2021 Specialized Stumpjumper on test: lighter, more efficient, more versatile – a bike for all occasions

The fact that Specialized would revise the Stumpjumper for 2021 was foreseeable. However, what the American brand came up with has exceeded expectations. The new Stumpjumper is lighter, more efficient and even more versatile. We’ve already put it to the test for you for a day and have all the details here.

The 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper in detail

Specialized have revised and streamlined their range for the new season. Gone are the days of the Stumpjumper ST. From now on there will be only two different Stumpjumper model ranges: the capable Stumpjumper EVO, which we already presented to you in detail last week, and the new Stumpjumper that we’re reviewing here. With the elimination of the Stumpy ST and the introduction of the new EVO, the Stumpjumper has now been positioned a little differently in Specialized’s lineup. It has become lighter and, with a 140 mm fork and 130 mm at the rear, has slightly less travel. For 2021 the Stumpjumper will roll exclusively on 29″ wheels, still features the proven and popular SWAT box, a flip-chip and a SRAM UDH dropout. The bike is available with either a carbon or aluminium frame in a total of six sizes.

Lighter and more efficient thanks to the flex pivot on the carbon Stumpjumper

One of the main goals in the development of the new Stumpjumper was to make it lighter and more efficient than its predecessor. Not only have the kinematics been revised and the travel reduced, but the carbon frame has also been weight-optimised. Specialized have foregone the Horst Link pivot on the rear stays of the 2021 Stumpjumper, relying on so-called flex stays instead. This means the carbon seat stays flex during compression. By getting rid of the bearing required for the pivot, Specialized were able to save 55 g. With the help of this and other weight-saving measures, the frame is 100 g lighter than its predecessor. According to Specialized, the frame weighs 2,420 g, including the shock, axle, seat clamp and other hardware. Due to the generally lighter spec with thin-walled tires, a shock without a reservoir and the FOX 34 fork, the new S-Works Stumpjumper weighs only 12.2 kg, a full kilogram lighter than the previous S-Works model we had on test.

The new Stumpjumper is a bike for all occasions! Light and efficient, it’s perfect for long days in the saddle.

Your riding style determines the frame size, not the length of your legs

Specialized offer the new Stumpjumper in a total of six sizes from S1 to S6. The S stands for style because you’re meant to be able to choose the frame size based on your preferred riding style, not the length of your legs. To make this possible, the American brand have kept the seat tubes extra short, ranging in length from 385–465 mm, which also allows them to spec longer dropper posts for more freedom of movement. If you’re 1.73 m tall, you can choose between a total of three sizes. The jumps in reach between the frame sizes vary between 20–25 mm.

Bang up to date – the geometry of the 2021 Stumpjumper

The geometry of the Specialized Stumpjumper used to be very conservative. That all changes with the new model! The 475 mm reach in size S4 is long and at 65°, the head angle is one and a half degrees slacker than its predecessor, which had more travel. At the same time, the 76° seat tube angle has become significantly steeper. The bottom bracket is quite low with a drop of 42 mm in the low setting. Speaking of which, a flip-chip allows you to adjust the geometry of the new Stumpjumper in two positions. Following, we present the bike in the low position, which is how it gets delivered and how we would leave it.

Size	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6
Seat tube	385 mm	385 mm	405 mm	425 mm	445 mm	465 mm
Top tube	563 mm	583 mm	605 mm	632 mm	660 mm	692 mm
Head tube	95 mm	100 mm	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm	140 mm
Head angle	65°	65°	65°	65°	65°	65°
Seat angle	76°	76°	76°	76°	76°	76°
Chainstay	432 mm	432 mm	432 mm	432 mm	442 mm	442 mm
BB Height	328 mm	333 mm	333 mm	333 mm	333 mm	333 mm
Wheelbase	1152 mm	1175 mm	1200 mm	1228 mm	1268 mm	1302 mm
Reach	410 mm	430 mm	450 mm	475 mm	500 mm	530 mm
Stack	614 mm	613 mm	622 mm	632 mm	641 mm	650 mm

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Three carbon, two aluminium – the new Stumpjumper models

We think there’s nothing better than riding a bike and the more people that do it, the better. But not everyone can or wants to afford the outrageously expensive flagship models. Specialized are fully aware of that and offer the new Stumpjumper with an aluminium frame starting at € 2,199. Topping off the range is the carbon S-Works model for € 9,999. Of course, you don’t get the flex stays on the aluminium model and the components of the most affordable model are generally quite low end. However, the aluminium Stumpjumper still comes specced with a dropper post and a 12-speed SRAM SX drivetrain. We would recommend investing € 800 more and buying the Alu Comp model for its better suspension, powerful brakes and better drivetrain. In terms of value for money, the carbon Expert model for € 5,299 is also worth taking a closer look at. It features FOX Performance Elite suspension with a GRIP2 fork, a SRAM X01 drivetrain and a pair of G2 RSC brakes. With the exception of the rocker link, the frame is identical to that of the S-Works model which costs almost twice as much.

An overview of all 2021 Stumpjumper models

Specialized S-WORKS Stumpjumper | € 9,999

Fork FOX 34 Factory 140 mm
Rear shock FOX FLOAT DPS Factory 130 mm
Brakes SRAM G2 Ultimate 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS
Seatpost RockShox Reverb AXS
Stem Deity Copperhead
Bars Specialized Trail Carbon 780 mm
Wheels Roval Carbon rims, DT Swiss 240 hubs
Tires Specialized Butcher/Purgatory (f/r) GRID 2.3″
Price € 9,999

Specialized Stumpjumper Expert | € 5,299

Fork FOX 34 Performance Elite 140 mm
Rear shock FOX FLOAT DPS Performance Elite 130 mm
Brakes SRAM G2 RSC 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM XO1 Eagle
Seatpost X-Fusion Manic 100-190 mm
Stem Specialized Trail Alloy
Bars Specialized Trail Alloy 780 mm
Wheels Roval Traverse Aluminium
Tires Specialized Butcher/Purgatory (f/r) GRID 2.3″
Price € 5,299

Specialized Stumpjumper Comp | € 3,999

Fork FOX 34 Rhythm 140 mm
Rear shock FOX FLOAT DPS Performance 130 mm
Brakes Shimano SLX 200/180 mm
Drivetrain Shimano SLX
Seatpost X-Fusion Manic 100-190 mm
Stem Specialized Trail Alloy
Bars Specialized Trail Alloy 780 mm
Wheels Roval 29
Tires Specialized Butcher/Purgatory (f/r) GRID 2.3″
Price € 3,999

Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Alu | € 2,999

Fork FOX 34 Rhythm 140 mm
Rear shock FOX FLOAT DPS Performance 130 mm
Brakes SRAM G2 R 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM NX Eagle
Seatpost X-Fusion Manic 100-190 mm
Stem Specialized Trail Alloy
Bars Specialized 800 mm
Wheels Roval 29
Tires Specialized Butcher/Purgatory (f/r) GRID 2.3″
Price € 2,999

Specialized Stumpjumper Alu | € 2,199

Fork RockShox 35 Silver 140 mm
Rear shock X-Fusion 02 Pro RL 130 mm
Brakes Tektro Gemini Comp 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM SX Eagle
Seatpost TranzX dropper 100-150 mm
Stem Specialized Trail Alloy
Bars Specialized 800 mm
Wheels unbranded
Tires Specialized Butcher/Purgatory (f/r) GRID 2.3″
Price € 2,199

Light, efficient, versatile – riding the Specialized Stumpjumper Expert

We had the opportunity to test the brand new, € 5,299 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert for a day on the diverse trails around Saalbach Hinterglemm. Besides using the gondola to get to the top, we also pedalled uphill, which gave us a good first impression of the bike’s climbing capabilities.

Even before you swing your leg over it, you’ll notice that the new Stumpjumper has lost a lot of weight compared to its predecessor. Everything looks a little more delicate and less oversized. Setting up is quick and easy despite the extensive adjustability offered by the FOX 34 GRIP2 fork. With the air pressure and rebound set up as recommended on the chart and the compression almost completely open, we hit the trails.

The new Stumpjumper is super comfortable. Compared to the predecessor, the riding position on the bike is more central, making you feel less like you’re pedalling the bike from behind – great! The suspension doesn’t bob even with the compression lever open, converting all of your input into propulsion. However, the new Stumpjumper still isn’t as efficient as the best bikes in this class, but that’s why Specialized have got the Epic Evo in their portfolio… As we’ve come to expect from Specialized, the contact points are super comfortable and you quickly notice that this is a bike built for long days in the saddle where efficiency, low weight and comfort are key.

When the trail points downhill, you’ll also notice the bike’s low weight. The handling of the Stumpjumper is super agile and light-footed. The bike responds to steering input directly and precisely and it’s a lot of fun to ride through fast back-to-back corners. Thanks to the low bottom bracket, your centre of gravity is kept low on the bike and you’re able to generate a lot of grip. The suspension is significantly more progressive than its predecessor. It doesn’t wallow, offering a lot of support as you pump the bike through rollers and it isn’t thrown off if you come up short or send it deep. With only 130 mm travel, there’s no denying what’s happening on the trail beneath you, of course, but the Stumpjumper still offers lots of traction and always remains predictable. At the same time, it constantly invites the rider to play with the trail. It’s easy to get onto the rear wheel and easily pops off obstacles.

Even flat and supposedly boring trails are a lot of fun aboard the Stumpjumper!

The FOX 34 suits the bike’s lightweight concept and offers a lot of control with its excellent damping, but the fork on our test bike creaked when braking hard, which is annoying. Otherwise, the components didn’t show any weaknesses and are well-tailored to the type of riding the new Stumpjumper is designed for. We were particularly impressed with the 170 mm dropper post and the short and wide cockpit. These factors also contribute to the Stumpjumper’s confidence-inspiring nature.

Stumpjumper or Stumpjumper EVO?

Although there’s only a travel difference of 20 mm separating the two bikes and their names are almost identical, the two couldn’t be more different. The Stumpjumper is light and efficient, while the Stumpjumper EVO is significantly more capable and more trimmed towards the descents. While the Stumpjumper dances over roots and invites you to play with the terrain, the Evo entices you rather to let go of the brakes and hold on. Still, both bikes are very versatile. The Stumpjumper is capable of more on the descents than you would think and the Evo is more efficient on the climbs than you’d expect. So, which bike should you buy? The Stumpjumper is for those who want a light, efficient bike for going on long rides, both uphill as well as downhill. For those who don’t live in alpine terrain, it’s a lot of fun on flat trails too. On the other hand, the EVO is for those who like spending their weekends in the bike park and also prefer using a shuttle. It’s not about being the fastest uphill, but about having the most fun downhill. However, you’ll need a bit of steeper gradient to do so.