Submitted by
Aaron Lakanen
a Weekend Warrior
from Cincinnati, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2007
Strengths: Suspension and geometry.
Weaknesses: Only ridden one day so far!
Bottom Line:
Wow, If I had only known how good a full-suspension bike handled years ago! This is a fantastic ride. The bike absorbs bumps and logs like a 70's lincoln and keeps you rolling right over the top. The Fox Shox definitely are worth the extra dollars compared to what I have ridden before (Manitou). I have not done anything crazy with it, but it seemed to handle turns, bumps, small jumps and a creek crossing quite responsively. I am thouroughly impressed with the biek so far and look forward to many other great rids on it. I think anyone who wants proven quality and durabilty, great components, a smooth ride, and a great looking bike will love this ride.
Similar Products Used: First Full Suspension Bike 2001 Diamond Back Topanga Comp is my other ride
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
Eric Stewart
a
from Ft. Collins, CO. USA
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2006
Strengths: The M4 aluminum frame is very durable and it’s a great looking model. I really like the full suspension and the ability to "click" the shocks on and off. I ride the city streets from time to time, so it nice to have a hard frame so I don’t bounce.
Weaknesses: During a ride as I ascended to 7800ft, the stock rear derailleur broke and I had to replace it with a higher end model. The new derailleur was inexpensive and only took 30 minutes to replace. After the upgrade, I haven't had any problems.
Bottom Line:
I've really enjoyed this bike over the past 2 years. I purchased it in 2004 from a store in San Diego after it went on sale, so they could bring in the newer models. One thing is, don't be afraid to buy a model that is a few years old. Over time you can upgrade, yet save a little cash in the beginning. Overall, it’s a great bike.
Bike Setup: All stock except for the rear derailleur and bar end extension
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Submitted by
Paul Lowe
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2005
Strengths: relaxed frame geometry for downhill riding, fox float
Weaknesses: poor quality tyres, manatou black front fork/suspension, weak rims and spokes
Bottom Line:
I have the Stumpjumper FSR Elite 04 which was released in Australia. I am not quite sure how it matches up with this product. In general while i think the bike is a good product but some components are weak. I do not think that it is a good bike for aggressive cross-country/all mountain riders. The factory rims/spokes are weak and should be upgraded to something stronger. The front suspension needed replacing within a year. On saying that i enjoy riding the bike. Maybe a Enduro would have been a better fit for my riding style.
Bike Setup: Manatou Black front; fox float rear; shimanio disc breaks, gear set, cranks (mix from deore to XT)
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Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from Pembroke Pines
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2005
Strengths: Proven suspension technology, good customer service support from Specialized, easy to ride.
Weaknesses: Frame is great, but the small things on this bike are not so good. I have broken three rear hubs, on my second bottom bracket, and on my third fork. I also broke the suspension link in the rear...
Bottom Line:
I have spent more money on add ons with this bike, than the original bike cost me to start with. I ride very aggressive trails, but, I do not jump this bike, other than flat landing some 2-3 foot drop offs. I snapped the rear shock linkage in the rear triangle, and that baffles me. Once I added the FOX TALAS RLC front fork, this bike flies!!! The suspension is very tunable, and the way the bike is set up now, makes me a better rider. I am satisfied with the bike, but... it would have been better in the long run to save my money, and wait for the EPIC. The new FSR's seem to have fixed some of the down falls on this design. Still, it is a very proven 4 link design that is easy to service. I have made this bike very personalized and since I have very good components, now I can save for a good Ellsworth Truth frame, and just move everything over to it...
Similar Products Used: Jamis Dakar, GT I drive, Titus Switchblade, Giant NRS
Bike Setup: Now, the only thing factory on this bike is the frame. I have a 2005 Fox TALAS RLC on the front, King seald bearing headset, Thompson (100mm x 5 degree) stem, Easton Monkey Light 1.25 riser bar, RACEFACE grips, XT shifter pods, AVID JUICY 7 disk brakes, Shimano XT crankset and bottom bracket, XT front / rear der's, Time ATAC pedals, Thompson seat post, Selle Italia Flite TI saddle, FOX FLOAT R rear shock, Mavic Crossrock wheels / hubs, XT cassette. Panaracer FIRE XC tires.
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Submitted by
Yong
a Weekend Warrior
from Gold Coast, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2005
Strengths: Cool looking and strong frame. Great off-the-self components and value, especially the Fox Triad shock.
Weaknesses: Paint chips off easily. Even the brake/derailleur cables scuff the paint badly. Smallest scratches with sticks are noticable.
Also, Triad shock badly needs a remote lever on the handlebars - sick of taking the risk of changing from pro-pedal to plush when transitioning down a tight single track.
Bottom Line:
I was seriously looking at the Epic because I do long rides and want to keep up with my hardtail riding buddies but like the comfort and stability of a full susser when going downhill. Epic was out when I kept bottomming out at even the highest pressure setting (i'm over 200 lbs). VT2 was an excellent choice but hard on the uphills and when the chain comes off the front ring to the crank, it is jammed - too hard to deal with on the trails. NRS was good but not plush enough - that was the same problem as the Fuel (as with the Epic).
This Stumpy was the most balanced rig with 4" front and back. Easy to pop wheelies (light) and nimble. The Fox Forx are great for fast fire trails and rough single tracks but the highlight is the triad shock. Lever controls are on the shock so have to reach down. I use propedal all the time except when the going gets rough on downhilll tight single tracks. I often have to stop to do this or risk biting the dust if I do it on the fly with one had off the bars. So many times, I just leave it in pro-pedal mode. Not much of a penalty but I do like the plush ride from the "full open" mode of the rear shock so my fat ass can haul.
Best part, I can actually take this rig through the occasional 3-4 foot drops and it handles it fine. (VT was better though). Beats the Epic, Fuel and NRS when it comes to this!! I love the flexibility of this rig.
Bike Setup: Standard off-the-shelf: Fox Forx RL, Fox Triad rear shock, LX Disc, LX Front & XTR Rear derailleurs, MAVIC 223, Roll X Pro D2 - just check out Specialized website - mine is a 2004 model
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Submitted by
Steven
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney Australia
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2004
Strengths: Rear Suspension--great and responsive. Cranck set -no play very strong-geometry has been great--i dont know what everyone is talking about with front tyre out of alignment with the rest of the frame.
Weaknesses: paint job--the worst I have ever come across. specialized said it was a problem but wont help. hubs not sealed had rear rebuilt 3 times cables are bad quality-went through 4 sets in 6 months. tyres dont work well in wet, dry, cold, hot well anything. Look i am just picking at the small irrelivant BS. Bottom line-great frame
Bottom Line:
Bike is a winner. It does what it needs to do. You might need to "make it your own" with some minor changes. but you should do that with every bike. as said befor paint is crap(bubbles and cracks w/in 4 months and no hard ridding yet) and Specialized should back that up. Stumpy FSR--great stuff.
Similar Products Used: Jekyl, Norco DH, Old Stumpy HT, Giant,Trek,GF, Rocky Mountain
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Submitted by
Erick
a Cross Country Rider
from Tampa, Fl.
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2004
Strengths: -rear shock is great-plush-lockout great, but im having trouble with it squeeking -front der.- even though its lower end it does the job -handelbar,havnt had a need 2 replace it yet... -cool looks
Weaknesses: any moron that says they like the fork that came with this bike should be shot and burn in hel, it has caused me so stress -rear der. is sketcky as heck -stock tires very light but cant hold -stock brakes squeeked
Bottom Line:
at first this bike was the sweetest, but after the first ride hell broke loose, ive had many problems- hense replacing all the stuff, all i have stock is crank, wheelset, frame. if u dont want to replace all ur components then dont get this bike, ill give it 4 flaming shooters, bc i got it cheap, but everall it gets 2 little poopers bc it kinda suks my balls in every way
Similar Products Used: 2002 enduro pro, 2001 rockhopper, 02-motiv
Bike Setup: 03 stumpy, manitou black platinum, pana fire xc pros, lx shifters, mg 60 stem, race face grips, thompson seatpost, speed dial ti levers, avid mech. disc brakes, etc.
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Submitted by
Jaded-J
a Cross Country Rider
from Pennsyltuckey
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2004
Strengths: For the $ there may not be a better bike. Are there better bikes out there? Sure, but they cost significantly more. The rear suspension is the best out there. I think the stock brakes perform flawlessly.
Weaknesses: These are just preferences, but the seat is rough and the axel fork comes up short considering the quality of the rest of the bike.
Bottom Line:
I bought the bike used, but in good condition. It came with all the above mentioned after market parts excluding the seat, but in addition I received a brand new pair of Sidi Dominator loricas, a Sidi jersey, and an extra (different length/angle) Easton MG60 stem so I got a steal of a deal. Without all these extras I would still buy this bike for full retail. If you ride it, you'll buy it.
Bike Setup: '03 Stumpy Disc. Easton Monkey Lite XC bars(shortened 'em to get through some tight spots). Easton EC 70 seatpost, shortened cause I didn't need it all. Easton MG60 stem. WTB Speed V seat (not light, but real plush!). Look "Eggbeaters". OURY grips (these look like grips off of a dirt bike, but they are the best I've ever used).
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Submitted by
Clint
a Cross Country Rider
from Manchester
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2004
Strengths: disc brakes are ok, make some noise thought, frequently rubbing when pads are new
Weaknesses: read on....
Bottom Line:
This bike has been nothing but problems since I bought it: - Rear suspension bolt fell out on the second ride - Fork stabilizer snapped - Rear derailleur has never worked properly - Drive train too finicky!!!! - Fork lockout has never worked, been recalled - Fork rebound doesnt seem to make any difference - Seat cannot take any abuse at all, ripped after one month - Rear fork loses too much air too quick, have to add after every ride - disc brakes inconsistent - Shifter didnt work properly, replaced (for rear) And these are just the mechanical issues! Never mind preferences! JUNK JUNK JUNK
Submitted by
l g
a Weekend Warrior
from Charleston, WV
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2004
Strengths: good stuff for the money
Weaknesses: Rims and fram geometry tolerance (i.e., fron wheel/forks not in-line with frame)
Bottom Line:
Someone on this post said that the geometry of the frame and forks we're not in-line. Meaning that there was a "shift" between the forks and the frame (so the front wheel is straight but not directly in line with the frame). I didn't believe him. Thought maybe he just didn't align his handle bars properly. I bought the bike. He's right. It's off-center enough that you feel out of balance. My shift is to the left. I feel like I'm off balance to the right of the front wheel. A lot of people can't see it...but it's there. Not a huge deal, but it's there...
Now, about the bike. I've had this bike since last May. I ride mostly single track and torn-up fire roads. I broke more spokes than I care to count (over 30 and I've had to walk out 5 times). Why do they use the lighter gauge spokes? Had to go to beefier rims and bigger spokes.
Like others, I also had a constant problem with the alignment of the front and rear derailleur. The reason why people find that after they adjust their derailleur, go ride a few hours only find that it doesn't shift worth a hoot, is because the cables are poorly designed. Take a look and you'll see that dust/dirt gets gunked up and impedes the cable(s) from moving they way they should. I went to fully enclosed cables and have not had a problem since. It took me about 5 months of riding (thrashing) to figure that one out....
Bottom line? I really like the bike. You just need to be aware of some of the things that need tweaked. Glad I bought it. Definitely worth the money. Hope this review helps others...
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Lynn Haven, Florida
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2003
Strengths: almost everything
Weaknesses: Front deraileur (won't last long), fork quality control (dysfunctional rebound damping unit has to be replaced)
Bottom Line:
For context: I'm a 64 yr old retired engineer who doesn't do jumps, but do consevatively bunny hops and wheelies over logs and uses Ned Overend's book as a reference on how to ride. I've been riding off-road for about three years.
I've got over 80 miles on this bike in the N Florida area. It's decreased my lap times because I can keep spinning over the rough sections much better than my old hard tail with a suspension seat post. The quality of frame and rear suspension components is superb. I like the sealed bearings and the easily replaced bushings. The fork works better than my old Rockshox hydrocoil though the rebound damping unit is sick. I'm waiting for the replacement to arrive.
Best I can measure, it weighs about 30 lbs the way I have it outfitted. I like rugged. I tried a supposed 25lb GT and I felt like it would break in the parking lot. However, I'm sure it was really OK. The GT dealer said that there were reports of top-tubes denting easily. Too each his own on the weight thing.
I've improved my hill climbing (in Georgia, N Carolina and Tenn. mountains) tremendously by losing 20 lbs. I got another 5 to go. At 175 plus a 10 to 12 pound pack, the original fork spring is prefect for N Florida. I bought the stiffer spring in case it's needed it in the mountains and Moab this spring. It was "only" $18.00 and it's simple to change out.
This fit of this bike is perfect as made. I've got a longer upper body and probably longer arms. I've never been more comfortable on 17 mile rides. My back-angle is right at 45 degrees which is what Overend recommends.
I transferred the parts from my old bike because I just liked them better. There was nothing wrong with the originals. The original brakes are the bottom line Shimano hydraulics which are only available as OEM. I don't like the maintenance and problems associated with hydraulics. Nor do I need better braking or modulation than the simple cable Avids provide. I've got the new design XT front deraileur on order. We've got XTR on our other bikes (road and ATB), but it looks like they've beefed up the XT and it's a lot cheaper. I do a lot of front shifting and think that derailuer is where the quality needs to be since it's harder to move the chain between rings than between cogs.
If you are sloppy in your spinning, you can pogo on this bike. I attribute that to poor technique and not suspension design. I've read and been told that rear suspensions that pogo less also soak-up the bumps less. So it's a trade-off apparently. If you spin circles as described in Overend's book, you won't pogo even with minimal preload has been my experience. Possibly, a full suspension bike will make you a better pedaler because you get more feedback. I know it's helped me.
Purchased At: Cartecay River Bicycle Shop, Ellijay GA
Bike Setup: Got the dealer to buy back the pedals, hydraulic brakes and levers. I put my old Avid cable-actuated disc's, Avid brake levers, saddle, Race Face riser bar, grips and pedals on it. New XTR shifter pods. The price quoted is sans pedals and brakes.
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Submitted by
Anthony Castillo
a Cross Country Rider
from Ridgecrest California
This is a great bike for anyone for the money you allways have to make some changes to any bike to make it yours, the good thing about this one it doesn't need to many.my first bike with clipless but they didn't take to long to get use to.this old stumper will take anything i throw at it and love it. Specialized always putting out quality
Similar Products Used: My first full suspension was a giant warp ds1
Bike Setup: Had to put heavier spring in fork,stronger mavic rims due to my weight. Panaracer fire XC in back Tioga DH in front
wheels
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Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2003
Strengths: Handling, rear suspension, fit and finish, love the tires so far. I will probably replace with the same when they wear out.
Weaknesses: fork (horrible choice for a bike that good). I had struck oil under 25 miles of trail riding. Pedals are not what I expected. I miss my old 737's
Bottom Line:
I love my version of this bike(fox float fork)! It is a tried and true design that works. It may not have the new fangled (vpp) or bob resitant shock or five inches of travel, but this bike does not need them. I am not throwing my body and bike off of 10 foot drops (at least not on purpose). I can not believe that the person specing this fork rode it before they put it on this bike. The fork may not be the best but, it was specializeds' choice. I would rather see a lower level black that the axel. But you know what people say about opinions! Any way my fox fork completes this bike in a perfect way. I should probably give a lower review because of the crap fork, but I just love riding this bike!
Similar Products Used: Compared to my last bike (Carbon S30)
Bike Setup: stock with an fox float and some used 747 pedals (I know that the fox fork is expensive but the manitou was a joke!
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Submitted by
jeb4
a Weekend Warrior
from Camarillo, Ca USA
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2003
Strengths: The Brakes! Awesome! Frame is strong and solid. The shifting is great even for a mid-lower end set-up. The fox air shock is a real standout. Zero problems there!
Weaknesses: This bike is heavy (to me)! The fork sucks. I cosistantly bottom it out, even though I weigh 10# below the spring rating max. I don't think the tires are the best for the conditions that I ride in, but may be good for others. I don't think that I could find a harder seat if I tried.... Lastly the pedals....change 'em! They are great until things get muddy.......
Bottom Line:
My review sounds very negative, but it's really just nit-picking and preferances. The only exception is the shock....in my opinion, that thing really is a piece of crap and I'm going to upgrade to a fox fork. Although I think the fork is a pile, love this bike. You get a lot for your money and this bike is laid out very well. I HIGHLY recommend this bike!
Submitted by
Brad Astin
a Cross Country Rider
from Stevenson Ranch, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2003
Strengths: Shocks and disk brakes
Weaknesses: pedals, tires, heavy
Bottom Line:
This is an awesome bike for the money. I had a problem early with a bolt coming loose but that was easy to fix. It has been a tough adjustment from my extremely lite hard tail to this but it is well worth the extra weight. Front and rear shocks lock out for the tough climbs and the shocks are ultimate for the downhills. The bike can take a beating and come out fine. I would definately change the tires and the pedals but that is just personal preferance. I plan on upgrading the front der. to XT but other than that it is cool as is. If you are looking for a fast and durable full suspension, this is the bike. Great bike for the money.
