I remember the first time I saw a Stumpjumper, it must have been in the mid 80’s, I wanted one, but I could only afford its cheaper little brother, the Rockhopper, it was a great bike, but I always lusted after a Stumpjumper, it had better equipment, nicer paint job and it was lighter and a had definite race bred pedigree. You never forget your first love!

The Stumpjumper Models

Well there are lots of them to choose from. The top hard tail is a beautiful Carbon frame that you can build up to your own specifications, and then there are the pre-built Expert and Comp with Alloy frame and the Comp also is available in a Woman’s version. Then the Stumpjumper FSR (Full Suspension) has a bare Carbon frame and seven different built-up versions, something for every need and price range. Then we have the Stumpjumper Classic, what can we say? It is the Mountain Bike from the distant past, it really is “Classic” the look is just unbelievable.

The Stumpjumper Hardtail Models

S-Works Carbon Frame
This frame is the lightest hardtail the Specialized have manufactured, as they say “purity and technology designed to fly” I would add to that a starling beauty! This frame is lighter than the frame used to win the Tour de France road race, weighing in at under 1300 grams and is made from FACT 10m carbon, the strongest possible. It looks like it handles, smooth.

Carbon Frame

Stumpjumper Expert
This has to be the Hardtail of all time, M4 alloy frame with Fox F90 Suspension Forks and Avid Juicy 7 hydraulic Disc brakes, the drive train is a mixture of SRAM and Shimano with XT Hollowtech cranks. It has everything you would ever need form a hardtail and oozes class.

Expert

Stumpjumper Comp & Woman’s Comp
The Comp basically has the same M4 Alloy frame and Fox forks as the Expert, the other equipment is a slight step down, Avid Juicy 5 Hydraulic Disc set up and a mix of Shimano and SRAM with a Truvativ crank set. Still a beauty but a little cheaper. The woman’s specific version has all the same top equipment, the frame has a shorter top tube and different angles for a perfect fit.

Woman’s Comp

The Stumpjumper FSR Models

S-Works FSR Carbon Frame
WOW! Carbon, Full Suspension and light. You can ride this frame anywhere, smooth trails or rough boulder tracks, it will handle anything you can throw at it and it has that Stumpjumper look, it just can’t be faulted in any department. The rear shock is AFR with flow control valve, adjustable trail tune, air spring and adjustable rebound.

FSR Carbon Frame

Stumpjumper FSR Pro Carbon
This is the built-up version of the Carbon Frame; it has the Fox Talas RLC Suspension forks with 100-140mm compression, Magura Marta hydraulic disc brakes and the same SRAM and Shimano mix as the Hardtail Stumpjumper, with Hollowtech cranks. It’s just perfect, you couldn’t change a thing.

FSR Carbon

Stumpjumper FSR Pro
The same equipment as the Carbon version, but with the M5 Alloy frame. Cheaper alternative to carbon with all the top specifications of Fox forks, Magura, SRAM and Shimano.

FSR Pro

Stupjumper FSR Expert & Woman’s FSA Expert
There is not much difference between the Expert and the Comp, the frame is nearly the same, but with Fox Suspension front and rear matched to Avid discs, SRAM and Shimano Hollowtech. The woman’s specific is a dream for the ladies, same equipment, but with the woman’s dimensions, comfort and joy.

FSR Expert

Stumpjumper FSR Elite
Again not much change from the Expert, no SRAM, all Shimano gears with Hollowtech and Avid brakes, still nice and a little cheaper.

FSR Elite

Stumpjumper FSR Comp & Woman’s Comp
The same M5 Alloy frame as the others, but with Fox Float and Triad suspension along with Avid Juicy 5 discs and SRAM and Shimano and Truvativ Stylo crank set. It has the frame to base any changes on; upgrades with the equipment at a later date would enhance the FSR frame. The woman’s specific is designed for the female physique with the angles and tube length to suit.

Woman’s Comp

The Stumpjumper Classic

This really is a “Classic” it looks just like the first Mountain Bikes, way back when? Around the late 70’s or 80’s. Except it has modern equipment, Shimano and SRAM bits and pieces, XT Hollowtech and Diore and a reminder of the past, cantilever bakes with big 4 finger levers. The frame is Cro-Mo in one size only, 19″, no suspension, but with beautifully made classic rake forks. If you want to do a bit of living in the past, then this is the Stumpjumper for you, its unique and so stylish.

Classic

What Does the Style Monkey Think?

First thing I have to say is that I was not born when the first Stumpjumper came out in the 70’s, but looking at the Classic I missed so much class. No problem, coz I can buy one now. The Hardtail and the FSR are also wonderful, if I could afford it I would definitely get a Carbon Stumpjumper, don’t know which one, that’s the big problem they are all so nice! Style Monkey says “you want an MTB, and then get a Stumpjumper.”

There you have it, the Stumpjumper ranges cover all the angles, save your money and get one, any of them, and they are all great!

XT was the best, so how could XTR be better? And now a new XTR will be on the market. The BIG question is how can you improve on perfection?

The Crankset
First thing that struck me was the crankset, gone is the pinch bolt system and a return to the cranks going on to a splined spindle and held tight with a big bolt, the bearings are held in adjustment with a threaded collar, the bottom bracket is still Hollowtech.

Weight is saved by not having a one-piece puller, but who needs to remove a chainset out in the woods anyway. Four bolt fixing for the chainrings looks neat and the middle ring is titanium, the finish like the entire group, is a beautiful anodized gray and silver.

The Gears
As with all the components there is a big X on the rear derailleur, it looks very stylish, but I could see it filling up with mud, of course the main thing is that everyone knows you have the best gear, its very obvious that its XTR!

It’s a chunky looking rear gear mech, which comes in low normal and top normal systems with either medium or long jockey wheel cage lengths.

The reason for the low normal is that is to be used with the Dual Control shifters and the top normal for triggers, but the choice is yours. The front gear mech is also styled with the BIG X insignia and looks tough and robust and for sure it will work well.

The Shifters
Here is where you have a choice of shifting, there is the Dual Control or Trigger to choose from, Rapidfire plus can now allow you to push the gear lever to change gear and you can now change more than one gear at a time with the multi release, you can now change gear much quicker, very handy when climbing and things get tougher!
Braking Power

The levers are available in cable or hydraulic versions and as with all Shimano levers are made to fit many different hands, the braking feels lighter as there is move leverage and the shifter mechanics are now housed in the body and not on the lever.

The discs come in four sizes to cover all needs; the calipers have a better hydraulic system, as the cylinder is now more in line with the pipe work, all for a better brake.

The Pedals And Hubs
Nothing much new here, the pedals are lighter as the axle has been hollowed out, basically it’s the same pedal with all the click in and out efficiency you would ask for.

The hubs or should I say wheel set, is a work of art, very light and look like they could really perform in many different situations. The big innovations are the freehub body, its titanium and locates much, much faster, the other advantage is the scandium rims, these are a lot harder and stiffer and wont twist, bend or flex very much under pressure giving a very responsive ride.

What Do We think about the new Shimano XTR?

Its beautiful to look at and I’m sure will be great to ride, this is the jewel in the crown for Shimano, its not cheap, but it’s the best you can get.

The finish is faultless, that gray and silver anodizing is classic and those BIG X on all the components and stylish and original, as I said before when people see them they know you have the best on your bike.

Gears had to be taken from road bike technology until Shimano

started to make mountain bike specific equipment. So what started, as a hobby for some Californian hippy types became a serious sport that now is an Olympic event.

The Next Step Forward

For mountain bikes to move on from there simple beginnings things had to be made specially for them, such as gears, tyres, wheel rims, handle bars and stems and the biggest development, suspension.

Shimano took care of the gears, first gear leavers were made to go on straight handlebars and then the indexed leaver was made for accurate shifting.

You can have a look at Shimano XTR gear review here

Many different tyres with treads for all conditions can be bought to fit the standard wheel size that now many companies make. Handlebars and stems were first made in steel, then alloy and now carbon and titanium for weight saving and strength.

Mountain Bike Frames

Originally made from steel, usually in nice shinny chrome, but as technology changed with road bikes, so it also changed with mountain bikes.

Compact frame designs, lightweight alloy and now carbon fiber are the most popular materials these days.
“The Specialized Stumpjumper is a Classic and you can buy it in so many different styles, Hardtail, Full Suspension and for full Retro style, the Stumpjumper Classic. There is a lot of bike from the Stumpjumper range!”

Suspension

Front Suspension forks were taken from the off-road motorbike world, they had to be lighter, but with the use of alloy this was possible.

First springs were used, and then oil or air for the suspension, these were adjustable for spring and how much rebound you got.

Downhill Mountain Bikes

Cross-country is a hard sport and is a mixture of strength and agility. Down hilling is nearly all technique and agility, with a little strength. The bikes are like motocross bikes without the engine, suspension front and back with a lot of movement and long wheelbases for comfort and of course big tires and disc brakes.

Some of these things are now to found on cross country bikes but they have to be light, cross country disc brakes are very popular, but many people stick to v-brakes for controllability and also full suspension, front and back, is popular but adds weight and is not always necessary for some terrain.

There are many different set ups you can buy, but it has to be right for you and for where you live and what you want to do.

Data has been collected from totally different trails and conditions, dry flat roads, gravel paths, rocky trails and through mud pools (which can be dangerous!), keep reading to get my opinion when the conditions become tough.

The Bike

It was a hard decision for the rider to choose the 6500 disc. There were so many good bicycles at this price, but he finally decided to buy TREK due to its well-balanced and complete specs. One of the most important features of that bike is the Alpha SLR aluminum frame.

SLR means lighter than SL aluminum, with detailed laser assembly to get a better performance with less weight.

The frame is finished in Belize Blue, and it presents the classic geometry of the entire Wisconsin manufactured brand, TREK bicycles.

The Fork

Manitou Axel, lockout with 80mm of travel is the fork carried on this bike. It’s not the best ever made, but is enough to make the 6500 even a more adaptable bike, ready for all types of conditions, it should be considered to be in the mid-range amongst forks, not bad.

Brakes

The braking power with the Shimano M525 disc brakes is awesome.

I used to have V-Brakes and I noticed the difference immediately, especially when descending, which is obviously the time to find the differences between brake models. The brakes together with the frame are the best value for money.

Other components

Practically, the whole bike has been setup with Bontrager components; including grips, handlebars, seat post, tires and the stem. Bontrager is a very well known as well as a certified brand name, serving components to the Discovery Channel cycling team together with TREK, and winning a couple (seven) of Tours de France with Lance Armstrong.

What else to say about Bontrager? Its products offer great design, and comfortable shapes as we can see with the handlebar, longer than other brands’, to allow the rider better breathing, at least they say so, thus it should be.

The rear Derailleur is the Shimano XT, and the front Deore, like the levers and shifters, really smooth working.

Bike Performance

One of my first feelings on the TREK 6500 was its comfortable design. It was probably due to the great Bontrager low-rise handlebar.

The maneuverability was amazing, and the comfort excellent at the front end. Riding this bike is really easy from the beginning.

Apart from the bar, the Bontrager tires also offer very good handling, which is excellent when descending on rocks or gravel, but not for riding on flat roads.

That feature is perhaps the worst, because it is too hard to move this machine on long flat roads, but hey! Who is going to roll out the TREK 6500 through roads? we are talking about mountain bikes.

As we’ve said above, the Shimano XT works smoothly, as of course it does, even out of the saddle climbing or sprinting.
The only problem comes up when you need a full crankset/cassette power; then the typical problem of rear gear jumping appears.

You have to keep the shifter pushed in order to help the chain be on the top of the cassette, it might be a problem of rear gear adjustment. Another weakness may be the platform pedals that come with the bike.

They are not at the same level as the whole bicycle, TREK should know it and include clipless pedals from the beginning.

We gave the TREK 6500 Disc mtb a hard test and it worked well in all conditions.

We rolled it out through mud pools and it performed very well, the performance was amazing, the machine didn’t complain about anything, it was a fantastic test, even in rain this bike worked the same as in the best weather conditions.

Considered as an entry level mtb, I would recommend it for those who start on even mid-level trails, the TREK 6500 disc will surprise anyone, our opinion; a good choice.

For mountain bikes you have to get suspension forks, the original suspension forks had a spring in each arm.

You could use different spring for different weight riders and surface conditions, but they were very basic. Forks evolved to have oil or air damping, which is adjustable and you could have different rebound. All very complicated but you could ride over any conditions and in all weathers.

There are many suspension forks on the market, probably the best known is Rock Shox, but there is also Manitou, Marzocchi, RST and Girvin.

You have to buy forks with a steering column depending on which kind and size of headset you have.

There are different size columns, 1 inch, 1 1/8inch and there is occasionally 1 1/4 inch, and it has to be threaded or smooth for standard or aheadset.

Forks are very important, as you really need them to steer your bike in the direction you want.

Mountain bikers have a choice, they can have V-Brakes or disk brakes, V-Brakes are very strong and will stop you in a very short distance, but they can get clogged up with mud on wet days. Disk brakes on the other hand don’t get affected by weather conditions and are very powerful. There cable controlled disk brakes, which are cheaper; the best ones are hydraulically controlled, very much like car or motorbike brakes, a bit trickier to set up, but when they are right they are smooth and very responsive. Shimano make disk brakes but Hope probably makes the best ones, but there are quite a few different ones on the market.