09/01/2026
Dream Build: The Ultimate '1987' Stumpjumper 15
What happens when you get the rare chance to spare no expense on a bike?
Well, you get something along the lines of this: The Ultimate 1987 Special Edition Stumpjumper 15. This is a capable machine built for long days in the saddle and tackling some of the gnarliest enduro trails California has to offer.
I’m fortunate enough to call this bike mine, so let’s dive into the details of the build and why every piece was chosen.
The project kicked off when Mark asked me to put a new Silver Stumpjumper 15 on display in the shop. I pulled the bike out of the box and immediately fell in love with the color. The silver accents on all the parts—even the shock linkage—really got me excited. It sparked an idea: What if I went all in on Silver?
I’d spent a lot of time on our Stumpjumper demo bike here at the shop but never actually owned one until now. It’s fair to say I really enjoyed the way the bike rode during testing. It features headset and chainstay adjustments, feels incredibly planted through the rear end in high-speed chunk, and honestly hasn’t left me wanting for anything more capable.
Saying I was excited to build one up from the frame and dial it in for myself is an understatement.
After logging some miles, I’ve come to the conclusion that I prefer the bike in the slack headset position and the shorter rear end option. I’m generally a fan of keeping the chainstays as short as possible for that snappy feel, so this didn’t surprise me. But for those looking for stability, having the adjustable frame option is a massive plus.
The Drivetrain: SRAM 1987 Limited Edition
Silver was the spark, so silver quickly became the mandate: If it comes in silver, get it.
Naturally, I asked Mark if he would part with one of the SRAM 1987 Drivetrain Kits. It took a little convincing, but I eventually secured the goods.
Let's address the elephant in the room: this kit is polarizing. When it launched, the price-to-value ratio raised eyebrows across the cycling world. But looking at it installed on this frame? It’s hard to argue with the result. IIn my opinion it will become one of those items that we all look back fondly on, time will ultimately tell.
I’ve run XX transmission on a few bikes before this, so I know it sets the standard for shifting performance. For this build, I’m running the 32t chainring (I’ll admit, I’m not strong enough for the 34t on our local climbs) and the stock chainstay position.
For the collectors out there wondering: this specific drivetrain is Number 795 of 1,987.
The Stumpjumper 15 is a bike that is perfect in almost every way. If I had to nitpick one detail? It’s the 200mm rear rotor mounting.
This detail, paired with my lighter rider weight, meant I didn’t really want to go with the Mavens that I run on my E-MTB. The Mavens are incredibly powerful, but a little too much brake for this application. So, I decided to try something new: The Motive.
With less overall biting force than the Maven but significantly more modulation, I have found these to be the perfect match for this chassis. There hasn’t been a moment where I wanted more power, but in our recent slippery conditions, I’ve been thankful for that extra modulation.
These Motive Ultimate brakes are paired to SRAM HS2 200mm rotors front and rear. Sticking to the theme, I used Better Bolts and Freedom Coast adapters to keep the silver hardware consistent. They look absolutely sick.
Running a full SRAM transmission and SRAM brakes, it felt sacrilegious to pair them with anything other than RockShox.
I went with a Lyrik Ultimate (Black Lowers / 160mm Travel) up front and a Vivid Ultimate Air out back. So far, this combo has provided a platform that is incredibly stable. The Lyrik keeps the front end feeling light and precise, while the Vivid has surprisingly improved the bike's climbing traction.
Tuning was straightforward since I’ve run Lyriks in the past. I started with settings from a previous bike and tweaked from there. The rear shock took a few more rides to dial in; after playing with volume spacers and compression, I found my sweet spot with 1 volume spacer and 195psi.
Deity is always my go-to for finishing components on any Trail or Enduro build. Their team just knows the game—their products feel better and look better than almost anything else.
- Stem: Deity Copperhead (Silver, 42mm).
- Bars: Deity Speedway Carbon in Chrome—compliments the stem and controls perfectly.
- Grips: Deity Supracush. These are a non-negotiable on every single bike I own.
- Pedals: I have a set of Silver T-Macs for street jibbing and the occasional park lap, though I opt for clips 99% of the time on the trail.
Tires are the only thing keeping me connected to the ground, so I chose a product I know and trust. The Specialized Butcher and Eliminator combo was a great value option when it first hit the market a few years ago, but after their redesign? They are incredible.
In my opinion, they perform to the standard of any Maxxis tire but undercut the price by 15-20%.
For this build:
- Front: Butcher Grid Trail T9 (The softer rubber helps the front end track exceptionally well).
- Rear: Eliminator Grid Gravity T7 (The Grid Gravity casing offers Double Down-levels of protection).
The Verdict
I’m excited to keep riding this bike and plan to put many, many miles on it this year. There’s no doubt the 1987 kit and the full silver build will stop people on the trails.
Too bad the bike looks better than the rider can ride it. ;)
By Matty Greer