The Specialized Stumpjumper 15 is THE quiver killer. Clever new suspension tech and adjustable angles make for a very capable trail bike.
Click to email a link to a friend must be one of the most iconic trail bikes in MTB history. The first hardtail model was released 43 years ago, and Specialized has just announced the 15th version of the full suspension Stumpjumper. I’ve been riding the Stumpjumper 15 Pro for a month, and it rides like a bike that’s benefitted from years and years of refinement.
Some key updates from the last Stumpy are the new angle-adjustable headset, the lack of a Sidearm support on the frame, and wireless drivetrain-specific cable routing. That’s right – there is no routing for a derailleur cable on this frame! Specialized decided toFinally, the new Genie rear shock is a key component of the Stumpy 15’s versatility.
° steering angle adjustment, and dropping the BB with the chainstay flip-chip lowers it by 7mm and slacks out the bike another 0.5I rode the Stumpy in two positions during my test; neutral/high BB, and slack/low BB. I started off in neutral/high position at Specialized’s launch event in Cowichan Bay, B.C., and later swapped to the slackest and lowest position while riding my much rougher local trails in Pemberton, B.C.
At this point I should mention there is no noticeable feel when the shock’s Genie Band slides up and closes its outer sleeve ports for the last 30% of travel… the transition goes completely unnoticed. The folks at Specialized explained that because of how air compresses, the Genie shock won’t produce a harsh, abrupt feeling when the outer chamber gets cut off. It simply continues to compress consistently despite the immediate reduction of air volume inside.
As for geometry, I noticed while climbing the shorter S3 frame allows for good body movement over the bike. When you need to heave yourself right up over the head tube, it’s easy to do so. When you’re struggling and yanking the bike around tight corners or up technical obstacles during a climb, the less-than-enduro length of this bike is appreciable.
I was pleased to find I didn’t experience as many pedal strikes as expected with the BB in Low setting. I did knock a few rocks and roots, but didn’t have to be as careful as I expected. Even in its High position, the Stumpy is a low-slung bike, but dropping to Low increases that stable ride feel just a bit more.
When climbing in Open mode with four spacers, the spacers don’t produce a big boost in pedaling efficiency or reduce travel usage. I still hit nearly 80% travel climbing in Open mode, so as mentioned earlier the shock’s switch has much more effect on climbing efficiency than the outer air chamber spacers.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Redefines Trail Bike Capability w/ Genie Rear Shocks & Adjustable GeoThe Specialized Stumpjumper 15 is a true quiver killer with it's innovative Genie rear shock, adjustable geometry and 29er/MX wheel options.
Read more »
Apple's M3 Pro MacBook Pro just dropped to its cheapest price yetJoe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories.
Read more »
Labour promises 'wealth creation' manifesto and vows it will be 'pro-business and pro-worker'The manifesto launch will be a chance for Sir Keir Starmer to convince floating voters by outlining Labour's plans for power, though a party source told Sky News it would be a 'slim' document.
Read more »
Tour de France bikes on a budget* — pro race bikes without the pro price tag from Specialized, Canyon, Trek, Pinarello and moreTour de France bikes on a budget
Read more »
Study identifies functional sex differences in specialized pain-producing nerve cellsResearch suggests that males and females differ in their experience of pain, but up until now, no one knew why.
Read more »
Specialized Crux Alloy is Back, Now With D’Aluisio SmartweldThe all-new Specialized Crux DSW (D'Aluisio Smartweld) mimics its carbon brethren and is only 1399 grams for a frameset.
Read more »