Stumpjumper - What year ?

So, I've arranged to buy this Stumpy (pretty cheap), but I haven't seen it in person, yet.
The seller does not know, so, any guesses as to the year and subspecies?

I can't see the mechs clearly, but it has an LX crankset with black arms, cantilever brakes, and that Manitou Three fork.
Hard to believe the fork is original, but who knows?
I'm guessing it's later than '94, because of the steerer, but I bow to the superior knowledge here, as to exact year

Not an original fork.

Black LX crank would suggest it's a '93 model - in 'Plum Burgundy'
Front end of a '93 would have been threaded headset and rigid fork, but that could easily have been changed.

There's a chance it could be the '94 model in the optional 'Blood Red', which had a threadless rigid front end - but then the crank arms should be silver.

Thank you!
Of course, once you gave me the clue, I found loads of '93 photos, in that color - It was the fork that confused.
Did the "93 have a threaded 1 1/8" steerer?
I think I'd like to keep the fork, as I do ride these bikes, and the lumpy, rooty single track here is easier on my old body with a little cushion.
Obviously the fork needs rebuilding, as it looks to be completely collapsed - I cringe to think what the elastomers must look like.
Thanks again

I'd guess around '95 with that parts spec. Throw a spring kit in the fork, those early Manitous are fairly easy to work on.

basketcase said:

Thank you!
Of course, once you gave me the clue, I found loads of '93 photos, in that color - It was the fork that confused.
Did the "93 have a threaded 1 1/8" steerer?
I think I'd like to keep the fork, as I do ride these bikes, and the lumpy, rooty single track here is easier on my old body with a little cushion.
Obviously the fork needs rebuilding, as it looks to be completely collapsed - I cringe to think what the elastomers must look like.
Thanks again

Click to expand...

Definitely threaded in '93 - but might be 1".
I have the 'FS' version but can't remember the headset size.
You'll soon know once you've got it

vtwinvince said:

Throw a spring kit in the fork

Click to expand...

I like that idea, but I looked and haven't found one in the US (where I live) yet.
The only one I saw was an old listing, and it was more money than the current price on new elastomers

There are only subtle visual differences between the 1993 and 1994 red Stumpjumper models

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/show-us-your-specialized.69380/post-3482545

But the black crank and yellow/green font on the logos says this is the 1993.

The original rigid fork would have been 1 inch threaded steerer. The 1994 was still 1 inch but threadless.

Thanks for that link - A clear difference between '93 and '94, and mine is pretty def. a '93, even the old saddle is a match

OK - I have the bike, and I'm sure you all were dieing to know :
Serial # 92F371 - So the frame was made in Feb '92, and the bike sold as a '93.
AND, it indeed has an 1" steerer - Which makes it more problematic to change stem length, if I keep the fork
But it looks like some work-arounds out there, so shouldn't be a big deal

OK, so I finished my '93 Stumpjumper .
I know this is not some exotic bike, and far from a BOTM restoration, but it's mine, and I always wanted one.
It cleaned up pretty good, and with a few dabs of matching nail polish, the paint doesn't look too bad, from a few feet away at least.
I replaced the stem with a shorter one, and the toe-clip pedals with some nice Blackspire platforms.
The tires were in great shape - WTB Epic Wolf rear, and Velociraptor front, so I got some new tubes and re-used them.
And speaking of wheels, this is the only bike I've ever owned, that came with double butted spokes - You can tell I'm a bottom feeder

One thing I did differently, was to "customize" the fork.
After rebuilding the Manitou 3 (a disgusting job, with the melted old elastomers), I took a long look, and decided that, although very pretty, the blue / black graphics just didn't go with the color scheme.
And I didn't want to re-paint them, and ruin them for all time, so I got some (pretty close) color matched vinyl, and wrapped them - My talented wife made a gold Manitou logo with her Cricut, to complete them.
And so, there you have it.