Metallic gold Specialized Stumpjumper 1998 nitanium. Query!

[Craigmount]

I recently acquired this steel 1998 Specialized Stumpjumper from a local seller, who’d owned it from new. He’d bought it from Dales, long-established bike retailer in Glasgow. The seller explained that these days he’s into road and trail cycling, it wasn’t being used, so it had to go! An 18” frame.
He explained it’s barely been used during his entire ownership and the only thing he’s replaced are the tyres - originals had perished. Also provided the original handbooks and paperwork.

I found the frame number M7IH83738 under the bottom bracket, but don’t know how to decipher it … can anyone throw any light on what the letters and number mean? I’ve checked the original paperwork which indicates Jan 1998.

The rear wheel is a black LX Parallax hub and Shimano LX skewer attached to a Mavic 221 eyelet rim. The front is a silver Specialized Stout hub and Specialized skewer attached to a Mavic 221 non-eyelet rim. So all matching there then!!

Does anyone on RB have a Specialized catalogue or detailed spec for the 1998 Nitanium Stumpjumper that they could post up? I keep getting “warning keep away” messages when I approach Bikepedia!
Would be interesting to compare the official Specialized specification with what was supplied by the retailer Dales back-in-the-day.

Any thoughts or comments or help on the above much appreciated.

 

[mk one]

Does anyone on RB have a Specialized catalogue or detailed spec for the 1998 Nitanium Stumpjumper that they could post up? I keep getting “warning keep away” messages when I approach Bikepedia!
Would be interesting to compare the official Specialized specification with what was supplied by the retailer Dales back-in-the-day.

Any thoughts or comments or help on the above much appreciated.

Quick forum search and most the spec here -

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...umper-last-of-the-steel-stumpies-sold.193204/

 

[Craigmount]

John O’Groats steel Stumpie: thanks for the link mk one.

 

[slackboy]

this is the catalogue:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery...atalogue+1998/20111118154019942_0001.jpg.html

 

[slackboy]

I had one of these a few years back, and the spec of yours is absolutely standard apart from the tyres - mine had the same black bar/stem same wheels and the drivetrain and brakes are identical.

 

[Joe*Pro]

Nice find - Looks all stock to me at a glance, other than the tyres.

 

[Craigmount]

Thanks a lot for the feedback & link slackboy and joepro, appreciated, yeah the seller (1st owner) told me the only change he’d made was the tyres. I asked him about the pedals, and he confirmed the bike was supplied new to him with flat VP pedals (not the Ritchey logic type). Perhaps Dales offered him the option of one or t’other.
Any thoughts on the frame number, and how to decipher it? Wondering if one of the 8’s refers to the model year of 1998.?

 

[Joe*Pro]

frame number M7IH83738, no idea. Whilst my nitanium rockhopper is a 1996 model I’m sure.

 

[Neko]

frame number M7IH83738, no idea. Whilst my nitanium rockhopper is a 1996 model I’m sure.

I could be wrong, but I think the Nitanium Rockhopper and Stumpy frames were only sold in 1997 and 1998.

 

[Craigmount]

Hi folks many thanks for your feedback.
Had a look through some of the late 90’s Specialized catalogues on RB, and the Ritchey nitanium frames are first mentioned in the 1998 catalogue under Stumpjumper, and Rockhopper comp FS. That was the last year of the steel Stumpies, however the Rockhopper may have continued the nitanium frame into 1999 (although I’ve not been able to find a 1999 Specialized catalogue).
I’m stumped by the frame number under the bottom bracket M7IH83738, anyone on RB with a Specialized nitanium frame they could post up their frame number, for comparison?