Mountain Biking - specialized stumpjumper or epic

hello, i was on hear asking about a bike a while ago and i have learned a little but more since then. I can get a 2003 stumpjumper for 1300 with disc brakes or a 2003 epic for 1600 with no disc. what are your thoughts? i could get the epic and always put discs on later but is the epic worth the extra money. Are these good prices or you think i can get the guy to go lower.? thanks If you guys have any thoughts you can email me at mebigusmall@aol.com so it will be a little easier to talk or you can keep it in the forum thanks

All depends on your riding style. Are you going to start racing XC, if so spend the extra $$$ for the Epic.

If you're going to just go riding, and really want discs, stick with the Stumpy!

L8R

wouldnt the stumpy make for a better XC racer than the epic (HT, lighter)?

thanks for the reply. I planon just goin riding for now but who knows were it will go and i dont want to buy a bike again for a while. So if the epic is a better bike should i get that? also cant i add disc later on for cheap. What do you think of these prices.? thanks

money isnt the issue, is the epic the better bike and i want to make sure im getting agood price. Also if im 5'7 then a medium should be good right cause thats all they have. thanks

i just wanted to metion that i made a mistake, the stumpy is 1350$ and the epic is 1600. sorry to keep posting.

i too saw the epic for $1600, probably a good deal. personally i would get the epic over the stumpy. if you do this you can add discs later if you want(figure on getting new wheels on top of disc calipers). a medium should be good but make sure you ride it and only get it if you like the way it fits.

I LOVE my Epic!!! If it fits you well, I'd say get it, but I'm biased.

thanks for the reply guys, the epic is nice, does any know if there is abig difference in weight? also the main difference between them is the epic lock out by itself and the stumpy has to be doen manually. how much would an epic be if it just came out and wasnt on sale cause it was a 2003.

The stumpjumper is a faaaaaaaaaar better bike than the epic. Its more predictable in corners and jumping, and more versitale than just a racing bike. Get the stumpjumper with the discs and you can thank me later

Look at the componets of each bike. The Stumpjumper Comp comes with a very nice Fox fork. I'm not sure about the Epic. The Epic has the brain shock with seems better than the SJ's Fox float. I can tell you that I have broken all kinds of parts on my 2003 Stumpjumper Comp, and the Epic is even less sturdy. My bike is currently in the shop with a broken rear swing arm link. Unless you are going to race, stay away from the Epic because you will end up trashing it.

i think i need some more opinions. Are they goin to stop making the stump jumper.

which is lighter.

i think your gonna find that the stumpjumper is lighter and your gonna love the fox fork on it. I was given the opportunity to test ride one and wow.....if i had that kind of meney all my bikes would be equipped with one.

*EDIT* ohh and btw i think the stumpjumper weighs in at around a sub 26 pound bike depending on which model.

are you refering to the FSR stumpy or the HT stumpy...?

the fs stumpy. Its chrome and comes with disc brakes( incase this tells you which model it is) And the epic is black with out disc.

The epic is strictly an XC bike. It wont handle the larger hits like a stumpy fsr will, but its still a nice bike. If you plan on racing, you can race a stumpy. It may not be the ideal bike, but not all of us enter the pro class right from the start anyway. You will get a little bit of pedal bob with the fsr without the lockout, but once you develop a smooth pedal stroke, you wont notice it much unless you hammer out of the saddle. I only lockout on steep climbs that require out of the saddle pedaling and so far, so good. If your looking at spending possibly 1600 for an epic, look at an 03 stumpy comp. There are still a few around and you get good components. The fox fork is worth it. They run around the same price and are disc ready if you wish to upgrade. Its worth the upgrade. The weight is around the same, unless your goin with an s-works, then you will notice a difference, but you will also notice the price tag difference as well.
Best thing you can do is go ride both and see what suits you best. they are both nice bikes.

They're not ending the stumpjumper FSRs. In fact this year they came out with a wider range of them because last year they only sold epics above the 2K price mark and lost a lot of mone.

Stumpy all the way...or Enduro for even more durability. But thats just me. The epic is a veeeery nice bike...but to be honest...reas suspension will always bob...more or less. If you want hardtail performance then get a ht. The epic is XC race only...or superlightweight riders on smooth trails only.

I agree headn4thehills, get a Stumpjumper FSR Comp and buy the disc brakes seperately. The Comp has better components and is disc ready with disc hubs and everything. Add on your choice of brakes. I like the stumpjumper, it will be more plush than the epic, but then again I know an epic owner who loves his bike.

yo thanks alot guys for the replys, im not planing on racing just messing around so i just wanted the better bike but im getting the impression its the stumpy thats better. I contacted a different bike store and she will order me a 2004 for only a 100$ more so now i have a choice in what to order and i dont have to settel. So i can get the comp or the disc or whatever. So which stumpy should i get.? thanks for the help. can you guys be specific in exactly what i should ask for cause im newbie and dont want to leave any thing out.

just to clarify the 2003 epic was 1600 and i now i can get the 2004 for 1700 so what would be a good price for a stumpy comp with disc.

they changed the names for 04.. is the one i should get the 04 fsr elite disc stump jumper.

If you can find the 04 elite disk, test ride it first and make sure its what your lookin for. the thing to consider is its a new geometry that hasnt been around as long as the previous design and its hard to say if there are any flaws in it just yet. The new pro pedal rear shock sounds like a great new feature, but its also new technology as well. Typically, its wise to give it some time to make sure there are no bugs in new models, but I guess thats what warranties are for. O3's had a lifetime warranty on the frames and I have heard for 04 they went back to a 5 yr only. I might be wrong on that. You may want to check with your LBS to make sure. The components are a bit of a downgrade, but still sufficient. Ultimately, its your decission. Its your hard earned dollar you are spending. If the 04 is the one you want, I would say go for it and enjoy.

The '03 Stumpjumper FSR Comp is now called the Pro in '04. The Pro comes with the sweet Fox fork. The Elite Disc model comes with a Manitou fork. There is no comparison between these two bikes. Get the Pro and add disc breaks later if you want.

headn4 the hills- your saying the 04 is a downgrade in components when compared to the 03?



H star- the 04 pro is out my price range the msrp is almost a 1000$ more than the the 04 stump jumper elite disc. So i figure is the msrp is 1700 on the elite disc i can probly get it for like 14-1500. Is the elite disc the next best choice when compared to the pro. thanks for the help

hello ?

Has everyone putting down the epic as less sturdy than the stumpy or not able to take as big hits or even that "all will have some degree of bob" ridden the epic?

I demo'd one a while ago, rode a good long ride on familiar trails and even had friends try it. The opinion was unanimous in what an incredible ride it is.

First, the Epic will weigh a little more. Don't know the exact numbers, but it is heavier. It also has a full front triangle with an uninterruped seat post. That's a lot of strength. It looks like the 04 stumpy now has some sort of a full seat post a la the Jekyll. The seat tube is still a short one.

Both bikes have 90 mm of travel that's about 3.5". The Stumpy also has a 75mm setting (~3"). Looks like the 04 Stumpy goes to 100mm or 4". For 04, the Epic gets adjustability. The Stumpy already had that.

I can't say the Epic was sketchy in turns. I found it to be rock solid and predictable. I suppose hitting a bump in a turn could cause the rear to activate and change the geometry and handling of the bike, but like I said, it never happened to me and I was riding rocky and rooty trails at a decent clip. I also climbed hills I don't think I could have made on my Enduro. I didn't notice any bob when it wasn't active.

As far as quality goes, they are both excellent bikes. I'm currently looking for an Epic for myself - not sure which level I'm going with because I'm having trouble finding an 03 in L. Might have to go with an 04.

For reference, I have an Enduro. The frame is an 02, warranty replacement for an 00. I don't like the new frame as much as my original; it's more of a freerideer than the all around frame the original was. I'm a big guy and like a solid bike. I don't race, but I don't take it easy on my bikes. I ride cross country, do small jumps and stuff but nothing that would qualify for the term "huck". Anyone wanna buy and Enduro (frame or bike)??

Simply huge, Some of the components are downgraded from the 03 comp. Thats what I was making the comparison to. The shifters are deore and the rear derailleur is an XT. Both are still good. Im not knowledgable about manitou forks, but im sure the black is good as its been around for awhile. If you are pleased with the handling of the 04 and its what you want, go for it. Test ride one before you buy though. You would be suprised how much a test ride can change your opinion of a bike. All I was offering by saying try an 03 is that you may be able to get one a bit cheaper as the newer models come in. All in all, you have to ride it and the decission is up to you. Good luck on your choice and enjoy. Thats the important part.

i think im just gonna get the the 04 elite disc.
skiah i know a store that will oder you an 04 epic for 1700, thats what they offered me when i emailed them.

Remember that the Stumpjumper is designed as an XC bike. Although it is overbuilt to some extent (beefy tubes, big welds, and gussets), it's not really meant for "big hits".

The SJ (especially the FSR) is a fantastic technical singletrack ride and doubles as a comfortable commuter too. Quite honestly, if you're average weight (175lbs or less) and ride mostly flatland trails, the Avid calipers work fine. I've ridden in a downpour and -- aside from brake squeal -- the Avids stop quite well.

If you're looking for a nice dually that will handle both commuting/XC/trails then the SJ is a fine bike.

I do technical singletrack on it and it glides over log jumps and small drops. I wouldn't do a lot of drops or jumps on it though since it has lightweight components.

You might want to consider the Enduro "all mountain" bike if you want to do a bit of hucking. It can take a little more abuse than the SJ.

thanks for the info, i think the stumpy elite disc is for me. What do you think would be a good price for me to get it the msrp is 1750.

thanks for the info, i think the stumpy elite disc is for me. What do you think would be a good price for me to get it the msrp is 1750.

BTW, the new '04 Stumpjumpers look fantastic IMO, and the new FOX rear shock looks very promising if it works as claimed to further reduce pedal bob.

Since the 2004 models are just coming out, and since most LBS don't have a problem moving Stumpjumpers out due to the popularity of Specialized, you might be hard pressed to get a good discount at this time.

Then again, wintertime is slow for a lot of bikeshops especially if you live in a cold climate. Either try now, or a couple of weeks after Christmas (when the LBS owner has to pay his credit card bills for X-mas like everyone else). You might get $100 or shade more off of MSRP.

If you don't think you can get a discount, try asking for freebies like a new helmet, or a shock pump (which you'll definitely need). They may be more willing to go that route.

You'll probably get a better chance of a discount if you go in and casually mention you have narrowed your choices to either the Stumpjumper, or bike brand x (some brand the LBS doesn't sell) which just happens to be a bit less expensive than the Stumpjumper. ;-)

you aren't going to get a discount on an 04 unless there is some crazy christmas sale. I looked and looked for a stumpy comp in early 03 and they were sold out at all the specialized dealers in my area. I guess that's a good thing though considering I ended up finally with something even better (http://www.titusti.com/swblade_lp.html).

well i didnt ask about the stump yet but i asked about 04 epic and she said about 1700 and thats a 2000 bike so i think i could get the stumpy for 15 maybe even a little less.

well i didnt ask about the stump yet but i asked about 04 epic and she said about 1700 and thats a 2000 bike so i think i could get the stumpy for 15 maybe even a little less.

Also remember that the '04 Stumpjumpers are totally redesigned from '03. Well, sorta...that's arguable. It looks like the geometry is the same but the cosmetics have been updated to have a softer, rounder look...plus an improved Fox Shock on higher end models.

Therefore, it's considered a "new for '04" so they might get snapped up quick if you wait until next summer.

If you don't mind last year's design, which is now used in Specialized's XC FSR line, then you might be able to find one cheap.

Good luck with your SJ quest.

P.S. While you're waiting to find your SJ, don't forget to test ride the GF Sugars since they have a really good reputation too.

i was planing on getting the the stumpy elite disc but now im looking at it and it doesnt have the lock out feature, only the most expensive ones do. Im not even sure if its worth spending all this money, maybe i should just get a cheaper bike like a trek fuel. what do you guys think of those? i know this is abig switch but this bike is getting more and more expensive. I basically want a light bike that an 04 and is light and full suspension, i will be doing a lot of riding on the street and accasional trial riding. So maybe somthing cheaper like the trek fuel 80 is better for me. Sorry to be annoying and consider another bike after you guys helped me narrow it down.

Personally, I like the Specialized much better than the Trek. The suspension design is more suited to my style of riding. Plus, lockouts are overated. Don't buy into the hype. Unless you are Joe-Racer, you don't really need a lockout. Proper pedalling technique (regardless of suspension design) will decrease the amount of noticible suspension bobbing. So, a cheaper bike w/o a lockout will make you a better cyclist.

The ONLY time I really notice any bobbing is when I'm on the road of super smooth hardpack. Then, sure, a lockout will help.

You can easily get hung up on little details that make a minor affect on your riding. Get the bike, go ride, have fun!

If you start racing and win the lottery, then get the bike with all the little gadgets.

L8R

If you're talking about a lock-out on the rear shock don't bother. I never use mine anyway, and it's not something that makes much of a difference. And unless your fork has more than 4" travel a lock-out there isn't really all that necessary either. I can't say anything about the Fuel. I like the Liquid okay, but it's kinda heavy. Another nice cheap FS bike is the Marin Riftzone.

yeah i could probly get a real good deal on the marin but dont like the way they look, not that looks are what matters but i cant spend 1000 dollars on somthing that i dont like. So im gonna look into the trek fuel if my lbs carrys trek.

i called my lbs and they can order trek. so now its either the trek fuel 80 or the stump jumper fsr base model. this is the final decision and i will probly be putting a deposit down this weekend.

Epic baby. For those epic rides.

I would still recommend the FSR over the Fuel.

The Horst 4-bar linkage is a better design.

L8R

Epic baby. For those epic rides.

I've read somewhere that inspite of Specialized's efforts to push the Epic (and its brain technology) as their flagship bike, demand for the Epic isn't as strong as they had anticipated.

Interesting to see how consumers will react to the new Stumpjumper with the new Fox R rear suspension which is supposed to better at reducing pedal inducing bob than the earlier Fox models, and the past ones have been pretty good.

The new Stumpies also have 100mm of rear travel, which is 10mm more than the previous year...man, I hope I can break my '03 frame and get a '04 replacement! ;)

Send it to me, I'll break it for you!

L8R

Send it to me, I'll break it for you!

L8R

Does that mean the diet is coming along slow?

bentrim does the cheapest fsr come with the fox rear. If you guys say the base model stumpy is good im just gonna buy it so i can stop thinking about this, cause its starting to get annoying.

From what I can tell -- although I'm no Specialized sales rep -- by Specialized's website, the entry level SJ FSR (w/Avid 3's) comes with the new Fox rear shock.

I would go to Fox's website to see what all the halabaloo is all about surrounding this new shock.

However, you mentioned you were getting the high end disk brake model...

A2PSYKLNUT - I'd take you up on the offer, but I think running over my SJ several times in a 4X4 should inflict less damage than I think you have planned for it!

bentrim, im no longer getting the high end disc brake model, i am now getting the base model. Or a trek fuel 80 but probly the stumpy.

Get the FSR Treks ride like trucks (not a good thing)