1988 Specialized Stumpjumper — Another Take

Another 1988 Stumpjumper, but a very different flavour.

This build leans hard into the idea of keeping the soul of the original bike intact while layering in some beautiful modern Japanese and boutique component choices. The frame still carries all the character you want from a late-80s Specialized: white front end, teal rear, original graphics, chips, marks and all the evidence of a life already lived.

The cockpit is where this one really comes alive. SimWorks Big Little Nick CrMo bars sit up front, paired with a Gettin’ Hungry Stem 4-Bolt Faceplate in Lettuce green. The mix of black, green, purple and gold could easily have gone too loud, but somehow it lands perfectly against the original Stumpjumper colours.

Braking is handled by Paul Components canti levers, with a Dia-Compe x Blue Lug special edition front cantilever brake, a Magic Components hanger and a Paul Components front canti hanger. Add the Nissen cables in purple and gold and the whole front end becomes a tiny mechanical jewellery box.

The drivetrain is equally mixed-era. Dia-Compe Rivendell friction shifters keep things simple and tactile, while the XTR rapid-rise rear mech gives the bike a more contemporary, precise feel. The Blue Lug double crank adds another nice detail — classic in shape, modern in execution.

A Nitto M1B front rack gives it proper utility without overwhelming the bike, while the SDG x Blue Lug saddle, fresh 26.4mm aluminium seatpost and Ultra Dynamico tyres finish things off with the right balance of function and style.

This is less of a restoration and more of a conversation with the past. A 1988 Stumpjumper rebuilt not to look factory fresh, but to feel personal, useful, and full of small decisions that reward a second look. Exactly the kind of bike that makes sense only once you see the whole thing together.