It combines precise handling perfect suspension kinematics and a complete abandon of proprietary nonsense with a slightly steeper geometry less travel (130mm front/120mm rear) and 29-inch wheels to make it a true 'do-it-all' trail bike.
Our design goal for the new stumpjumper was simplebuild the ultimate trail bike one that feels telepathic. And it turns out that this feeling all comes down to stiffness. Think of it this way: when the frame's telling your hands one thing and your feet another your brain gets confused with the imbalance and the bike feels unstable. In order to fix this we had to get to work on dialing-in the materials shapes and the layout.
We started by creating our own mountain-specific stiffness test and then we looked at the layout with finite element analysis (fea) to see where we could get the biggest stiffness improvements. This led to a big discovery: the large and x-large frames needed more front-end stiffness while the smalls and mediums were just fine. We were able to create a frame design that was 20% more efficient. And in the end this proved to be one of the lightest trail frames on the market today.
When designing the frame with the stiffness targets being a main goal we developed a radical new sidearm design. The front-end and rear-end are connected at three points and the sidearm helps keep all these points super stiff and connected all while taking about 100 grams out of the rear-end. More explicitly this minimizes frame flex when the rear suspension is active.
We continued down the suspension path with a custom rx trail tune on both the fork and rear shock. Suspension performance is highly dependent on frame wheel and rider size so we use our rx tune to get each bike to land in the middle of the adjustment spectrum and this gives you the biggest possible range to fine-tune your ride. Another focal point of the tune was matching the suspension characteristics between wheel sizeswe developed a specific rx tune for each platform. So no matter what wheel size you prefer you'll get perfectly linear suspension.
Steps were also taken to make this bike easy to live with. Threaded bottom brackets make a triumphant return and we made room for up to a 3.0' tyre. You're also free to run whatever aftermarket rear shock you want since we're using standard metric shocks. We revamped the SWAT box too making it sleeker lighter and with more volume. And customization is furthered with a flip chip that lets you to dial-in your stumpy to your riding style. Switch it from high to low and it drops your bottom bracket 6mm and slackens the head tube by half-a-degree. Little details also jump out to surprise you like a newly designed ribbed chainstay protector that makes chain slap a thing of the past and nearly silences the drivetrain. Lastly we seriously couldn't make cable routing any easier on carbon models. Full tubes can be found throughout the carbon frame so all you have to do is push the cable and it'll come out the other end. No more lazy loop hidden stashes of magnets pokey spokes or pillows to cry in.
For the build you get a solid components package with a full SRAM gx1 eagle drivetrain SRAM guide r disc brakes Rockshox pike rc fork and a deluxe rt3 rear shock (130/120mm of travel respectively) and Roval traverse carbon 29 wheels.
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The stumpjumper st's asymmetrical, FACT 11m carbon fiber construction is lightweight, stiff, and ready for technical climbs and rowdy descents. It's built off of our 29 trail geometry, so it's both capable and comfortable. And with SWAT integration in the down tube, a threaded bb, easy cable routing, and an brand new chain silencer, it's ready for anything the trail, or you, throw at it.
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With three different compression adjustmentsopen/pedal/lockincredible damping performance, and our rx trail tune, the Rockshox deluxe rt3 perfectly complements the stumpjumper.
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Rockshox's pike is known for its trail performance, and the rc found here has stiff stanchions, a charger damper, and plenty of sensitivity.
Mountain biking has been revolutionised in the last few years with the introduction of larger wheel sizes and more sophisticated suspensions. Whether you are buying your first mountain bike, or you want to upgrade your ride, this is a quick guide to steer you through the occasionally confusing world of mountain biking. For a far more detailed guide, go to our BLOG on finding the mountain bike for you.
Where to start
Prices for a mountain bike that will last and give you a proper riding experience start around £400, which includes bike set-up and your first service. On bikes over £600, we include a free suspension set up, which is a £45 value. You can spend less on a bike, but you'll either get sub-standard components or be left on your own to build up the bike, fit it correctly, tune the suspension and service it once it beds-in.
What are you paying for?
£400 - £4,000 is quite a range, so how do you decide what's right for you? For example, is it more important to spend extra to get a carbon fibre frame or would you be better off with a less expensive frame and better gear shifters, brakes and wheels? If it's an upgrade from your current bike you are looking for, how do you choose the best frame, groupset and wheels for you?
1. Your Mountain biking objectives
The best place to start is understanding what you want to achieve with your bike. Are you riding local bridleways and towpaths, or will you be a regular on the red runs at Swinley Forest and the trail centres in Wales? Do you want to do big jumps, or be fast cross-country? The answers to these questions will guide you toward the right kind of bike. To keep it simple, we will refer to "Cross country", "Trail" and "Downhill". There is a more detailed breakdown in the BLOG
2. Frame materials
The most common material is aluminium, as it's light and strong, and it is less likely to be damaged in a crash than carbon fibre. Carbon fibre frames can offer improve weight and stiffness, but all carbon is NOT equal. Cheap carbon is like riding a plastic bike, and it is unlikely to survive many crashes.
3. Suspension & frame angles
"Hardtail" bikes have suspension forks and a rigid rear triangle, but "Full Sus" bikes have a rear shock absorber as well. Quality Full Sus bikes start at £1,000, as the parts and manufacturing costs are higher. The suspension "travel" is matched to the type of riding you will do. Cross country bikes generally have 100 - 120mm or travel, Trail bikes have 140 - 160mm, and Downhill bikes go up from there. Downhill bikes also have a fundamentally different frame design, and very heavy duty shocks, so it's a specialist area.
4. Wheel sizes
All quality mountain bikes now come with either 27.5" or 29" wheels. The "traditional" 26" wheel is slower over rough surfaces and has less grip due to the smaller contact patch with the ground. In general, 29" wheels are a good choice for medium and larger hardtail bikes, and 27.5" wheels are the best for smaller frames and full sus bikes.
Summary
We are here to help you match you with the best bike for your riding objectives and budget. We'll make sure you get the right size and set it up correctly for you in any case, but we can also discuss the trade-offs and pro & cons of your different choices. We are all cyclists and enthusiasts, so we are keen and able to help.