Stumpjumper ‘88 Restomod V2 – Drop Bar XTR Gravel Build

There’s a point in every build where it stops being a project and starts becoming a bike you reach for without thinking. This is that moment for the Portland Stumpjumper.

V2 was never about a full reset—more a refinement of intent. The move to Nitto drop bars shifts the posture and purpose immediately: less retro novelty, more distance, more rhythm. Paired with Dia-Compe bar-end shifters and TRP levers, the cockpit feels clean, deliberate, and quietly capable—exactly where I wanted it.

Underneath, the drivetrain has taken a meaningful step forward. A Shimano XTR mix—M980 out back, M900 up front—brings a level of precision that transforms the ride. The rapid rise rear mech adds its own nuance: intuitive shifts under load, especially when the terrain starts to drag. Gearing is now built around how I actually ride, with a Velo Orange double up front and an 11–34 10-speed cassette giving it real range without overcomplicating things.

The biggest shift, though, comes from the wheels. Handbuilt Velocity Cliffhangers laced to Velo Orange hubs with DT Swiss spokes and Sapim nipples. Solid, purposeful, and just the right side of overbuilt. Wrapped in Ultradynamico Dava Race tyres, the bike now rolls fast and smooth—alive on hardpack, composed on light gravel, and finally matching the pace the frame always hinted at.

Finishing touches matter. A new Brooks saddle and updated seatpost bring comfort and balance, while tying the whole build back into that blend of utility and aesthetic that defines this project.

What started as a Portland-sourced icon has become something far more personal. Less about preservation now, more about evolution. A bike that still nods to its past—but rides firmly in the present.