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UK based bike reviewer Guy Kesteven said the following a few weeks ago:
"It’s 50 years since Mike Sinyard sold his VW camper to buy a bunch of bike parts from Italy and launch Specialized Bicycle Components, so the Californian brand are bound to go big this year. In fact, I’ve already ridden two superb new bikes from them that would reset the benchmarks in their respective categories if they were launched now. They’re not live for a couple of months though and I’ve signed stuff that means I can’t tell you any more at present.
One bike that I can speculate on is the new Stumpjumper though, which has to be on the cards. Not only is it four years since the last Stumpy and Stumpjumper Evo launch snaked its way through the chaos of Covid, but the Stumpjumper is also the original Specialized MTB. Alongside Fisher/Ritchey, Univega and Koski, it was actually one of the original production MTBs from anyone when it debuted in 1982, and as everyone knows, 42 is the answer to life, the universe and everything.
So what should we expect? TBH, the travel, masses of geometry adjust and internal storage of the Stumpjumper Evo are still extremely competitive with the competition. Specialized have ramped up the anti-squat numbers on their recent Levo SL launch though and more positive pedaling was about the only thing on my wish list the last time I tested the alloy or carbon bike. Specialized also seem to be moving away from the ‘sidearm’ asymmetric frame strut design so expect a cleaner chassis on both Stumpys. The straight Stumpjumper is also likely to get a bump in travel to at least 150/140mm make it more competitive with other lightweight trail bikes like the Mondraker Raze and Santa Cruz Hightower."
The two statements in bold imply 3 new bikes, including the new Stumpy.
Guy's (and his review's) interests seem to stretch from "enduro" to "gravel" so I'm speculating that the Bruni Demo is not one of these two mystery bikes he has ridden.
trunnion mount for SC? They’ve mentioned some new bikes on their recent podcasts.
I heard a rumour that RM supply will be lower than usual for this season, as in the bikes shipping this spring might be it until more product becomes available in Q4.
Ah got it, thanks.
Yes, there is a new Stumpy (which we can see right now as it's the same as the new Levo SL, sans motor), the new Enduro and if there is a third bike, it's the new 120-ish bike--probably replacing the Epic EVO and Stumpy classic that's in the line right now (130mm bike). The Stumpy has been done and in boxes for a lot time but they've been trying to clear stock of the old ones for well over a year now before releasing. As I've said many times, the Endruo will likely have the lower link design the prototype Demo has. They were going to release a slightly updated Enduro frame well over a year ago, but I believe they held back and went for total re-design once they saw how well the DH bike was riding.
This would likely make sense. Manufactures have massively cut back on orders for MY24. I would imagine that IF consumers actually buy a lot of bikes this spring, some brands my go back to being under-stocked and have shortages by the fall. That said, nothing is pointing to a lot of people buying bikes in the first half of 2024.
I can see the appeal to them of consolidating the line (combining the current stumpy and epic evo) but round my way the Epic Evo seems to be the weapon of choice for the amateur XC racer, and looks like the Spesh pros too, not many Epic World Cups being raced in anger.
Not sure they'd stomach the weight of a "stumpy ST" as a race bike.
In fact, didn't spesh try that a few years ago with the Camber?
That checks out. I heard:
2024:
New Stumpy (150mm trail bike, no more dedicated "evo" version)
New Status (170mm newschool freeride, dual crown compatible, pretty similar to current version with minor geo tweaks)
New "Epic Evo" or similar (120mm downcountry bike, sort of what the Camber used to be, carbon and alloy with smartweld tech)
Some new e-bike stuff I don't particularly care about.
2025:
New Enduro
New Demo
This aligns with what I've heard/think.
The Enduro is going lower link, so they needed more time to design and make it happen. Probably will be in the fall round of reviews for websites/reviewers and be available fall or very early spring '25.
My expectation is the new Stumpjumper (same frame as current/new Levo SL) will drop late spring '24 or early summer--whenever they clear enough current stock of old bikes out.
New Status will drop this year.
New "XC/short-travel trail bike" will drop this year... Probably an updated "Epic EVO" or a totally new name (won't be Stumpjumper name). That will be 120mm, higher anti-squat, in-frame storage. Light enough to be raced at world cup level XC/marathon but strong enough to be their '120mm trail bike' as well. Think of a lighter version of Trek's Top Fuel 120mm bike.
This all tracks with what I have heard, as well. Consolidating the line and getting rid of the “EVO” nomenclature. From what I grasp the line up will look like-
Epic WC-75mm travel race bike.
Epic-120mm travel “down country”.
Stumpy-140mm travel trail/all mountain, exact same layout as the Gen. 2 Levo SL.
Enduro-170mm race bike with the same layout of the proto Demo, but full carbon no lugs.
I haven’t heard anything about a new Status, since the point of the current Status was to use previously designed tube sets cobbled together into a new bike to meet that price point, but that thing in the picture sure does look like one.
instead of posting full thing here, i made a separate thread about some additive manufacturing used in intense m1 development. one company involved is called TRUMPF which makes me lol, but interesting for sure.
https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/trumpf-and-elementum-3d-additive-ma…
Fantastic to see External routing. well done privateer
I haven't minded the TT kink in other shots, but side profile is kinda fugly here.
As stated in the video, geometry is the largely the same, wish they made a P2.5 size with 475 reach. I have a Gen1 141 in P3, like the length in some instances, but is a little limousine feeling in tight stuff. I think a 465 reach is too short for me.
Are you around 6ft? Sounds odd but see if you can try a current Merida 160, the reach is even longer but it rides way shorter.
They also ride absolutely fantastic... just ignore the headset routing ahaha
Merida isn't available in the US.
oh yes, thats correct with specialized agreement - thats a shame as they make some high quality stuff.
That top tube kink is steep, but IMO it looks better than the longer travel one. A company can make the aesthetics of it work if it looks intentional. If you're gonna make a kink, go in full, if you halfway commit to it, it looks worse.
Honestly reminds me of a KHS though.
Did anyone listen to the whole Privateer video, and did they mention anything about long-shocking it for more travel?
Looks like the new sight is out and about at the cannonball festival
Looks like a...Slash?
Looks like a department store bike. Privateer was on my short list, this one won't be.
Those colors look a lot better than the renderings I saw. Still not a fan. The carbon Optics look much better…
I think it's the destiny of every four/faux-bar high pivot to look like that...
that "no picture" sign must be a joke
Any chance you can share the ebike stuff too
.
Another and slightly better pic with the idler.
They didn’t mention it, no.
Just been out to have a look at my 161 compared to the gen 2. The gen 1 has pretty limited clearance between the top of the shock and the top tube. A longer eye-to-eye shock would be unlikely to fit. Looking at the photos of the gen 2 it does look like there’s significantly more clearance so it might be possible.
For what it’s worth I’ve never felt the need for any more travel on the rear of my gen 1. I’ll caveat that I’m an exceptionally unimpressive rider, although it’s mostly ridden at Dyfi bike park which is probably one of the harshest use cases for a bike in the U.K.
My other ‘big’ bike is a Saracen Ariel 180 and in the real world there doesn’t actually feel like there’s much in it between the two in terms of actual measurable travel. It wouldn’t surprise me if the 161 was closer to 170 than 160 once you’d sat down with some string, an old battered exercise book and one of those 1980s scientific calculators that no one knew what all the buttons did.
Looking forward to the press release for the new Sight. Could be an interesting one.
Also, does anybody have info on when Canyon or YT are going to release a light e-mtb?
Looks familiar (Since Vlad is working for WeAreOne): https://www.easycomposites.eu/making-a-carbon-fibre-bike-frame-case-study
gen 2 161 page mentions over stroking to 174mm, nothing on the 141 but i wouldn't see why you'd but the 141 and overstroke it instead of just buying the 161. you need a 65mm stroke shock btw, stock is 60mm