The Specialized Stumpjumper 15 EVO Is the Best Trail Bike I’ve Ever Ridden

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When it comes to road cycling, it was instilled in me early on to become one with the bike. With this Tron-like mentality, cycling has always felt like a partnership between man and machine. However mountain biking didn’t always feel that way—until I met a Specialized Stumpjumper. And I’m happy to report that I still feel the same about the latest offering.  

There have been 15 Stumpjumpers generations but many many more versions (if you do a search on Specialized’s bike archives, 238 show up). Although Stumpjumpers have been around since 1981, my first was the 2018 version with a peppy 150mm travel in the front and 140mm in rear, 27.5 wheels, and a slack 66.5-degree head angle. That bike was memorable for its playful demeanor and snazzy colorway—a metallic, iridescent purple. It truly was the first mountain bike that I felt one with. I never had to try and “tame it” and I didn’t ever have to push it.

Back then, there was a lot of chatter about slacker angles, 29ers hadn’t reached their peak, and 1x drivetrains were still recent. There were exciting things happening in the mountain bike world that would make us all wonder if there would be another time like it. Well, the time is now—the 2025 Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 15 EVO is here and it's just as fun and playful as my first Stumpy, but with all the latest tech and new advancements that amps it up to make the bike so better in almost every metric. 

What It Is 

The Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 15 EVO is a highly customizable, full carbon, full suspension, full wireless (Shimano XTR Di2) trail mountain bike that comes with versatile geometry along with a 160mm Fox Float 36 front shock and a 145mm Fox Float X rear shock with Specialized’s GENIE shock technology, a new, game-changing system that flips the way shocks create progression by closing the value rather than opening it. It can be tuned to your preference.

One of the many other components that can be customized include an adjustable head angle that ranges between 63 to 65.5 degrees, and comes stock at 64.5 degrees. Wheel sizes are also interchangeable between a mullet (29 inches in the front and 27.5 rear) or a full 29er. The S-Works Stumpjumper 15 EVO has been doted on by the mountain bike world and has won “Best in Test” from Enduro magazine (and I agree).

Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 15 Evo Overall Impressions

I might be drinking the GENIE Kool Aid, but I have not bottomed out on this bike when I really should have, especially on the rooty mess of trails I've been riding lately. The bike feels incredibly stable and performs more like a bigger bike, yet is still reliably nimble on cross-country trails, though it is not a cross-country bike. I tested the Epic 8 last year (a true cross-country MTB that also punches up), which was noticeably more snappy, however what the Epic lacks is what the Stumpy 15 EVO offers—comfort and stoutness on bigger, more rugged and steeper features. The almost-31 pound Stumpy 15 EVO was way more capable on downhill runs—again that stability was key, it definitely handles more like an enduro. 

There were grumblings in the MTB world about not having a traditional derailleur option on the higher-end Stumpy 15s, but for those looking for analog, the Alloy model still has it. Let’s be honest, if you’re getting an S-Works, you’re probably not looking back from wireless. The technology is getting better as the shifting is getting quicker, so there is a good chance you can keep up and customize as newer tech comes out. For me, the full wireless setup was not an issue, I never had a problem with it and I shifted inappropriately alot to put pressure on the system to try and make it slip up.

I also never ran out of juice, partly because I kept an eye on the system—it will flash red when it needs to be charged for both the dropper and derailleur. And, I unintentionally converted a few friends to wireless while riding the Stumpy 15. I loved the stability of this bike and what the mulleted Stumpy 15 EVO lacks when climbing, it makes up for with smooth cornering. Of course, you can also choose to run it with both 29ers front and back if that config is more to your liking. 

Pros

• Stable geometry 
• Slick design 
• Punches above its weight with a broad riding range
• High-end components 
• Fully wireless 

Cons

• It isn’t cheap 
• There is no option to change the wireless derailleur 

Final Verdict

If you're looking for one bike to do it and are a rider who likes to do more expert trails but doesn’t want to lug a heavier downhill bike for chiller rides, the Stumpy 15 EVO will take you pretty much anywhere on almost anything. It really is a do-it-all bike that trends more towards bigger terrain but is comfortable and fun on almost any trail. This isn't a cheap bike, but you are getting what you pay for and a little more confidence doesn’t have a price tag. If you are going through a midlife crisis, the Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 15 EVO should be at the top of your list. It's a much healthier, and less expensive option than a sports car. This is an amazing bike and it feels like a paragon that will be remembered in the timeline of bikes.

Why You Should Trust Me

While I am not the best rider, I have had the privilege of testing a lot of bikes (moto and pedal) for over a decade, and I have ridden with a ton of different people. I know what I can and can’t do on a bike, and when a bike makes a difference for me. While I have been “endemic” in two and four wheeled worlds, I always bring in an outsider perspective, and have a rather high standard when it comes to gear.