Editor’s Note: Grannygear is back home now, but that doesn’t mean he’s done with reporting on what he saw at the Specialized’s Press camp recently in Colorado. Here is his next update which covers the Stumpjumper Expert FSR bike. (Grannygear calls it the “Comp” model in the video below due to the fact that Specialized stickered the demo bike incorrectly.)
Stumpjumper FSR Report: by Grannygear
I got a brief taste of the 2010 FSR Stumpjumper 29er earlier this year [See that post here.] and now, here I am, again with a brief sampling, but this time on a 2011 version and in a better place to test it, that being the trails here in Keystone.
There are a few changes from last year’s model. Now there are two versions, the Expert at $3800.00 and the Comp at $2600.00. Both have the travel bumped up a bit to 130mm front and rear with a Reba 140mm fork reduced to 130mm.
RockShox Reba RLT 29 for Specialized, air spring, alloy tapered steerer, 45mm offset, compression and rebound adj., LO w/external floodgate adj., 20mm Maxle SL, 130mm of travel
The Expert model also comes stock with the Command Post seat post which is very appropriate for this bike. The Comp model has the Command Post cable routing in place should you want to add one.
The Expert has the Brain rear shock and the Comp has the Fox Triad II with lock-out, both providing 130mm of travel.
New for the FSRs is a 36 spoke rear wheel on a custom DT Swiss 520SL, 29” alloy disc, 26mm wide rim. No 142mm for either bike, but the RWS rear QR and the 20mm front thru axle are in place.
The double cranks go down to a 22/33, carbon S2200 on the Expert, alloy on the Comp, with a outer ring that is more of a shift guard than a true bash guard.
There is a frame available at the Expert level.
So, how did it ride? Well, coming off of the taught and quicker handling Epic, the FSR felt like a big bike, but that feeling went away after awhile. At first I had the front end push a bit on the loose switchbacks with the Purgatory tires, but a bit of weight shift and that was that. The 69.5” HT angle and the 130mm of travel felt pretty good in the roots and rock drops and I kept thinking to myself, “Huh, I could have gone a lot faster there.”
The Brain rear shock on the Expert is a nice touch and it meets my desires of a tighter pedaling bike. It feels much more ‘open’ then the Epic’s version. Is having the Brain a big deal on this bike, like it is on the Epic? Well, maybe not. For the intentions of the FSR, I can see living with the bike as a Pro Pedal set-up without the Brain. In fact, some buyers may prefer it.
What I could not do without is the Command Post on the Expert version (the Comp has the cable routing in place so it can be added cleanly as an upgrade). I have two of these at home that I and others have been evaluating but I had not fallen in love…yet. However, the nature of the FSR and the difficulty of the trails at Keystone stepped up my requirements for that saddle to get out of my way. On this day, I was lovin’ the Command Post and it worked flawlessly.
My overall impression of the bike? Well, if I had to put a word to it, it would be ‘playful’. It was the most fun bike to ride down the mountain. The short rear stays keep the bike nimble enough, but the extra travel and the slacker angle in front allowed you to pre-load the suspension and toss the bike up here and there, lifting off of rises in the trail and hitting berms like NASCAR. I am no world class hucker, so I cannot speak to bigger drops, etc. But if I was not that concerned about being the first to the top and I wanted to pin the needle on MAX FUN, the FSR would be it. This is the bike I would take to Moab for rides like Burro Down. This thing would rock on Porcupine Rim.
Editor’s Note: Here is a short video Grannygear put together on the Stumpjumper FSR 29″er. Remember, Twenty Nine Inches has more videos on our You Tube Channel to see as well.
Look for our other Press Camp Reports here at this link.
A plus for offering a 36 spoke wheel. Not those beaten 32 only. Minus for not offering a rear maxle 12×150 as an OPTION. Who is against options and making decisions for everyone, huh?
Minus for not offering a carbon S-works just like their 26er. Too bad.
Thanks guys for being on the spot this year with info about the ’11 Specialized lineup. I would have sprung for a ’10 edition of this bike if one had been available, but this year’s edition looks even better. LBS has one on order for me now
@redtabby
Cool deal! This is a bike that I do not have a daily use for, but I sure would have one in the quiver if I had the coin to do that. I like the fact that the fork is up in travel this year and the Command Post is icing on the cake.
grannygear
Nice work GG!
Riding dynamics wise, your comments seem to be quite in line with your impressions of the 2010 model. Obviously, the Command Post and another 10mm of front travel are a plus. It would be interesting to know how the Reba fork worked compared to last year’s Fox. Also, is the 2X10 setup smooth and precise?
Mal Adjusted
@Malibu
Well, I would be kidding to say that I got enough time on either bike to get all finicky with the fork comparison. Basically the fork just did it’s job and sucked up anything I pointed it at. I did like the 20mm Maxle. I do believe I could feel that. Nice.
The 2×10 was excellent.
grannygear
what size was this? do you know the weight of it? Weight of the comp? Looks like a winner for those of us who go up for the down.
It looks like a Large in the photo. IIRC, the 2010 Expert ran around 30#. The Comp might be only a few grams/ounces more.
@all
It is an XL. I was given a 28lb +/- number for the size medium.
grannygear
I like the thru axle and the 142 idea, but I think the X frame design makes the bike look like a science project, and I think the Command Post is a gimmick. Reminds me of the Height Rite, and the ill fated RockShox seatpost.
Actually Skidder, I think it looks more like a Y than an X. Now the XXL frame, that’s a science project!
@skidder
Well, I was a skeptic about the seatpost and, in fact, I had it on the Epic at home and took it off. I RARELY drop my saddle unless the trail is pretty gnarly. I do plan on trying it some more.
But…it is no gimmick in what it does do for you when you ride it. Being able to drop it into the middle setting does dramatic things for your ability to move around on the bike, get behind the saddle, and then get BACK over it again. It does take some getting used to as it changes the balance point of having that saddle between the legs where it normally is. In fact, if the saddle is ALL the way down, I can hardly even ride well, it feels so weird to me.
What you find that happens is that it changes the way you CAN ride the bike in a unique way. It allows cornering with a lower CG and you can treat the bike more like a BMX ride than usual. It is different.
It is also kinda heavy compared to a normal high quality post and I have had issues with the seatpost head slipping and the saddle pointing up to the sky.
It is light years ahead of a Hite Rite (sp?), something I have in a box in the garage, and is a solidly made piece of gear…no wiggles, no wobbles.
Not a gimmick, rather a tool. You just need to decide if you need the tool or not.
grannygear
Grannygear- very helpful review and video . . . thank you!
Could you please comment on the riding experience difference between the 2011 Stumpy FSR 29er Expert vs Comp? Does the Brain on the Expert create a noticeably better or different riding experience over the Comp’s Triad? With a $1200 difference (about 1/3 more . . . I believe the difference betwen the two models was only $800 last year), this is a fairly substantial cost difference. Whichmodel would you choose?
Thank you!
I bought a 2010 Expert in December and have ridden it for nearly 8 months now and have loved it. I have averaged a couple 45 minute/8 mile/800ft elev gain rides at lunch (Laguna or Aliso) during the week and a 1-3 hour ride each weekend for most of that time. I live in Orange County, CA, and was upgrading from a Gary Fisher Tassajara hard tail ($600 vs $2,700 is a big upgrade…). I turned 40 a couple of weeks ago and felt like I couldn’t take the beating from my hardtail any longer… I’m 6’1″ and almost 200 lbs. The bike has been amazing–a solid piece of work. No problems shifting, the brakes are incredible, nothing has given me trouble at all; it hasn’t even really even needed a tune up. I took it into the LBS for 3-4 free inspections, but I just told them it was doing fine. I bought the command post as an upgrade as I had an OTB experience before buying this bike and it took me a while to get over the fear of doing that again. I have never loved riding on the dirt than I do now. The first bike I tried was an Ellsworth Evolve; wonderful bike, but I couldn’t justify paying 2X what I paid for this bike and I don’t feel like I sacrificed anything, except for not buying an American made bike. The command post helps me on REALLY steep climbs as well as steep/technical descents–I put it down in the middle position and it lowers my center of gravity and it helps me balance better on the climbs as well as getting the saddle out of the way on the descents. There are lots of great bikes out there, but for what it’s worth I have no regrets and am so glad I bought this bike. I thought for sure I would go with an Epic, as I wasn’t riding any technical trails when I bought the bike, but I didn’t like the feel of the Epic–which surprised me as I demo’d one years before and loved it; I stopped short buying at that time just because of the sticker shock. I read some people find the bottom bracket too low; I’m a newish rider but I’ve only had a couple minor strikes while out riding during the last 8 months, it hasn’t seemed to be an issue for me.
@Odyssey3 : One reason there is a bigger price difference for ’11 than for ’10 is the $300 Command post on the Expert, last year they both had a alloy post. Besides the Command post and the Brain the Expert has nicer wheels: butted spokes and better hubs.
I haven’t ridden the ’11s but I own a ’10 Expert with Brain and before that I had a 100 ’09 with Triad and before that a 140 Prophet with Swinger 3 with SPV.
The Brain is nice in that it is VERY adjustable, from very firm to completely open with the turn of a dial by the rear hub. I think it is the best option for people who like to have a fairly firm ride, because you don’t loose as much small bump compliance as with Propedal and SPV etc on a firm setting. If you like to run your suspension softer you might not notice as much benefit.
If you are below 140 or above 180 the Brain is much better than the Triad, because the Triad has a set level of Propedal it will feel firmer for a light rider and softer for a heavy one. The Brain let’s you dial the level of platform with a wide range.
RE: Command Post
I have ridden an adjustable post for several years now and will not do without it again. I would give up rear suspension before a post.
The obvious benefit is on steep ground, I would say even more so on a racier bike because you are so far forward to begin with.
The thing that many people(GG included) don’t seem to notice is the benefit of the 1.5″ drop: on quick sinuous trail, it let’s you lean the bike that much further for more aggressive cornering.
Try it on a road or trail near you: ride quick S turns with the seat at full roadie height and then at 1.5″ or so down.
With the seat up you either can’t lean the bike as far (and 29ers need to lean further to corner the same), or you have to move your legs forward to an awkward position.
Look at road racing motorcycles: they never jump or descend yet their seats are super low.
Here in Minnesota I use the cornering ability much more than the clearance for super steep stuff, and it is why I will always have one, no matter what and where I ride.
Do you have any comparison between this version and last years? Slightly more travel and 10spd drivetrain are a couple obvious differences, but I’m wondering if the ride is that different? Reason being is that my local Specialized shop has a 2010 Comp still hanging around. Might be able to get a deal on it – but is it worth a couple $$ less to take last years bike?
ScottN,
If the 2010 fits you, you like the way it rides and feels,and you can get a fairly significant discount, then buy it. I have a 2010 Expert and my dad a 2011 Comp. They ride very similar with the brain turned down completely on the Expert with the only geo difference being the slightly longer travel on the 2011 Comp fork.
The only real downside I can see is drivetrain parts availability. The two big S manufacturers are focused on their 10 speed stuff now and very little in cassette upgrades is available for 9 speed with 36 teeth, my preference with 29″ wheels. Currently, the Deore level Shimano 9 speed 12-36 that comes on the 2010 is the only thing on the market and has been problematic for many, including me. It does not work well with the alloy free hub bodies that come on the Expert and many other bikes and there is no upgrade or better alternative, yet. Perhaps this will change.
Thank you everyone for your replies to my earlier email . . . I really appreciate your help!
I’d also really appreciate your advice on another similar matter . . . sizing.
I am 6’4″ and my LBS suggests I get a XXL, but the sizing chart on the Specialized site says XL (in fact Specialized does not recommend the XXL until 6’6″). Granted the sizing chart is only a recommendation . . . but my LBS did not take any measurements and I am wondering what you all would recommend.
http://specialized.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/2310/
Ideally, I could try both an XL and XXL to compare, but I cannot find any of these sizes to try anywhere.
Thank you very much!
Odyssey3 – I’m 6’5 and ride an XL. Have ridden an XXL and it is a huge bike! It’s very stretched out too. A 29er has a slightly longer wheelbase than a 26 so if you’re between sizes, then I would say to lean toward a smaller size. That’s not to say that you should drop down to ride a smaller bike that what you’re used to, but instead that if you feel you’re on the bubble, then go smaller.
I am 6’4″ or a hair more with long legs and ride XL. At 6’4″ I am sure you can get the saddle up high enough for you so have your choice. The main difference then becomes top-tube length and wheelbase.
First you need to get fitted, then once you know what your reach is, you can decide if the stem is not too long on the XL.
If the Stem is a reasonable length on the XL your choice is: longer wheelbase and more rearward weight distribution on the XXL or shorter wheelbase and more forward weight on the XL.
One thing to consider: tall people have their center of gravity further back when seated riding then shorter ones.
So I would say: if you do a lot of tight twisty seated riding get the XL, more traction on the front and more agile. If you ride faster DH get the XXL, less chance of OTB when standing and a smoother ride from the longer wheelbase.
@jae2460 : what’s the size of your expert? L or XL? I m also 6’1 and I m tempted to go for an L
First, thank you *very much* sthrnfat and slim for your very helpful advice, I really appreciate your help!! Your insights are very significant and you have given me a lot to think about.
I am still wrestling with the size issue because I have not been able to find either an XL or an XXL to try.
However, since my last post, I have had some minor developments. This past Sunday I was at a bicycling event and the Specialized truck was there (the reason I went). The Specialized person was exceptionally nice and gave me some bikes to try to help me make my decision. While he did have a Stumpjumper FSR Expert 29er . . . unfortunately he only had it in a Large. When I got on, it was noticeably small and rather cramped. The Specialized demo expert asked how tall I was (6’4″) and he said that probably I would be best off on an XL . . . that the XXL is a big bike . . . that some guys 6’6″ ride XLs even though they are right on the edge of an XXL.
I rode the bike around and, although it defintiely felt small . . . wow, what a sweet bike!! I instantly felt reassured that this was THE bike!
When I went back to the truck, the Specialized guy said he had an Epic S-Works XL 29er I could try if I wanted to . . . that although the geomoetry is a bit different from the XL Stumpy FSR Expert 29er, it would give me a better idea.
When I got on it, he said he was suprised. He said this bikes gets very little use bkz it is so big– but seeing me on it, perhaps I would be an XXL in the Stumpjumper. He said it was kind of a tough call and that I really need to find an XL or XXL to try . . . that propbably either could be modified to fit me . . . an XL modified to be a little “bigger” or the XXL could stay as is or be modified to be a little “smaller”.
When I rode the Epic, the size was definitely better than the size Large Stumpy . . . it was a very nice bike . . . although I really liked the Stumpy FSR Expert 29er. Althought the geometry would be quite different, as I rode this XL Epic I kept trying to imagine how a 1″ longer toptube (XXL) would feel . . . and I thought it would feel okay. As it was, this XL Epic felt just a bit small . . . would have loved to have had either a XL or XXL Stumpjumper to actually compare (as an aside, there is no XXL Epic S-Works 29er) . . . all in all– although having the XL Epic was definitely helpful, it was kind of a tough comparison.
In the end, I came away even more enthusiastic about the Stumpjumper FSR Exper 29er and my decision to buy one (no small financial feat ;o) ).
With the much appreciated help of the Specialized demo expert, I also came away realizing with more certainty that bkz of my particular (body) “geometry”, the XXL may not be as crazy as I was begining to think. Now, whether the XL is a better size (over the XXL) is still (“frustratingly”) just about as unlcear to me.
I have not been able to find ANY places that have an XL or XXL Stumpjumper FSL Expert 29er to try, and my local bike shop owner still feels I would be best off with a XXL. Not having the opportunity to test ride the specific bike is rather frustrating. Unfortunately, the story continues . . . ;o)
Thank you all again for all of your advice and help!!
So here is my dilemma that I need help on. RIP or the 2011 Specialized FSR Expert both spec’d comparably and priced the same. Anyone tested both or have comparisons of both.
Rip does not have a life time warranty on the frame. My Haro Werx 5 vl/120 frame broke one month out of warranty and now I have a $3,300 bike I can’t ride. (my 2011 stumpy FSR comp 29er is on order)
I need any and all help in this decision.
RIP 9
RockShox Reba RLT Ti 29er
2X10 X9 Build
Stans Flow
Cost $3700
SJ FSR Expert Stock
Cost $3300
SJ FSR Comp
add Command Post
add X9 Shifters
add Roval Control EL
Cost $3100
Is it worth going to the Expert stock wheel set? Or saving the$600 and staying with the Comp.
Thanks
Flex, Sorry I didn’t read your post until now. I went with an XL and feel it fits me very well. The standover height is a little high, but hasn’t been a problem. Probably how I’m built–I have shorter legs and a longer torso, so my reach is longer. The large felt too cramped in the cockpit though. Probably depends upon the type of riding you do too. I was coming from a hardtail which I hadn’t ridden much. I would call myself a relatively solid intermediate rider now based upon the past 12 months–I can ride most of the descents around and can climb comfortably and make it up just about anything around without getting into much difficulty anymore. Note: I just rode a 2011 Comp model (Stumpjumper FSR 29er) and noted that the front end feels nimbler to me. My bike’s been in the shop getting a new rear wheel covered by warranty (barely). I’m going to check it out again tonight when I pick it up to see why it feels that way. Hopefully the LBS can help me figure it out. Seems much easier to manual with the 2011 than the 2010.
I would probably buy this bike if they offered it with the Pro Pedal shock instead of the Brain shock (at least give the buyer the option) – and I would like to chose my own adjustable seat post and would prefer that the bike could be purchased with a standard seat post (I actually already have a KS i950-R seat post). I know the Comp version is basically as I described but the fugly frame colors of the comp bike (blue and white) and it’s lower end components group does not appeal to me.
I test rode a 2011 Epic 29er with the Brain and always felt like it had a delayed response to it and could never get it to feel “plush” even when adjusting the Brain shock to it’s lowest setting – it felt too much like a hard tail bike – I already have a hard tail bike!
My current bikes are:
2010 S-Works Stumpjumper Carbon HT 29er (love it!)
2007 Santa Cruz Superlight – (hoping to replace with a full suspension 29er 4-5″ travel)
Granny – any thoughts / comments?
P.S. Love your site – Thanks, Tim
Does anyone know if you can have the “Brain” put in the fork by Rock Shox like you can with the Epic’s fork? I think that would really benefit this bike, and make it more appealing to more xc-trail type riders, who occasionally do a little hucking.