Wilbur76

Anyone ever seen this gray & green combo on a 1989 Specialized Stumpjumper Team? There are known Stumpy combos like gray/ivory and magenta/ivory, even green/magenta, but haven’t seen any in gray/green. Not in a google search either.

Adding to my confusion, the fork which is now sunfaded, used to be either pink or magenta. And it looks different at the dropouts (butted?).
I bought this cheap from the original owner a few months ago and it was pretty much left out in the hot California sun for years.
I’m starting teardown and cleanup now but anyone with knowledge about this mysterious colorway, please chime in. Thanks.

Hudson308 

Is it the same gray under the FD clamp, and under/inside the BB shell?

noobinsf 

Also, there is a good chance the steerer tube will have original paint in good condition once you pull the fork.

Wilbur76

Haven’t torn it down yet to confirm if it’s the same gray color under the FD clamp but can confirm it’s the same gray under the BB.

Wilbur76

Good point about looking for same color in the steerer tube. I just tore down an 89 RH Comp and the ivory paint goes up nearly to the threads. Will be tearing down the Stumpy once my garage cools below 100.

katsup

If the components are original, it should be an 1989 or 1990. I'm leaning toward 1989 due to the biopace chainrings and 4 finger brake levers.

merziac

Some of the polishes and treatments now days can really bring bike whatever is left of the paint. This paint while faded looks to be in pretty good shape, I would do my best to revive and shine this and go with it, looks fantastic to me from here.

One funny thing is, that green is reffered to as "DiNucci" green but this Merz that Jim built for himself was painted that green before Mark worked for him so.....

I'll post an original pic when I get home.







Original "DiNucci" green from before it was "DiNucci" green?

Pump holder added and canti studs removed for the repaint necessitating rear brake being mounted on the front side of bridge so the rack could be mounted.

T-Mar

The serial number should help narrow down the model year. The fork's steering column may also have an alpha-numeric date code, which may help to determine if the fork is OEM to the frame itself. The socket style front dropouts were introduced circa 1989 though I'm not sure how long they were spec'd.

victorm

That’s my kinda bike right there. Nice find look forward to seeing it come back to life.

ShannonM

Warranty or crash-replacement frameset from the oops-we-screwed-up-in-paint pile?

I dunno about Specialized, but I've seen a few oddball paint jobs on replacement frames.

Did Big S do non-stock paint for top-tier dealers or for a team / club buying program?

Whatever the story, that's a rad paint job on a rad bike, and well worth a serious attempt at revitalization.

--Shannon

Wilbur76

Update - Found another pic of an 89 Stumpy Team with the same lugged design on fork dropout. Zoomed in and enhanced. Looks like that’s how the bike came. Doesn’t explain why my fork is pink though as there’s no pink anywhere on the bike. Oh well.

tonyfourdogs

Fork looks really faded, but the grey looks intentional to me. Either way, that is a really cool bicycle!

Wilbur76

Confused even more now. Stumpjumper fork’s steerer tube is ivory with odd pink overspray on it. Here it is with my 89 Rockhopper Comp fork (left) which is a solid ivory that matches the frame. Considering repainting the stumpy’s fork pink instead of ivory anyway. I don’t think I can color match the frame’s gray or green with the available spray can colors.




Rockhopper on the left

Stumpjumper on the right

Wilbur76

I think the mystery of the unusual butted fork has been solved. This 1989 Stumpjumper ad references “forged” fork dropouts.

ShannonM

Also, Ned Overend had the best name for a mountain bike racer ever.

And Great Gods Below could that man bring the hammer. Doubtless he still carries it in his jersey pocket, just in case some young buck has never seen one before.

--Shannon