Should I buy a Stumpjumper FSR??

passout

Looking at a Specialised Stumpjumper FSR - don't know which model yet. Looking for general comments regarding Stumpjumpers FSRs - how do they ride? Any problems? Reccommendations? Alternatives - other 120mm FS bikes? Is 120mm enough travel (i suspect it is)?

I ride the Lakes alot - Walna Scar & Garbun (hard) to Claife (easy). I like the rough stuff but not jumping.

Any old bollocks welcome. Thanks.

cole1

Hi passout

I too am on the market for a new full susser and have considered the Stumpie which I took for a days ride but found the top tube too short.

I am 6'1" and want something a little bit longer so am now considering Trek Fuel EX8 or Cannondale Rize 4

Stumpie was nice though and rode though, just felt a little bunched up on it for me

passout

Hi Cole

Yeah, I've heard similar and perhaps one needs to move up a size, but at 5'9'' that's easy to say! Cannondale sounds good to me, Marin may be worth a look. I really need to test ride the Stumpie though. I'm also looking at Commncal Metas but they only come in 100mm or 140mm - no 120mm alas.

Cheers

gbrnole

I owned a 07 stumpy and should have a rize 2 by the end of the week so I'll give my opinion if u don't decide by then

starsky007

HI, I had a stumpy for a 4 day trial , it was a pro 08 very nice,light bike but then i tried a xc epic carbon, wow ! what a difference, i fell in love with that staight away. But thats me, everyones difference. just like the bikes. Ive also got a giant trance 08 and thats good too. I say,, if you like it after trying it, get it. simple as that.

passout

Hi
I like the Epics too but feel that the travel might be a little on the short side for what I ride - they are 100mm aren't they? What do you think?

Surf-Matt

Passout - the Epic is a bit like a Stumpy Hardtail with a bit of give - very agile/twitchy geometry.

This suits some (like me) but makes fast downhills more hair raising (but climbing easier).
If you think you'll be taking some big hits or looning down hills a lot, I'd aim for the Stumpy FSR.
Or Trek Fuel EX8/9.

stumpyjon

I'd definitely go for the Stumpy over the epic if you're riding stuff like Walna Scar road. I took my 07 over it a couple of months back, pushed up but it coped with coming down (Coniston side) fairly well, not sure I'd want an XC full susser for that.

toasty

Indeed, the FSR XC is more like their short travel trail bike than the Epic is. It's a shame they don't do any higher FSR XC's, they're not all bad

Larok

yeah, loving mine.

Runs very smooth, set my air cans/forks to lower pressures to get them running supple. Brain on softest setting.

Check your frame sizing carefully, needed a set back seat tube for mine, plus seat back a bit.

The brain hose rubbed on the frame making a creak but loosened and sorted now.

I got the expert for the brain and the other bits.

FSR_XC

passout wrote:

Should I buy a Stumpjumper FSR??

Yes

Now all you need to decide, is which model?

danatron

Hello, I'm thinking about buying a 2007 stumpy ht. You obviously like it enough to buy one but have you had any problems or concerns with it. Any input is appreciated.
Cheers, Dan

Surf-Matt

Danatron - I have that bike (the Comp hardtail) and love it to bits.

It gets 10 miles a day and has probably done 2000 miles (both on and off road) and hasn't missed a beat.

Forks great, brakes very good and climbs like a mountain goat - very good bit of kit and probably very cheap for the 2007 model. Oh and the black looks cool too 8)

Chaka Ping

My friend has the £1.5k Stumpy FSR and thinks it's a great bike.

The magazine reviews I've seen are a little less enthusiastic, and WMB preferred the Giant Trance X and Trek Fuel EX ranges.

If I was after a 120mm bike, my first stop would be the local Trek dealership.

Surf-Matt

Chaka Ping wrote:

My friend has the £1.5k Stumpy FSR and thinks it's a great bike.

The magazine reviews I've seen are a little less enthusiastic, and WMB preferred the Giant Trance X and Trek Fuel EX ranges.

If I was after a 120mm bike, my first stop would be the local Trek dealership.

And even better bet is to try them all out and see what you prefer rather than taking a magazine's review as gospel.

Big Red S

I've not yet found anyone who still dislikes the stumpy FSR after riding one.

Though lots of people have said the stock stem's a tad too long.

RichMTB

As the proud owner of 120 FSR I can honestly say if I was going for a new full sus now it would be a Trek EX8 / 9!!

grantway

Cant see the ponit of buying a bike with 120 travel trail bikes have moved
on to 140 mm cant see why they have gone back to 120mm travel.

If you really want 120mm travel il buy a bike with adjustable travel fork

BlackSpur

Not everyone needs 140mm travel and they would just be hauling extra weight around. As there is no definition of a trail bike it is unfarit to say they have "moved on", perhaps 140mm bikes have become more popular but there is a 120mm market at the same time.

passout

I agree - it's a weight vs travel thing. besides short travel bikes can be more 'snappy' / responsive

Inverted8

The Stumpjumper Elite model got 10 / 10 !! in this months MBR magazine. That is if you take any notice of reviews. I think the main reason it gets low marks in reviews is due to the Brain system. Neither the Comp or Elite has this.

I have the Comp (only slightly less well specced but basically the same bike) and I can't really fault it.

toasty

120mm is a fairly rare amount of travel nowadays, not many brands use it. If you tell yourself 100mm is not enough, yet 140mm is too much you haven't really got much choice anyway.

It's a good bike I'd agree, it's as slack as many 140mm bikes head tube wise though, hence more in the comfy trail bike end of the market than the "'snappy' / responsive" end.

The deciding factor should really be how it feels on a test ride, any Specialized Concept store will be more than happy to let you take one out for the day. I've used Specialized for years (Enduro + Stumpy HT + FSR XC) but got sick of all the custom sized propriety parts on bikes nowadays and dead feeling shocks, pretty much requiring pro-pedal or brain technology to eliminate bob. I'd happily carry around another 2-3lbs, I feel absolutely inspired riding around on the Meta every time I go out, it more than makes up for it

Each to their own I guess.

Edit: Oh and weight vs travel is a very narrow minded way of comparing bikes, it's like saying an Epic would be a better trail bike than a Trance as it's lighter. Geometry and design plays a much bigger role than travel.

Chaka Ping

If I were buying one bike to do all my riding on, I'd probably look at 120mm travel.

Depends where you ride most of course.

SDK2007

You can't really go wrong with a Stumpy FSR; Specialized customer services is excellent and the bike rides well.

Toasty wrote:

Indeed, the FSR XC is more like their short travel trail bike than the Epic is. It's a shame they don't do any higher FSR XC's, they're not all bad

The 2009 FSRXC has been upgraded to 120mm of travel.