The 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO puts Adjustability at the Forefront

The updated Specialized Stumpjumper EVO is one beefy trail bike.
Photos; Specialized / Harookz

Specialized has a new revision of their Stumpjumper EVO out today, and they’re dubbing it “the ultimate trail bike.” Without a doubt, it is one beefy trail bike. Like any new generation, the Stumpy EVO has been revised in geometry, kinematics, and aesthetics.

The most unique aspect though is that the head angle has 2.5° of adjustability, between 63° and 65.5° through the use of eccentric headset cups. This makes it tunable for a variety of terrain. They also made the bottom bracket adjustable by 7mm, with a set of Horst-link chips. The EVO is even “mixed wheel adaptable.” With a different shock link, riders can swap the 29er rear wheel for a 27.5-inch wheel.

The Stumpjumper EVO comes in six different sizes. On size S3, the EVO has 448mm of reach, comes set to a 64.5° head tube angle, uses a reduced 44mm offset fork, 438mm chainstays, a 1216mm wheelbase, and a 77.6° seat tube angle.

It wouldn’t be a bike release if the travel on the new version stayed the same. The Stumpy EVO gains 10mm of travel front and rear, for a total of 150mm/160mm. Kinematics are inspired by the Enduro, says Specialized, for small bump sensitivity, mid-stroke support, and big hit capability. The axle path moves rearward in the first third of its travel and then vertically in the mid travel before it shifts to a forward trajectory on its path toward bottoming out.

“There’s a generous amount of anti-squat in the EVO’s travel. When it comes to climbing responsiveness and pedaling snap, anti-squat is your friend. It helps you put the power to the ground without unwanted pedal-induced bob, and it transforms wattage into forward and upward momentum. As the suspension moves through its travel, the anti-squat characteristics drop below zero, and the suspension focuses on sucking up everything from chunder to dead sailoring, blind hucks-to-flat”

The Stumpjumper EVO keeps the sidearm design on the frame. The strut minimizes twisting in the frame, keeps things light, and doesn’t make the bike overly stiff. The trail bike also keeps the unique Specialized SWAT door, a little cargo space in the downtube for trail necessities. Specialized says that the frame weight for a size 4 is 2,750g.

There are five build kits available for the new Stumpjumper EVO at Specialized.com. The Comp version starts at $4,099, and the S-Works model tops the range at $9,899. An S-Works frame can be had for $2,999. All of the frames are made of carbon fiber.