First Impression: Specialized Stumpjumper FSR EVO 26 and 29er

The EVO bikes in Specialized line up are much like an AMG Mercedes or SVO Ford: straight-from-the-factory high performance vehicles. These two Stumpjumper FSRs get additional travel, a chain guide, beefier tires and dropper posts, and designed to push these bikes into the all-mountain category.

Stumpjumper FSR Expert EVO 29

by Eric McKeegan

Even with an aluminum frame the 29er FSR EVO weighs in about two pounds heavier than its carbon 26” sibling, which means stock it is well under 30 pounds, darn respectable for a 140mm 29er. Of course, for a trip to Sedona I did add some weight with a heaver front tire (S-Works Eskar 2.3) and a Fox 34 Talus fork to deal with the rocky, loose trails and all the vortexes.

The stock build is pretty darn awesome. A 2×10 drivetrain with SRAM carbon crank, bash guard and chainguide has plenty of gears for just about everywhere. The Formula brakes with oversize rotors provide plenty of stopping power and the Specialized Command Post continues to be top dog dropper post in my book.

How’s she ride? Fast and controlled are the words that come to mind first. With an added 10mm of travel front and rear compared to the non-EVO Stumpy FSRs, the 29“ EVO was easy to hop on and ride fast, further rides have been even faster.

Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon EVO

by Jon Pratt

Sporting 150mm of front and rear travel, a slack head angle, and a meaty 2.3 Butcher tire up front, the 26er version of this bike is ready for pretty much anything you can throw at it.

The EVO line was born from what Specialized observed in the modifications riders were making to their own bikes. What was once a balanced and capable trail bike in the Stumpjumper, became a more confident descender and hit-swallowing trail bike, something I can attest to. The rocks of the East Coast gave the suspension a great workout, and the steep descents in the Arizona desert played right into that extra degree of slackness in the headtube. It’s pretty close to a perfect bike for hitting a few rocks and features along an extended cross-country bike adventure. I’ve had a lot of fun playing around on this one, look for a full review in Issue #163 of Dirt Rag.