Field Test: Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Alloy - The Golden Retriever of Bicycles
PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Alloy
Words by Alicia Leggett; photography by Tom Richards
Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Alloy
Words by Alicia Leggett; photography by Tom Richards
Four decades after its 1981 introduction, the Specialized Stumpjumper lives on. This time, it's in the form of the new Stumpjumper EVO Alloy, which brings the longified, slackified Stumpy EVO into a relatively affordable aluminum package.
The Specialized Stumpjumper EVO is a 150mm bike with a 160mm fork and 29" wheels (though there's an aftermarket MulletLink available to run a 27.5" rear wheel). Just like its carbon sibling, the Stumpjumper EVO Alloy has a clean, asymmetric frame design, internal cable routing, and the first SWAT box found on an alloy bike. Zooming in a bit closer, it has swappable headset cups that allow for a degree of adjustment in either direction and a rear flip chip that adjusts the bottom bracket by 7mm and changes the chainstay length by 5mm, also adding another half degree of headset adjustment. With three headset positions, two flip chip positions, and the option to run mixed wheel sizes, that's, what, 12 possible combinations?
Stumpjumper EVO Alloy Details
• Travel: 150mm rear / 160mm fork
• Aluminum frame
• Wheel size: 29" (option to run mixed wheels with MulletLink)
• Head Angle: 63-65.5° (geometry finder tool)
• Reach: 475mm (S4)
• Chainstay length: 438 - 443 mm (S1 - S4), 448 - 453 mm (S5, S6)
• Sizes: S1 - S6 (S4 tested)
• Weight: 34.38 lb / 15.56 kg (S4)
• Price: $3,800 USD, $5,600 USD, $1,900 USD for frame and Float X
• Specialized Bikes
• Travel: 150mm rear / 160mm fork
• Aluminum frame
• Wheel size: 29" (option to run mixed wheels with MulletLink)
• Head Angle: 63-65.5° (geometry finder tool)
• Reach: 475mm (S4)
• Chainstay length: 438 - 443 mm (S1 - S4), 448 - 453 mm (S5, S6)
• Sizes: S1 - S6 (S4 tested)
• Weight: 34.38 lb / 15.56 kg (S4)
• Price: $3,800 USD, $5,600 USD, $1,900 USD for frame and Float X
• Specialized Bikes
As for build options, the Stumpjumper EVO Alloy comes in two flavors, starting with the relatively inexpensive Comp build that comes with a SRAM NX drivetrain, Code R brakes, a Fox Rhythm 36 fork, and a Fox Float X Performance shock for $3,800 USD. For those who want fewer compromises, the Elite build comes with a SRAM GX drivetrain, Code RS brakes, a Fox Factory 36 fork, and a Fox Float X shock for $5,600 USD. Want to start from scratch? Specialized also offers a frameset with a Float X shock for $1,900 USD. And then, of course, the carbon version of the bike offers all the no-holds-barred, fancy options at higher price points.
Our test bike was the Elite build in size S4, which has chainstays that are adjustable between 438mm and 443mm and weighs 34.38 lb (15.56 kg). The build, with a workhorse drivetrain and sturdy components, would be easy to shave some weight from if that were a priority, but as is, feels like a smart spec, although it'd be nice to see a version with Fox's Performance Elite suspension, which offers all the same adjustments as the Kashima-coated stuff, but at a lower cost.
The SWAT box is the biggest and the best of the three in-frame storage compartments we saw at Field Test, and it's a nice touch to bring that feature to an aluminum bike. Also, Specialized is one of the few companies that got the memo that dropper posts need to be longer, so the Stumpjumper EVO Alloy came specc'd with a 180mm OneUp post. Similarly, the stock riser bar was a nice change from several of the flat bars that came on our test bikes, and though both Kazimer and I preferred the bike with a 40mm stem to the 50mm one that came with it, the stock bike setup was a pretty dialed starting point.
Climbing
While the Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Alloy doesn't present itself at first as a climber, it gets itself up the hill relatively efficiently and carries its 34 lbs gracefully. The shock tune has a bit more support than previous Stumpjumpers had, so the bike never felt too bogged down, even on long dirt road grinds. Of the bikes we tested, it's an average climber - not as snappy as the Propain, which I'd rank as the best pedaler, and significantly more efficient than the Starling and especially the Ghost.
On technical climbs, the moderate front center helped keep the bike feeling comfortable and nimble. There's no way it could be mistaken for a cross country bike, but at the same time, the compact, agreeable bike motored up just about whatever I wanted to climb. I'll attribute that not to any outstanding efficiency, extremely light weight, or other special climbing characteristics, but just to the bike's overall easy-to-ride, adaptable personality. It never felt too long, too short, too slack, or too twitchy; and if it did, it would probably be fixable with a simple geometry tweak.
Descending
The best thing I have to say about the Stumpjumper EVO Alloy is that generally when I rode it, I forgot I was riding it, definitely forgot to think about reviewing it, and just had a good old time. When a bike disappears like that and lets you just do your thing, the designers have done their jobs. One of my most technical rides of the trip took place on the Stumpy, and while there were features I was nervous to roll into, the fact that I was on an unfamiliar bike didn't even cross my mind. The bike is just easy to get along with immediately.
The bike feels quite stable and doesn't shy away from high speeds, even in the medium head angle setting. With a simple change of the upper drop-in headset cup, the Stumpy could become a bike park weapon, but the change never felt necessary even on some of the gnarliest Pemberton trails.
For a bike that has such middle-ground geometry, offers numerous setup possibilities, and has no outstanding characteristics other than just being really pleasant to ride, it would be easy to write off the Stumpjumper EVO Alloy as a boring bike, but that's simply not the case.
The best thing I have to say about the Stumpjumper EVO Alloy is that generally when I rode it, I forgot I was riding it, definitely forgot to think about reviewing it, and just had a good old time. When a bike disappears like that and lets you just do your thing, the designers have done their jobs. One of my most technical rides of the trip took place on the Stumpy, and while there were features I was nervous to roll into, the fact that I was on an unfamiliar bike didn't even cross my mind. The bike is just easy to get along with immediately.
The bike feels quite stable and doesn't shy away from high speeds, even in the medium head angle setting. With a simple change of the upper drop-in headset cup, the Stumpy could become a bike park weapon, but the change never felt necessary even on some of the gnarliest Pemberton trails.
For a bike that has such middle-ground geometry, offers numerous setup possibilities, and has no outstanding characteristics other than just being really pleasant to ride, it would be easy to write off the Stumpjumper EVO Alloy as a boring bike, but that's simply not the case.
Timed Testing
Our timed lap for the trail bikes was about three minutes long and was a mix of choppy, rooty sections and some fast flow. It started with an optional rock roll, a little drop, some fast corners, and a small double. As it serpentined its way down the hill, it included some steeps, a few root hops, and a few slight uphills. While none of the track was overly technical, the bikes that excelled on the test lap had to be capable on both fast, rough sections and in quick corners.Don't forget that timing is just one of many ways to judge a bike, and fast doesn't always mean it's the best for everyone.
Alicia Leggett: "The Stumpjumper placed fourth out of six on my timed lap, though it's worth noting that my top four lap times were so closely clustered that it's almost irrelevant whether a bike scored first or fourth. It felt easy to charge on, energetic, and powerful, but didn't ride as lightly as the two carbon bikes, which took the top two spots."
Sure, the review might be boring, because it just does exactly what a trail bike is supposed to do without any extra fuss, but the suspension is so energetic and the bike so willing to do whatever you ask of it that it's not a bike I'll forget anytime soon. It's a bike that I wouldn't hesitate to take with me to the bike park, throw on a shuttle truck, or take for a long pedal day.
It's worth mentioning that the Stumpy EVO Alloy was the longest-travel bike we tested in the batch of 130mm to 150mm trail bikes this Field Test, so it's a bit more bike than anything else we're reviewing this week. It's also the bike we would most recommend to those looking for a trail bike that feels ready to take on some enduro races, as the head angle adjustment and extra bit of travel make it the most capable and versatile descender of the bunch. Some of the other bikes on test, namely the Starling Murmur and the Raaw Jibb, were also plenty capable when pointed downhill, but pigeonholed themselves into their own particular niches without the all-around ability to do it all that defines the Stumpy.
Pros
+ So, so adaptable - and the geo adjustments are easier than on some other bikes
+ SWAT box is the biggest and the best of the in-frame storage boxes out there
+ Good value and smart spec
+ Good crossover trail-enduro option
Cons
- There's no true top-end build, and it would be so good to see more aluminum bikes with fancy spec options
- A tad heavy if we're counting grams
- Star ratchet issue with the rear hub prior to Field Test
The 2021 Fall Field Test is presented by Rapha & Bontrager. Thank you also to Maxxis, Schwalbe, and Garmin for control tires and equipment.
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with inflation/costs and concern w/ env. impact of carbon, I would not be surprised if high spec alloy becomes A LOT more popular.
However, it's a totally different question wheter the advantages of carbon are worth the huge price increase.
They really should have put that build kit on the aluminum frame and sold it for $4500/$5K. Much better value than this build with GX and Kashima.
One big plus for alu(which I've utilized multiple times), is it can be welded when it cracks..carbon...nope
3 months later, I still pine for the XX1 cassette, but prolly wont make the switch unless I’m forced to again. Never should have tasted that forbidden fruit
Cracked carbon frames can usually be repaired, and often gain strength in the process.
To everyone who downvited GlassGuy, who are you to say "you're fact is not true"?
Also, you forgot to say seat as well.
It must be difficult to be a product manager, to juggle parts spec, availability, trends, public opinion, and being the most attractive option to the most people, across different provinces, and countries.
The tires I liked in the Eastern part of the country, are not what I like now out West. Even different parts of BC require different tires to get the most out of them.
Even compounds, I prefer MaxTerra, EXO casings, cause I run cushcore, and the terrain has MaxxGrips worn out in 3 months of riding….
Different strokes they say…
I've trashed 2 shocks on my 16' stumpy and thought that the issue was fixed on the new models by not hardmounting the shock to the yoke, but looks like not.
Now I have bikeyoke yoke on it and Avalanched bomber cr, which should be pretty strong, so lets see. So far 4 months of, due to injury, not so hard use and no issues at all, hopefully it stays that way.
www.doodycalls.com/articles/blog/pet-friendly-communities/epa-says-dog-poop-is-an-environmental-hazard-on-
If a company sells 100 bikes and 2 of them break in the same way there's an issue.
If a company sells 100,000 bikes and 2 of them break in the same way, maybe less so.
It's a known issue and not surprising given the very low weight of the carbon frame, which also has a huge ass hole in the downtube (as much as I loved swat on my 2017 stumpy and that frame was tough).
I had 2 friends pick up the new carbon evo and 1 of them had his frame develop a crack.
Specialized gambled with the frame weight and lost. The downtube just isn't strong enough for how that bike can be ridden. That doesn't mean it'll fail for everyone and for sure there are shtloads of these bikes sold so we're going to hear about the failures.
I've had great reliability on older stumpys and enduro frames but wouldn't gamble on this one. Love this alu version tho!
Bearing cups.
Broke mine too, waiting since 4 months for the new frame.
SBC refused warranty for what I see as releasing an under engineered product. Turns out the DT is only ~0.8mm thick in that zone which is road bike territory. I have data to back that claim.
Had it repaired at Ruckus Composites in PDX for $600 including additional material to not have the problem again.
The bike is probably better than new, and the solution was way cheaper and more responsible than the $2000 option SBC gave for a good faith replacement frame set. f*ck those guys and the BS ‘customer first’ story they tell.
Yet my next bike has the geo I'm after in the neutral setting so I'm anticipating using the geo adjust for park days.
Either or though. I don't mess around with anything in between that.
“What’s got in Kevin today? He’s absolutely flying, he’s like a different rider”.
“Oh he’s steepened his head angle by a degree and now he’s pro”. A conversation that will never happen.
No question, you have to have the terrain to justify the 170mm bike. The bike comes alive on chunky and fast terrain. That said, I came from an SB150, a bike that I very much liked, and I would never go back.
I had ACL surgery in my left knee 15 months ago,so I do tons of hours of road bike and not very aggressive enduro&trail rides.
The Enduro is a lovely bike to ride,it is very predictable and fast bike.very easy to ride.
But…..current bikes ride really, really well.
I have have ridden all at least 3-4 rides except those with the steep headset cup (total of >800 miles of riding on this bike since Feb 2021) . On an S3 the longer/lower setting add stability but detract from playfulness for me. I have enjoyed the slack headset cup at 63.5 and middle setting 64.5 HA with the shorter chain-stays (438mm) and this has been able to help me understand the range of geometry that I prefer. I would take a steeper STA though happily.
Overall I like the bike, I am glad Pinkbike are not claiming this is an excellent climber (it is okay) and for me the rear suspension has been a good but not great and is a bit linear (As compared to my 27.5 Devinci Spartan, which climbs better in technical trails and descends just as well).
Glad I got mine before prices went up >$1200 per model!
There are a lot in stock currently (every size across alu and carbon models) here locally...
You can? So are you asking for something to spill the beans? Some kind of barter? Perhaps a pumpkin bread recipe? I think a few people, including me would be curious to the thoughts of someone who has ridden both extensively.
Not anymore. This bike has juuust enough compliance to stick to lumpy trails with no compromise descending.
Good geometry, great suspension setup. Sizes for almost everyone. If only they weren’t sold out for the next year or so……
Funny thing about the these reviews though- in pictures this bike looks to have identical or even higher standover than the Ghost, but no mention of this bikes tall seat tube. (By the numbers, Ghost seat tube only 1/2” longer...?)
And sounds like the testers did decide to swap cockpit components on this one, to a personal preference. Others pointed out that the Starling review did not get then same courtesy.
....yabbut.... in my opinion that’s small potatoes in the land of seat tubes. Sounds like the real issue surrounded the 8pins dropper, which has the promise of more travel than competitors, but in practice that seems hard to achieve.
Anyway, the field test series is awesome, love what you guys are doing. Thanks!
Thank you, everyone, for helping my choose a size. Alicia, love your review(s)! Keep on doing what you're doing!
I know people either love or hate Strava but I love it for motivation and tracking mileage and cheering on others. The PR’s are a nice bonus and hoping people can recognize some of the trails I ride and lend some legitimacy to how great this bike is! I had an SB150 and then downsized to an SB115… I love descending rugged, technical trails so I sold the SB115 and got the EVO and I have never regretted owning this amazing and well thought out bike!
There is no way you should be faster on Stumpy Evo versus the SB150… unless we are talking tame trails perhaps. One is a pure bread enduro race bike, and the other is a big box trail bike.
Take this review with a grain of salt - Specialized now practically owns this site.
You might think I'm joking, but I'm not. Pinkbike, as we all know, has been acquired by and is as of this year oprated by a company called Outside. Outside, which formerly was known as Pocket Outdoor Media, is a brand owned by a venture capital fund called Zone 5 Ventures - which is owned by, you guessed it, Specialized.
They self describe as "an early-stage investor with Specialized as our sole limited partner" and "Specialized's Venture Fund" on their Linked In page.
Look it up for yourself and draw your conclusions. Big red flag for me tbh. Seems like a huge conflict of interest.
And just to be clear: I'm not saying that the review is intentionally deceptive. I'm not accusing the editors of lying. All I'm saying is that it now seems unlikely to be a coincidence that even Specializeds more mediocre products get so much exposure and such raving reviews on this site.
A good example of bias would be, say, to form an opinion about something based on the company that owns it rather than evaluating it on its own merits. Hmm...
I'm not saying that this review is biased. 1) I think the individual reviewers are doing a straight review, and 2) I have a stumpjumper alloy and I agree with everything they said.
But that doesn't mean this is a non issue. You always have to consider the source and the potential biases of any information you consume. And one of the biggest bike companies in the world now having a direct ownership in this site will be something that always has to be considered going forward.
As for the editorial side of things, we face no repercussions from saying negative things about bikes, Specialized or not. I have no particular feelings about Specialized except that it's a company that has a shit ton of resources for extensive R&D... which more often than not, results in better bikes than the companies that don't get to spend as much money on product development. I went into this test not wanting to like the Specialized this much for that reason. I want the underdog to win. That said, I can't deny that Specialized hit it out of the park on this one. It wouldn't be fair to hold back my praise just because of my personal bias against big corporations.
Plus, pretty much every bike brand is going to sell out of everything this year and next year and the year after that. There's a bike shortage. Do you think there's any actual pressure to put out a positive review? Even Ghost will sell out. Even the Ghost Riot Trail Full Party.
That's quite a bit less suspicious than the way you phrased it.
Any potential conflicts of interest SHOULD be disclosed by any journalistic outfit, but there is no indication that this review is biased.
I’ve tried a Stumpy Evo, and I’d say the review is spot on. It’s a bike that can be ridden hard on high consequence terrain (up and down) on the first ride.
If its as unproblematic as you say it is, then way has no one disclosed that connection in the first place?
Like @MikeyMT said, a disclaimer would have probably been in order.
But just because I'm an a*shole, doesn't mean I'm wrong.
I meant stuff like that helmet they brought out recently or that new line of shoes or that dumb carbon strider bike. It all got big coverage here, despite not being exciting at all and not any more relevant than competing products.
Kaz obviously really liked this bike with the DPX2 last year, so it makes sense that he wouldn’t have felt much need to compare and contrast the two, but I’d have been curious to hear a comparison between the two shocks.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks!
Fox Ranger Fire glove if not wet or windy warmer but breaths better than Fox Ranger Water which I use if windy or really wet when it's the warmer one =)
Appreciate the input!
For pants, it's really whatever's not still wet and muddy from my last ride. I have a pair of fully waterproof Gore C5 Trail Pants for days that it's actively raining. On less soggy but cooler days I like Rapha's MTB Pant, Ion's Shelter pant, or Pearl Izumi's Summit pant.
Also "Star ratchet issue with the rear hub prior to Field Test"
O NO! After already losing XT brakes (wandering bite point), have we now also lost the final bastion of absolute trust and reliability in MTB'ing?
The previous evo comp Slx carbon from 2021 is hard to beat for value. At the time $5300 Canadian. Slx brakes and drive train.
I am ok with getting less as long as I am paying less. (Ie nx deraileur non hd drivers inability to put a cassette with 10 tooth cog on. )
For an all rounder like this bike gearing range can be fairly important.
Interestingly Atherton bikes are claiming they have sorted this cross directional strength issue with unique weaving and layering process, we shall see!
But you know,if they told us this bike is great for (not EWS level) enduro,few people would buy the Enduro,so... it's got to be a trail bike.
I think it goes like this..
Fork 160-170 - Enduro
Fork 140-150 - Trail
Fork 120-130 - Downcountry
Fork 100-110 - Xcountry
I mean... zip-tie a 2-degree angleset to my Slayer and boom, so much more adjustability!
www.dtswiss.com/en/ratchet-exp-maintenance-notice
The smartest Blonde I ever met........was a Golden Retriever ! lol
"EVO Alloy, which brings the longified, slackified Stumpy EVO into a relatively affordable aluminum package"
Affordable.
This is a big word. Affordable to who...?
Or (to put it differently):
Which anual income makes this price range affordable?
I am ridding mountain bikes from the early 90's (1989 to be more accurate). I see the prices hitting the stratosphere, while the longivety of those products is getting shorter & shorter. It is a wonder why with all this technological evolution & the experience gained, we cannot have bikes to last at least long enough to support today's high prices!
-A 1000+ suspension fork should not brake down after a season or 2!
-An expensive wheelset should be able to survive a year into the trails....
and more important:
-Older versions of forks & shocks (that once upon a time were the tip of the lance) should at least have plenty of spare parts! that last is directed to all parts...
Don't bother hitting me me the usual answers.
-Technology will advance.
-Nothing last for ever..
-Expensive & complicated manufacturing...
-etc-etc.
All we have to do is to consider the following:
-A high-end bike (obviously one under a high price), should be able to last longer?
-For how long a modern design is still considered...modern?
And,
-Is there a new marketing driven fashion to dictate that we have to throw away after every season our bikes, in order to get new ones?
The 2021 high-end rig, isn't still high-end at 2022?
Just wondering...
No i didn't.
You see, all i did is to publish a general argument.
Bikes (and parts) while seem to be more & more expensive, at the same time seem to live for a shorter (and.. shorter) time!
A high pice tag product, should be albe to survive for more than a season.
So,
don't get it personal, i am not... aiming at you!
It would be really interesting to check upon these parameters.
-High (& higher) prices.
-Short (& shorter) life spans.
I can only assume that this would be a really interesting article to read!
Although it sounds like the old question, what if a cheap, steel bike frame had the same geometry with the expensive... cousin? What if i build both with the same (expensive) parts?
Will the ride the same?
Haha!
My current bike IS (almost) 30 years old & with under the proper service routines works wonderfully!
Also (2 things)
1) You missed my point. I'll repeat it.
Within today's high prices our bikes & part should be living longer. Instead what we have are parts that while been more expensive seem to las less...
Got it now?
2) All of my bikes are working quite properly thank you. What made you reach such a foolish, "mammalian" assumption?
Now aside from your main point, lets focus on where your position is coming from. Which early 90's bike are you riding? And if it has a suspension fork, what kind? I'd love to compare the value proposition to present day bikes.
So I'm guessing it's gonna be the same with the modern ones in like, 11 years.
At some point shit becomes obsolete, yeah, but this is the case with everything. If I get 10 years out of use (with some maintenance of course) out of something I'm supremely happy. And both my Zeb and my current Lyrik look like they'll propably stand up to this.
In the end it depends on how you ride more than how stuff is made, imo. If you ride your 1990s ride at the speed some of the people I know ride their modern stuff you'd propably fold up the frame.
3.8k is pretty okay for a fully kitted out FS bike from a reputable manufacturer.
Also, which cheap full sus frame you thinking about? I know the cheap-ish hardtails like the hello dave or the BFe from Cotic or the Ragleys are an absolute hoot.
First things first.
Let us clear that i DON'T claim that "older products" are better. I repeat, that i can see a contradicting value between price & life span of our beloved products, that seem to increase as time goes by.
-Of course inflation & other economic phenomena have to be added into this equation.
-Of course companies HAVE to sell new products in order to survive & invest into research.
But even under those parameters, still new products owe to be more “honest”. Products under a steep price should last longer and the companies that distribute them should keep on offering spare parts.
So (how I see things):
As the prices are gaining altitude, so the performance does. Within this performance we, as consumers, owe to ask for longevity.
As for your (quite personal) question, here’s what I ride (and why):
--My main bike is a MC SIN. Marzocchi 66 RC2X (180mm travel) fork, Marzocchi ROCCO WC coil shock (although I returned to the old Manitou S-type SRL , after I was unable to find parts for that here at Greece!), Rohloff rear hub, Magura Gustav brakes, Custom (My design) Dash guard, Old Mavic 321 rims (that have seen 3 different hubs each & still hold true after years of abuse!), DMR Revolver front hub (I am still looking for replacement bearings…), Renthal bar, Spank stem, Chris King steelset & TIME Attack pedals.
This bike, seems to hold strong after so many years on the local rough trails.
-I do have a MC San Andreas, but dismantled it because of lack of space!
-Add a GT LTS Team, that I manage to collapse the right chainstay while hammering it on a steep trail! Not a surprise to discover that GT 's local dealer DID NOT honored the “for life” warantee…! Wonderful bike, but now in a box.
-An old Bianchi HT frame, builded with leftovers. Marzocchi fork, Shimano XT brakes, Magura rim brake at the rear (old frame!), XT drivetrain, Mavic rims, Time pedals and some lower cost parts.
And last
-A prototype CF bike with my patented (I have a national & a European category “A” patent for my suspension system), that I made myself. That’s an early 90’s build.
Why I don't have a new bike (especially while I can actually build my own frame)?
Well,
blame the our country’s economic crisis that froze all of my plans!
I hope I covered your questions. Happy trails!
Yep, But he rides where you cannot! (most of the kids here cannotfollow me, while climbing with my 23 kilos bike).
Why the lip?
Don't you have something usefull to add?
1) You're current bikes were, for the most part, very expensive when they were new, and factoring for inflation would put them at the cost of a more premium (non-electric component) mountain bike from today.
2) Current bikes CAN last as long as the ones you're riding, if the use cases are comparable, and they are proper maintained (aside from the Bianchi perhaps).
So you must be looking for some fictional state of reality, where mountain bike products are somehow better/longer lasting/cheaper than they've ever been. Good luck buddy.
Maybe,
that’s why we see more people getting less complicated high quality bikes. Sometimes I am considering it too to build a simpler bike, like that stooge:
www.pinkbike.com/news/bike-check-matt-lakins-fully-rigid-stooge-cycles-mk4-enduro-race-bike.html
www.pinkbike.com/news/bike-check-matt-lakins-fully-rigid-stooge-cycles-dirtbomb-enduro-race-bike.html
It’s an intriguing thought, don’t you agree?
Hmmm,
the Bianchi seems to be the most robust of all! (you seem to underestimate a really good frame... why's that?).
Anyway,
I am not unreasonable. i know from first hand that dirt ridding claims flesh & parts!
I just say that longevity should follow high price.
It's that simple.
And at the end of the day, all your questions come to a moot point: When we're talking about new, "relatively affordable" mountain bikes, we're still just talking about people and their disposable incomes and the TOYS they prefer.
If you need to square consumption, hobbies, and utility, it's fine. It's just not for most users here.
I agree.
The "relativeness" factor is quite... wide!
And to close this,
I NEVER assumed that we have to keep on ridding bad bikes with squirrely geometry and small wheels. And jus to be absolutelly clear, i'll re-phrase my argument like that:
As prices go up, so the quality has to follow. Longevity has to be among these "values"...
I cannot describe it simpler & at the same time i cannot image who could disagree.
So,
Happy trails!
obviously,
you're a master on that!
No.
I am not.
It's just that the longevity is propotionaly oposite to the price!
For all kids out there.
It's a fact that high quality gear will keep rising beyond stratosphere. Who can argue with this? (not me).
Also (and last)
I can see that instead of considering what i wrote (agreeing is NOT optional), some prefer to be rude. well....
An high end shock will have way more small parts in order to work better, but that means more maintenance and more chance to fail. Your entry level shock without any adjustment and proper hydraulic will last longer for sure.
And expensive usually means lighter, which is not helping.
If you buy a Ferrari, do you expect it to be more reliable that a VW Golf because it's more expensive?
You buy the performance and you know that you have to compromise the longevity for that.
Yes,
but an unnecessary Ferrari is NOT… affordable!
Am I wrong?
Pros - decent spec for price, slack head angle pushing the limit of "long travel trail bike", SWAT box
Cons - far too much adjustability, weight, the ongoing thought that the assymetric frame that was designed to work as a carbon bike is a bit of a bodge when working with alloy.
Also does this mean the status is getting canned?
Golden retrievers are the dumb blondes of the dog world....
This bike (frame) is a pure ripper that is more robust than its carbon sibling.