1988 Specialized Stumpjumper — Part One: Assessment & Arresting the Decline
This build starts with restraint.
Collected:
I sourced this 1988 Specialized Stumpjumper from a previous owner who’d had it for around ten years. It hadn’t been messed with, upgraded, or reinterpreted — just ridden, stored, and gradually left to age. The bike arrived tired rather than abused. Rust had crept in around the usual places, decals were lifting, and the whole thing carried that familiar mix of promise and uncertainty that comes with an older frame that hasn’t been apart in a long time.
For this first iteration, the aim is simple: keep the original paint and decals intact. No respray. No cosmetic reset. Just stabilise what’s there and understand what I’m working with. Before changing anything, I wanted to see the bike clearly.
Stripped down:
Before
After:
The first step was a full strip-down. Everything came off — drivetrain, brakes, headset, seatpost clamp — followed by a thorough wash and degrease. The old chainstay protector was removed, revealing the expected mix of trapped moisture and surface corrosion underneath. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to justify taking things slowly.
Before:
After with some light heat gun persuasion:
The headset and seat tube clamp went straight into Evapo-Rust. Both had visible oxidation, and this felt like a good opportunity to see how much could be recovered rather than replaced. The before-and-after results were reassuring: corrosion lifted cleanly, threads and surfaces intact, parts usable again without pretending they’re new.
Before:
After:
There was some nervousness around the bottom bracket. The saddle was sticky when I bought the bike, though it did rotate, and while the seller assured me the original cup-and-cone system had been reinstalled a few years ago, the rusted chain suggested otherwise. In the end, removal was straightforward, and more importantly, the inside of the bottom bracket shell was clean. A small but significant relief.
Will be moving to a sealed BB from Shimano. Gear and Brake cable housing screw had to be filed back to accomodate.
With the bike stripped and inspected, I treated exposed oxidised areas with rust converter to stabilise what couldn’t be removed mechanically. This isn’t about erasing age — it’s about stopping further decline and buying time to decide what comes next.
This first stage isn’t glamorous, but it’s necessary. Before changing direction, I wanted to understand the bike as it is. The Stumpjumper hasn’t been reborn yet — it’s simply been paused, cleaned, and given a chance to continue.
Original distributor. based in Cornwall:
As it stands. Fork reinstalled and seat tube and saddle installed. Will sit and allow to air out in a warm garage whilst I decide on next components.
It worth noting the bike was washed then dried (air blower), then degreased before then being lightly polished. However the decals were trimmed back then nail varnish was used to stick down fray areas. Once dry some Spray.Bike top wax to bring so extra shine out.
Up Next:
- Additional rust remover, in order to attempt to turn external patina black
- I've purchased a decal set to replace the ones on the bike long term. No plans to change for now
- Respray the original stem. However I have a Velo Orange quill stem adapter on order which would mean a new set of bars regardless
- Likely will go Velo Orange or Dia Compe brakes, with a friction shifting
- Plan to keep the 3x. New rings and/or change to a new 3x set up
- Likely a new saddle also. Currently repurposing a Brooks B17 saddle that I stripped off another bike which is tired but should match the Patina