My stock 03 Stumpjumper FSR Comp weighs just under 28 pounds. I have read were people have theirs down to 20 – 22 lbs. Without giving up too much in strength, how do they shed the pounds? Which parts hold the most weight loss potential (besides my gut)?

No one has ever gotten an FSR down to 22lbs. You can get the Stumpy HT down into the 20's but not the FS version.
heaviest things are
Fork
Wheelset
Crankset

Hstar – How do you ride without arms or hands? And what’s up with you and marzipan?

22lbs is do-able seeing as last years S-Works FSR weighed in at 23lbs. Like Toninator said an expensive set of wheels could cut a LOT of weight, cranks, you could shed probably a pound, maby a pound and a half if you went to a SID fork, XTR cranks would shed a lot, tires, seat, stem and handlebar. When it comes down to it though it'd cost you far more to get it weigh less than what you paid for it. The frame might limit how light you can get it since Specialized puts head tube gussets on the stock frames where they dont on the S-Works. Good for strength, bad for weight

Actually the very first year Specialized debuted their FSR XC design they had a bike down to 22.5 lbs with reasonable components.

The biggest weight savings will come from the wheels, and specifically TIRES as mentioned. Then, the fork. Things to consider that add a lot of weight are the stock seatpost, stem and handlebars.

From there, get a titanium bottom bracket and some new cranks.

You can get what I call "Stupid Light" and get all titanium bolts, nuts, and other fasteners for you bike. However, it'll cost you!

It shouldn't be too hard to drop the weight of you bike to the 25 to 25.5 lb range.

L8R

ALL BIKE WEIGHTS ARE FOR SIZE MEDIUM OR 18" BIKES AND ARE APPROXIMATE

Stumpjumper M2 24.5 lbs
Stumpjumper M2 Comp 23.2 lbs
Stumpjumper M2 Pro 23 lbs
Stumpjumper FSR XC 26.5 lbs
Stumpjumper FSR XC Comp 25 lbs
Stumpjumper FSR XC Pro 24.5 lbs
S-Works FSR XC Frame 5 lbs
S-Works FSR XC bike 23.5 lbs
S-Works Hardtail bike 21 lbs

https://forums13.consumerreview.com/c...Bx8.1@.ee7b9a2

This should help with any weight weenie type stuff for a bike

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/listings.php

The first place most people look is tires/wheels. A lot of people recomend the S-Works Kevlar bead tires to shave some weight off. I think they're tubeless.

Like everyone else said. Main points of excess weight on the stumpy other than the wheels are the crank and fork.

Thanks for the info. I don't want to be put in the gram wuss class, but I need every advantage I can get. I think the tires will be the first and easiest place to start. The Fox fork is a little heavy, but it is so sweet. I would not give up this fork for a few grams.

BTW I just cam in from a noon ride and made hamburger out of my forearm near the end of the ride. Man do I hate injuries:irritated Maybe taking the meat off my arm lightened my riding weight a few grams.

Ha were not talking a few grams on that fork. it's at least 4 lbs. Manitu has 3lb one and RockSuk has a 2.7 lb one.

it's 3.7

If you're not too heavy, the titanium bottom bracket offers the most grams-per-dollar savings. These days, with light wheelsets in mail-order abundance, there's a lot to be saved there, too.

Rough numbers to remember:

28 grams to the ounce
16 ounces to the pound.

Now, go save 100 grams on tires and another 100 grams on yor bottom bracket and look what you done!

Wow...I will never understand gram counters...