BIKE LAUNCH
Specialized Unveils All New Stumpjumper 15
Specialized Unveils All New Stumpjumper 15
Today Specialized launched the 15th version of the full suspension Stumpjumper, touted as one of the first production mountain bikes, released originally as a hardtail in 1981. Along with the release, they have made some bold claims in regards to the new Stumpjumper's improved bump force management, traction, and bottom out control. We have a Stumpjumper test bike incoming and hope to get some initial ride impressions out as soon as we can.
- Over 50 teammates - riders all - worked for more than three years to develop the Stumpjumper 15
- 16.3% better bump force management than ‘Bike of the Year’ Stumpjumper EVO
- Testing shows that the Stumpjumper 15 with GENIE delivers a 57% reduction in traction loss time
- 39% fewer severe bottom out events compared to a standard air spring
- Tunable “platform” for a playful feel
- GENIE provides a platform you can trust, thanks again to the late-stage rising rate, making for a fun, playful bike that can still plow like a bike with much more travel
The new GENIE was co-developed by Specialized and Fox.
What’s Genie, and How Does It Work?
GENIE is a Specialized patent-pending technology for our Pneumatic Spring Assist (PSA) air spring innovation. By employing two separate but connected positive air chambers, the overall air volume is increased, resulting in a much flatter spring curve for the first 70% of the shock’s stroke; this “softer” spring delivers coil-like bump force management throughout the bump zone. As the shock compresses into the final 30% of the travel, the GENIE Band slides over and closes the ports to the outer air chamber, effectively reducing the overall volume. This results in a much more progressive spring curve for the last 30% of stroke, preventing bottom-outs more effectively than a standard air spring. It’s the best of both worlds - coil and air - with extra tunability and zero compromise.
The graph above illustrates the relationship between bump force and wheel travel of Stumpjumper 15 and Stumpjumper EVO. Note that Stumpjumper 15 utilizes 16.3% more travel for the same impact, indicating superior bump force management of Stumpjumper 15 with GENIE.
Geometry
Big Wheels or Mixed
With our aftermarket links, you can choose the rolling speed, traction, and rollover benefits of big wheels front and rear or mix things up with a 27.5” rear for a more responsive and playful ride. Whatever you choose, switching wheel size won’t affect the geometry and suspension characteristics that enable the Stumpjumper 15 to ride just right.
Adjustable Geometry
The Stumpjumper 15’s seamlessly-integrated adjustability makes it the most personalizable trail bike ever. Six distinct geometry settings allow the rider to hone its performance for any style, any terrain. The head angle is adjustable to three settings between 63 and 65.5-degrees via a unique eccentric upper headset cup. Fine-tune bottom bracket height up or down by 7mm by swapping the Horst link chips. Drop it down for a more stable ride, or set it high for clearance.
Pricing
S-Works Stumpjumper 15 - 12,000 USD - 13,000 EUR
S-Works Stumpjumper 15 Frameset - 3,500 USD - 4,500 EUR
Stumpjumper 15 Pro - 9,000 USD - 9,500 EUR
Stumpjumper Expert - 6,500 USD - 7,500 EUR
Stumpjumper 15 Öhlins Coil - 8,500 USD - 8,500 EUR
Stumpjumper 15 Comp - 5,500 USD - 6,500 EUR
Head over to Specialized Bikes to check out the full model details and build kits.
Height - 6'/183cm (mostly legs)
Weight - 155lbs/70kg
Inseam - 34"/86cm
Ape Index - The Original Slinky™
Age - 23
Bar Width - 780mm
Preferred Reach - 485-500mm
Comments
Vincent Edwards
10 months, 1 week ago
Seriously shocked and disappointed by the omission of the OPTION to run a mechanical drivetrain.
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badgerracer
10 months, 1 week ago
Seriously. I can understand shipping with only wireless drivetrains, but at least put some holes or mounting points for a cable. If you wanted to omit tube in frame routing fine, but there should be SOME way of routing a cable
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Perry Schebel
10 months, 1 week ago
https://www.instagram.com/p/C87c6u8RDVJ/
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Pete Roggeman
10 months, 1 week ago
You will see this from more brands in the near future. I'm not saying that's good, just letting you know to expect it.
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Timer
10 months, 1 week ago
And just like with headset cable routing, this will mean an instant "nope" from myself and plenty of others. Its certainly a "strategy" to get rid of potential customers.
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Bryce Borlick
10 months, 1 week ago
Especially if the newly redesigned frame is as underwhelming as this stumpy
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Kurt Adams
2 months ago
Did you guys ever actually review this bike? I can't seem to find it in the archives.....
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Jotegir
10 months, 1 week ago
They made the bike so linear they had to cook up a special, one of a kind proprietary shock to make it work how they want throughout its travel. But forget that, here's an off the shelf coil shock that'll also totally work fine.
They then decided that the internal vs external cable routing debate is too stale, how about headset cable routing vs no cable routing whatsoever?
This is weird, right?
Jokes aside, I do wonder if the inevitable alloy models will feature cable ports or if they'll be available with the no-replacements-allowed new SRAM drivetrain exclusively instead? Will they use the alloy/weld tech like the new Chisel FS and thus make the carbon ones look comparatively less desirable?
The shock, in theory, is kinda cool. The opposite of defunct DRCV. Is it a normal eye-to-eye, or did they make a unique one so you were locked into their system/couldn't use it on other stuff? I wonder how much service complexity it adds?
In total it looks like a bike that would be great to own for between two to three seasons and then kindly pass on the potential longevity problems associated with yoke design, proprietary shock, extremely restricted drivetrain options and batteries onto someone else.
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Jerry Willows
10 months, 1 week ago
coil shocks are linear by nature... any Fox service center will be able to service/get parts for these. I don't think it's a big deal.
Is the insertion depth for posts changed? That's the biggest deal imo. Wo/suld like to get a 210 dropper on s3/s4
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Jotegir
10 months, 1 week ago
Jerry, the reason I find the coil spec bizarre is because they made a special dual chamber air shock to work with their linear bike, you'd think a coil would expound the issues associated with too-linear bikes.
I'm not worried about parts for the next decade or so. Then it might be an issue. It's not so much about parts availability so much as pure curiosity on how much more or less involved a teardown is.
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Perry Schebel
10 months, 1 week ago
sounds like they developed the air shock to more closely mimic the linearity of a coil (with bottom out control). neat concept. allows them to build the suspension kinematic around one set of shock spring rate parameters rather than having to focus on air or coil, and (potentially) see compromises with one or the other spec.
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ohio
10 months, 1 week ago
Ignoring the marketing drivel, the shock architecture and reality is that, vs a standard high-volume air shock, the genie will be even more linear for 70% of it's travel, but then dramatically more progressive for the last 30%. That doesn't make it swap easily with either a traditional coil or an air shock. Looking at the kinematics of the frame, the compression charts shown on other sites show a rate that is less progressive than the SJ EVO, which already was a touch linear for most coils.
The chart shared on suspension travel/displacement over a bump is the wrong one to show. What matters to the rider is bump FORCE - and what you're looking for is to minimize the peaks by spreading the energy absorption over the longest time available. The displacement graph shown could just be the bike blowing through it's travel and then hitting the progressive 30% like a wall... we don't know.
Initial ride reviews are great, so I'm not saying they fucked it up. I'm just saying you can pretty much always ignore what the marketing guys tell you, even if they show it in charts and numbers.
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Frorider
10 months, 1 week ago
I had the same thought jotegir, because hey I’m an engineer, but fwiw I read a comment somewhere that said the coil version uses a different geo linkage that presumably increases progressivity.
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Christian Strachan
10 months, 1 week ago
Those stats/metrics are hilarious.
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Burgess Langshaw Power
10 months, 1 week ago
Thanks, I hate it!
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Andy Eunson
10 months, 1 week ago
Adjustability is a great option. Electric only if that’s true is a deal breaker. Don’t need it, don’t want it. To me the head angle seems to go from too slack, to way too slack to wtf. Another deal breaker for me. Longer rear centre as the frame size increases is excellent but I’m an s2 size so not so relevant. Not keen on proprietary stuff unless it’s got non proprietary possibilities.
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Andy Eunson
10 months, 1 week ago
Well you know there was a fair bit of backlash against press fit bottom brackets and many manufacturers went back to threaded. I can see headset cable routing going that way too. And electric only as well. I can see that as a selling point. "We will never use headset cable routing, press fit bbs and will always have mechanical shifting routing".
Offering only high end electric only shifting is like the auto industry only selling large vehicles and fancy ones at that. The auto people know most purchasers want a vehicle quickly. They don’t want to order and wait months and months. So people buy what’s available quickly. They end up perhaps with something fancier than they need or want. It’s the same thing here with this bike. Specialized are telling the buyers what they want.
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RNAYEL
10 months, 1 week ago
yea, for all the people wondering about the actual details of the bike, until NSMB releases an actual article;
Stumpjumper 15 Details
• 29" or mixed wheels (S1&S2 mixed only)
• Carbon frame
• 145mm frame travel, 150-160mm fork
• 63-65.5° head angle
• 400-530mm reach
• 430-445mm chainstays
• 77° seat angle
• Wheel size and frame geometry flip chips
• Actual weight: 31.2 lb / 14.2 kg (S5)
• Price: $6,500-12,000 USD
• S-Works Frameset: $3,500 USD
• specialized.com
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Abies
10 months, 1 week ago
Well, I think we all at least partially suspected that headset cable routing was a money saver for manufacturers. Eliminating all ports and internal tubing except for the dropper and brake probably helps a bit more.
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stinhambo
10 months, 1 week ago
LBS notwithstanding but why would you buy this over the new Canyon Spectral 29? Prices today are ridiculous.
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