Early Specialized Stumpjumper MTBs in Britain

[GrahamJohnWallace]

According to Wikipedia, Specialized "introduced the first major production mountain bike in the world, the Stumpjumper, in 1981."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialized_Stumpjumper

My recollection from the early 1980s is that Stumpjumpers were like mythical beasts in Britain, you heard about them but never saw one in the flesh. The first one I remember seeing was on a Ridgeway ride in 1986, though this may have in fact been a Rockhopper? The Rockhoper being a model that UK distributors Caratti Sport were promoting in Britain in 1986.

So my question is, does anyone remember early Stumpjumpers being sold in the UK?
In 1982-83, demand for Stumpjumpers in the US was growwing fast and Specialised may not have had enough spare bikes to sell in the UK? (Overall US mountain bike sales were reported as 50,000 units in 1983, at a time when the Stumpjumper was one of only a few mass-produced models available).

As a result, Specialized mountain bikes may not have been sold in quantiy the UK until the mid 1980s?

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

@benjabbi has a very early one. He may know.

 

[greencat]

The earliest ones I saw were from 1988.

 

[Russell]

I had a Stumpjumper Sport XT which was an ‘84.

My assumption was it was originally purchased in the UK.

 

[GrahamJohnWallace]

I had a Stumpjumper Sport XT which was an ‘84.

My assumption was it was originally purchased in the UK.

That's helpful, Thanks!

I assume from your answer that it was an 84 model that you later bought second hand. Do you remember roughly when you acquired it?

I am currently searching through old UK cycling magazines to see if there are any adverts or reviews.

 

[Russell]

I got it much later than that, late 90s but the friend that had it before me worked in bike shops in London and I always assumed he had it got it through his work.

I sold it some time ago to a member on here, can’t remember who. Maybe they’ll see this and post, there may have been a vendors stickers on it IIRC.

 

[manitou916]

The earliest ones I saw were from 1988.

Same here. The first Specialized I ever saw was a 1988 Rockhopper in Cambridge.

 

[benjabbi]

@Guinessisgoodforyou, unfortunately I don't know, all I can say is that my frame and fork came from the Netherlands about 10 years ago, which doesn't help with Grahams question at all unfortunately. Sorry

 

[Rikoned]

Bicycle Times from 1984 gives some pretty good information to form a timeline:

Bicycle Times No. 46 March 1984; pp19; "Cycle Trader London show '84"; "Caratti Sport, where show visitors could see everything from Stumpjumper all terrain bicycles ..." (Trade show report)

Bicycle Times No. 48 May 1984; pp 12-13; Peter Lumley; "What track are they on?"; " Caratti sport, Stumpjumper... Availability: Now Supplying" (Survey of ATBs - A directory of suppliers is given)

Bicycle Times No. 50 July 1984; pp 128 - workshop; Robin Williamson Cycles, Edinburgh; "We have Specialized Stumpjumper bikes in stock" (Small advert)

Bicycle Times No. 51 August 1984; pp 21-23; "Iain lynn tries something different on a... Stumpjumper." (Stumpjumper Sport review)

Bicycle Times No. 52 September 1984; Rear cover - full page; "THE WISDOM OF GONZO ENGINEERING:" (Stumpjumper/Caratti Sport advert)

 

[GrahamJohnWallace]

@Guinessisgoodforyou, unfortunately I don't know, all I can say is that my frame and fork came from the Netherlands about 10 years ago, which doesn't help with Grahams question at all unfortunately. Sorry

Thanks for letting me know that your Stumpjumper frame and forks came from the Netherlands. Does this mean that the components aren't original to the bike, as many look to be age correct?