S-Works Stumpjumper 27.5

We think a fast ride should be a fun one and a machine that shreds should also pedal like a monster so we built one bike that packs all these standout characteristics into a single trail-destroying package. The S-Works Stumpjumper returns in 2018 featuring the same remarkable handling, stiffness and suspension kinematics, and the 27.5-inch wheels on this model amping up that responsiveness even further. The pinnacle of trail performance is here.

When you set out to build the ultimate trail bike, one thing you're going to need to focus on is stiffness because a frame with too much flex is a frame that's gonna feel unstable when you're whipping it down the trail. To ensure this didn't happen on the new Stumpy, we really dialled-in the shapes, layout and materials we used to build the bike.

To begin with we worked up our very own mountain-specific test for that all-important stiffness, before subjecting our intended layout to Finite Element Analysis which helped us seek out the areas for maximum improvement. While the Small and Medium frames were working great to begin with, we found the X-Large and Larges could be improved upon particularly at the front end. By tweaking the layout we managed to design a frame that was 20% more efficient, as well as being one of the lightest currently on the market.

You might have noticed the Stumpy has had a radical facelift with the new Sidearm frame design also coming about as a result of our quest for stiffness. There are three points of connection linking the front and rear ends, and it's the Sidearm that keeps all three super-stiff and feeling glued'. This new approach also drops the rear end weight by 100g and ensures that there's barely any flex when the rear suspension is active.

Doubling down on the suspension, we've added our custom Rx Trail Tune to the fork and rear shock. Rx Tune ensures every bike sits right in the middle of the adjustment spectrum, so you can decide how best to adjust its characteristics to suit your riding style. This counteracts the inconsistencies you sometimes encounter as a result of varied rider weights, wheel diameters and frame sizes. Perfectly linear performance is guaranteed by a 27.5-specific version of the Rx Tune the final cherry on top.

Our designers have also simplified a lot of the additional features of the Stumpy, with standardised metric shocks being the big move allowing you to run any standard after-market shock you care to. We've also made the switch back to a threaded BB and introduced full tubes within the frame to guide all your internal cabling into place with a minimum of fuss.

The SWAT box so beloved by Specialized riders everywhere is back in a more streamlined, more capacious form and it's also better integrated into the frame. We've left room for up to 3.0 tyres and have also included a Flip Chip to tweak the geometry of the bike to suit the riding you're doing the High and Low settings span a 6mm difference in BB height, as well as half a degree of head tube angle. Lastly, the newly designed ribbed chain stay protector is there to eliminate irritating chain slap and ensure a nearly-silent drivetrain.

This S-Works version of the Stumpjumper is built with a top-of-the-line specification. FOX Factory front and rear suspension delivers a plush 150mm of travel front and back, while the wheels are Roval Traverse SL 27.5s a truly awesome pair of hoops. The drivetrain and disc brakes come care of SRAM, with their XX1 Eagle and Guide RSC employed to maximise your enjoyment on the trail.