The first impression
: The fork is gold-colored, the chain and cassette shimmering in a rainbow - otherwise only black: the bike swallows a lot of light.
But the MTB doesn't need to be visually thick.
What the manufacturer says:
The Stumpjumper S-Works is a »performance-driven all-rounder«,
says
Specialized.
Sounds like a contradiction in terms.
But it is not, according to the producer.
Trail bikes, also known as all mountain bikes, which include the Stumpjumper, are all-rounders.
But there can be no question of a compromise: the wheel is a piece of high-tech in all respects.
In fact, it is consistently geared towards weight loss.
The frame, fork, rims, seat post, handlebar, parts of the damper and the cranks are made of carbon.
The test bike weighs just 12.2 kilograms.
The chassis components are among the best that Fox has on the shelf.
So we're dealing with a bike for hobby bikers who are serious about it: The Specialized racing teams use the S-Works for test runs, then it is equipped with telemetry measurement technology.
"An Alpen Cross would be ideal," said a Specialized spokesman for an ambitious but ideal application: "You can climb mountains and passes, but also have a lot of fun descending into the valley." 520 percent.
The largest sprocket with 52 teeth enables very easy mountain gear.
The suspension fork and frame damper can be adjusted in a very complex way.
Some customers are initially overwhelmed by this.
Just the compression and rebound properties of the fork can be adjusted using four wheels.
According to the manufacturer, you have to approach your own driving style.
Specialized does not see the bike as a feasibility study or image carrier.
For some customers, the S-Works is worth the high price.
We noticed
that there are special bikes and there are special bikes.
Downhill bikes with long suspension travel and flat steering angles, for example, are made for special use and are suitable for steep descents.
Or the speed-optimized cross-country bikes, the racing machines among MTBs.
The S-Works is one of the special bikes among the all-rounders.
“Awesome bike!” Shouts another mountain biker in the forest, more to the bike than to his test rider.
Apparently he identified the device as he drove past, although the black "S-Works" lettering hardly stands out from the frame.
The Stumpjumper S-Works is light-footed, powerful and, if desired, comfortable like a sedan chair.
Fork (140 millimeters of travel) and frame damper (130 millimeters) swallow roots and coarse debris well in almost all positions.
Only when hits hit the chassis in quick succession do they make the frame vibrate.
Thanks to 29-inch tires, the bike runs smoothly, but at the same time it remains lively.
The frame is torsion-resistant.
Every watt that the calves put into the pedals seems to convert the S-Works into motion.
But of course the efficiency is not 100 percent, power remains in the chain drive as well as in the damping.
Physically it has to be like that, but it feels different.
The trail bike comes close to an all-rounder who seeks the balance between climbing and downhill talent. The front wheel only begins to float late on inclines. The frame geometry with chainstays that are not too short, a fairly upright seating position and a moderate steering angle has proven itself: the flatter this is, the further forward the front wheel is and makes climbing uphill more difficult. On the other hand, at 65 degrees, it is flat enough to race down mountains safely: the flatter the steering angle, the lower the risk of flying over the handlebars. The wide handlebars give you a great feeling for the terrain.
You have to know that:
The S-Works has a historical predecessor.
The Stumpjumper is the first mass-produced MTB in the world.
However, today's model has nothing to do with the original type, which left the Californian manufacturer's production facility for the first time in 1981.
Well-designed mountain bikes have been around since the early 1970s, when a clique of inventors led by Gary Fisher hit the mountains in Marin County, California, with converted cruisers.
The first real MTB frame was probably welded in 1977.
The Stumpjumper had unusual tread tires at the time, but they were drawn on 26-inch wheels and narrower than the rubbers used today. The frame was made of aluminum, not sprung, a rigid fork was mounted, the handlebars narrower. “You wouldn't do it like that anymore,” says Specialized.
The 2021 S-Works Stumpjumper is completely different: shift cables are missing, the shift takes commands via radio. The same applies to the hydraulic telescopic seat post. At the push of a button, it gives way to the rider's body weight - for more legroom on steep descents into the valley, where the saddle shoots back to the starting height in response to a radio signal. But this requires a lot of electricity: Depending on how often you operate the gears or seat post, the batteries need to be refreshed every few weeks or months. A charger is included with the S-Works.
All the precious components drive the price up to 9999 euros.
The Stumpjumper is available in various designs and therefore also cheaper.
If you expect a similar performance, but do without carbon wheels and cranks, radio components or the gloomy black look, you can use the Stumpjumper Expert for 5499 euros.
It weighs a good two kilograms more.
If a less complex suspension fork is enough, you pay 3999 euros for the Stumpjumper Comp.
The cheapest Stumpy with an aluminum frame, the Stumpjumper Alloy, costs 2199 euros.
We'll keep that in mind:
The S-Works Stumpjumper is a calf power utilization machine.
And yes, thanks to all the expensive technology, the desire for an eMTB is quickly forgotten by the rider.
