Home | Reviews | Bikes | XC Full Suspension

Login  |  Register

Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp

Average Rating 4.67/5
# of Reviews 61
MSRP $
Weight
More Products from Specialized



Submit a Review
Description:
  • Frame: FSR M5 manipulated alloy frame
  • Rear Shock: Fox Triad, custom on-the-fly 3-position switch
  • Fork: Fox Float 120 RL, 120mm
  • Stem: Specialized adjustable rise
  • Chain: SRAM PC-951
  • Crankset: Truvativ Stylo
  • Bottom Bracket: Truvativ GXP, sealed outboard cartridge bearing
  • Saddle: Specialized BG Rival, hollow Cro-Mo rails
  • Pedals: Shimano M-520 SPD
Where To Buy


Specialized


Other Ways To Shop
  • Buy and Sell the Stumpjumper FSR Comp from our Classifieds.
    		• Shop for Similar Products








    Submitted by lanny a Cross Country Rider from fairfield, CA
    Date Reviewed: July 24, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Rockville Park, Fairfield, CA
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $2099.00
    Purchased At:Ray's Cycle -Fairfie
    Strengths:Great suspension-Fox Float front and Fox Tiad rear a winning combination. Follow manufacturers instruction for setup and use pro-pedal for rear
    Weaknesses:For the money (on sale and 250.00 from Specialized) this is an awesome bike. Brakes need breaking in, but everything else is EXCELLENT !!
    Similar Products Used:Gary Fisher Sugar 3
    Bike Setup:Juicy 5 brakes - Fox Float front - Fox Triad rear - SCRAM shifters front and back - Shimano Crank
    Bottom Line:Great climing and control with down hill. First time riding clipless and bitter sweet. Can get through technical better and lots more power, but the rough spots can get you if you're not quick on the dismount. May bit the bullet and get combo platform/clipless pedals.

    My first Brand New real full suspension bike and I can't get enough. Looking for more trails to ride with people who love them.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by f4ocity a Weekend Warrior from Santa Cruz, CA, USA
    Date Reviewed: July 22, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Braile Trail / Enchanted Loop
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $2000.00
    Purchased At:Family Cycle, Santa
    Strengths:Suspension adjustments on the fly are easy to make, and when fully open soak up everything you throw at it. I ride All Mountain aggressively and at 185 lbs and haven't bottomed out either shock yet! Climbs way better than my old i-drive.
    Weaknesses:felons across America are gonna wanna steal your baby.
    Similar Products Used:03' GT i-drive,
    Bike Setup:Stock. At $2,000+ I better not need to upgrade. :p
    Bottom Line:My new bike gives me a major league chubby every time I ride it.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Tom a Weekend Warrior from Darwin, Australia
    Date Reviewed: July 15, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Snowdon and Pont y Scethin
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Purchased At:Edinburgh Bike Coop
    Strengths:Deals with pretty much all thrown at it - light enough to climb well and enough suspension for jumps/drops.
    Weaknesses:None major - stock tires (Spec Adrenaline) wore really fast with multiple side wall holes (maybe due to hard rider), lockout on Fox triad not much use, but propedal so good that never wanted to use it. Avid Juicy 5 brakes work well, but noisy when wet and the pads are a fiddle to change (vs Shimano).
    Similar Products Used:only and first full suss bike
    Bike Setup:original frame/forks/shock/old, old XTR rear mech (2006 model), kenda nevegal 2.3 tires on front and Panaracer Cinder 2.1 on rear. 2007 XT cranks, DT rear hub, 2008 XT shifters. Original Avid Juicy 5 brakes with 185 front/160 rear (as bought)
    Bottom Line:A good overall heavier duty XC full suss bike for those wanting to have a bike that does pretty much all that you ask of it. Have also hauled a trailer for 3 weeks on off road/technical trails without any problems. Would buy it again - enough of a bottom line for me.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by felix5150 a Weekend Warrior from Simi Valley
    Date Reviewed: July 11, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Marshal Canyon
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Strengths:climbing, going downhill, and everything in between
    Weaknesses:white saddle, seatpost clamp, brakes are noisey at times
    Similar Products Used:'99 fsr pro
    Bike Setup:stock except saddle
    Bottom Line:This is for the '08 stumpy. My previous bike was a '99 fsr pro which I thought was the absolute bomb. I still prefer the look of the fsr pro, but the '08 stumpy does everything so much better! I climb much quicker and am a lot faster on the downhills. Propedal helps so much on the climbs and I never feel the need to use the lockout. The brake discs need to be cleaned with alcohol after every ride it seems, but they perform when I need them. It also seems that I need to tighten the seatpost clamp much more than I should have to. Not sure if this is going to cause a material failure later, so we'll see. I was a little skeptical on the Captain 2bliss, but am glad I left them on. There's only been a couple of situations in sandy corners on the bottom of hills where they didn't hold their grip. I am sooo glad that i chose this year's model to make the change, this bike ROCKS!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by mboldt a Cross Country Rider from San Jose, CA
    Date Reviewed: July 8, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Soquel Demonstration Forest
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $2100.00
    Strengths:Great Shocks, brakes and fit. Climbs better than my old hardtail.
    Weaknesses:Really need to crank the seatpost clamp to keep the seat from lowering during rides.
    Similar Products Used:Trek Fuel EX-8, Giant Trance X1
    Bike Setup:Stock 2008 XL size with the Silver/Black/Blue color combo
    Bottom Line:This bike is very forgiving of rider error. Nose dived off a couple of drop-offs and the suspension sucked it up. I would have endoed on my old hardtail. Nice hydraulic brakes. The days of cramped hands are over. The propedal setting on the rear shock is ideal for virtually all climbs. No noticeable bob. Very stable on rocky technical descents.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Gunner a Cross Country Rider from roswell GA
    Date Reviewed: June 24, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:blankets creek
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $2500.00
    Purchased At:out spoken
    Strengths:light weight full suspension bike great for climbing and decending. cockpit and tires/ wheels are great.
    Weaknesses:whimpy cranks, wide handle bars, oversized stem and bar so its hard to find a new stem or bar and if you want to replace one to a standerd size you have to replace the other.
    Bike Setup:stock except saddle
    Bottom Line:great bike for prety much any type of riding.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Justin a Weekend Warrior from Nova Scotia, Canada
    Date Reviewed: June 6, 2008
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Strengths:Light, Nimble, Excellent components for the price
    Weaknesses:WHITE SEAT!!! Who puts a white seat ona mountain bike? Even if you don't go into the woods, whatever color shorts you wear, the seat becomes!
    Similar Products Used:Specialed Epic Comp, Cannondale F800, Specialized Enduro, Trek Fuel EX8
    Bike Setup:Bone Stock 2008 Stumpjumper Comp
    Bottom Line:I have only ridden this bike for one day, and I must say its brilliant in design! I am riding the 2008 Stumpjumper Comp, and the thing is a rocketship! Lockout front and rear and you fly, The Fox Triad works great, gives you lockout for fireroads, climbs, road riding, Propedal for the trail, and fully opn for the aggressive trail. The fox fork is plush and very sttiff, tracks very well. I am impressed witht he DT Swiss rims as well, this bike ROCKS!!!

    If you are someone who wants a bike to commute, ride XC, ride aggressive trails, or even bomb down some big descents, look no further.. GOOD JOB SPECIALIZED!! Its almost like a Specialized EPIC, and Specialized ENDURO had a child, taking the best of both worlds!!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jme a from ON
    Date Reviewed: May 23, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Rockcliffe
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Strengths:Absolutely amazing bike that performs well in wet and dry condition. Light for a full suspensions and climbs like a dream. Can bomb downhill over roots, rocks and logs. This bike sucks up all the bumps and makes you a much more confident rider. 1.5-2m drops, no problem. I also take this bike into races and can easily compete with the guys riding the epic, or similar products.
    Weaknesses:Some of the stock components did not suit the bike. I quickly blew out the LX shifters and the truvative crank. I replaced them with Shimano XT shifters and crank. Now the bike is unstoppable! My only complaint now would be the Avid juicy 5 brakes are really noisy when wet and the seat post is a little bit long. I can not drop it low enough if I want to do a day of downhill.
    Similar Products Used:Gary Fisher Hi-Fi, Specialized Epic, Sata Cruz Blur
    Bottom Line:If this bike is on your short list, get it. You will not be disappointed. This bike is very comfortable, 4 hour rides...no problem. Ive ridden a ton of bikes in my time and this is by far my favorite bike that;s affordable.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Jme a from ON
    Date Reviewed: May 23, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Rockcliffe
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Strengths:Absolutely amazing bike that performs well in wet and dry condition. Light for a full suspensions and climbs like a dream. Can bomb downhill over roots, rocks and logs. This bike sucks up all the bumps and makes you a much more confident rider. 1.5-2m drops, no problem. I also take this bike into races and can easily compete with the guys riding the epic, or similar products.
    Weaknesses:Some of the stock components did not suit the bike. I quickly blew out the LX shifters and the truvative crank. I replaced them with Shimano XT shifters and crank. Now the bike is unstoppable! My only complaint now would be the Avid juicy 5 brakes are really noisy when wet and the seat post is a little bit long. I can not drop it low enough if I want to do a day of downhill.
    Similar Products Used:Gary Fisher Hi-Fi, Specialized Epic, Sata Cruz Blur
    Bottom Line:If this bike is on your short list, get it. You will not be disappointed. This bike is very comfortable, 4 hour rides...no problem. Ive ridden a ton of bikes in my time and this is by far my favorite bike that;s affordable.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by jeff richards a Weekend Warrior from pleasant hill California 94523
    Date Reviewed: May 11, 2008
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $800.00
    Purchased At:craigslist
    Strengths:5 inches of plus suspension. Light climbs very well when locked out. The bike turned me into superman
    Weaknesses:Bobs like crazy on the uphills when you forget to lock out.
    Similar Products Used:Coming off a trek 6500 slr.
    Bike Setup:Mavic crossride wheels. Hope mono mini brakes. 2008 xt rear derailer. fox float 120 rl. Fox Triad shock.
    Bottom Line:Loveing this thing Jumping and mashing over stuff I never thouht possible. Myfirst full sus bike and I'm loving it.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Phil a Weekend Warrior from Pittsburgh, PA
    Date Reviewed: May 9, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Hartwood Acres, PA
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $1300.00
    Purchased At:Gatto Bikes
    Strengths:Sweet bike. Both front and rear suspension are awesome. Geometry is great and bike rides very smooth and feels good. Frame is solid.
    Weaknesses:Tires-don't know why Specialized put these stock tires on. I replaced mine right away, but one of my riding buddies didn't, and an hour into a rocky trail, his sidewalls were shredded.
    Avid Juicy 5 brakes work great, but are niosy.
    Front of bike is light and has a slight tendency to lift when you are climbing-unless you move your weight forward a lot. But that's a small price to pay for sweet downhill performance.
    Similar Products Used:my first full suspension.
    Bike Setup:Fox float fork, rear shock, shimano XTR shifters and derailer, truvativ crank, wtb wierwolf tires, avid juicy 5 brakes.
    Bottom Line:I went from a hardtail to this bike, and I can't stress enough the difference that this bike has made in my riding. The hills I used to hesitate and brake a lot on, I just bomb on this bike. It lets you just point and go. I'm able to keep up with my buddies now and even pull ahead sometimes. Suspension is plush on downhills, and bike climbs like a mountain goat on the uphills with the pro pedal setting on. This bike is a sweet all around, do it all bike as it has the great parts of a XC bike as well as all mountain features. The only real problem with having this bike is that I can't ride it enough.
    I got it on a closeout deal and it was worth every penny. Although I think I would feel the same even if I paid full price. Kudos to Specialized for making such a great bike.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Alan a Cross Country Rider from San Francisco
    Date Reviewed: May 7, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:the dirtier the better!
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $2500.00
    Purchased At:Mikes Bikes
    Strengths:Overall package. Great suspension and components.
    Weaknesses:Uncomfortable stock seat, stock tires are lousy. Creaking noise unable to solve thus far.
    Similar Products Used:Steel Rockhopper and Stumpjumpers, Cannondale F500, test rode carbon Gary Fisher 29er...steel Rocky Mountain...Cannondale Lefty
    Bike Setup:Avatar saddle, Race Face carbon risers, Fire XC Pro 2.1 tires, downtube mud guard
    Bottom Line:This is not a hardtail. Once you get past that fact, you see this is an excellent bouncy bike that will roll over anything in your path, handle clydesdale weight, and will help you climb with the rear shock in Pro Pedal mode so you can keep up with friends on hardtails uphill and pass them downhill.

    Speaking of ProPedal, I leave the rear shock in that mode for all my riding. The front end is very light, so push your butt to the front of the seat, weight the bars, and crank your way to the top. Don't bother standing up to pedal on uphills, as you WILL bob without lots of body english. You're better off sitting and grinding away in granny gears.

    With two tuneups and a couple swapped parts, the bike fits like a glove and is comfortable on your back and wrists. I may have fit on an XL frame, but couldn't find one and am comfortable on the Large. This frame size gives me a short reach to the upright bars and plenty of room to move while descending technical trails. It's comfy enough for long road rides too if you wish.

    Gripes:
    Stock tires suck (but that's par for the course!) Stock handlebars were fine but carbon bars are bling bling and transfer less bumps to your hands. Stock grips could be larger for big hands but are non-slip (also they wear fast from normal use). Juicy 5 brakes make annoying noises even though they're working great. Fork doesn't completely lock-out, will bounce a quarter of an inch when locked. One of the pivots (at the rear der. hanger) has vibrated out twice now, once on each of my last rides. Awfully annoying creaking noise near the bottom bracket, usually when climbing, which the shop can't figure out how to fix...it doesn't seem to cause a problem, just is obnoxious and shouldn't be happening.

    Raves:
    Shifting is flawless, nice feel to the shifters. Wheels are strong and rarely need minor true. Strong brakes. Suspension is PLUSH! Paint looks great on a 2007 model. After a couple rides you forget the bike is under you, it's a great package. Forget picking the best line, pick the line that looks the most fun as you crush everything under your wheels.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Andrew Overfield a Racer from Stuttgart, Germany
    Date Reviewed: April 1, 2008
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $1800.00
    Purchased At:Ski Rack Burlington VT
    Strengths:Suspension system is great for all terrain raceing, best part of the bike.
    Weaknesses:Inital components were a bit weak: Within the first six months I had to replace the Jucy 5 breaks upgraded to Magura Louise, and the Bottom Bracket one of the seals blew within three months major disapointment. I replaced with FSA Afterburner. Front end tends to be a bit light on steep climbs.
    Bike Setup:I have almost done a complete upgrade:
    SRAM X.0 shifter and rear deraler, Spinergy XYCLONE Disk wheel sets,
    Bottom Line:Great entry level full suspension bike, raced it hard last year and it held up with only the Bottom Bracket failing. Putting it to the ultimate test this summer at the Transalp.
    Quickly outgrew inital components.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Pete A a Weekend Warrior from Tampa Florida
    Date Reviewed: March 20, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Alafia
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $1999.00
    Purchased At:AJ's Bikes and Boards
    Strengths:Dude....This bike is a Dream...First off the bike weighs about 29lbs, It climbs like a dream and with FOX 120 mmRL and the Fox Float it will gobble up Rocks and Roots!!!!! Honestly its is an awesome bike.
    Weaknesses:Entry Level Tires were not so good. I was losing traction when I needed it most so upgraded to Specialized Enduro Pro D2 2.2 and that fixed the problem.
    Similar Products Used:Cannondale Rush, Specialized Hardrock
    Bike Setup:# FSR M5 manipulated alloy frame w/ Transform monocoque TT, Spinal Tech 1pc forged BB, seat tube, and seat bridge
    # Fox Triad, custom on-the-fly 3-position switch
    # Fox Float 120 RL fork
    # SRAM X-9, derailleur
    # DT custom for Specialized X430 rims
    # Specialized Enduro Pro D2 2.2's
    Bottom Line:The bike is worth every penny. It has been the best purchase I have made as far as Mountain Bikes are concerned.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Solo a Cross Country Rider from Carlsbad
    Date Reviewed: February 15, 2008
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $1900.00
    Strengths:confidence building stability and bump absorbtion, great component specs for the price, ability to fine tune suspension
    Weaknesses:little things like seat post constantly slipping down although Q/R tightened down, grips are very comfortable but tear after first crash, some ghost shifting due to premature cable shifting
    Bottom Line:This bike is so comfortable it will make you lazy. It was my first susser after many years dodging rocks and picking perfect lines on a hardtail. The confidence you get after just a few rides on this bike completely changes the way you look at and read trails - no longer rock dodging but plowing straight down through them with quite a bit more speed.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jordan a Weekend Warrior from Bay Area
    Date Reviewed: February 10, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Soquel, Northstar
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $1700.00
    Purchased At:Go Ride
    Strengths:nice and balanced suspension, brakes are awesome, pretty light,great handling, climbs better than my old hardtail.
    Weaknesses:None...? Havn't found anything yet. Brakes were worrying me at first because of power and rubbing, but once they broke in, they were sweet.
    Similar Products Used:Trek Fuel ex
    Bike Setup:Standard right now except new treds (Raptors) and I'm going to upgrade both shocks to 140 mm eventually.
    Bottom Line:This bike is awesome. Got it at closeout price and was worth every dollar. I think it rides better than the superlight and tons of other high end xc bikes also. Not only does it climb like a champ, the 120 mm of travel and the handling combine to form one heck of a fun descent. Also, handles 5 to 6 foot drops with no problems. Really smooth and a blast to ride. Buy it if you want an All Mountain descent and an XC climb.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Mark Turemko a Weekend Warrior from Northern Gold Coast
    Date Reviewed: February 3, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:Daisy, Bunya and some secret ones I wouldn't talk about here
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $1750.00
    Purchased At:NRG Cycles - Jindalee Qld Aus
    Strengths:Well my first review on this bike was back on the 21st Nov 06. There is very little I can fault on this bike. I've been using nothing but white lightening on the chain etc and after a little over 2500km's, still going strong. Its had one major service (full clean and lube, bearings repacked etc) and still rides like it is new. I have replaced the Deore shifters with LX as they always felt a little under done compared to the rest of the build. About due for another seat clamp as this gets used quite a bit when lowering the post for some pretty steep descents / downhills. Fantastic general all rounder bike as it gets used for everything. Even used a couple of times to tow the kids around in the trailer .....
    Weaknesses:There are only a couple of areas were this bike shows weakness and its only in changeable components. The tyres, although they grab like Nannas in a shoe sale, do suffer from very thin sidewalls (Adrenaline / Resolution tyres) I've had 4 tears in the 12 months I've had them. Managed to bodgy up 2 rips, but at $55AU a tyre they're not cheap. The other area you will find issues with is if you use it alot for XC style riding. I've found that when climbing, if ou're not on the tip of your saddle (which can be quite uncomfortable) you tend to veer left and right when climbing. Frustrating but maybe with a shorter stem and some tinkering with the saddle position, you'll overcome this.
    Similar Products Used:Haven't tried anything as I'm not interested. When this ones goes it will be for the current model.
    Bottom Line:Great all round bike, eats up the down hills, gets up on any Northshore you can find depending on skills of course as the bike is not a magic wand .....
    Can climb hills easily with a little bit of tweaking ...
    Once you try, be prepared to buy
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Chris a Weekend Warrior from Manchester
    Date Reviewed: January 4, 2008
    Favoriate Trail:jacobs ladder
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $2200.00
    Purchased At:Bicycles plus, ca
    Strengths:top rig for the money and pretty damn gd spec
    the forks
    balanced
    pretty light
    handles a champ
    Weaknesses:The crankset is lacking in quality
    the triad lacks adjustability
    203mm rotor on the front is overkill- just ends up buckling alot
    Similar Products Used:no full suss xc's
    Bike Setup:mostly stock 07, however xt drivetrain, formula oro k24s on the back and front, fatter 2.3inch tyrpes (too skinny the 2s on it)
    Bottom Line:This bike is perfect for those seeking a full sus xc, and some...
    The sus has the lockout for the epics and the ups, and the illusions of plenty of travel for the downs, however im not a fan of the triad... in my opinion it has qualty issues as ive had alot of trouble with with leacky seals, i think the 08 has over come this with rp23.. also ive had some problems with the truvativ crankset, with the left crank arm deciding to detach on a coast 2 coast, upon inspection the bottom bracket had been stripped, spesh has admitted to overtighteing the bolts during the manafacturing of alot of stumpy fsrs... anyway spesh has great customer service and hooked me up with a free xt, no complaints....
    All in all great all rounder do it all go anywhere! Capable of the yomps with hartail efficiency yet the pace of an 150mm susser going down. KICK ASS BIKE
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Chris Andersen a Weekend Warrior from Glendale, AZ, US
    Date Reviewed: December 23, 2007
    Favoriate Trail:McDowell Mtn Loops
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $2000.00
    Purchased At:Exhale Bikes
    Strengths:Amount of bike for the money.
    Weaknesses:Tires.
    Similar Products Used:N/A
    Bike Setup:Stock, except for replacement tires.
    Bottom Line:Updating my post from Feb. '07 (and this post is for the 2007 model)--I've had this bike for a year now, and I love it even more than when I bought it. I've done several races on it, including a 24-hour race, and it's performed perfectly. Tires had to go right away due to sidewall splits in the AZ rocky conditions, but aside from that, it's been great. Long story short, I love this bike and would buy another one in a heartbeat.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Luke Franklin a from Reno, NV, USA
    Date Reviewed: November 20, 2007
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Bottom Line:RE: Posted Review Yesterday: I clearly meant to say Full Suspension instead of hardtail in my first sentence of my previous review. This is my first full suspension bicycle. This bike still rocks.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Luke Franklin a Cross Country Rider from Reno, NV, USA
    Date Reviewed: November 19, 2007
    Favoriate Trail:Peavine, Flume Trail, Emigrant Trail
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $2200.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:Front and Rear Suspension systems, riding position, SRAM brakes and shifters.
    Weaknesses:Seat and inner-tubes. Brakes starting to squeek just a little bit.
    Similar Products Used:Giant Anthem, Trek EX 7, Schwinn Moab 1.
    Bike Setup:Juicy 5 brake levers, Shimano LX Front Derailer, SRAM X9 rear derailer, SRAM X7 Shifters. Truvativ cranks.
    Bottom Line:This is my first hard tail, even though I tested many bikes. This is the best bike for the price. The cockpit is too upright on both the TREK EX7 and the Giant Anthem leading unstable steering. I am 5'-10" with long arms and this bike feels extremely comfortable. Couch like. It climbs smoother than my hardtail Schwinn Moab 1 in Pro pedal mode and decending is down right scary fast. Pro pedal on the climbs and fully open and engaged on the descent is truly a marriage of beauty. I put myself in some trouble when I was first getting used to it and the suspension just ate up the huge boulders and showed me to safety. The relaxed riding position is still comfortable on the steepest climbs with my face just inches from the head-set. Shifting is smooth after a year of use and about 500 miles. The brakes are starting to squeek just a bit, but it has been nearly a year. I replaced the pedals and paper-thin tubes and also put my trusty saddle from my old bike on it. I wanted to wait for a year of testing before I posted the review for this bike, but my first impression was correct. With the components on this bike, comfort of the ride and price, this bike is head and shoulders above the rest. This bike is truly the best bike I have ridden and the best bike for the money. Anything else is a waste of time and $.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by andy lai a Cross Country Rider from dallas
    Date Reviewed: November 4, 2007
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $1600.00
    Strengths:Handling, efficiency, styling, balance, and adjustablity.
    Weaknesses:Stock tires.
    Bike Setup:Kenda Nevegal front, Maxxis Larsen TT rear.
    Bottom Line:This bike is fun to ride and never feels out of it's element. I've ridden a very wide variety of environments and it has never made me think twice. Just make sure to switch out those tires. I also had to shorten the width of the stock handlebars. I don't know about the stock grips either, I switched those out for ODI Ruffian Lockons from the get go.

    I just wish the decals weren't under the clear coat. I can't remove them....

    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Steve Crewdson a Cross Country Rider from Waterford, MI
    Date Reviewed: October 29, 2007
    Favoriate Trail:Many
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $2000.00
    Purchased At:KLM
    Strengths:I upgraded my FSR right from the shop so I don't know about all of the stock components but with XT Crank, XT front/rear der, XT shifters, XT cassete, XT freehub, XT hydraulic disks, and panaracer fire XC pros it is a solid bike.

    The 120mm up front is nice for bigger hits and it has only hurt me on one or two steep climbs. I'll take the smoothness and extra travel over making those one or two hills everytime.

    Triad rear shock is awesome - I do all of my riding in propedal mode because it works so well.

    Bike rides much lighter than it actually is. I have an XL so it has to be in the area of 29lbs but it rides lighter than my 24lb hardtail.
    Weaknesses:Handling isn't as spot on in high speed turns as I would like but it does the job.

    I have a creak coming from the bike and I'm not sure if it is in the bottom bracket or rear suspension set-up.
    Similar Products Used:This is my first full-suspension ride. Otherwise, I've had G. Fish hardtails and a rigid.
    Bike Setup:Stock except XT: crankset, front/rear der, hydraulic disks, shifters, cassette, and freehub...oh, and Panaracer XC Pros and a specialized FSR mud guard for the rear shock.
    Bottom Line:This bike is much faster than the weight/specs would indicate. I did a few upgrades right from the shop so that it would perform as required right from the start and I'm glad I did. The bike climbs well for a relatively heavy full suspension bike and it goes downhill like a finely tuned Ferrari! It also holds speed well in the flats and accelerates way better than I would expect given the overall weight.

    The suspension set-up is balanced almost to perfection and it really shows when you take some rough downhills at speed. This bike will make you push harder than other bikes which CAN get you into trouble at times because you are going faster than you are used to...even on your favorite trails. Thankfully, my XT disks have kept me out of any trouble, to date.

    This bike is a fantastic value for the money and there are still some 07's left to be had (your dealer should be able to order your size even) so get out there and get an 07 before the only option is a fugly 08.

    Get a mudguard for the rear shock too...it will pay dividends over time!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Robbie Kerr a Weekend Warrior from New Zealand
    Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007
    Favoriate Trail:anything out of sight of the road
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $2300.00
    Purchased At:Avanti plus
    Strengths:the overall solidity and quality of the components, the liveliness of the frameset and the feeling that if anything goes sihtshaped it will be your fault, not the bike's.
    Weaknesses:I suppose, for me, the geometry makes it hard to keep the front down when on long steep climbs, but maybe I should get off my b'side a bit. The upside of that is that going down the other side is like flying through the woods on a fabulously handling comfy sofa!!
    Similar Products Used:Nothing, as soon as I tried this bike I didn't look any further.
    Bike Setup:Standard except that I brought the brakes levers inboard of the shifters to give me one finger modulation.
    Bottom Line:This bike makes me look like a much better rider than I actually am. The confidence it gives me when flying down twisty singletrack is awesome. The bike is no lightweight, with my mediun coming out around 28lbs, but the frame is beautifuuly built and deserves, and will reward, some upgrades - wheels and tyres could save at least a couple of pounds. But why? The bike already rides much lighter than its weight and is nippier than me. All this and the matt green looks understated cool, stealthy and a bit hard-core, no bling here, buy one before you're forced to get a 2008 at skyrocket prices!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Nigel Sanderson a Weekend Warrior from New Plymouth, New Zealand
    Date Reviewed: October 20, 2007
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $2100.00
    Purchased At:Burkes Cycles, Wellington
    Strengths:Great suspension, great altogether package and great value
    Weaknesses:Tyres, would have preferred another colour!
    Bike Setup:Standard from the shop, with addition of a front and rear mudguard
    Bottom Line:My first step up into the fully sus bike range, and this is a great first step to take. Ive done my research, looked at a wide range of possibles, including Cannondale Rush's, GT i-drives, Jamis, you name it. The Stumpy gave, for me, best value for money, and after 3 months riding, I love it. Only upgrade will be some decent trail tyres, because the Pro's it comes with a good for simple trails, but nothing else. Really need that rear mudguard to keep the shock mudfree.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Steve Loyd a Cross Country Rider from Durango, Co USA
    Date Reviewed: October 16, 2007
    Favoriate Trail:Colorado Trail - From Durango
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $2200.00
    Purchased At:Mountain Bikes Specialist - in Durango
    Strengths:Very well designed from top to bottom for a 120mm travel xc bike. Every thing about the design and components work well together for a long travel xc experience. It handles extremely well - much better than I would have thought a 120mm bike could.
    Weaknesses:It's a little flexy in the frame and the wheels are pretty heavy. And the entire bike is at 30 pounds. I replaced the rotors with 160 for less grabbiness in dirt and less noise.
    Similar Products Used:Santa Cruz Heckler (1997), Santa Cruz Blur (2005), Custom steel hard tail.
    Bike Setup:Stock, except for Thompson stem and post and Easton carbon XC bars. Replaced the rotors with 160mm wavy aligators. I use many different tires rather than the stock pair.
    Bottom Line:I've been racing xc in Colorado for the past seven years. At 185 pounds I am a sit and power rider. I'm also 47 years old and don't recover as quickly from hard beatings on a 3 inch travel bike or hard tail on rocky courses as I used to. I took a chance on a bit more travel and weight and went the Stumpy. Turned out to be a very good move for me. I can ride hard for 3 hours on the Colorado Trail and feel fine the next day. In fact, I can now ride off road trails every day, when before I'd needed to put a road ride in between to let my upper body recover.

    The bike handles extremely well for all that travel. I dialed in the setup keeping the bars low and stem short to quicken up the steering. At slow speeds it feels good, but not really special - not sluggish, just neutral. But once you get up to a moderate speed it feels quick and is confidence inspiring. It's easy to make quick line adjustments and steer around rocks. It feels much smaller and more nimble when you get it going. It can be riden in control very fast on the downhills - you seem to run up against the tire traction as the control limit.

    I've raced it on courses that I've raced my 25 pound Santa Cruz in previous years and have posted faster times on the FSR. I'm convinced I'm faster on it over a two hour race, and it's much more fun and I recovery much faster. Climbing doesn't feel inspiringly quick. But it's got a super efficient tail that kind of feels dead back there as it hugs the ground, much like the Blur felt to me. I climb in pro-pedal mode. It doesn't feel real fast and lively, but it is easier to maintain a smooth, efficient tempo sitting on top of all that travel. On fast single track it handles very well - not super quick and snappy like some, but quick enough to be a blast. Even when I'm wasted towards the end of a race it's easy to ride quick through the turns. All that travel eliminates the need for a lot of body english. And on the downhills it's much safer, less taxing and really fun.

    The SRAM components are excellent. Very quick shifting and has been durable. No complaints there.

    I wasn't thrilled with the grabbiness (when dirty) and noise from the 203mm and 185mm rotors, so tried some 160s. I think I spent $25 for the rotors and mounts. Big improvement, in my opinion. Better modulation when dirty and no noise.

    The frame flexes a bit but it doesn't really bother me. I know from friends that this is where the carbon frame is a big improvement. For me, however, a little frame flex (size large) is a not a problem and certainly not worth the price of the carbon frame.

    At 30 punds the weight is quite high but I don't think it really slows me down much. I've considered getting a lighter wheelset, but when I'm riding on the trail the stock wheels actually feel pretty good, quite stiff and they spin up ok. I have met other Stumpy riders, however, that swear a light wheelset brings the bike alive. So maybe that's the primary upgrade for a xc racer.

    I have also experiemented with tires and have found that my usual 2.1 xc tires don't seem to offer enough traction in the turns on this bike. I've tried everything from Maxxis 2.3 downhill tires to Python 2.3's and have been most happy with bigger treaded tires on this bike. I'm still looking for the perfect race tire, but for most of my rides I just leave the big nobs on and enjoy the safety and confidence of all that grip. Pumped up they still roll pretty fast. I expect a high volume 2.2 - 2.3 moderate tread pattern as light as possible would be very good.

    In summary, I took a chance on trying a longer travel xc bike and went with the Stumpjumper because of all the design refinement that has gone into the bike over the years. It's been good call for me. It is heavier, but offers a new xc riding experience - one that doesn't beat me up. I've never asked myself mid race, "why am I doing this?" on the Stumpy. And it is a tremendous value, even at full retail price, compared to the competition, it's a deal. For me it would be perfect if it came with smaller roters and lighter wheels, but that's for a more xc niche, rather than it's intended all-mountain purpose.

    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Dan a Cross Country Rider from Durham, NC
    Date Reviewed: October 11, 2007
    Favoriate Trail:Beaver Dam @ Falls Lake
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $1800.00
    Purchased At:The Bicycle Chain