New Stumpjumper Special 15 | First Ride Impressions

“big S”, Specialized, “red S”, “Sweetest bicycle koolaid manufacturer”…. whatever you may refer to the Specialized brand as, there is no doubt that if you ride a mountain bike you are aware of Specialized's presence on the mountain. bike in the world Back in 1981 Specialized was the first to bring production to the mountain bike in the world Today, after 43 years marks the launch of the 15th iteration of that bike, the Stumpjumper.

Spending the last three years in development, we've seen many changes to the Stumpjumper platform positioned as the 'one track bike to rule them all' with the biggest innovation of the new model being the GENIE. GENIE is a game-changing air spring technology, offering the three desires of every rider: suppler feel and control of a coil spring, better damping than a conventional air spring, and a tuneable “platform” for a playful feel.

The GENIE is now out of the bottle and perfectly positioned outside the all new Stumpjumper 15, bringing riders benefits such as a large air canister coil and small canister progression, combined in a single shock that is both inhalable during the stroke and out of the bottom resistance. Obviously there's a lot of emphasis on GENIE and we've been going through its paces for the past few weeks and we'll get into it in detail shortly. First let's take a look
The 43rd anniversary of the Stumpjumper Evolution looks like five carbon models and a frame set that are being launched today around the world.

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The benefits of a large travel bike and a short travel bike all at once. The special is on to something here, the bike's intended purpose is becoming a niche, the Stumpjumper 15 stretches a lot despite the reasonable 160mm/145mm suspension platform. The ability to eat bigger bumps than big touring bikes and absorb them like nothing Special claims The GENIE magic carpet boasts 57% less traction loss time and 39% less critical events.

We will see six full frame sizes with different front AND rear frame sizes with reach from 400mm to 530mm. On top of that, riders get all the standard stuff we love about the Stumpjumper, adjustable head angle, adjustable BB height, SWAT downtube storage, good fitment on all models, Ohlins Coil Edition, SRAM Maven brakes and shifters wireless ONLY, yes you heard it. well!

Carbon models starting at $8900 are equipped with what appears to be an OEM unreleased SRAM S1000 Transmission wireless rear derailleur and Maven Brakes up to the S-Works model at $19500 and the S-Works frameset at $6800.

We've been putting the Stumpjumper 15 Expert through its paces down in Canberra and we'll have more on it, the GENIE and how it performs on the roads more.
soon.

More about models

Stumpjumper Comp

• Lightweight FACT 11m carbon chassis and rear end
• Robust Specialized alloy wheels with sealed cartridge bearings
• Ride Dynamics tuned FOX FLOAT Performance with Specialized GENIE air spring technology provides superior grip and traction found in a direct coil spring, bottom-out prevention found in a continuous air spring, and the ability to tune mid-stroke and end stroke support independently. 2-open space and strong damper adjustment.
• Eat up the chunkiest tracks with the FOX FLOAT 36 Rhythm fork with GRIP damper
• Smooth and precise shifting from the SRAM Eagle T-Type AXS drivetrain
• Great braking power comes from SRAM Maven Bronze 4-piston brakes
• Trusted time and time again is the X-Fusion Manic dropper position

Stumpjumper 15 Öhlins Coil

• Lightweight FACT 11m carbon chassis and rear end
• Roval Traverse wheels are incredibly strong with DT Swiss 370 hubs
• Premium suspension support from Öhlins TTX 22 M Coil, Ride Dynamics tuned
• Plow anything with the 160mm Öhlins RXF38 M.2 29 fork
• Reliable and smooth shifting on the SRAM GX Eagle AXS T-Type drivetrain
• Powerful braking with a generous feel thanks to TRP DH-R EVO 4-piston brakes
• Adjustable travel for PNW LOAM posts
• Lifetime replacement of pivot bearings fixed to original owner

Stumpjumper expert

• Lightweight FACT 11m carbon chassis and rear end
• Ride Dynamics tuned FOX FLOAT Performance Elite with Specialized GENIE air spring technology provides the superior grip and traction found in a direct coil spring, the bottom-out prevention found in a continuous air spring, and the ability to tune mid-stroke and end-stroke support independently. . The most flexible mode 2-open and tight with 3-
  set the open mode pressure regulator.
• FOX FLOAT 36 Performance Elite fork for support and tuning with GRIP X2damper
• Roval Traverse wheels are strong and reliable, DT Swiss 370 hub
• Accurate and precise SRAM GX Eagle T-Type T-Type AXS
  drivetrain
• Powerful and reliable SRAM Maven Bronze 4-piston brakes
• Adjustable travel and PNW LOAM posts
• Lifetime replacement of pivot bearings fixed to original owner

Stumpjumper 15 Pro

• Lightweight FACT 11m carbon chassis and rear end
• Roval Traverse SL wheels are very light and strong, Industry Nine 1/1 hub
• Ride Dynamics tuned FOX FLOAT Factory with Specialized GENIE air spring technology provides the superior grip and traction found in a direct coil spring, the bottom-out prevention found in a continuous air spring, and the ability to tune the stroke and side end support independently. Open and tight mode with 2 highly adjustable position with 3 open mode compression adjuster.
• Supportive and tuneable FOX FLOAT 36 factory fork with GRIP X2 damper
• Smooth and precise SRAM XO Eagle T-Type T-Type AXS drivetrain
• Maximum stopping power comes from SRAM Maven Silver, 4-piston brakes
• Hit your seat with a Bike Yoke Revive Max's lowest stack post

Stumpjumper S Works

• Lightweight FACT 11m carbon chassis, rear end, and link
• Roval Traverse SL wheels are very light and high performance, DT Swiss 240 hub
• Ride Dynamics tuned FOX FLOAT Factory with Specialized GENIE patent-pending air spring technology provides the superior grip and traction found in a direct coil spring, the ground-down resistance found in a continuous air spring, and the ability to tune mid-stroke and end – stroke. support independently. Open and tight mode with 2 highly adjustable position with 3 open mode compression mode.
• Supportive and tuneable FOX FLOAT 36 factory fork with GRIP X2 damper
• The SRAM XX Eagle T-Type AXS drivetrain is strong and precise
• Super-power braking from SRAM Maven Ultimate 4-piston brakes
• Smooth and reliable RockShox Reverb AXS drop post

Original Impressions

It's not often that we're sent a model that's never been released, let alone built and tuned for us out of the box, leaving nothing to the team at Specialized. We can't help but take it apart, take it apart and crush the bike and it's clear that Specialized has grown it again, refined lines, clean, invisible hardware that won't catch on clothing or retain dirt and moisture. the real deal.

The Stumpjumper 15 Expert model we have on review is the S4 with a reach of 475mm, which we selected based on my preferred range of 460mm to 485mm for a height of 178cm. The S4 is one of six sizes across the range but with a more open stance most riders can ride one frame size of two based on riding style or preference.

The professional model has a range of options in terms of price. Equipped with all the latest and most durable products, riders of mechanics wish the companies would just install them from the get-go. The Professional model we have for review has a Fox Performance Elite 36 Grip X2 fork up front with 160mm of travel and a Performance Elite GENIE rear shock with 145mm of rear travel. Stopping is handled by the most powerful brake I've ever used on a
a bicycle; all new SRAM Maven Bronze (ironically Gray in color to match the GX Transmission Group set). Putting such a powerful brake on a trail bike is a bold statement or a testament to Specialized's intended use of the Stumpjumper 15.

Back to what's said about SRAM's GX Transmission groupset, we also don't see the cable holes for their pesky cable stuff. There is a full sleeved hole for the rear brake line, an inner sleeved hole on the other side of the head tube for the dropper cable to be routed in and that's it, no mainframe exit holes and no entry holes for the correct UDH swingarms. . So, unless Shimano is about to release a Di2 wireless self powered rear derailleur it looks like the big S has replaced the Stumpjumper 15 years digital wireless completely!

Since our bike was built by the team at Specialized AU and dialed out of the box, carpark testing made us think the shock was on the soft side…like too soft despite the team setting it up for us and GENIE giving us 30% sag. We felt like we were falling on the way down, in our carpark riding Birkenstocks, so we increased the pressure from 170psi to 240psi and thought we could pull it off. After a few emails back and forth and a phone call we were able to tune the external can with the bands provided and we were given the courtesy of “you just have to ride it first before you talk” and we hit the trail to find out.

Unexpectedly, it turns out that the main air is so soft and “coil-like” that when the bike is 30% flat it is incredibly linear like a coil that hugs the ground as it goes. However, as the large outer chamber closes the air is compressed in the GENIE bottle and something worse rises up. I don't think we've ever felt down.

We can't wait to throw the Stumpjumper out on our local Canberra trails and put the bike and GENIE through its paces.