Cactus459

So I picked up this 1988 Specialized Stumpjumper base model. I love the Miami Vice color scheme. I didn't realize till after I bought it that the fork is the wrong color. I am guessing either it was in a wreck or possibly had a suspension fork at one time? Also thought it was done for the extra eyelets?
Any way I do like the green color but part of me wants to make it the original Magenta color. What does everyone else think? Has anyone done something similar and were they able to match the old color bike with the fork?

nomadmax 

Matching old paint is going to be a chore and, in the end, after all that effort it still probably won't match in color and certainly not in patina. My advice is to spend your time and energy on making the bike ready to ride (for your purposes) and go enjoy it.

Bianchigirll 

More Celeste is always better even if it is Faux Celeste

due ruote 

I wouldn’t have even noticed that the fork was wrong, and I used to own the same bike. I agree with others - ride it as is and enjoy.
If you do decide to paint, I would think a quality match by a good paint shop would be required. Anything less will look worse than what you have now. Also the current paint looks excellent. I wouldn’t expect a DIY job to be as durable.

Cactus459

I kind of agree that it looks good, but I would try to have it done professionally. I don't think it would cost too much.

Inusuit

Your bike, your call of course. I'm a fan of older Specialized bikes and have done some cosmetic restoration of my Rock Combo. I think the magenta fork would make the bike really pop, especially if you did some clean up of the existing paint. Never had this done on a bike, but professional paint shops have made some excellent matches on even older paint on my cars and trucks. That said, I would be content to ride it as is. I don't think many people would notice the fork is the wrong color. Of course you will always know.

due ruote 

Here is a pic of mine before I sold it. Notice the fork has double eyelets like yours. My guess is there was another model that used the green fork, and somewhere along the line one of those was used as a replacement for whatever reason. Or maybe a PO painted green over the magenta! Have you checked the steerer tube?

Cactus459

Love how the fork looks magenta! I haven't pulled the fork to see if it was originally a different color. When looking at the patina I don't see any other color behind the green. To pull it off would give me a definitive answer on original color. Diffenetly going to price out having it professionally color matched. It is a bike I really wanted back in the day but couldn't afford. I have probably about 15 bikes in need of restoration but this one is a favorite.

Cactus459

Love how the fork looks magenta! I haven't pulled the fork to see if it was originally a different color. When looking at the patina I don't see any other color behind the green. To pull it off would give me a definitive answer on original color. Diffenetly going to price out having it professionally color matched. It is a bike I really wanted back in the day but couldn't afford. I have probably about 15 bikes in need of restoration but this one is a favorite.

due ruote 

If it’s a true keeper and you prefer magenta, I’ll change my vote to “do it”.
I liked the bike a lot as an all-rounder, and probably would have kept it if it had been a size down. But I wound up with a 92 Stumpjumper Comp that fits better so all good.

Btw this page from Mombat provides some clues about where your fork could have come from. Sometimes it says “green” and other times “DiNucci green” but those seem to be the same, at least in the pics I have seen.
https://mombatbicycles.com/Specialized_Specs.htm

Cactus459

Any chance you might remember the seatpost size? My bike has a generic post that says 25.4 and feels a tad loose in the frame. Wondering if it might really be a 25.6?

due ruote 

Darn, I don’t think I have a record of that. You could try your 25.4 with a soda can shim - if it goes in with the shim, size up. Or maybe someone will come along with the answer.

T-Mar

The fork would have orignally been mageneta. I've attached the 1988 catalogue page. Also, the dual eyelets are correct for the base Stumpjumper, though it's hard to see in the scan. The Comp version had single eyelets, while the Team version had none. That post sounds really small. Given the era and level of the frame, I would have expected something around 26.6mm.

due ruote 

^ Of course T-mar is right about the post! 25.4 does sound way too small. I should have noticed that. What is the OD of the seat tube?

Cactus459

I pulled out my manual caliber and I think the inside diameter is 25.5mm and I outside diameter is 29mm

due ruote 

Sounds like your binder is squashed. These folks say 26.6 is correct: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/...jumper.126127/

Also, notice that T-mar (which I'm pretty sure is short for Total Mastery And Recall) nailed it on the first try.

Spaghetti Legs 

My buddy in college had a 88-89 Rockhopper that was all teal. He pretzled the fork jumping off a low wall, replaced it with similar bought from the shop. Might be how yours ended up like that. I initial thought was leave as is but seeing the pics of the original build, I like that better.

repechage

Leave the green fork