Specialized this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Stumpjumper with a bike that looks better than ever before, with dramatic improvements to the suspension system and vastly increased versatility across the range.
The FSR pivot first appeared in 1993 and since then Specialized has been evolving its full suspension bikes at a rapid rate, responding to ever-changing riding styles and demands, keeping at the forefront of current technology. There’s much evidence in Specialized’s 2012 lineup that this continues to be the case.
In our first instalment, we’re going to focus on the Stumpjumper, a core product in the range and one that is perfect for most typical UK trail riders.
Stumpjumper gets AutoSag shock technology
The new Stumpjumper FRS features the brand new AutoSag system, the latest development with Fox, and is intended to take the pain and guesswork out of correctly setting up the sag on your bike.
Getting the sag properly set on a full suspension bike is imperative to getting the most out of the suspension, but it’s certainly an area that needs more education if the rider is to get it properly dialled in.
AutoSag aims to make it as easy as sitting on the bike, hitting a lever, and hey presto the sag is perfectly set, ready to ride. To setup the shock, it’s simply a matter of pumping the shock to 50 psi over the rider weight, sitting on the saddle and hitting the Autosag button. The shock will release air until the desired sag point is reached.
Stumpjumper FSR is more versatile than ever before
Versatility, lightweight and durability have always been watchwords with the Stumpy FSR, it’s a bike that appeals to a wide range of trail riders where riding style can vary a huge amount.
The Stumpjumper FSR range extends to 10 bikes this year. The regular bike has been given a lower bottom bracket, slacker 69˚ head angle and short 450mm chainstays than the Epic cross-country race bike.
The EVO variant of the same frame is designed for burlier riding. It’s essentially the same frame but modified, with a 1˚ slacker head angle and a small 10mm travel boost on the 26in bike, less on the 29in bike. The build kit has also been refocused too with tougher components all round.
The EVO also keeps the price more realistic with a hydroformed M5 aluminium frame and loses the RP2 AutoSag feature on the Fox shock.
All the frames share modern features that we’d expect to see on a current trail bike, like ISCG05 tabs for running a chainguide, a tapered head tube, direct mount brake tabs on the swingarm and PressFit 30 bottom brackets. The frame is dropper post compatible, but Specialized take the integration one step further with internal cable routing.
Dangler chain device
Something else the Stumpjumper FSR bikes share is the brand new Dangler chain device. Who here can remember the DCD, a chain device popular during the 90s. Well the Specialized Dangler is essentially a modern version of that iconic product, but should work a whole lot better.
It weighs just 30g and promises low-friction and is made from composite plastic technology taken from the motorbike world.
S-Works Stumpjumper FSR Carbon
Pictured to the left is the top-of-the-range S-Works Stumpjumper FSR 29er Carbon, which features an all-new carbon frame including a carbon fibre rear triangle, making for one seriously light and stiff frameset. It’s available with 26in or 29in wheels and, at the heady heights this premimum model occupies, it comes fully loaded with the best components.
Stumpjumper hardtail gets new alu model
The Stumpjumper, 30 years ago, started out as a hardtail. And in the 2012 range the name still applies to a hardtail range. There’s a carbon version, unchanged from when it was launched last year, but all-new is the an M5 aluminium model, built around 26in or 29in wheels. Features include a tapered head tube, direct post brake tabs, PressFit 30 bottom brackets, 27.2mm seatpost and 90mm Fox forks.
More on the full range of Specialized 2012 bikes, including new 29ers, the Epic, Carve 29er and much more, soon…
