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Edited January 21, 2023
at 04:22 AM
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Several bikes from Specialized are on sale but the Stumpjumper Alloy is an especially solid deal. Modern geometry, very upgradeable down the road, and a pretty solid spec as is for this price.
The Status is probably the best deal of the bunch but it's a mullet setup (29" wheel in the front, 27.5" in the rear). Comes with Fox Suspension which will be much lighter and better performing than the entry level Rockshox/X fusion on the Stumpjumper. $2249 marked down from $3k:
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/status-140/p/199765?color=320386-199765
I know I know, it's still a $2k+ bike and mountain bikes are way too expensive. BUT if you're in the market for a full suspension bike this is a killer deal.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en...391-199784
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With that said, if I knew then what I know now I would have jumped on this deal for the price. We're in a unique moment where the bike industry grew a ton during the pandemic, then overproduced, and now there are sales ramping up on great bikes because there are too many and the demand can't keep up.
There's some chance that good bikes get a little cheaper, but 25% is a pretty steep discount. Demand will also pick back up in Spring so now is a solid time to watch for deals. From my research, the stumpjumper is a very solid bike if you're looking for a full suspension, ride anything trail bike. Sure you can spend thousands more on a carbon frame, lighter everything, etc, etc but for someone who wants to get into biking or get back into it on a modern geo bike this is a great buy. Though it is on the heavy side for sure.
Most local bike shops are running the same discounts so I would definitely check there first if there's a specialized dealer near you.
On the Stumpy...
The Stumpjumper is the benchmark for mid-travel trail bikes. It does everything above average to great. It is not as sophisticated a platform as the DW Link on Ibis and Pivots and Evils, but it is really nit-picking here. Anyone that insists that "it has to be this or that" and nothing else, is the same as someone saying that "oh, if you don't have an engine with twin overhead cam-shafts, you cannot have fun or you are not a driver" or BS like that.
Yes, the Stumpy build in this config on sale is meh, but it is not atypical.
The Achilles hill with all of these, IMHO, are the deals with Sram: a Shimano Deore build would simply be much better, both in shifting and especially in the brake department. But Shimano doesn't make suspension components, and shimano doesn't make a HG hub based 12s Drivetrain (which marketing demands), so I bet that between the "cheaper than Fox DPS + 34 Rhythm or Bomber Z2", and the package deals Sram can provide for getting an all Sram (Rockshox = Sram) build, Specialized and others opt for that. Remember that Specialized is not a boutique brand like Ibis who de-facto sells all their bikes for $3500+ or w/e is the baseline for the Ripley AF and the Ripmo AF, not orders their base bikes in the hundreds, rather THOUSANDS, so the combined savings are substantial.
Again, Sram is not bad, the contrary, and all of the components can serve well and are an upgrade to anything you could find on a big-box store (other perhaps the Sram 11s NX on that unicorn Nishiki Colorado Comp+ that was selling for $400 back in 2019 (?), and I will argue every time that the 11s NX was superior to the Eagle NX, especially for its time). The Fork and Shock on this are fine. The vast majority of their buyers will not need more. It is like a 3-series BMW...all the forum warriors will think "nothing less than 6-cyl turbo or M3 can cut it, but 99% of the 3-series sold are probably 4-cyl or older undertuned 6-cyl NA and are more than enough. Actually, just like this bike, these cars will have more to offer than what the avg. driver/owner will ever need.
Yes, this Stumpy is not light and I'd bet will be 32-35lbs ready to ride, but nothing much lighter in this price range, unless you go for a XC focused hardtail and gradually upgrade the heavier parts as it makes sense. Specialized Chisel, Marin Team & BMC Two Stroke are really nice platforms to build from. Plus as soon as you get the Stumpy and if you start forum/reddit-warrioring on what to upgrade, most will jump straight into DH focused tires, like Maxxis Assegai & Minions etc, that are pigs to pedal around and super heavy to boot, so...moot.
If you are thinking into getting in MTB, this is not a bad bike. It is not a great deal, but this is indeed a good "do it all" starter. Other options to keep in mind in the same class would be the Polygon Siskiu T7 (or T8 if you want to stretch the budget), the Giant Trance 29 3 or Trance X for a bit longer travel. The Trance 29 (non X) is probably one of the more pedal-friendly FS designs you can find (and it is not DW link). For a bit more $, you can also look into an Alloy Rocky Mountain Element for more XC-ish trail, or RM Instinct for bit worse pedaling, bit better DH performance. Specialized doesn't make something much better than the Stumpy for pedalling before you jump to an Epic Evo, which ofc is much saltier in price. The Status is more of a cheap enduro bike, i.e. definately DH oriented and if you ride a lot, will be tiresome. If you are a weekend warrior, riding once a week or so for 10-15mi, it matters less. If you ride a lot of miles a week, getting the zippier, lighter bikes becomes more important (and you put down the miles/experience to tackle staff without the help of lots of suspension travel).
Finally, just to finish my morning rant, a significant portion of the people who can afford even the 2K bikes like this, are in their mid-30s or even 40s. and up. Unless you have a lot of experience in MX or were riding 10y ago MTBs etc, might get intimidated by "teh gnar", the jumps and the steep DH in blue and black rated trails, or at least I know this is the case in SoCal and other areas. So over-biking to "be ready" for when the "heroics" come into play, is too often the case. Too often I see people on mid/long travel Pivots or Specialized enduros etc, and they ride mellow blues that I know are easily rideable on a Chisel or even a well shorted gravel bike...they are people my age, that know that they have to go to work tomorrow and cannot afford the "heroics"...duhh...so don't go too far into the "not good enough" critiques. Get a bike that can grow with you, but be realistic and realize that maybe your ceiling is far lower than that of the bikes, so overspending on stuff you will never need will only be useful for flexing to your friends, not actual riding. This doesn't mean "go HT, no need for FS", FS is easier and more forgiving = safer for beginners to learn on, I strongly believe that, but little bit gan go a long way. You don't need the stupid-expensive bikes to enjoy cycling, just like you don't need a Porsche or a M3 to enjoy driving.
Cycling is amazing, decompressing on even easy fire roads is amazing, MTB can be risky as you see in YT but doesn't need to be and is a low-impact exercise vs. running etc. Much better for your joints if you don't have the muscle structure to support it or already have strained joints. Look into it.
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https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/fitness-and-training/electric-bike-fitness/#:~:text=That's%20a%20co... [bikeradar.com].
"That's backed up by researchers at Brigham Young University in Utah. They tracked the heart rate of experienced mountain bikers on purely pedal-powered and electric mountain bikes.
When riding an electric mountain bike, their subjects hit 94 per cent of the average heart rate they achieved on a non-assisted mountain bike when riding a six-mile study loop with 700 feet of climbing, putting them comfortably in heart rate zone four.
Ultimately, the study concluded that electric mountain bikes appear to be an "excellent form of aerobic or cardiovascular exercise, even for experienced mountain bikers who regularly engage in this fitness activity"."
My friend, who isn't in quite as good of shape as me, has an electric Stumpjumper and I have an Epic. Using a low level of pedal assist allows him to keep up with me, so we can ride together and both get a decent workout. But he can boost the pedal assist and either smoke me or get very little workout.
Sometimes, we swap bikes, and I ride the heavier ebike turned off which again results in our paces being similar - but I see no advantage, personally, to using the motor.
"That's backed up by researchers at Brigham Young University in Utah. They tracked the heart rate of experienced mountain bikers on purely pedal-powered and electric mountain bikes.
When riding an electric mountain bike, their subjects hit 94 per cent of the average heart rate they achieved on a non-assisted mountain bike when riding a six-mile study loop with 700 feet of climbing, putting them comfortably in heart rate zone four.
Ultimately, the study concluded that electric mountain bikes appear to be an "excellent form of aerobic or cardiovascular exercise, even for experienced mountain bikers who regularly engage in this fitness activity"."
Currently at $1500:
https://www.bikesonline
The Siskiu T8, currently @ $2400, is the better buy, with pretty much everything but the brakes being "up there" with what post-covid you get in $3500-4000 alloy bikes. I agree that Polygon has worse resale value than Specialized, but the pandemic is over and I expect in absolute $, to be on the upside, i.e. the times people put their pre-order bike unused on a classified and demanded what they've paid for is gone.
If what you want is a shorter travel more pedal friendly / downcoutry or lighter trail bike than what the Stumpy is (and the Siskiu T), the basic Siskiu D5 is not bad, but once you start crossing the $1.5K and into the 2K territory, I wonder if you would be better of looking into a Rocky Mountain Element Alloy series. Specialized's offering in this range, the Epic Evo, is notably pricier.
Also, I don't care for the ppl poo-poo-ing on the eMTBs over and over and over...
Yes, many that get them are just lazy.
Many that get them are just overweight or old, and far from the fitness level needed to clear many of the trails - at least in my neighborhood where climbs are stupid steep. Good for them. I wish my dad would get one to follow me too, and I wish by the time I get one, more municipalities will have embraced them and realized that they are nothing like eMtotos.
But the whole "cannot enjoy suck a heavy bike" or w/e is stupid...most of these eMTBs are >150mm rear travel, most are 160/170mm, aka well into enduro and borderline DH category, where "Classic" bikes (stop calling them acoustic bikes, so stupid) are easily in the 40lbs terrirory.
Many offerings in eMTBs are 45lbs class (the new Orbea Rise is advertized under 45 in most builds), most of the full power ones with 540-650Wh are typ in the low 50s.
It is not that much more than the typ. long travel trail and enduro alloy bikes around. Less flickable and fast DH? For sure, IF YOU ARE A SEASONED ENDURO/DH Racer...most are not.
Yes, these bikes are heavy and muted, but so are regular enduro bikes with that much travel, especially if your bike is that Epic Evo or Element, i.e. bikes that were born to be XC racers and not burly monster trucks, but ... monster trucks are f-in fun too, and no, eMOTOs are nothing like eMTBs (even tho lots of fun too, as long as you don't take them on trails that prohibit them, especially after the rains, ASSHOLES). Even light, smaller people have lots of fun on them.And as far as cardio goes, well, Going DH gets you a super good cardio, especially if you push and pump the track. I easily hit 180bpm, And when you can climb 3x as fast, you get 3x the DH sessions, so...there.
Horses for courses. Enough with the gatekeeping based on some arbitrary merit and w/e vague BS. It is the same, every frikking time. When bikes came along,hikers bi-tch-ed, when snowboards came along, skiers said the same (oh, they don't care, they have no etiquette, boys with no respect, blah blah, point for point same excuses). Sure, making things popular will attract everyone, and our society has a decent % of assholes with bad manners...it is not like there are no assholes on regular bikes and they gravitate towards eMTBs only, or that assholes are only old and overweight, and w/o eMTBs we would be safe from them in the woods or the hills...
https://www.alltrails.c
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/u...ain-biking [alltrails.com]
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/u...ain-biking [alltrails.com]
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/u...ain-biking [alltrails.com]
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/u...ain-biking [alltrails.com]
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Of course not made by them but they chose the component. It was a 2011 model, break overheated with high humidity and breaking at all. Never had this happen with other bikes. And yes 60 mph, which is easy to do with a big incline and no breaks, more when you push it. Also have the graphs from the GPS which were sent to Specialized.
Brakes man…vehicles have brakes! WTH?
You are asking more from a Stumpjumper than it was designed for. They have other beefier models with suspensions geared more towards that style of riding. Still not a guarantee that they won't brake if you case something really bad, but they'll be more forgiving and hold up better.
Agreed. All I'm saying is the bike has taken a beating and still rides great. Not exactly a recommendation, just anecdotal testimony from someone who has ridden a similar model this one was based from for the past 7 years.
I would upgrade, but I think I'm probably done with my most aggressive riding. I'm finishing college and don't ride as often as I used to. For the few times I do make it out to the mountains, climbing does suck on the Stumpjumper. At least prolonged climbing past 8 minutes or so. I could only imagine a longer wheel base with more camber 😂
I personally don't even know anybody I could recommend this bike to, who could actually break the bike before they break themselves. Maybe one or two but they compete at the national and world level so that's not really a fair comparison. And one of them rode a Specialized Enduro S Works, so the carbon frames hold up too. Although I still trust Alloy more. Bend is better than a break.
The Axum isn't really worth it if you plan on making substantial upgrades to it. But it's a good starter if there's a chance it's just going to hang in the garage and you haven't really tried the sport yet.
Same thing with that Kent Genesis Bohe gravel bike that was selling for $130. I'm not as knowledgeable about gravel bikes but that price I should have just bought it.
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