Specialized Stumpjumper Owners

I am thinking about getting the alloy version. I prefer the 2017 stealth black look, but its only a couple of hundred pound cheaper than the 2018 model. I have noticed though that the 2018 model now comes with 2.6″ rubber. Is it a baby mid fat bike? It looks like it has an identity crisis.

So my question to owners is this. Is it an all day trail/xc bike as Specialized claim, or is it a baby endure bike, or something else.

Oh, and does anyone know what that black bit is on the downtube, just behind the fork crown?

Stops fork bashing off downtube.

No one ride either of these models?

FWIW I’ve a 2014 Stumpy 29er. The geometry isn’t radically different to today’s version which is the main reason why I’ve held off updating my frame.

TBH, the Stumpy is an all-rounder but if I had to pick a niche for it, it’s definitely a trail bike…but the caveat is that it’ll cope admirably with all day XC (even if it’s a little on the portly side) and it’s very good on the descents.

My own has a 150mm Pike, which has slackened the front a little at the expense of a teeny bit of top tube length.

The tyre question is one for someone else to answer. I believe that STW has reviewed the Butcher/Slaughter combo in 2.6″ recently and rates them very highly, with the caveat that wider tyres aren’t happy in winter slop. If you’re a three season rider then that won’t matter to you.

The tyre question is one for someone else to answer. I believe that STW has reviewed the Butcher/Slaughter combo in 2.6″ recently and rates them very highly, with the caveat that wider tyres aren’t happy in winter slop. If you’re a three season rider then that won’t matter to you.

Just checked that out, the review is for the 2.8″ version so getting into plus territory. The 2018 Stumpy is specced with 2.6″ butchers.

I’ve got the 2017 Carbon 29″ version which you can flip over to a fattie with different wheelset. Are you looking at the 27″ or 29 version? I think you can run 2.6’s on the one sold as stock with 27 – or wider if you go for the 6fatty or 29 version.

I was a bit underwhelmed with mine for XC duties, at least initially. It’s no climber. Sure it will winch its way up stuff (and very technical stuff) but where I live (south downs rider) it lacked the zip I was hoping for from a 29. Largely due to it being a bit of a porker. (31.5lbs) – and seemed to wallow a little through the shock travel.

If you want it mainly for XC duties, I would look elsewhere. I’ll crank out a 30 miler on it…but not much more than that. And if you are with people on short travel rigs, hardtails – you had better be pretty fit, or it isn’t much fun.

If you want to use it for trail riding…that is when it comes alive, in my opinion. Around the trails of North wales (and South for that matter!), it was extremely capable. It hugs berms and corners very well, surprisingly nimble around hairpins for a tank and even has me (a wheels on the ground man), hitting drops and jumps that would have previously left me with heavy pants.

I was all set to sell it due to the initial disappointment with XC performance…but the more I am using it, the more I am loving it.

Ah, apologies for my mistake.

I cannot really comment on the merits of the tyres, I’ve never tried the Slaughter, but I do rate the Butcher very highly in 2.3″ form.

Its the 650b version I`m interested in not the “clown bike” version 😈

I’ve got the 2017 Carbon 29″ version which you can flip over to a fattie with different wheelset. Are you looking at the 27″ or 29 version? I think you can run 2.6’s on the one sold as stock with 27 – or wider if you go for the 6fatty or 29 version.
I was a bit underwhelmed with mine for XC duties, at least initially. It’s no climber. Sure it will winch its way up stuff (and very technical stuff) but where I live (south downs rider) it lacked the zip I was hoping for from a 29. Largely due to it being a bit of a porker. (31.5lbs) – and seemed to wallow a little through the shock travel.
If you want it mainly for XC duties, I would look elsewhere. I’ll crank out a 30 miler on it…but not much more than that. And if you are with people on short travel rigs, hardtails – you had better be pretty fit, or it isn’t much fun.
If you want to use it for trail riding…that is when it comes alive, in my opinion. Around the trails of North wales (and South for that matter!), it was extremely capable. It hugs berms and corners very well, surprisingly nimble around hairpins for a tank and even has me (a wheels on the ground man), hitting drops and jumps that would have previously left me with heavy pants.
I was all set to sell it due to the initial disappointment with XC performance…but the more I am using it, the more I am loving it.

Thanks for the reply. Its mostly for trail use, but I do the occasional longer day out in the summer months. Sounds like the 2017 version might suit better then.

I’ve got the 2012 29er too. It hasn’t changed that much since then – but weirdly has got a bit shorter. It’s a chunk of bike with a pike on the front, but a lot of fun as a trail bike. It’ll do XC, but not rapidly. Keep thinking I should probably update it but every time i ride it I can’t think why I need to. Mine fits B+ tyres too for a change.

Can’t see what the point of a 650b version would be, tbh.

I’ve got a 29″ version, but a 27.5 with 2.6 tyres is going to be pretty similar…
Seems spot on for all day technical trail riding to me. The only issue I have is that I find the BB a touch low for rocky / rutted climbs (and occasionally on descents, but that’s probably user error 😉

Its the 650B version I`m interested in not the “clown bike” version

I test rode my Stumpy back to back with the 650B version, as I like you was vehemently anti-wagon wheel. I found that the 29er is better balanced (it’s beautifully drifty and well composed) and to my own surprise I preferred it. I can’t tell you if that preference was because of the wheels or down to geometry, but the difference was noticeable and I haven’t had cause to regret it for a moment.

I also have a 650B Norco Sight carbon, which is at least 3lb lighter than my Stumpy and is an entertaining ride. But the Norco is marginally slower around my local loop and isn’t as finely balanced.

I have had a 2018 Stumpy Carbon 29er for a month and have used it considerably in that time.

I wanted a more capable companion for riding than my skittish carbon racy 29er HT which I love, but as a recent returner I wanted another bike for long days in the mountains that didn’t smash you to pieces,and also a bike for getting to the local trail centre to improve crap technical ability.

It has been a great acquisition, it can climb, gives a snappyness and quick pick-up that you don’t get from alu (that always feels a tad leaden!). I ride it for hours and still love it afterwards.

The black bit is a storage bit for a 29er tube and co2 tools etc. Very handy feature

Oh yes, more pedal on rock action than I am used to but I don’t mind that too much. It makes me feel like I am using the bike, and it is just a personality trait

Interesting point Muzz. Ive read the bb height can be an issue but helps with the handling.

If I got the 2018 model with 2.6″ 650b, its going to be similar I guess to a 29r with 2.3″ tyres. But if decide at a later date to go with 2.3″ tryes then I am going to dropping that bb height even more. Mmmmmm 😐

It’s no big deal the BB height, and that geometry gives strengths in other areas.

We have both the 29er and 650b carbon versions between us. Both are very capable bikes and not had much problem with pedal strikes. The 2.6 Butcher was developed in conjunction with the S Works team for the EWS this year. It will be very tight in a non boost fork from what we saw in Finale. All the new Butchers have a different tread pattern and are now made of a different compound. The side walls feel more flexible and thinner, they certanly go on the rim easier. The side walls on the 2.6 arent much different than the 2.3 so its not going to be like a 29er.

The side walls on the 2.6 arent much different than the 2.3 so its not going to be like a 29er.

Wouldn’t that depend on the rim width?

Wouldn’t that depend on the rim width?

Not quite, it’s the tyre sidewall profile that dictates the overall diameter. Rim width won’t make a great deal of difference here.

You could opt for a Stumpjumper Fattie and have two wheelsets – 29er in the winter, 650B+ in the spring/summer/autumn for the best of both worlds. I did seriously consider this at one point.

The 2.6s we looked at in Finale were on Carbon Rovals, our 29er is on 2.3 and Rovals [same width] at the moment and there was big difference in diameter.

The 2.8s x 650b that were fitted to their Kenevo E bike had alot deeper sidewall which was more comparable with a 29er diameter

The side walls on the 2.6 arent much different than the 2.3 so its not going to be like a 29er.

It’s not just the diameter that dictates the handling though. The extra wheel inertia from the additional weight at the rim will make the wheel behave more like a larger diameter wheel.

FWIW, the 2.6 Butcher is not 2.6″ wide, on the box Specialised state a range of widths dependant on rim size and it only gets close to 2.6″ on 40mm internal rim widths…

On Flow EX’s it was slightly narrower than a 2.4 High Roller both at 25psi (I know the these rims are a bit narrow but they are all I had to hand to compare sizes).

The Slaughter box has the same measurements.

Disappointing!

Does anyone know of anywhere stocking the 2.8 Slaughters?

Does anyone know of anywhere stocking the 2.8 Slaughters?

https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Specialized/Slaughter-GRID-2Bliss-Ready-Clincher-MTB-Tyre-650b/GHKB

Thanks @trailwagger

Freeborn in Horsham have them, I think.

Link

My lbs are selling a 2016 spec stumpy expert carbon 650b for just over 2k.

Would you take that given its a 4.5k bike over the 2018 alloy comp version?

I would take the carbon and the spec over the alloy one but I’m a sucker for a bargain

Looks like 2016 is non boost which i like.. and the weight saving is impressive over the alloy version. Then you get swat…pikes…. i am talking myself into this.

Wouldn’t take a lot of talking to me. I can get a packet of haribos and my bikini in the SWAT and still have room left. You also get the multi tool and chain splitter with the Expert. The wheels should also be a better spec. To me it would be a no brainer.
I can’t tell the difference between boost and non boost on the Rovals

Well ive never been one to be indecisive…. ive just ordered it and can pick up tomorrow after work…. excited for saturday ride now 😀

It’s not what you spend it’s what you save. Enjoy it.

Can anyone tell me if there should be some sort of soft bag included in the swat glovebox when you get one of these bikes?? Mine hasnt got one but has the two other tools.

All ours have. There are two. One that takes a tube and the other will take a pump or two gas cartridges.
It’s not been pushed further up down tube above the Swat box

Had a shakedown ride at FOD today… wow is all i can say. Such a difference to my Trance that i cant believe it has taken me so long to change bikes. It feels so well balanced.
Still need to play with the rear shock, the auto sag seems to set quite big at nearly 40% and the shock seems to give up its travel a little to easily.

We don’t use the auto sag. Tend to set ours up at 30% with the backpack on.
Glad you like it

Picked up the missing bits and bobs today including the SWAT bags/wraps whatever you want to call them.
In the bag of bits was a black plastic thing about the size/shape and thickness of a disc rotor. Any ideas what this is for?

Spoke guard thing that sits behind the cassette?

It’s a cake stand, actually a very rare specialized accessory. When you store cake in the SWAT box (and you will), it allows you to arrange said cakes nicely on a stand for your friends at the mid ride tea and cake stop.

Trust me, they will love it….

Spoke guard thing that sits behind the cassette?

No, that’s the first thing I rip of any bikes. Its an “accessory” that came in the bag of bits. As I said its rotor size and shape but with a bit missing out of the circle say from 12 o clock to two o clock.