Issue #047, Review -

Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper EVO in review – What counts as enduro?

In our big enduro bike group test, the Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper EVO asserted itself as a great all-rounder and proved to be almost the perfect do-it-all bike. That was reason enough for us to pit it against a much tamer test field in the search for the best mountain bike of 2021. But does it stand a chance on the climbs and is it significantly faster than the competition downhill?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best mountainbike of 2021 – 22 models in review

Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper EVO | 160/150 mm (f/r)
14.16 kg (size S4) | € 10,499 | Manufacturer-website

At Specialized, the EVO suffix is given to special models with extra travel and more reserves. That remains the case with the S-Works Stumpjumper EVO, which, on paper at least, is more capable downhill than its counterpart without the EVO designation. The rowdiest offspring of the Stumpy family combines a 150 mm FSR rear end with 160 mm travel at the front. However, the youngest descendant of the EVO dynasty isn’t just a pimped-out Stumpy with more travel but is given its very own frame that has lots in common with the conventional Stumpjumper. Amongst the most striking features are the characteristic side arm on the carbon frame and numerous frame details typical of the Californian brand, such as the ribbed chainstay protector. Thanks to the spacious SWAT box in the down tube and the SWAT multi-tool in the steerer tube, you can embark on long rides without having to carry a backpack.

The outstanding build quality and numerous frame details of the elegant S-Works Stumpjumper EVO make it truly unique.

Posh, posher, S-Works – The spec of the Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper EVO

As befits a bike with an S-Works decal on the down tube, the componentry of the € 10,499 Stumpjumper EVO is top-notch. In combination with the wireless SRAM AXS components, the cockpit with a Deity stem and Specialized’s in-house 800 mm handlebars looks clean and tidy. A 12-speed SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS drivetrain shifts gears on a big 10–52 t cassette and a RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post provides 170 mm travel. The FOX Factory suspension consists of a 36 fork with a GRIP2 damper and DPX2 shock, controlling 160/150 mm travel at the front and rear respectively. SRAM CODE RSC brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear pack a punch and deliver reliable deceleration. Awesome! As usual, the S-Works Stumpjumper EVO rolls on a 29″ Roval Traverse SL carbon wheelset with Specialized’s own-brand tires, with a 2.6″ Butcher at the front and a shallow-treaded 2.3″ Eliminator at the rear. Unlike the normal Stumpjumper and the Levo SL, the Stumpy EVO comes equipped with Specialized’s latest generation tires in the GRIDTrail casing with a soft T9 compound at the front and harder T7 rubber at the rear. Given the speeds the Stumpjumper EVO can reach, the rear tire is too weak, requiring high air pressures to prevent pinch flats and avoid rim damage.

Super clean
SRAM’s AXS components ensure a super tidy cockpit. Downhill, the 30 mm rise bar conveys huge amounts of confidence.
Only the best is good enough
The FOX 36 Factory fork comes with the superior GRIP2 damper and offers a whopping 160 mm travel.
What’s behind door number three?
There’s enough room for all your trail essentials in the SWAT storage compartment, whether you want to carry a spare tube, a pump or a big bag of gummy bears! For long, hot mid-summer rides, you can use the compartment to store Specialized’s special hydration bladder.

Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper EVO

€ 10,499

Specifications

Fork FOX 36 Factory 160 mm
Rear Shock FOX DPX2 Factory 150 mm
Seatpost RockShox Reverb AXS 170 mm
Brakes SRAM CODE RSC 200/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS 1x12
Stem Deity Copperhead 35 mm
Handlebar Roval Traverse SL C 800 mm
Wheelset Roval Traverse SL 29"
Tires Specialized Butcher GRID Trail T7/Eliminator GRID Trail T9 2.6"/2.3"

Technical Data

Size S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6
Weight 14.16 kg

Specific Features

SWAT-box
SWAT-multitool


Fat rubber
The revised version of Specialized’s own-brand Butcher tire at the front comes with a softer rubber compound and more robust casing. However, the wide 2.6” version feels spongy on the trail, especially on hard-packed ground and in big compressions.
Exemplary
SRAM CODE RSC brakes with big 200 mm rotors front and rear provide powerful and reliable deceleration. Excellent!
Super adjustable geometry concept
With the Stumpjumper EVO, you’ll have to choose between two (or three) suitable frame sizes and decide on one of the many geometry settings, which can be changed using different headset cups and a flip-chip in the chainstays. While this system might seem extremely complex, it allows for many options.

The geometry concept of the Specialized Stumpjumper EVO – Super variable

As far as geometry goes, the options are so extensive they make your head spin. The S-Works Stumpjumper EVO is available in 5 sizes, S1 to S6. The super-short seat tube (425 mm in S4) allows you to choose between at least two frame sizes and pick your bike based on what suits your riding style and not your inseam. Cool! But that’s not all. Once you’ve decided on a size, you can adjust the geometry of Stumpy to suit your riding style and terrain: the flip-chip in the chainstays lets you change the bottom bracket height and chainstay length while different headset cups let you slacken or steepen the head angle.

Size S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6
Seat tube 385 mm 385 mm 405 mm 425 mm 445 mm 465 mm
Top tube 538 mm 564 mm 590 mm 623 mm 647 mm 679 mm
Head tube 95 mm 95 mm 105 mm 115 mm 125 mm 135 mm
Head angle 64.5° 64.5° 64.5° 64.5° 64.5° 64.5°
Seat angle 78.0° 77.6° 77.2° 76.9° 77.0° 77.0°
Chainstays 438 mm 438 mm 438 mm 438 mm 448 mm 448 mm
BB Drop 40 mm 35 mm 35 mm 35 mm 35 mm 35 mm
Wheelbase 1,167 mm 1,191 mm 1,216 mm 1,247 mm 1,285 mm 1,319 mm
Reach 408 mm 428 mm 448 mm 475 mm 498 mm 528 mm
Stack 613 mm 617 mm 626 mm 635 mm 644 mm 654 mm
Helmet POC Tectal | Glasses 100% Speedcraft | Shorts ION Scrub Shorts | Kneepdas Chromag Rift
Shoes Giro Chamber II | Socks Banana Industries | Watch Wahoo ELEMNT RIVAL

The S-Works Stumpjumper Evo on the trail

Like the Nukeproof Reactor, the riding position of the Stumpjumper EVO is sufficiently comfortable for long rides on flat trails and yet central enough to climb steeper ramps. Due to the pronounced kink in the seat tube, the steep 77° seat angle effectively becomes slacker as you extend the dropper post. If you have long legs or if you spend most of your time climbing steep trails, you should push the saddle all the way forward. If you do so, the suspension of the Stumpy EVO offers sufficient comfort, even on long rides. Despite the relatively low 14.16 kg weight, the Stumpjumper EVO isn’t the fastest climber in this test. Like the Reactor, it likes to get to the trailhead in a relaxed fashion, preferably on fire roads and with the climb switch engaged. On technical climbs, you’ll have to actively shift your weight forward to keep the front wheel tracking, especially when negotiating super steep sections and ledges. At the same time, you’ll have to time your pedal strokes carefully to avoid clipping the pedals on obstacles due to the super low bottom bracket. Here, climbing specialists like the Ibis Ripmo V2 and Propain Hugene have a clear advantage.

Do it all? In our “best enduro bike of 2021 group test, the Stumpy EVO proved to be a great all-rounder. However, in this test field, it’s clearly one of the downhill specialists.

Tuning-tip: narrower tire at the front and more robust casing on the rear wheel

Downhill, the S-Works Stumpjumper EVO conveys huge amounts of confidence. While the low bottom bracket integrates you deep into the bike, the high front and the powerful brakes give you an extra boost of confidence. Compared to the Ripmo V2 or Canyon Spectral, the suspension of the Stumpy EVO is plusher and tuned for maximum traction rather than support. In true enduro fashion, the Stumpy EVO offers tons of grip and allows you to pick the wildest lines. Simultaneously, it requires more physical effort for spontaneous direction changes and jumps. On rough trails, where bikes like the Propain Hugene start to feel twitchy, the Specialized remains composed and lets you focus on holding your line, even on technical and steep trail sections. However, flatter trails expose the dark side of its geometry, especially in open corners, where you have to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking – here the super balanced Nukeproof Reactor is much easier to ride. Like the SCOTT Ransom, on smooth hard-packed flow trails and through heavy compression, the Stumpjumper EVO feels undefined and spongy, not least because of its 2.6” wide front tire.

Riding Characteristics

12

Uphill

1
  1. sluggish
  2. efficient

Agility

2
  1. cumbersome
  2. playful

Stability

3
  1. nervous
  2. confident

Handling

4
  1. demanding
  2. balanced

Suspension

5
  1. harsh
  2. plush

Fun Factor

6
  1. planted
  2. poppy

Value for money

7
  1. terrible
  2. very good

Intended Use

XC

8

Trail

9

Enduro

10

Downhill

11

Conclusion

The Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper EVO refuses to be put in a box. The rowdiest offspring of the Stumpy family is an excellent all-rounder with a penchant for rough enduro stages. While it’s far more confident than its livelier competitors on technical descents, it’s only average in terms of climbing performance and agility. If you’re looking for a prestigious, high-quality mountain bike that inspires tons of confidence and offers plenty of reserves, you might be looking in the right direction.

Tops

  • awesome integration thanks to the SWAT storage
  • super clean and tidy
  • smooth and confidence-inspiring downhill

Flops

  • climbing performance on trails
  • spongy tires make for vague handling

Find more information here: specialized.com

The testfield

Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best mountainbike of 2021 – 22 models in review

All Bikes in this group test: Canyon Neuron CF SLX 9 (Click for review) | Canyon Spectral 29 LTD (Click for review) | Canyon Stoic 4 (Click for review) | FOCUS THRON 6.9 (Click for review) | Ibis Ripmo V2 (Click for review) | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K (Click for review) | MERIDA NINETY-SIX 8000 (Click for review) | Nukeproof Reactor 290C (Click for review) | Orbea Rise M-Team (Click for review) | Propain Hugene (Click for review) | RAAW Jibb XTR Build (Click for review) | Rocky Mountain Instinct C70 (Click for review) | Santa Cruz 5010 X01 (Click for review) | Santa Cruz Tallboy CC X01 (Click for review) | SCOTT Ransom 900 Tuned AXS (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper EVO | Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL (Click for review) | Trek Fuel EX 9.8 GX (Click for review) | Trek Top Fuel 9.9 X01 (Click for review) | Yeti SB115 TURQ3 (Click for review) | YT IZZO BLAZE 29 (Click for review)