Table Of Contents

  • Climbing Ability 80% 80%
  • Downhill Ability 90% 90%
  • Overall Fun 90% 90%

Travel: 120mm rear/130mm fork

Head Tube Angle: 66.5

Seat Tube Angle: 74.5

Reach: 480mm (large frame)

Weight: 27.80 lbs

Price: $4,700

What We Like: New rear suspension linkage, SWAT bottom bracket storage

What We Don’t: Price

The completely redesigned Specialized Stumpjumper ST is unreal. Specialized has simplified the entire Stumpjumper range and made some fairly dramatic changes. They have revamped the entire rear suspension set-up to reduce weight and improve rider feel. The new geo has improved rider position, and the travel adds so much versatility. A lot of work has gone into the new frame design, and it shows. The Stumpjumper was the first mountain bike, and it continues to be innovative. There is also a SWAT bottom bracket storage pocket on the carbon models, which is always cool.
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See Our Best Short Travel Mountain Bike Review 2021 Article HERE!

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  • Climbing Ability 90% 90%
  • Downhill Ability 90% 90%
  • Overall Fun 90% 90%

Pros

Upgraded Rear Suspension

Cons

Bottom Bracket Has Had Some Issues

Travel: 120mm rear/130mm fork

Head Tube Angle: 66.5

Seat Tube Angle: 76

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Cons

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Cons

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Seat Tube Angle: 76

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Pros

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Cons

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Pros

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Cons

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Pros

DELTA Link Rear Suspension

Cons

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Cons

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Pros

Down Tube Storage

Cons

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Upgraded Rear Suspension, Customized Colour Options

Cons

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Pros

Super Lightweight

Cons

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Pros

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  • Climbing Ability 80% 80%
  • Downhill Ability 90% 90%
  • Overall Fun 90% 90%

Pros

New Rear Suspension Linkage, SWAT Bottom Bracket Storage

Cons

Price

Travel: 120mm rear/130mm fork

Head Tube Angle: 66.5

Seat Tube Angle: 74.5

Reach: 480mm (large frame)

Weight: 27.80 lbs

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Cons

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The brand new Stumpjumper is a thing of beauty. Available in 2021, Specialized has said that this is the ultimate do-anything trail bike, and they don’t seem to be wrong. As another large company, they are able to make and offer a few frame options, but you can tune them appropriately to ride the same. So, do not think you’re missing out too much when you can’t afford the $9000 wireless version and are shredding on an alloy frame. Specialized has worked to create a similar riding feel across all of their frames for the new and improved Stumpy, and it shows.

The Best Short Travel Mountain Bikes: Specialized Stumpjumper ST - Gear Hacker

The Bike

A quick note is that the Stumpjumper ST and the Stumpjumper EVO are very different. The EVO comes with completely different geo and longer travel. So just be aware of the differences when looking at the Stumpjumpers, as this article will look solely at the Stumpjumper shorter travel version.

The rear suspension has been completely redesigned for the 2021 season by getting rid of the Horst Link pivot on the rear stays and changing to a flex stay. Essentially, this removes the pivot and saves 55g of weight. Specialized also looked throughout the frame and removed any non-supportive carbon. That means that if it didn’t add support or stiffness it added weight, and it was removed. So the new Stumpy is 100g lighter than the last version.

The sizing parameters on the new Stumpjumper have also changed, so don’t go looking for a size large frame. They have gone with an S1-S6 frame sizing chart. So you’ll need to know what you are looking for in terms of reach and other sizing when you pick up a Stumpjumper. The geometry has also received an update. The head angle is a very slack 65-degrees and the seat tube is 76-degrees to help with the climbing.

Specialized has included a flip-chip to slightly adjust the geo, and the bike will arrive in the low position. We kept it in the low position. There was no real need to mess around with the dialed geo that Specialized went through 130 prototypes to find.

The Best Short Travel Mountain Bikes: Specialized Stumpjumper ST - Gear Hacker

Climbing

With just a few changes in the geo, the new Stumpjumper is much more comfortable than its predecessor. The new riding position is central and keeps you over the pedals well. The suspension is so dialled in so there is hardly any noticeable pedal bob while pushing it on the steeps. This bike is designed for long days in the saddle and for smashing miles. Though it may not be as efficient as some of the climbers on the list, it will keep you smiling all day.
There is excellent traction for both wheels while climbing as well, which is created by the geometry. The handling is snappy and keeps everything under control even on the windy climbs that are challenging on the best of days. The rear hub has 36t of engagement to keep the transition into pedaling quick and aggressive. The SRAM drivetrains across the board are excellent and will help out on the uphills.
The Best Short Travel Mountain Bikes: Specialized Stumpjumper ST - Gear Hacker

Downhill

Specialized Stumpjumper comes with Jumper in the name, so, I mean, what else can you ask for? The 130mm of travel in the rear helps to reduce how much of the trail underneath that you will feel, but it won’t soak up everything. It is lighter as well, and the weight is noticeable when firing downhill.

Using Specialized’s app to dial in the suspension on the forks will help to personalize the feedback while you shred as well. The slack head tube angle and a shorter offset fork all add together to keep the bike more stable while you’re riding. It’s a Stumpjumper. Sure, it’s full of new tech, but it is a purebred trail bike that can pretty much do it all. The Fox Float 34 fork provides 140mm of travel, which is a nice pairing with the 130mm of the rear. It’s silky on the descents and makes up for the slightly smaller tires.

The Best Short Travel Mountain Bikes: Specialized Stumpjumper ST - Gear Hacker

Build Options

Specialized is thinning out their build options in the new 2021 class of Stumpjumpers. Now, they are only offering 6 build-outs: 4 carbon and 2 alloy frames, but there is still a bike for everything. There are also two frame only options for those itching to kit it out themselves. Something to note is that if you are looking for the SWAT downtube storage, the storage is only available on carbon models of the bike.

The top of the line version the S-Works Stumpjumper comes with every bell and whistle Specialized could find. With a wireless drivetrain and dropper post to SRAM G2 Ultimate brakes, this is a stunning bike. So nice you might not even want to take it out in the rain, and where’s the fun in that? It will only cost you $9,500, which compared to other wireless drivetrain bikes is about $1,500 cheaper.

The other three carbon models range between $4,000 and $7,000. That’s a nice price range for carbon framed bikes that come with secret snack compartments, so where can you go wrong?!
The alloy frame Stumpjumpers are $2,200 and $3,200. Again, they don’t come with the SWAT downtube, which is a bit of a drag but makes sense because it would completely change the firmness of the frame and may cause some problems. The S-Works Carbon frame is available for $2,800 and will be delivered right to your home. Not a bad deal.
The Best Short Travel Mountain Bikes: Specialized Stumpjumper ST - Gear Hacker

The Bottom Line

The Stumpjumper has been a staple in the mountain biking world for forty years. This year’s addition to that storied history may be one of the best yet. The new rear suspension is steady throughout the descent but keeps all of the efficiency in the pedals while climbing. The new and improved geo also creates a steady pedaling platform but can be aggressive enough for the downs.

It is easy to tell that a lot of work has gone into the new Stumpjumper—130 prototypes are nothing to shake a stick at. Several builds will suit many a wallet from super high end to aluminum framed shredders. The amount of travel is perfect for the geometry and will keep you out of trouble if you get into some hairy trails. Certainly, this bike is built for long velvet trails, but it won’t shy away from a little rock garden here or there. The 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper is a bike you need to ride to believe. As with Stumpy’s in the past, it is excellent and will continue to be for years to come.

The Best Short Travel Mountain Bikes: Specialized Stumpjumper ST - Gear Hacker

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We participate in affiliate programs to help us fund Gear Hacker. Some of the links in this website are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product using our link, we will earn a small commission. Don’t worry! This comes at no additional cost to you, and we will never base our reviews on whether or not we earn a commission off of a product. With that said, if you find our review helpful and decide to purchase an item we review, we would be very appreciative if you use our links to do so. It will help us bring you more awesome content in the future!