Stumpjumper EVO (S3) Bike Check - 1 Year Review

Summary

In this video, the speaker reviews their 2023 Stumpy Evo, sharing how it has greatly improved their riding experience. They discuss their preference for a medium size bike over their previous large size, which provides a more playful and comfortable feel, especially for technical terrain and jumps. The addition of a coil shock has enhanced the smoothness and predictability of the ride, particularly for jumping. Upgrading to Lewis brakes has also significantly improved control and power, making steep descents much easier to manage. Overall, the speaker is thrilled with the performance and customization of their bike.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 2023 Stumpy Evo in size medium has been a great fit, offering excellent performance straight out of the box.
• 😀 The rider mostly rides in Park City, tackling steeper, more technical terrain with features like low-speed drops, high-speed drops, jumps, and gap jumps.
• 😀 The rider switched from a size large bike to a size medium, finding the medium more comfortable for jumping and low-speed drops.
• 😀 The size large bike felt a bit long, affecting the rider’s comfort while jumping and making low-speed drops harder to handle.
• 😀 The rider appreciates the more compact feeling of the medium bike, which feels more responsive, particularly on jumps and technical features.
• 😀 The bike feels less stable in high-speed, straight-line chunks, but the tradeoff is worth it for improved confidence on low-speed drops and better jumping performance.
• 😀 The bike has a versatile setup with adjustable components, including a slack headset cup and adjustable chainstay positions (high/low, long/short).
• 😀 The rider mostly ran the bike in the low chainstay position for most of the year but switched to the high position for better playfulness and jumping performance.
• 😀 The addition of a coil shock has significantly improved the bike's performance, making it smoother and more predictable, especially on rough terrain.
• 😀 The coil shock has helped the rider feel more comfortable jumping, as its linear progression offers more controlled, predictable pops compared to an air shock.
• 😀 The rider has also upgraded to Lewis brakes, which provide significantly more power than the previous Codes, improving control, especially on steep terrain.

Q & A

What bike does the speaker ride?

The speaker rides a 2023 Stumpy Evo, size medium.

What types of trails has the speaker mostly ridden this year?

The speaker has mostly ridden steeper and more technical trails, including low-speed and high-speed drops, jumps, and gap jumps.

Why did the speaker prefer the medium size Stumpy Evo over their previous large bike?

The medium size felt less cramped and more comfortable, especially for jumping and low-speed drops, which were more difficult on the larger bike.

What change did the speaker make to the bike's setup in the last few weeks?

The speaker switched the chainstay position to the high setting, which raised the bottom bracket and shortened the chainstay, improving the bike's playfulness, especially for jumping and drops.

How does the coil shock compare to the previous shock the speaker had?

The coil shock has been a significant improvement, smoothing out the back end of the bike through rough terrain, reducing the impact from chatter, chunk, and high-speed sections.

How has the coil shock affected the speaker's jumping experience?

The speaker finds the coil shock surprisingly better for jumping, as it provides more predictability and comfort, even though it doesn't offer as much pop as an air shock.

Why does the speaker feel more comfortable with the coil shock when jumping?

The coil shock's linear progression offers a smoother, more predictable experience when jumping, matching the speaker's less aggressive jumping style.

What kind of brakes did the speaker recently upgrade to?

The speaker upgraded to Lewis brakes, which provide significantly more power and better control compared to their previous brakes (Codes).

What improvements have the Lewis brakes brought to the speaker's riding experience?

The Lewis brakes have improved the speaker's ability to control the bike, especially on steep terrain, offering much more power compared to the previous brakes.

How does the speaker feel about the bike's overall performance with the new upgrades?

The speaker is extremely satisfied with the bike's performance, especially with the new setup, coil shock, and upgraded brakes, which have all contributed to a much smoother and more enjoyable riding experience.