The EVO lifestyle isn't for everyone, but for those bikers who live for the biggest drops, gnarliest rock gardens and roughest terrains, there is nothing better. The EVO is a bike that gives back just as much as you can throw at it. Using the same style-specific sizing as our downhill Demo, each rider is able to choose a machine that perfectly fits the way they ride. It comes in two sizes the S2 and S3 longer, lower and slacker than before, with seat tube and head tube heights that you can adjust to suit your ride.

We also wanted to work on making the connection between rider and bike feel almost telepathic. This all boils down to stiffness, and the frame's ability to translate all the right signals to the rider's feet and hands in order to stay upright and in perfect balance. Both the shape of the frame and the materials used for construction, have been dialled in to achieve this super stiffness.

Our custom Rx Trail Tune takes care of the suspension department and is applied to both the fork and rear shock, ensuring that every bike, no matter the wheel or rider size, lands right in the middle of the adjustment spectrum. This allows ample customisation, adjusting the suspension to tailor your ride to the course that lies ahead. We've also developed a specific Rx Tune for each wheel size and specific platform, meaning that perfectly linear suspension is assured across the wide range of wheel sizes.

A stiff bike with plenty of suspension is one thing, but we also wanted to make the Stumpjumper super easy to live with. To do that we've brought back threaded bottom brackets and created a little extra room to fit up to a 3.0 tyre perfect for those looking for a little more comfort. We've also added some new tech, like the handy Flip Chip that allows you to drop the bottom bracket by 6mm and slacken the head tube by half-a-degree, increasing the responsiveness of your handling on the more technical trails. And we're still not done, a practical ribbed chainstay protector completes the list of added features, rendering chain slap and a noisy drivetrain a thing of the past.

The EVO theme continues throughout the rest of this Stumpjumper's build. It is equipped with a long list of race-ready components yearning to shred, including a FOX DPX2 rear shock (140mm of travel), a FOX Rhythm 36 fork (150mm of travel) SRAM Code R brakes, a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain and a pair of Roval traverse 29 alloy wheels. What you're left with is a bike that's ready to hit the trails straight from the box.