1988 Specialized Stumpjumper — Portland to Present - Complete

Some bikes feel like projects. Others feel like preservation.
This 1988 Specialized Stumpjumper, sourced out of Portland, landed somewhere perfectly in between.

The goal wasn’t restoration in the museum sense, nor a full modern rebuild. Instead, this build sits firmly in the restomod camp — honoring the original DNA while carefully introducing components that improve ride feel, control, and aesthetic character.

Importantly, no original parts were harmed in the making of this build. Everything that came off the bike has been carefully boxed and stored away. If someone ever wanted to return it to full factory specification, they absolutely could.

This version simply reflects how I’d imagine a Stumpjumper evolving if it had lived through the decades with a thoughtful owner.

At the core of the bike sits the original Shimano Deore XT groupset, which remains one of the defining features of late-80s mountain bikes.

There’s a tactile quality to early XT — the polished alloy, the mechanical clarity of the shifting, and the simple durability that defined the era. It would have felt wrong to replace it.

Instead, it received a light mechanical refresh so it could continue doing exactly what it was designed for: shifting cleanly and reliably.

The only real change in the cockpit was swapping the brake levers for black Dia-Compe units. They match the original aesthetic closely, but the slightly shorter lever shape gives a much nicer feel and control from the bars.

A Modern Take on the Cockpit

The cockpit is where the bike leans most clearly into the restomod philosophy.

The original Stumpjumper bars are iconic, but I opted for a black Nitto bullmoose bar instead. It keeps the spirit of the original setup intact while giving the bike a slightly more modern flat-bar riding position.

It feels right on the bike — still unmistakably vintage, just with geometry that works better for contemporary riding.

Details here include:

• Ritchey foam grips

• Shimano Deore XT thumb shifters

• Dia-Compe brake levers

Everything remains mechanically simple and era-appropriate, just subtly refined.

Brakes: Classic at the Back, Personality at the Front

The braking setup blends old and new in a way that gives the bike a bit of visual character.

Out back sits the original Deore XT U-brake, lightly restored but otherwise unchanged. It’s a defining feature of this generation of Stumpjumper and deserved to stay.

Up front, however, I wanted something with a bit more personality.

The fork now carries Dia-Compe Special Edition cantilever brakes, finished with purple-blue lug detailing that ties nicely into the rest of the bike’s colour palette.

To complete the setup:

• Magic Components Dango Bros straddle yoke

• Dia-Compe front cable hanger

• Crust Works headset

It’s a small detail, but the combination adds a playful element without feeling out of place.

Cables, Colour and Small Details

If the frame is the structure, the finishing kit is where the personality comes through.

The build uses Nissen cables, adding a subtle but distinctive pop of colour that runs through the bike.

Combined with small anodized accents, the result is a bike that feels lively without becoming over-styled.

These small touches matter on a vintage build — they keep the bike visually interesting while still respecting the original design.

Contact Points and Rolling Stock

For now, the bike is rolling on Schwalbe Billy Bonkers tyres. They suit the bike well visually and keep the ride lively.

Eventually they’ll be swapped for a set of SimWorks tyres, which should better match the overall feel of the build.

Other finishing pieces include:

• SimWorks Bubbly flat pedals

• Original saddle and seatpost

The seat and post remain untouched for now. They’re part of the bike’s story and still perfectly usable.

A Stumpjumper That Keeps Riding

The best vintage bikes aren’t the ones hanging on a wall — they’re the ones still being ridden.

This 1988 Stumpjumper now sits in that sweet spot:

• Original where it matters

• Modern where it improves the ride

• Respectful to the bike’s history

Every change was made with that balance in mind.

And because all original parts are preserved, the bike’s story can always be told in multiple ways.

For now though, this version feels exactly right — a Portland-sourced classic that’s ready for another few decades of riding.