The Stumpjumper has been around for as long as mountain bikes have existed as a mass-market product. Specialized have never stopped evolving the model, and today it’s a thoroughly contemporary trail bike.

This version gets a ‘FACT 11m’ carbon fibre mainframe and rear triangle, making it one of only two full-carbon bikes in the trail bike category of this test. The low-slung chassis provides 130mm of four-bar linkage rear-wheel triangle, a down tube SWAT storage compartment and a geometry-adjusting flip-chip. While basic, the Fox 34 Rhythm fork and Float DPS Performance shock are smooth operators – this bike might cost nearly four grand, but we’ve got no issue with Spesh’s choice of budget suspension. The drivetrain comes from Shimano’s workhorse SLX range, as do the four-piston brakes.

Specialized supply their 2.3in Butcher and Purgatory tyres, on their own rims, built around Shimano hubs. The bulk of the finishing kit comes with the Big S’s stamp on it, too.

‘Quietly composed’ best describes the ride feel of the Stumpy. The Horst-link suspension gives a good blend of pedalling stability and groundhugging suppleness, daring you to try harder on technical climbs, while providing a comfortable and efficient pedalling platform on smoother surfaces. It does bob a bit under power, both uphill and on smooth traverses, but we’ll happily trade that for the comfort delivered.

The geometry feels good on descents, with enough space to move about over the bike and ample front-end length to allow high-speed shenanigans without things getting out of hand. On slow, steep tech the front end feels solid, although the fork’s midweight, 34mm-stanchion chassis will start to twist and twang if you really muscle it through a high-load corner. The rear suspension’s light tune flutters over stutter bumps easily. There’s a bit of a bang when you land flat, though, so adding a volume spacer is a good shout for more aggressive riders. When really pushing the bike hard in fast, rough terrain, the Stumpy gets a little unsettled, too. The spec is good, but we weren’t massively sold on the front tyre, which didn’t feel quite as glued to the ground as others.

Overall, the Stumpy is a remarkably competent, classically-performing trail bike that does everything well but nothing outstandingly. Our heads say it should be well within the top three, but our hearts feel that the other bikes have a little more personality.

A smooth rear end and confidenceenhancing chassis give little to complain about on the trail