21-2022 Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Mullet Link mini review

[@allenjanes5976]

Thanks. Got a stumpy evo yesterday. 22 expert model. Size S4. Mullet link is on order. Gonna try it

[@jctrails]

It’s cheap enough to give it a try.

[@fuyomama555]

Nice short and straight to the point

[@jctrails]

Thanks

[@davidp5947]

Great, short review. I agree - the mullet setup is about fit just as much as riding preference.

[@rookieboy9203]

I have the SJ EVO LTD 2021 and that is a great bike, think of it as a park build trail bike or a enduro light. Compared with your bike the LTD have burlier suspension and a few more add on. Thx for the review and agin LTD is a awesome bike for the right user.

[@romand123]

I’m on the same bike running the mullet link and i definitely agree about how it tends to hang up on flatter janky sections of trail. One thing i did to help that was to switch to a 27.5x2.8 tire (plenty of clearance) and I found that it sorta split the difference between the true 27.5 setup and the 29. For me the added quickness in corners and overall traction of the wider tire out back makes it the way to go. But the stock 29x29 setup is pretty nice too.

[@jctrails]

I’ve done a 27.5x2.6 in the back and their was too much squirm in the tire. I think if you put a tire insert on those wider tires it would make it more usable.

[@romand123]

@@jctrails tire squirm was definitely an issue with the first lighter duty tire I ran (Specialized Slaughter) I recently switched to a Schwalbe Big Betty and now it’s a completely different bike. Albeit with a 1300 gram weight penalty! 😜

[@Tom-fn8xc]

Nice video, have you thought of trying the cascade link? Hearing good things about it but not sure if I should try it out.

[@jctrails]

I had the cascade link on my 20 Stumpy Evo and it didn’t really do to much to the bike’s performance. I personally think it’s way over priced too.

[@Tom-fn8xc]

@@jctrails got it, thanks for the input. Think I’m just gonna roll with the stock setup for a while

[@killgates9890]

Waiting for the evo alloy 2022, wonder which link, specialized or cascade link...

[@fishingoccasions1034]

I have an Stumpjumper Evo with 27.5 wheel but 29 link… i already ordered the right link, my question is, the bike seems to run pretty fine, whats wrong in riding the bike like this?

[@DR_mountain76]

You ever compare your hightower to your Stump Evo? I know some stuff is a little different but Ive been considering going to a Hightower over Stumpy EVO but their are no comparison videos.

[@mudkayak6305]

sizing, im 5'10 and ordering Stumpy Evo Alloy S3. you said S3 may be a tiny bit small. please expand on that, im so torn between going S3/S4. Does mullet help you handle / turn the bike vs stock setup? im almost thinking going S4 for the room and stability but also doing mullet to preserve some of the playfulness of 29r S3, does that make any sense?

[@jctrails]

The s3 doesn’t feel as stable on steep fast terrain. The S4 does inspire confidence on the stuff mentioned above but does not feel as fun and nimble as the s3 as a full 29er. If you mullet the s4 with the link it does feel a bit more nimble but not as much as just riding a smaller frame. The Mullet in my opinion just gives you more clearance from the back wheel for drops and steep terrain.

[@dubvalver]

do you think its possible to run this bike full 27.5 with a 170mm fork?

[@killgates9890]

I thonk so, im waiting fpr the eno alloy

[@waynelenderman1115]

To get the proper geometry in a EVO mullet is a cascade link with a WRP yolk. The Specialized mullet Link is trash.

[@kadelucas1175]

What bars are those?

[@jctrails]

Whisky Carbon bars

[@kadelucas1175]

@@jctrails thx bro

[@kingrat738]

I call BS on the industry... selling us components we don't need (insert linkage here). Slap a 27.5" wheel on the back of your 29er and go ride. Pros - extra mud clearance, slacker HTA, more poppy/playful, rail berms more easily, manual more easily, lower BB, less self neutering, etc... etc... Cons - slacker STA (only issue on climbs) I've mullet'd two steeds recently & it changed both for the better (wheel only, no extra components needed/required). You do lose a little roll over, but on the flip side... it's easier to pick up the back wheel and get it over square edges :ymmv: I'm a big fan of the mullet... imho, you can mullet any bike. Slap a 650b wheel on the rear and try it out. If you (not directed at JC in particular) need to spend extra $$ on forcefeed essentials, then fill your boots! Manufacturers gotta feed their kids too. Mullet FTW!!!

[@jctrails]

The only problem with just sticking a 27.5 tire on without adjusting for the geometry change is that you pedal strike like crazy. Especially on a bike like the Evo with an already low BB

[@kingrat738]

@@jctrails point taken... In my two cases, pedal strikes did not increase :ymmv: If the bike (again not looking at your Evo in particular) came with roadie length (175mm) cranks and your local trails are not super steep and they're basically a one big rock garden... you might get the odd pedal strike. In fact I've found running incorrect crank length had greater impact (pun intended) in the frequency of striking ones pedals. As stated earlier the two bikes I've modified via shoving a 650b wheel out back, pedal strikes did not dramatically increase. Of course I've never customized an Evo... On my former Polygon Siskiu N8 and my current Banshee Phantom V3 this issue didn't eventuate. Caveat, both of the above bikes have reasonably lengthy CS. Now, I'm no engineer - but if the BB is further away from the rear pivot point i.e. the rear axle in this case, the drop will be slightly less than a bike with a short CS. Of course blind luck comes into the equation and my local trails are not particularly rocky (we do have lots of root beds though). If the industry tells us that popping a smaller wheel out back will result in pedal striking evey rotation of our cranks, who are we to disbelieve!? I say it's our duty to prove them wrong 😉