The Stumpjumper FSR is a long-standing favourite out on the trails. What, if anything, will plus tyres add to its time-tested formula?
The frame
The Comp Carbon’s alloy rear end delivers 135mm of travel via Specialized’s four-bar FSR system. This is mated to a carbon front triangle that has a hidden door in it. Lift up the ‘SWAT’ (storage, water, air, tools) hatch under the bottle cage and there’s enough room in the down tube to store a tube, a pump and a few Tunnock’s Teacakes.
The kit
A well-chosen parts list keeps costs down on what’s the cheapest bike on test. SRAM’s GX 1x11 drivetrain and Shimano’s Deore brakes are just as reliable as their pricier stablemates. The Fox 34 fork is the most basic Performance model and so is the Float shock, which gets Specialized’s ‘Autosag’ system. The big S save more money by fitting in-house components, but their Command Post IRcc dropper has proven reliable, the saddle and grips are testers’ favourites, and the Purgatory and Ground Control tyres are grippy and fast rolling. Our only gripe is the narrow-rimmed wheels.
The ride
Press the big red Autosag button and you’re ready to go, with an optimally sagged shock. That’s the theory, but we found the system a little temperamental, so we’d recommend checking the sag with a tape measure before hitting the trails. Although it’s tight to get a 650b+ tube inside, the SWAT port is genuinely useful – we missed it when we had to transfer the contents to our pockets to test other bikes.
Despite the layback post, the seat angle was just steep enough to let us attack brutal technical climbs. Set with 25 per cent sag, the FSR suspension provides plenty of midstroke support to keep the bike fairly efficient when pedalling through the rough. The 3in tyres generate impressive climbing traction too – the Stumpy sailed up a rocky riverbed we’d never cleaned before.
On the descents, though, it’s all too easy to find the 6Fattie’s limits. Once it gets through 50 per cent of its travel, it’s too eager to blow through the rest, even with a large volume spacer fitted. The Performance series fork is supple and sensitive, but also slightly lacking in support for aggressive riders.
The super-low bottom bracket (BB) and tall head tube make for a comfy and safe ‘in the bike’ feel that boosts confidence when tackling slippery and rooty trails.
When pushed harder, though, the lack of support from the rear suspension limits how aggressively you can corner and meant we almost reached full travel when pushing into take-offs, resulting in unpredictable rebound and bucking on jumps.
On Sanremo’s rocky trails, the Stumpy felt more out of its depth than the other bikes. The short front end and 65mm stem felt twitchy and precarious, especially in tight, rocky bends. We would have fitted a shorter stem but the short reach meant the cockpit was cramped already. The longest seat tube on test makes it harder to size up too.
While the other bikes all have 40mm rims, Specialized use the same 29mm hoops they spec on their non-plus bikes. Combined with the vast 3in tyres, this maximises the disconnect from the trail that plus bikes can suffer from and also makes the tyres very rounded, so the shoulder tread is reluctant to bite into turns. When we tested these tyres on 40mm rims they felt far more stable and grippy.
With a large volume spacer in the shock, the 6Fattie is a comfortable and forgiving trail tamer and a tenacious climber. It’ll tackle mellower UK singletrack with flattering ease, but push too hard and you’ll soon find a glass ceiling of harsh bottom-outs, tyre squirm and twitchy handling. We think riders of all abilities would benefit from more confidence-inspiring geometry and wider wheels.
HIGHS
-Superb technical climbing manners
-Low-slung, planted feel on slippery ground
LOWS
-Lack of support from suspension makes for unpredictable handling on faster, more technical trails and jumps
-Narrow rims and wide tyres are vague on rocks
An unstoppable climber and confident on slippery terrain, but limiting when pushed
WEIGHT 14.2kg (31.3lb)
FRAME ‘FACT 9m’ carbon fibre front triangle, ‘M5’ alloy rear end, 135mm (5.3in) travel
SIZES (TESTED) S, M, L, XL*
FORK Fox 34 Float Performance, 150mm (5.9in) travel
SHOCK Fox Float DPS Performance with Autosag
HEADSET Specialized Hella Flush, integrated
WHEELS :
HUBS Specialized Hi Lo
RIMS Roval Traverse, 29mm (internal)
SPOKES DT Swiss Industry, 24 F, 28 R
AXLES 15x110mm F, 12x148mm R
WHEEL WEIGHT 2.28kg F, 2.55kg R (including tyres)
TYRES Specialized 6Fattie Purgatory Control 27.5x3.0in F, Specialized 6Fattie Ground Control 27.5x3.0in R
CRANKSET SRAM GX-1000 custom, 28t
BOTTOM BRACKET SRAM PF30
DERAILLEUR(S) SRAM GX
SHIFTER(S) SRAM GX (1x11)
CASSETTE/CHAIN SRAM XG-1150, 10-42t/KMC X11L
BRAKES Shimano Deore M615, 200/180mm rotors
BAR/STEM/GRIPS Specialized, 750mm/Specialized XC, 60mm/Specialized SIP lock-on
SEATPOST/SADDLE Specialized Command Post IRcc/Specialized Henge Comp
Price 5250$
