There have been a handful of really incredible M2 team editions on here recently—this isn’t one of those. But they made me remember how iconic those bikes were in the 1990s. So when I saw a 1993 frame on eBay with a very low starting bid, I gave it a shot and somehow won it without any competition.
I had planned on a slow build, but found a very suitable donor bike nearby in the form of a black M2 FS stumpjumper that had what must have been a “factory upgrade” of sorts: future shock fsx, an lx/xt mix, a titanium specialized bb, specialized crankset, grey wtb/team saddle, titanium spindled pedals, umma gumma tires, xl 21 rims and ti skewers. Basically, “the works” and most of what I’d want to build onto the red frame. Not sure if that parts kit was widely applied to stumpjumpers but it shows how comprehensive specialized were—everything but the shifters, mechs and brakes/levers has their name on it.
The donor bike was sporting some massive, newer shimano replacement units so I’ve subbed in grip shift and the weird diacompe levers that Ned used. I may change all that, and the brakes, in due time.
The only downside is the size—it’s a large, so 20” I think, and a couple of inches too big for me, so may just be a bike I lend to some of my (taller) friends; kit could ultimately be destined for an S-works frame in a smaller size (and maybe in steel—this is my first aluminum bike).
But I do like looking at it—reminds me of watching and reading about those specialized teams in the 90s, going to norba races, and that whole time period when things like “M2,” titanium anything and front suspension were new ideas.
I had planned on a slow build, but found a very suitable donor bike nearby in the form of a black M2 FS stumpjumper that had what must have been a “factory upgrade” of sorts: future shock fsx, an lx/xt mix, a titanium specialized bb, specialized crankset, grey wtb/team saddle, titanium spindled pedals, umma gumma tires, xl 21 rims and ti skewers. Basically, “the works” and most of what I’d want to build onto the red frame. Not sure if that parts kit was widely applied to stumpjumpers but it shows how comprehensive specialized were—everything but the shifters, mechs and brakes/levers has their name on it.
The donor bike was sporting some massive, newer shimano replacement units so I’ve subbed in grip shift and the weird diacompe levers that Ned used. I may change all that, and the brakes, in due time.
The only downside is the size—it’s a large, so 20” I think, and a couple of inches too big for me, so may just be a bike I lend to some of my (taller) friends; kit could ultimately be destined for an S-works frame in a smaller size (and maybe in steel—this is my first aluminum bike).
But I do like looking at it—reminds me of watching and reading about those specialized teams in the 90s, going to norba races, and that whole time period when things like “M2,” titanium anything and front suspension were new ideas.
