There are just a handful of bikes with a history that can compete with the Specialized Stumpjumper: over the past few years it’s undergone revision after revision, wheel sizes have come and gone, and the Stumpjumper has had them all. Right now it’s on the market in 27.5″, 29″ and 27.5+. We’ve put the burlier tire model on test to see how it rides in its latest format.
The frame of the Specialized Stumpjumper Expert 6Fattie
HThere’s a Fact9m carbon chassis at the heart of the € 5,999 Stumpjumper Expert 6Fattie, and its distinctive aluminium rear end immediately identifies the rig as a Specialized. The Stumpjumper was the brand’s first bike to welcome their SWAT box, an asset that we’ve totally learned to appreciate over the course of the testing. There’s a lid under the bottle cage that opens to give room for a tube, tools, a pump and a spare mech hanger, so you can leave your backpack at home for a lot of rides.
The spec of the Specialized Stumpjumper Expert 6Fattie
All well functioning, the Specialized Stumpjumper’s spec consists of a SRAM X1/X01 drivetrain, Shimano XT brakes, FOX suspension and the brand’s own Roval parts. While everything is primed for use on the trails, there are a few bits that strike us as budget – not quite in tune with the bike’s high price tag. It’s the small details that let down its performance on the trail including the slightly unresponsive freehub and the limited adjustment of the dropper post. But at the other end of the spectrum we’re stoked to see other seemingly minor details like the rear shock’s auto sag valve, the SWAT system and and the super ergonomic lever.
Fork: FOX 34 FLOAT Performance 150 mm
Rear shock: FOX FLOAT DPS Factory
Brakes: Shimano XT 180/180 mm
Drivetrain: SRAM X1/X01
Wheels: Roval Traverse Aluminium
Tires: Specialized Purgatory 3,0/Specialized Ground Control 3,0
Handlebar: Specialized 7050 750 mm
Stem: Specialized 7050 60 mm
Seatpost: Command Post IRcc 125 mm
Weight: 13,14 kg
Price: 5.999 €
Setting up the Specialized Stumpjumper Expert 6Fattie
Before taking to any trail you’ve got to make sure you’ve set up the bike correctly, and the auto sag valve on the Stumpjumper’s rear shock makes light work of this – and even better when we realized that the predetermined pressure wasn’t a bad starting point anyway. It was a bit tricky to nail the right tire pressure, and we’d suggest trialling various pressures on the first ride, as even a difference of 0.1 bar can make a vast impact. We ultimately settled for 1.1 bar at the front and 1.3 bar at the rear.
The Specialized Stumpjumper Expert 6Fattie on the trails
The Stumpjumper has a great position thanks to the compact frame and 60 mm stem. We pushed the seat right forward to centralize our position on the bike and counteract the layback of the seatpost. The chubby tires are ace, and we never once question the traction they generated. The bike was capable of riding up the steepest climbs with ease. The mega low bottom bracket was a bit concerning on technical trails as the pedals were a magnet for stray rocks on the trails. We also reckon you’ll make good use of the compression damping on the FOX rear shock to make sure the climbs are ultra efficient.
The Stumpjumper has a really lively, playful feel on descents, and rides with great agility even with those chubby tires. Cornering and slick maneuvers to correct any misguided line choice are both sublime, without asking for too much physical effort from the rider. It’s forgiving too and has a balanced suspension package, blissfully ignorant of the 15 mm travel difference between the front’s 150 mm and the rear’s 135 mm. Although the rear showed great small-bump responsiveness, it did have a tendency to rush through its travel on big hits and we’d have appreciated a bit more feedback – for the sake of our long-term test we’re definitely going to see if spacers will resolve this issue. We had to adjust the rebound by 2-3 clicks over long descents that dived down more than 300 metres of altitude, otherwise it rebounded too quickly.
Thanks to the short chainstays and the front wheel’s grippiness, the bike has a really snappy edge around corners and is a treat to let drift. Don’t worry though, the incredibly balanced handling means that the rig is wonderfully predictable. The fun we were having on the descents was marred a little by an almost classic case of the Shimano XT brakes and their inconsistent bike point – even bleeding them multiple times didn’t help.
Conclusion
With loads of clever new assets joining the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR 6Fattie, it’s easy to fall for its balanced handling and playful nature. The wide tires give great control and the bike follows whatever line you pick. Unfortunately there are a few minor failings in the spec choice that don’t fully live up to the € 5,999 price tag.
The Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 6Fattie on long-term test
Chief ENDURO editor Christoph took ages to decide what sort of a bike would be the most fun to trial over the 2016 season. An enduro race bike? A trail bike? A 29er? After much deliberation, he ultimately went for the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 6Fattie – a choice he definitely doesn’t regret. Here’s his thoughts:
“After just a few rides I was already more than convinced by its playful geometry and features like the SWAT system. This year I’m focusing first and foremost on having fun and the Stumpjumper provides that as soon as you start pedaling. Moreover it’ll give me chance to properly test out the new trend for plus-size tires and trial all the latest tire developments directly.”
Head over to our interactive timeline to keep up with Christoph’s progress and prowess on the Stumpjumper throughout the season.
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