special:start
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Table of Contents
Specialized Overview
Mike Sinyard started Specialized Bicycle Components in 1974 in Campbell, CA, first importing Cinelli parts and later re-branding Japanese road tires. Complete road bicycles started in 1981 and by 1982 he was grossing $18 million.1) Specialized in 1982 was ground zero for the modern bicycle revolution, when sales exploded by an order of magnitude each year for another 4 years. 2) 3) 4)
Specialized started to produce the Stumpjumper in 1981, making it the first mass-production mountain bike. The first Stumpjumper was produced in Japan and was based on a design for a custom-made bike originally marketed by Tom Ritchey, Gary Fisher and Charles Kelly. … The first Stumpjumpers had welded steel frames because the lugged and brazed frames that designer Tim Neenan wanted to use were not available at the time. The original bike had a modified BMX stem and handlebars based on Magura motorcycle handlebars. The bike was equipped with 15-speed Suntour ARX GT gears, originally designed for use on road bikes, and the Stumpjumper also featured Mafac cantilever brakes and a TA Cyclotourist chainset, both designed for touring bikes. … The bike weighed just under 30 pounds. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialized_Stumpjumper
Today, Specialized is a $685M company with 1,200 employees whose bicycles are mainly manufactured in Taiwan 5).
Mike Sinyard, 1976
inc.com
1981 Stumpjumper
In November 1981, a batch of 250 Stumpjumpers frames arrived from 3 Rensho 6), Japan and sold as a complete bike for $750. 7) 8)
No pictures exist of a 1981 Steve Potts. The serial numbers suggest that a handful should exist.
1981 Stumpjumper, #75
mtbr
1982 Stumpjumper
Now with a bi-plane fork and an updated Japanese calligraphy inspired (lightning) logo 9).
1982 Stumpjumper
mombat
1984 Stumpjumper Sport
In 1983 Specialized offered a slightly higher component choice in the Sport model. Specs: mombat
1984 Stumpjumper Sport, 17“ frame w/24” wheels
bikerecyclery
1985 Team Stumpjumper
Higher component group and nice extra touches on the frame.
1985 Team Stumpjumper
bikeforums.net
Stumpjumper Idenitification Guide
Early Stumpjumpers are quite rare and many shops and even museums show off 1982 Stumpjumpers as being from 1981. Some examples: mbaction, thewayofthebicycle.net, and many eBay listings. 10) 11) 12)
| When | Frame/Fork | Components | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | TIG welded light blue frame, socket fork | SunTour AR, TA crank, Avocet saddle | '5' shaped 'S' logo |
| 1982, Mar→Jun | bi-plane fork, blue & silver | SunTour ARX, Specialized saddle | lightning 'S' decals |
| 1982, Jul→Jun | lugged frame | SunTour ARX/Mountech | |
| 1983 | doubled frame bosses, light & dark blue, charcoal, silver | SunTour Mountech, Sugino AT crank | bullmoose bars |
| 1984 | black, blue, grey, silver | Shimano brakes, Sugino TAT crank, | riser bars |
| 1985 | unicrown fork, black, blues, pink, red | Shimano XT or Suntour XC, Specialized crank |
original logo
mtb-news.de
biplane forks
mbaction
Production Notes
[1]. The Birth of Dirt by Frank J. Berto, pages 74 & 89 for 1981 → 1983. Serial numbers suggest 200 sold instead of 100 in 1981. 1984 and 1985 numbers projected from Specialized $18M revenue by at least 1985. See: inc.com. It states $18M by 4th year? Not possible, as 1976 revenue totalled $200k, see: vehiclesf, Stumpjumper Book, page 17.
1)
https://www.inc.com/magazine/201904/christine-lagorio-chafkin/specialized-bicycle-cycling-private-titans.html - $18M by the 4th year in business.
2)
The Birth of Dirt by Frank J. Berto, Berto states that sales actually grew five years in a row by an order of magnitude, which only makes sense if Specialized's $18M in revenue occured later in 1984.
special/start.1618434772.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/04/14 14:12 by gchandler