it is ‘new’, so really isn’t an issue. However, if you are out in the wilds in an unpopular place and have a mechanical, then I can see that being a concern, but otherwise – aside from the price – it is very common nowadays.

Tbh I’m always a bit surprised when I see a “high spec” bike that doesn’t have electronic shifting – it’s better in every way except cost. Obvious SRAM are miles ahead too so Shimano really need to catch up, wouldn’t even consider their version atm.

The Alloy version has SX.

Sorry thats the old model.

External hoses too?

If I was spending £7-10k on a push bike I’d want every bell and whistle going. I’d also want a motor so the Stumpy is a big fail for me. 🤣

Been common in road bike frames for years – frames that’ll only accept Di2 wiring not mechanical cables and I’m sure Canyon had (for a while anyway) a bike that had zero cable holes designed for SRAM wireless only.

Great in every way. Except it means running sram.

Great way to ruin a good ride 😉

Don’t mind me over here stockpiling m9120 doubles and 4*104 triple rings before the apocalypse

All for external routing…internal is a pain all round (suspect this will be like the Presta/Schrader debate – all personal choice).

Just zip-tie a full-length outer to it🤷

But yes, that would put me off. Also pf BBs and especially proprietary shocks

Hardly shocking on their flagship  carbon trail bike now is it? Dual air chamber shock is more interesting.

TBH though, seeing as I’d only ever be mulling a 2nd hand one of these over, I’m already out. Imagine being the poor fool picking up a 3-5 year old used stumpy down the line, having to replace a goosed axs mech and get a proprietary shock (probably out of production by then) serviced.

At this price point they’re not really intended to be ‘sustainable‘ products anymore. I’ll be interested to see if the same choices and designed in compatibility issues carry on through to the pauper’s aluminium versions…

You can use any shock with it…

Imagine being the poor fool picking up a 3-5 year old used stumpy down the line, having to replace a goosed axs mech and get a proprietary shock (probably out of production by then) serviced.

+1

But also, SRAM, especially the cheaper stuff, has a reputation for being a bit …….. quick wearing and fragile

GX I can live with, SX/NX at least the cable stuff you can just swap like for like with a shimano mech if/when it dies.

Been common in road bike frames for years – frames that’ll only accept Di2 wiring not mechanical cables and I’m sure Canyon had (for a while anyway) a bike that had zero cable holes designed for SRAM wireless only.

TBH I could live with it on a road bike, my road bikes mech is 20 years old!

I’d not want to go back to cable shifting now, electronic shifting is just better. Whilst it may be a spec unique shock it’s not restricted to it so no issues there.

The biggest issue I can see is it’s just not very exciting/inspiring for that much money.

thisisnotaspoon

But also, SRAM, especially the cheaper stuff, has a reputation for being a bit …….. quick wearing and fragile

Think thats a fair criticism of the cheaper stuff, but GX and up is very good these days, and better in a lot of ways than Shimano equivalents. My GX AXS mech has had a serious battering over the years and keeps.on going.

If it came on the bike anyway, who would be put off by electronic shifting?

Me – it would be a deal breaker.  I wouldn’t buy a bike with it

But why not give riders the option?

They’re still having to run one routing sleeve to the RH chainstay for the brake. On the EVO they both went the same way then at the chainstay bridge one went left the other right.

I’m guessing when they update the alloy version it’ll have cable routing.

Just zip-tie a full-length outer to it🤷

And party like it’s 1999.

Zip ties were the done thing when retrofitting disks and maguras to your non disk non hydraulic routed frames.

The best ideas don’t go away for ever 😉

I wish Specialized would stop with the stupid slack seat tube.

Yes, I know it’s an (effective) 77° but that’s only at a certain extension. The higher you go, the slacker it gets. For the longer legged, this isn’t great. I guess they know more than me about designing bikes though. Other than that, I like the look of it

I wouldn’t buy an mtb that was electronic shifting only. I mangle mechs on a pretty regular basis and it’s expensive enough having to buy 11s XT!

I also know 2 people who have ditched AXS (not Transmission) due to its fragility and lack of durability.

A pal has AXS on his eeb, mech is knackered.

+£400 to replace.

I suggested he try for a warranty as it’s the spring that seems to have failed.

Lucky boy, SRAM agreed and one is on it’s way.

It’s not buying a replacement that would bother me, it’s buying a second replacement as I twatted the first replacement on the first/second ride…

Electronic shifting is nice though…

as a massive fan of AXS I dont have an issue with this. Have been using the older AXS for the last 4ish years without issue and am now on T-Type, again, its been flawless, so a electronic only bike wouldnt be an issue.

Think yourself lucky they put a cable dropper post in 🙂 Or went with headset cable routing!

I like the new stumpy. sounds like a very versatile trail bike. Expensive, yes, but many bikes are these days.

Will be interesting to see if an alloy version follows and if that will have the ability to run a mechanical drivetrain.

I accept AXS is reliable and even durable these days but it’s replacing damaged parts which is inevitable in MTBing, that would put me off. As folk above have said, a conventional mech is expensive enough without wireless tax.

For the “I wouldn’t buy it” crowd, were you considering buying a stumpy anyway?

My wife love it and has installed on two of her bikes.

I’ve specced no cable/hose routing on bikes, so no big deal for me. Got AXS the day it came out and, touch wood, it’s been fit and forget.

They do seem all the parts – cages, bodies, etc -0 for the AXS mech, they are repairable as well as durable

it’s better in every way except cost.

And convenience (including having to remember to charge).

They do seem all the parts – cages, bodies, etc -0 for the AXS mech, they are repairable as well as durable

IIRC the cage parts cost more than I might spend on an entire mechanical mech.

It’s a bold move from Spesh, and presumably there are advantages to them in production costs and design convenience.

Is there also no routing for a cable dropper? That was the awkward bit on the old Stumpy Evo.

Pic shows 2 cables. I’ve run AXS for a few years and prefer it over the normal.

The charging part is a myth really…unless you genuinely have no interest in maintaining your bike…chains get lubed, tyres get inflated, shocks get tweaked…charging a mech battery is just like that.
The mechs are very robust – going by the scores and marks on mine, it has taken a fair few knocks.

Pic shows 2 cables.

Good spot, no cable droppers would be a step too far eh.

But if you’re doing tube-in-tube runs for two cables anyway, would one more really be that hard?

I think people are very tribal about their droppers.

If not now, then at least when this was designed, there was only one option that could hope to produce in the volume spesh require, which was the reverb, which tops out at 170mm.

IMO An MTB needs to take a battering and be easily repairable at a reasonable cost. For that reason, I’m out.

If not now, then at least when this was designed, there was only one option that could hope to produce in the volume spesh require, which was the reverb, which tops out at 170mm.

It’s also expensive.

ASX mechs and seatpopsts are both ~£300 more than their acoustic cousins aftermarket. And I’m guessing Spesh is paying peanuts for the x-fusion droppers.  So the price hike probably wasn’t worth it even if the OEM pricing is better.

But if you’re doing tube-in-tube runs for two cables anyway, would one more really be that hard?

You’d think so, especially if they just put a modular port on the end of them so you could run 1/2/3 cables into the same port.

Either that or why not just go all in with an integrated headset like road bikes and hide the brake hose as well?  It’d actually be easier than a road bike because you could hide it a 1.5″ headset bearing?

Great in every way. Except it means running sram.

XT/XTR wireless is supposedly due at the end of the year.

Spesh had to go with a wired dropper, as the AXS is comically long and there isn’t the greatest insertion depth.

The elephant in the room is the price, Levo SL, which is the same frame/parts, is currently the same price.

I’d be intrigued by one to replace my short travel Stumpy, but not until they are on sale.

I like the look of it and don’t think the cost is that bad really. The shock can be serviced or replaced just like any other. I’ve moved over to AXS on most of the bikes in this household and wouldn’t buy a new bike with mechanical shifting (unless it was so heavily discounted I could upgrade immediately). Zero issues other than occasional scares when I’ve forgotten to charge a battery for a month or two. Never had one totally run out though. Love the light touch and perfect shifts. Latest T-type shifts even better and the pod controller feels great. Loads of additional, techy benefits too via the apps.