The Blur LT complete with 140mm of plush, sophisticated, no maintenance VPP suspension. Now, make the frame a pound lighter, make it several orders of magnitude stronger and stiffer, make it out of carbon fiber. Don't candy-ass out and make just a carbon front triangle, make the whole bike out of the stuff, and use a proprietary one piece molding process that ensures maximum strength and minimal weight.
Submitted by
clydecrash
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2012
Strengths: Very, very stiff. I am amazed how stiff it is. Light, handles well, looks good.
Weaknesses: None yet, except I needed to get a stiffer fork (see BL).
Bottom Line:
I usually use a product longer before I review, but this frame is exceptional. The stiffest frame I have ever ridden. Greatly revealed how flexy the RS Revelation was, so I changed to the 55. I am 260 lbs and 6'3", so I can flex almost anything. I cannot detect flex in the frame, including the rear. Tracks exceptionally well up and down, and does well on the twisty flats too. The lightest full suspension that I have every ridden.
Weaknesses: none really, but I guess it is a bit heavier than I expected; though, it rides like a lighter bike.
Bottom Line:
For the past few years, I have been riding and loving the frist generation BLT. I came into some cash,so I decided to get a new frame. I expected some improvement, but didn't expect a dramatic improvement, but a dramatic improvement I got. This bike is amazing! The first thing I noticed was the shorter chainstays, which allowed the bike to really snap through corners and switchbacks. Combine this agility with the stiffness of the frame and the bike just carves through corners and holds its line faithfully. But, this bike really comes alive when the trail gets rocky and rutty. It just seems to float through the rough stuff as the rear end stays lively and active.
Very fast and stable, the BLTc is the best bike I have ever thrown a leg over.
Bike Setup: i9 wheels, XO drivetrain, 140 Fit RLC talas, Avid Elixer CR, KS post
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
kwaldo
a Cross Country Rider
from Wyoming
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2011
Strengths: Very stiff frame, excellent suspension. Super fun on the downhill side of things. All mountain capabilities!
Weaknesses: A little heavy if you are into serious cross county riding, wouldn't recommend for racing.
Bottom Line:
Love the frame stiffness and the riding position. Does amazingly well on downhill lines. Having the extra travel is nice and inspires a little more confidence than usual. Go buy this bike!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Nothing compares so nothing is similar!
Bike Setup: R am kit.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
MarkSchmukal
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Colorado
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2011
Strengths: Solid frame, smooth ride, comfortable, realitivly light and climbs
Weaknesses: Price!!! Ouch
Bottom Line:
Amazing bike! If you are a Santa Cruz fan and you're thinking of getting the Superlight. Do yourself the favor and spend the extra money and get the Blur LT. You will be so happy you did!
Submitted by
climbbiker
a Cross Country Rider
from chattanooga
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2011
Strengths: stiff & responsive. climbs like a goat & is a BLAST going down! good looking lines
Weaknesses: agree with others - clear coat finish
Bottom Line:
as soon as you step on the cranks you realize how stiff & responsive this bike is! it is VERY noticeable. when climbing, the bike never wants to raise its nose - even with the 160 fork. this was unexpected since that was a problem with my intense. going downhill is the most impressive feature of this bike. it can FLY! overall i HIGHLY recommend this bike. this is a superb all mtn/hard core cross country bike. value 4 for $$$ & finish. overall 5 - just ride one & you'll see why
Bike Setup: crossmax sx wheels, truvativ carbon cranks, XT components, avid elxir brakes, 160 talas, fox rp23
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
rtfrtf
a Cross Country Rider
from arvada, co
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2011
Strengths: Pretty Woman - "this thing turns like it's on rails"....yes I quoted pretty woman. Climbs almost as well as a 22lbs. cross country bike with the beef of a mild downhiller. Just rode Porcupine from Kokopelli and all 17 miles are a blur (no pun intended). I've taken years off my previous bikes on Porcupine and the Blur LTc ate up the rocky double track with ease. BTW....was also great on Amasa back climb.
Weaknesses: Frame knicks..got a few quick and then covered the exposed areas with 3M viynl tape.
Bottom Line:
Grear ride, no complaints. I don't want to pedal 45 pounds up a hill but want enough travel to do some lift service. Great climbing at a good weight and bomber XC ability.
Weaknesses: Maybe the frame runs a little small for its size
Bottom Line:
I gave 5 flaming chilis on value rating since i found a leftover at 600US$ under the SC site price however purchasing this bike at full price would have changed the value rating to a 4. When i got the bike i was going to order a Nickel.
The wheels and tire combo is a little overkill for my type of riding, i am far from being an aggressive rider so i will try with a tubeless setup or maybe a different set o wheels/tires.
This bike climbs better than my friends HT´s and definitively smokes them going down. Although i have to ride about 5Km of asphalt to get to the trail i dont lock the shock very often, i dont feel it to be necessary...
Similar Products Used: SPECIALIZED AND TITUS SWITCHBLADE
Bike Setup: XT SET UP WEIGHS AROUND 28 LBS
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
crazyjeys
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2011
Strengths: Very stiff. Very light. Very responsive. 1.5 tapered steerer. bolt on FD. Built in chainstay protector. nothing can compare with VPP 2. Greasable lower link.
Weaknesses: Chip on paint. No lower link protector (for 2010's). but still nothing available out in the market.
Bottom Line:
great bike! came from a 575 to a Nomad 1 then the BLTc. best bike i ever owned. very light and very stiff as advertised. don't think it's a fragile bike. it's not. it can handle those gnarly stuff you would imagine. carbon layup is well done by SC. VPP 2 is nothing compared to VPP 1. go ahead and try one if you haven't.
Bike Setup: '10 Blur LTc. Fox Talas 150. RP23. RaceFace next crank. XO drivetrain. Hope pro 2 with Stan's Flow Rims.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
sminniear
a Weekend Warrior
from Auburn, CA
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2011
Strengths: Frame - this frame is stiff with little to no detectable flex. You notice this when riding other bikes back-to-back;
VPP 2nd generation suspension; built-in chainstay protector; cable routing for adjustable seatpost; 1.5 tapered headtube
Weaknesses: paint chipping - the clear coat and paint chips to easily; cable rub - cable rub burns through clear coat and paint after 1-2 rides!
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that this is an outstanding frame from Santa Cruz that, when built up, with a 150 mm fork makes for a great XC/AM bike. The bike is confidence inspiring and tracks through small hack as well as being able to take moderate sized hits (2-3 feet).
The only fly in the ointment for me is the durability of the clear coat / paint on the frame. It doesn't hold up anywhere near as well as my Nomad to rock chips, etc. It's disappointing only in that the bike has such nice lines and the carbon layup is outstanding.
I highly recommend this bike but would recommend taking time to cover any parts of the frame susceptible to damage with clear 3M vinyl to protect from chips and cable rub. I would rate this a flaming 5 chili's if this were not an issue. The Ibis Mojo by comparison has a much more durable finish. Hence, the reason for 4 chilis on value. Given this is primarily cosmetic I did not ding the rating overall as the performance is top shelf.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Nomad, Intense 5.5; Ibis Mojo;
Bike Setup: Fox TALAS 150; SRAM X.0 drivetrain; Shimano XT front derailuer; XTR brakes; XT wheelset with 15 mm through axle; Truvativ NOIR carbon crankset; WTB weirwolf 2.3 tires UST; WTB white silverado saddle; RF Next carbon handlebar; ODI clamp on grips
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Treechunk
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, IL
So, I work at a shop, and I've been building my mountain bikes out of other people's broken stuff for years, as I can usually squeeze the last little bit of life out of it. I had basically always ridden hardtails, as the Dakar XLT I had built up was such a pile of mush when pedaling. I had a large tax return this year, and I was going to get myself a brand new fancy bike (with all my old parts on it). I put in a call to Santa Cruz to see if we could be a dealer/ prodeal a bike, and they said we were too close to a competing dealer, but they'd sell me a bike anyway for my personal use. My wife encouraged me to get the bike I really wanted instead of cheaping out and getting the aluminum version, so I did.
Let me be clear. This is by far the single most expensive thing I've ever owned. Watching that much money leave your bank account as a bike mechanic can be a little scary, especially when you haven't test ridden the damn thing.
Anyone who loves bikes knows about new bike day. You're waiting, you're watching, you see the UPS truck across the street and you get REALLY pumped, and then it drives away, 'cuz your side of the street doesn't get its' deliveries for another two hours and you almost cry.
You learn about new things as you build, like direct mount front derailleurs, and EXACTLY which parts you need to order from Chris King to convert your hub from qr to 15mm.
Then, FINALLY, IT'S DONE! You ride it in the parking lot, it feels fun, but the trails are wet and you can't ride. Two weeks go by, trails are still wet, still can't ride. You con someone with a car into driving you WAY out to ride someplace where the trails are actually dry, and you panic. What if I scratch it? What if it breaks?
Then you ride it. OH MY GAWD. I used to be a VERY timid mountain biker. We would get to what are now my favorite parts of my favorite trail and I would get off and walk, 'cuz that didn't look like anyone could possibly ride that. Now, I want to ride it again and again.
I put it like this. I look at some trail feature I NEVER would have ridden before, hesitate, and my bike says to me: "Hey, I got this, just hold on and don't chicken out".
Bike Setup: King hubs/bb/headset,xo der/shifters, Halo Combat rims, big fat tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
AngelaGA
a Weekend Warrior
from Martinez, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2010
Strengths: Very plush yet so strong and stiff, great climbing but over the top descending - light for a LT bike and it looks great too (mine is steel blue)!
Weaknesses: Chainslap but Lizard Skin has prevented any paint damage. Possibly the price but this was an anniversary gift so not sure
Bottom Line:
This is an amazing bike. It handles great and holds lines unbelievably well. I love the nearly instant responsiveness of the I9 free hub engagement. This bike is such a confidence builder on downhills that you find yourself going at speeds you never felt comfortable pushing before - it does not disappoint - you really are that much better on those downhills with this bike under you. It is an excellent all around trail bike. I admittedly love the Santa Cruz Blur line and rode my first Blur for 6 years but this is a notch above for sure! I particularly love the addition of grease fittings for the lower pivots and hope they will prevent pivot squeal (8 months in no problems yet) - without those my old Blur needed more extensive maintenance to keep it from squealing like a pig on occasion.
Similar Products Used: first generation Blur LT in similar build - also AWESOME bike.
Bike Setup: talas rlc 150mm, dt 5.1/chub front wheel, dt 5.1/340 rear wheel. XT drivetrain.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
dr vanski
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2010
Strengths: Light, nice component spec, comfortable in the saddle.
Weaknesses: The rider, not the ride. Prepare to push your limits.
Bottom Line:
My wife encouraged me to replace my 10 year old XC hardtail with my 'dream bike' after a weld on its frame broke. Who am I to argue? I had my eye on Santa Cruz bikes for years (having ridden a buddy's Heckler way back) and a perusal of their web site plus MTBR had me looking at the Blur. As luck would have it two local retailers had large size Blur LTc bikes built up. I went with Dukes since they matched the price at Sporting Life, offered to submit a warranty claim for my broken ride, and seemed to know way more about bikes than the competition. With all the facts in hand, the support of a good bike shop, and the 'ok' from the better half I pulled the trigger on the Blur and have no regrets. Dukes set the bike up to my weight/riding style and had it ready to roll when I came to pick it up. The Blur tracks the technical trails I ride exceptionally well: roots, ruts, rocks, off camber - no sweat. This bike climbs great owing to the light weight and the XT drivetrain gets me in the right gear with no drama. I find I choose bumpy lines on the trail just to see how this bike handles it.
Going from an Aluminum hardtail to a carbon FS ride is like going from a VW to a Porsche. If you're thinking of buying the Blur LTc then just do it. I'd recommend this bike to anyone looking for a primo XC trail ride. Expensive (hence four chilis) but the best things in life generally are. I get a five chili smile whenever I ride my Blur. If you're looking for an FS ride on the cheap, look elsewhere at your peril...it'll be a Blur passing you on the trails.
I am in the market for another 26" bike and knowing that many Niner riders also ride 26" bikes I figured I would see if anyone is looking for a trade. I have a 2010 Niner RIP 9 siz Read More »
I'm thinking of going to a different rear shock on my ltc. I think the vivd air would be a good pick. Ive had a vivid coil on my dh and liked that. Anyone done it? Also which Read More »
To be honest, I know all the listed bikes cover quite a range. Currently I ride the aluminum version of the 2011 Nomad and love it. But yet, it does have it downsides for me person Read More »
I know i should post this in the suspension forum, but i figured many of you probably bought this kit which includes this fork. I recently noticed my fork feeling a bit choppy and Read More »
I've had bad luck with hitting the lower swing arm pivot. It's gotten to the point where i'm kind of nervous every time i hit a rock in that area that it will finally crack through Read More »
