Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp Carbon 650B

£3,500 Latest Stumpy is a super-smooth trail bomber

Specialized haven’t changed the Stump jumper frame this year, but a new fork and tyres radically reinvent this user friendly all-rounder.

The frame

The carbon-main framed Stumpy may only be 200g lighter than the alloy version (which costs £1,000 less) but the fibre brings other advantages. Most importantly, it’s seriously stiff and well damped, which gives the bike an unshakeable feel on the trail. You also get a ‘SWAT’ storage trapdoor under the bottle cage (which has an integrated multitool). There’s plenty of tyre room too.

The kit

Tyres have been switched to the excellent new 2.6in Specialized Butchers, from 2.3in last year, and the RockShox Revelation fork has upsized 35mm stanchions for 2018. The 11-speed SRAM GX transmission has proven tough, and there’s a steel 30t ring on the Race Face cranks to increase lifespan. SRAM’s Guide brakes get upsized rotors and sit on a 780mm bar. Spesh’s Command Post IRcc dropper is dangerously fast-returning but utterly reliable, and the size-specific contact points are particularly comfy. The 60mm stem offsets the short reach of the frame, though we’d rather have 20mm more top tube and 20mm less stem.

The ride