Mountain Biking - Santa Cruz Heckler and Stumpy FSR

Need an all mountain. Want something durable and not necessarily XC. Anybody out there who knows which can climb better, and has less pedal bob? Also my concern is jacking of the suspension during braking. I understand Stumpy falls under both AM and XC both. Any other suggestions?

I have a Heckler with a Fox Float for rear suspension which has a lock out on it. I have never used the lock out, because I've never had a problem with pedal bob. My hubby has the 5th element on his Heckler, and he does not complain of bob either. I'm sure all the Specialized fans are going to get mad at me, but the Heckler is just a better built bike all around. I've ridden both, and I wouldn't take two Specialized bikes for one Santa Cruz!

juliebeanpie, I presume your Float has platform damping to mitigate the pedal bob?

SBW, a single pivot like the Heckler will be more prone to brake jack than an FSR, although it probably won't be noticeable unless you're shredding the gnar on some super steeps.

Some of my friends have Hecklers, some of my friends have Stumps... The FSR riders have their bikes set up super-soft. I threw a leg over one, and even with the rear shock set up completely wrong, I could still spin with minimum bob and there was no brake jack. The Heckler dudes are hard-core XC/road riders and ride their bikes set up with a minimum of sag. They get a bit of bob, but they're already so smooth on the bike it's hard to tell. This is opposite to what most people think of when looking at these two bikes, but the point is that they're both flexible designs. I'm a big fan of the Horst Link, but the Stable Platform shocks have come a long way in the last couple of years. Put a Pro-pedal shock on a FSR, and you'll never see bob again...

SBW, from your past posts, you need a smaller bike, right? Instead of a Heckler, try the Blur LT. If that's too much money, go for the FSR, although you might want to see about getting a lighter stem/seat/bars/wheelset. $0.02

Well it seems that I'm steering more toward the FSR...

I called around. None in my size...Specialized only has the higher line in my size.

Blur is an attractive bike to own but I still have to buy food. ;)

I Have ridden the Heckler before I got my Bullit and for the type of riding you do I think the FSR would be better. As far as brake jack you learn to ride around it. I can feel the rear of my bike flex a little if I rail it really hard into a corner. When I feel the rear tire start to break traction I can feel it.( that was just an added fact):D

Didn't you get my PM this time? I still say the Enduro would be better suited to what you say you're going to be using it for. Plus, it's sweet! So there.:p

Are you looking at the Stumpjumper Comp or the regular Stumpy? The women's small and the regular small don't differ that much in size - it's all in the toptube, which is a whopping 16mm bigger in the regular version. You might want to try it. Alternatively, all the FSR's have the same geometry. Ride a higher-end model to see if it fits, then order the lower end model. Easy peasy! :)

I've got and fsr expert and love it. My only complaint is the tires. Not to good in wet conditions.

I've got and fsr expert and love it. My only complaint is the tires. Not to good in wet conditions.


+1 on the tires. I ditched them as soon as got mine. GREAT bike.

+1 on the tires. I ditched them as soon as got mine. GREAT bike.


what tires are you running? I'm looking for some new ones now...

what tires are you running? I'm looking for some new ones now...


Ritchey Moto Vaders's 2.4's.

Ritchey Moto Vaders's 2.4's.

Yeah hambone didn't you have some help picking those tires out?:D

what kind of trails do you ride??

I think you know my position on Stumpys/Specialized.

As for single pivot vs FSR/4 bar, I don't think there's a contest. When I was looking for my first FS I demo'd the Cannondale Jekyl (single pivot) and Spec Enduro (2000 model) and there really wasn't a choice. I bought the Enduro. When it broke, Specialized replaced it right away with an '02 Enduro which I didn't like as much so I sold that and got the Epic. Then they introduced this version of the Stumpy and I have to say if I was buying today, I'd probably wind up with the Stumpy over the Epic, but it'd be a close call.

Plus, I think the Stumpy weighs considerably less than the Heckler. Could be wrong about that, but I always thought the Heckler was a fairly porky bike.

If you can swing it, go for a Stumpy with the Brain. It's a big jump in price, though; what's your budget?

Yeah hambone didn't you have some help picking those tires out?:D


Yup.....my favorite girlscout picked them out for me. Good luck tomorrow in your race. Don't use the brakes...they will just slow you down. Tell pops to call me and let me know where you finish.

Well! Thank you everyone for all of your replies! :) I really did learn a lot from all of you. I really took a lot of your opinions to heart.

I no longer need this thread, for I now have a new bike. :D

Well! Thank you everyone for all of your replies! :) I really did learn a lot from all of you. I really took a lot of your opinions to heart.

I no longer need this thread, for I now have a new bike. :D

You know the drill! PICS!!!!!!!!! Whats wrong with you?

You know the drill! PICS!!!!!!!!! Whats wrong with you?

Check her sig.

What are you doing here? I thought you were going racing this weekend?

Her sig.....DUH! Girlscout decided he would rather just spend a long day in Pisgah instead of driving 3 hrs. He said he wasn't that jaced up to race this weekend.I saved some gas $$ and got the shred some good Pisgah trails.:D

Holy crap sbw!! nice bike!! holy crap!

Okay, why did you put platforms on my bike? And why is it clean? Mine was dirty last I saw it....:p

Uhhhh... OK. Stumpy vs Heckler... and you wind up with a Kona?? Don't get me wrong - it's a great choice, but how did you get Kona out of all this advice??

Okay, why did you put platforms on my bike? And why is it clean? Mine was dirty last I saw it....:p

If that is indeed your bike, do you mind me asking what's up with the doilies on the back of the couch? Did you take this pic at your grandmomma's house? :D

If that is indeed your bike, do you mind me asking what's up with the doilies on the back of the couch? Did you take this pic at your grandmomma's house? :D

He likes to keep things neat while he's blasting Rob Zombie.

I bet SBW cross-referenced the thread that jamisgirl started comparing a Kona and a Santa Cruz.

If that is indeed your bike, do you mind me asking what's up with the doilies on the back of the couch? Did you take this pic at your grandmomma's house? :D
Don't judge me!:mad::lol: Besides, that's SBW's house, not mine. She stoled my bike, I tell ya!

He likes to keep things neat while he's blasting Rob Zombie.
Not neat here, but I am listening to Rob Zombie.:D

Okay. First of all, I had originally ordered a 15 inch Kona a few weeks ago and put money down on it. It was lost in transit and arrived one week late. Upon inspection, I found it very much damaged and refused it, leaving so upset I forgot to discuss the money issue. There were no more available in the US in my size, so I started looking for another bike. I started this thread, and came close to considering the Stumpy. In the meanwhile, the shop had rebuilt the Kona. They called, it looked okay, so I took it. My original love. :love:

The doillie is where my kitty sleeps.

:lol:At least things worked out. The paint's okay? Most importantly, are you lovin' the bike?;)

Oh I love your bike, Kaldar. I took it out yesterday and....hard to describe but that thing can handle pretty good. I'm not afraid of this bike, either like I am of the Cake. So I find myself getting a little bolder.

The paint he tried to fix, the gouges were kinda .... I guess he tried to fix those too. Still scratched. But I also found out the handlebar was bent (hence the damaged grips) but are new now. The front der was bent (I've had to adjust the new one) and the leaking brake line has been replaced with a new Hayes line. Back to new again except for the scratches and the gouges I won't look at.

I hope you got a discount becuse of the damage.

Oh I love your bike, Kaldar. I took it out yesterday and....hard to describe but that thing can handle pretty good. I'm not afraid of this bike, either like I am of the Cake. So I find myself getting a little bolder.

The paint he tried to fix, the gouges were kinda .... I guess he tried to fix those too. Still scratched. But I also found out the handlebar was bent (hence the damaged grips) but are new now. The front der was bent (I've had to adjust the new one) and the leaking brake line has been replaced with a new Hayes line. Back to new again except for the scratches and the gouges I won't look at.
Eh, woulda got scratched up sooner or later. Of course, it's more fun to me to do it myself.;) Once I got mine, I felt like I could do no wrong on it. I still wanna try my softer XC tires on it, but it's way better than my ol' Cannondale. Have fun!:D

Did they give you a good discount on the "used" bike you got?

Kona would be mortified if they knew since they're pretty big on quality. In fact, they may send you a replacement frame when they make their next run in that size.

By the way, how big are the gouges? Scratches are no big deal, but gouges in AL can be a bad thing for durability.