1988 Specialized Stumpjumper — Portland Provenance

1988 Specialized Stumpjumper — Portland Provenance

This time around I acquired a 1988 Specialized Stumpjumper out of Portland, Oregon.

It was a six-hour round trip from where I was staying in Washington, but one that felt justified the moment I saw the bike in person. The Stumpjumper came from the family of the original owner, and that provenance mattered — not just sentimentally, but in how the bike had clearly been cared for over the decades.

Condition-wise, it’s fantastic overall. It does need some love, but it’s nowhere near as crusty as the other recently sourced Stumpjumper I picked up in the teal colourway. This one feels different. More intact. More complete.

Arguably, it’s also the more iconic and highly sought-after version.

The bike was a Facebook Marketplace find, listed for several months. You could tell there was some emotional weight attached to it — a family bike rather than just an old MTB. I paid a market premium, though still below the asking price, which felt fair given the condition and the story behind it.

Before committing fully, I took it for a short spin around a few blocks in Portland. Everything felt straight and true. The original Deore XT groupset shifted cleanly, and the bike rode exactly how you’d hope an untouched late-80s Stumpjumper would. The rear brake is the underslung U-brake setup — a detail that instantly anchors it in its era.

One thing that really stood out: the decals. Fresh, bright yellow, and completely intact — a stark contrast to the faded graphics on my other Stumpy.

After loading it into the rented pickup, I headed back for the three-hour drive and made a stop at REI en route to grab some degreaser and wash supplies. The plan was already forming.

Once back, the bike would be stripped down, packed into my EVOC travel bag, and brought home to start the rebuild properly.

For now, the intention is restraint.

The plan is to fully strip and rebuild, replacing only consumables:

  • Fresh tyres (Billy Bonkers)

  • New cables

  • Nissen × SimWorks cable and brake sets

No drastic changes. No rewriting history.

That said… can I see myself falling into the familiar trap of a Paul Components and Chris King resto-mod?

Absolutely.

It will be hard to resist.

Spec Snapshot — As Found (1988)

Frame & Fork

  • Model: Specialized Stumpjumper

  • Year: 1988

  • Frame Material: TIG-welded chromoly steel. Made in Japan (My other is Taiwan made)

  • Fork: Original rigid steel fork

  • Rear Brake Mount: Underslung U-brake (bottom-bracket mounted)

Drivetrain

  • Groupset: Shimano Deore XT (period-correct)

  • Shifters: Shimano Deore XT thumb shifters

  • Crankset: Shimano Deore XT triple

  • Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT

  • Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT

  • Freewheel: Shimano 6-speed

  • Chain: Original (to be replaced)

Brakes

  • Front: Cantilever brake

  • Rear: Shimano U-brake (underslung)

  • Levers: Shimano Deore XT

Wheels & Tyres

  • Wheels: 26″ alloy rims (original build)

  • Hubs: Shimano Deore XT

  • Tyres: Period-correct knobbies (to be replaced)

Cockpit

  • Handlebar: Flat MTB bar (original)

  • Stem: Quill stem

  • Headset: Threaded, original

Finishing Kit

  • Seatpost: Alloy, period-correct

  • Saddle: Specialized Turbo

  • Pedals: Platform pedals

Condition Notes

  • Original paint in excellent shape

  • Bright, intact yellow decals

  • Mechanically complete and rideable

  • Grime present, but no abuse or neglect evident

Gallery

Quick coffee stop. Missed visiting Golden Pliers in Portland

Straight after pick up


The hotel room strip down and clean begins. Tyres were left in Washington.


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