2021 Specialized Stumpjumper S-Works

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With the recent release of the new Stumpjumper EVO, riders had to know a revised Stumpjumper was on the way. Today, Specialized delivered the goods. For the latest iteration of the hallmark line, Specialized sought to save weight, improve ride qualities and ultimately produce what they believe to be the epitome of today's trail bike. Whether they've succeeded is a matter of opinion to many, but Specialized has made a strong case for themselves with the new Stumpjumper line.

Stumpjumper Highlights

• All-new carbon and alloy frames
• 29-inch wheels only (ability to run 27.5-inch rear)
• 130mm (5.1-inch) rear travel
• 190x45mm rear shock
• 140mm (5.5-inch) front travel
• Carbon models feature larger SWAT compartment
• All six build kits are 12-speed with dropper posts
• Six size options (S1-S6)
• Internally routed cables on both frame materials
• Integrated, rubber molded protection on chainstay and down tube

What's New

A first look at the new Stumpjumper won't have much jumping out in the visuals department, most of what Specialized went after isn't readily apparent and lives more on charts and spreadsheets. Starting at the rear of the bike, the first standout is the absence of the Horst link. The new Stumpjumper has flexstays instead. Specialized went this route for numerous reasons, including a small weight savings and less maintenance due to fewer pivots.

From a performance standpoint, the engineering team sought to use carbon tuning in the flexstays to better improve overall ride qualities. When the rear shock is installed, the stays are somewhat preloaded and act as a negative spring of sorts. When the bike is at sag the force from the flex stay is neutral. Certainly the most standout point of the carbon tuning Specialized put into the new Stumpjumper, but certainly not the only bit. Throughout the bike, there are various carbon layups used to create a frame that Specialized states is stiffer for some on-trail riding forces (like pedaling and big hits) and more compliant for retaining traction in other on-trail situations. We know you've heard this from numerous brands, on countless bikes. Whether Specialized delivered on this promise with the Stumpjumper will be divulged in time.

In a quest to further improve the Stumpjumper's trail manners, Specialized went with an interesting shock tune on the rear FOX shocks. On the compression side, the shocks feature a light, linear tune to help the Stumpjumper line make use of the full 130mm if rear travel. Inside the FOX shock is a digressive piston with a dished head that adds a natural preload to the shim stack. The idea is to have enough low-speed compression without over-producing high-speed compression and a harsh ride. If riders want more ramp, they can add volume spacers to the shock. On the rebound side of the shock, the tune is light off the top but upon return from a deeper stroke of the travel, it will be slowed down. Specialized wanted the Stumpjumper to have a lively feel for small hits but not buck riders off larger compressions.

Geometry

While the shapes of the new Stumpjumper are familiar, their proportions have been changed quite a bit. Much like the new EVO line, the Stumpy line has moved to the S sizing system, giving riders six size choices. This sizing method is more than just a rebranding of the old t-shirt sizing mentality and does give riders more options on what size bike they can ride. If you prefer the prior sizes, those still exist, albeit with some minor tweaks. Riders looking for the longer feel of today's trends will easily find and fit on the corresponding size. For example, last year's medium held a 425mm reach and 410mm seat tube. This year's S2 has a 430mm reach, the S3 has a 450mm reach and still only a 405mm seat tube. If you want to get really wild, the S4 has a 475mm reach and the seat tube only grows to 415mm, giving many riders three sizing options to find what they are looking for.

Jumping into geometry a bit more, nearly every number has changed with the new Stumpjumper. Examining the bike in the slack setting, the new 65-degree head angle is kept in check by a 44mm reduced-offset fork. The seat tube angle is steepened to 76-degrees and the chainstays are somewhat size-specific with the four smallest sizes sporting a 432mm length and the largest two at 442mm. As mentioned, seat tubes across the board are shorter, meaning that depending on what size riders pick, reach numbers have grown significantly across the board.

There is, however, one number that is missing from the Stumpjumper line: 27.5. Specialized noted that because the new Stumpy has a lower standover and a more-catered geometry, along with shop requests and general sales numbers, they did not see a point in making a 27.5-inch wheeled version. If riders want to run a mullet (27.5 rear, 29 front) bike, that option does exist.

Build Kits

Specialized offers the Stumpjumper line in six build options, two are alloy, four are carbon. Riders can jump into the lineup for $2,199 with the Stumpjumper Alloy which will yield a SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain and entry-level suspension from RockShox and X-Fusion. For a thousand dollars more, riders get SRAM's NX drivetrain and a massive upgrade to G2 brakes and FOX suspension. Compared to the 2020 line, this is a slight drop in price. Carbon models start with the Comp at $3,999 and escalate from there, all the way to the S-Works, which is what Specialized sent us.

Full disclosure, it is highly unlikely that any of us at Vital would shell out the $9,499 for the SRAM AXS, FOX Factory suspended bike that we tested. That said, it merits saying that this is a drop in price over the 2020 S-Works AXS model, so there's that. To look at the full line, with specs and pricing, head to our Product Guide where we have it laid out for you.

First Impressions On the Trail

Vital tester, Kevin Lillywhite, has been making his way through a slew of new 29ers lately. At 5-foot 11-inches, he typically opts for a large and in the case of the Stumpjumper, he rode an S4. Kevin has some background with the prior generation of Stumpjumper and used this to extract some straight up comparisons between models. While time was limited, Kevin did make a few immediate notes. First was a perceptible increase in torsional stiffness with the new model. The new suspension curve gave the Stumpjumper an improved trail feel, with better feedback, pop, and pedaling efficiency. Something that Kevin could not decipher was the presence of flex stays over the traditional Horst link. Ultimately, that may be a compliment. As we move through the long-term review, we'll see how the bike holds up and how our impressions of the bike evolve.

When Specialized presented the new Stumpjumper they came at us strong, with bold promises of an incredible new ride. Did they deliver? It's too early in our testing to draw any definitive conclusions but so far, we have to say things are off to a strong start. The new Stumpjumper makes use of thoughtfully crafted details beyond just marketing-speak that deliver an on-trail feel that riders will appreciate. Hustle over to Specialized.com or your local dealer to get a look for yourself.