Specialized Stumpjumper
Encyclopedia
The Specialized Stumpjumper is a mountain bike
produced by Specialized Bicycle Components
. When it was first produced in 1981, the Stumpjumper was the first mass-production mountain bike. The Stumpjumper is still in production, although its design has changed significantly since it was first sold. Stumpjumpers have been raced professionally by riders including Christoph Sauser
and Ned Overend
.
and was based on a design for a custom-made bike originally marketed by Tom Ritchey
, Gary Fisher
and Charles Kelly. Specialized's founder Mike Sinyard
has explained that the company's aim was to "make a bike on a production basis but as though it was a custom bike". The first Stumpjumpers had welded steel frames because the lugged and brazed frames
that designer Tim Neenan wanted to use were not available at the time. The original bike had a modified BMX
stem
and handlebars
based on Magura
motorcycle handlebars. The bike was equipped with 15-speed Suntour
ARX GT gears
, originally designed for use on road bikes, and the Stumpjumper also featured Mafac
cantilever brakes
and a TA Cyclotourist chainset
, both designed for touring bikes. It had no suspension
. The bike weighed just under 30 pounds (13.6 kg).
After the first production run in 1981, around 500 were imported to the United States
over the course of the next year. The original Stumpjumper was sold for US$750 as a complete bike or $395 for the frame only. Specialized marketed it as an affordable and versatile bike for a new sport, namely mountain biking, and used the slogan "The bike for all reasons". Initially, bike retailers were sceptical about the Stumpjumper, with some asking Sinyard what he was doing with a "big kids' BMX". However, the first shipment of 125 bikes sold out in six days. According to sports journalist Ben Hewitt, the Stumpjumper "was a resounding success" and its introduction contributed to the rapid rise in popularity of the new sport.
An original Stumpjumper is displayed in the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington, D.C.
A limited edition reproduction of the original Stumpjumper, featuring modern components and named the Stumpjumper Classic, was produced in 2007 to mark the bike's 25th anniversary. It was available for US$1,300.
and Ned Overend
. Overend won the 1990 Mountain Bike World Championships – the first ever event of its kind – on a carbon-fiber prototype Stumpjumper.
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
produced by Specialized Bicycle Components
Specialized Bicycle Components
Specialized Bicycle Components, more commonly known simply as Specialized, is a major American brand of bicycles and related products. It was founded in 1974 by Mike Sinyard and is based in Morgan Hill, California-History:...
. When it was first produced in 1981, the Stumpjumper was the first mass-production mountain bike. The Stumpjumper is still in production, although its design has changed significantly since it was first sold. Stumpjumpers have been raced professionally by riders including Christoph Sauser
Christoph Sauser
Christoph Sauser is a cross-country mountain biker, who won the bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He currently races on the Specialized Cross Country Team....
and Ned Overend
Ned Overend
Edmund Overend , the son of a U.S. diplomat, started in mountain biking in the early 1980s. He appeared in "the world's first mountain biking video, aptly named, The Great Mountain Biking Video," released in 1988 by New & Unique Videos of San Diego, California...
.
History
Specialized started to produce the Stumpjumper in 1981, making it the first mass-production mountain bike. The first Stumpjumper was produced in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and was based on a design for a custom-made bike originally marketed by Tom Ritchey
Tom Ritchey
Tom Ritchey is an American bicycle frame builder, designer, welder and founder of Ritchey Design. He is an accomplished road and mountain bicycle racer.-Early years:...
, Gary Fisher
Gary Fisher
Gary Christopher Fisher is considered one of the inventors of the modern mountain bike.Fisher started competing in road and track races at 12. He was suspended in 1968 because race organizers cited a rule that his hair was too long. By 1972 this rule had been repealed and Fisher's career continued...
and Charles Kelly. Specialized's founder Mike Sinyard
Mike Sinyard
Mike Sinyard is the founder and chairman of Specialized Bicycle Components, an American manufacturer of bicycles and cycling components.Sinyard's passion for bicycles developed at San Jose State University, where he cycled to class. After graduating in 1974, at the age of 24, Sinyard began...
has explained that the company's aim was to "make a bike on a production basis but as though it was a custom bike". The first Stumpjumpers had welded steel frames because the lugged and brazed frames
Lugged steel frame construction
Lugged steel frame construction is a method of building bicycle frames using steel tubing and sockets, called lugs. For most of bicycle's history steel has been the primary material for bicycle frames, with lugged construction the primary assembling method...
that designer Tim Neenan wanted to use were not available at the time. The original bike had a modified BMX
BMX bike
A BMX bike or BMX is the name of a popular bicycle used for both casual use and sport, and designed mainly for dirt and motocross cycling...
stem
Stem (bicycle part)
The stem is the component on a bicycle that connects the handlebars to the steerer tube of the bicycle fork. Sometimes called a goose neck, a stem's design belongs to either a quill or threadless system, and each system is compatible with respective headset and fork designs:-Quill vs...
and handlebars
Bicycle handlebar
Bicycle handlebar or often bicycle handlebars refers to the steering mechanism for bicycles; the equivalent of a steering wheel. Besides steering, handlebars also often support a portion of the rider's weight, depending on their riding position, and provide a convenient mounting place for brake...
based on Magura
Magura
Măgura may refer to several places in Romania:* Măgura, a commune in Bacău County* Măgura, a commune in Buzău County* Măgura, a commune in Teleorman County* Măgura, a village in Bucium Commune, Alba County...
motorcycle handlebars. The bike was equipped with 15-speed Suntour
SunTour
SunTour or SR Suntour is a manufacturer of bicycle components. It was Japanese owned and managed, based in Osaka, until the mid 1990s when its name was sold to a Taiwan conglomerate. Its products ranged from suspension forks to derailleurs...
ARX GT gears
Bicycle gearing
A bicycle gear or gear ratio refers to the rate at which the rider's legs turn compared to the rate at which the wheels turn. Bicycle gearing refers to how the gear ratio is set or changed. On some bicycles, there is only one gear so the ratio is fixed. Most modern bicycles have multiple gears,...
, originally designed for use on road bikes, and the Stumpjumper also featured Mafac
Mafac
MAFAC, or Manufacture Arvernoise de Freins et Accessoires pour Cycles , was a French manufacturer of bicycle brakes and tool kits. MAFAC was founded in post-war France under the name "Securité", which changed to MAFAC in Fall 1947. Initially MAFAC made cantilever brakes, brake levers, and tool kits...
cantilever brakes
Bicycle brake systems
A bicycle brake is used to slow down or stop a bicycle. There have been various types of brake used throughout history, and several are still in use today...
and a TA Cyclotourist chainset
Crankset
The crankset or chainset , is the component of a bicycle drivetrain that converts the reciprocating motion of the rider's legs into rotational motion used to drive the chain, which in turn drives the rear wheel...
, both designed for touring bikes. It had no suspension
Bicycle suspension
A bicycle suspension is the system or systems used to suspend the rider and all or part of the bicycle in order to protect them from the roughness of the terrain over which they travel...
. The bike weighed just under 30 pounds (13.6 kg).
After the first production run in 1981, around 500 were imported to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
over the course of the next year. The original Stumpjumper was sold for US$750 as a complete bike or $395 for the frame only. Specialized marketed it as an affordable and versatile bike for a new sport, namely mountain biking, and used the slogan "The bike for all reasons". Initially, bike retailers were sceptical about the Stumpjumper, with some asking Sinyard what he was doing with a "big kids' BMX". However, the first shipment of 125 bikes sold out in six days. According to sports journalist Ben Hewitt, the Stumpjumper "was a resounding success" and its introduction contributed to the rapid rise in popularity of the new sport.
An original Stumpjumper is displayed in the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
A limited edition reproduction of the original Stumpjumper, featuring modern components and named the Stumpjumper Classic, was produced in 2007 to mark the bike's 25th anniversary. It was available for US$1,300.
Present day
Specialized continue to produce the Stumpjumper, which, like mountain bikes in general, has evolved significantly since 1981 and now comes in full (front and rear) suspension and hardtail (front suspension only) options, with the former named the Stumpjumper FSR.Use by professional riders
Professional mountain bikers who ride Stumpjumpers include Christoph SauserChristoph Sauser
Christoph Sauser is a cross-country mountain biker, who won the bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He currently races on the Specialized Cross Country Team....
and Ned Overend
Ned Overend
Edmund Overend , the son of a U.S. diplomat, started in mountain biking in the early 1980s. He appeared in "the world's first mountain biking video, aptly named, The Great Mountain Biking Video," released in 1988 by New & Unique Videos of San Diego, California...
. Overend won the 1990 Mountain Bike World Championships – the first ever event of its kind – on a carbon-fiber prototype Stumpjumper.
External links
- 1982 Specialized Stumpjumper at the Museum of Mountain Bike Art & Technology
- Stumpjumper on Specialized's website
- Stumpjumper FSR on Specialized's website