Submitted by
Animal Walshly
a Cross Country Rider
from Dorchester,MA,Good old US of A
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2001
Strengths: This is a great bike! The middle chain ring is I where the supension works the best. It makes me ride faster up hills and in general.
Weaknesses: XT frnt brakes, so I upgraded to XTR it was quiet for 3 months and now the squeal is back! No replaceablerear derailer hanger. No disk brake tabs. THE FRAME I hate scraching,scraping, or getting it muddy. It looks sweet when it's clean!
Bottom Line:
Fast,stable,comfortable,light. Going up hill gets easier every time I ride. This bike handles much better at speed,if your not afraid to push it to the limit. This bike won't let you down! All you have to do is pedal and let the bike do the rest!
Bike Setup: I just upped my wheels to king/517. WOW there fast and stable at speed! they are lighter than my XT.
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Submitted by
Erik
a Weekend Warrior
from Seaside, CA
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001
Strengths: -Light weight -Lateral rigidity -Fit and finish
Weaknesses: -XT front brake (Baaad Shimano)
Bottom Line:
A solid performing XC bike. With full suspension I expected lateral flex and a buttload of maintenance-- I have experienced neither. The single pivot design is effective for XC riding and does not require constant attention. The machine is light and rigid. SC produced a quality product here. The welds on the frame are uniform and the finish is immaculate. I did not care for the shrieking XT front brakes (since replaced with Sram), a hit on Shimano, not SC. I am absolutely satisfied with this bike. Always buy the best you can afford, and if you can depart with $3000 and still eat, get a Superlight. But stay away from those $#!@ XT brakes.
Bike Setup: group XTR/XT, SID SL, Fox Float L, Rims Bontrager Valiant, Panaracer 2.1 Tires, XTR Crank, Monkey Lite Handlebar.
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Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Canberra Australia
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2001
Strengths: Makes you wanna keep on riding, my riding just gets better and better, that is it's very forgiving, it has some lower grade parts but you can easily upgrade, you buy it for the frame right.
Weaknesses: This bike doesn't come with any
Bottom Line:
Best bike I've ever ridden and probably will ever ride. I'll upgrade it as I go but as it is truly awesome this will be when I get around to it. Test ride one and you'll probably wanna buy one, not too cheap either but worth every penny.
Bike Setup: Super X kit, but swapped easton carbon risers for flat bar with carbon bar ends and time pedals which are very nice.
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Submitted by
Stephen Walsh
a Cross Country Rider
from Quincy,Ma,USA
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2001
Strengths: Light,Light,Light........OH did I say Light Fast,Fast,Fast Light,Fast,Light,Fast
Weaknesses: This bike rocks! No replaceable derailer hanger (breakaway bolt works great)
Bottom Line:
I scored when Santa Cruz made this bike. It was just what I was looking for. A light 23pd good climber and stable at speed. What an awsome bike. Everyone should buy this bike. It builds confidence like you wouldn't belive. When you make a mistake the bike eats it up. and you look like a star. All my riding buddies are all looking to buy this bike. Iwill tell you it is the best purchase I'v ever made. One other reason I bought this bike I could not find a bad article or a negitive word about this bike! Just look at the ratings they don't lie. 5 Chiles and 5 more for value! OH YEAH IT'S LIGHT TOO!
Similar Products Used: Mongoose Rockadile W/ Mag21 XTR rear derailer,shifters &V brakes Chris King headset Hand built wheels White Indisters hubs Bontger Rims Flite saddle &747 pedals Haro V3
Bike Setup: XT shifters brakes hubs crank XTRrear derailerW/ breakaway bolt Chris King headset Hutchinson Python lite black tires 747 Fox RC float Sid xc/100 & a Flite saddle
This SantaCruz Superlight rocks! Light, great handling and climbing ability, comfortable, impressive fit and finish.
Single-pivot simplicity ensures lower maintenance and more ride time.
If you have miles of asphalt before you get to your favorite trail, might I suggest that you spec yours with fr and rr suspension lockouts.
The 2001 Bicycling Magazine's Buyers Guide stated that the SL has a "dated" design. Let me just say that I place my SantaCruz Superlight up ther with other "dated" designs such as the Porsche 911, Bose 901, TAG Heuer timepiece, and Parker fountain pen.
Favorite Trail: The one that starts from my driveway.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Bike Setup: If people really read this section...XT/XTR, SID SL (fr lockout), Fox Float RC (rr lockout), King Headset, Easton stem, CT2 handlebar & seatpost, Sram RocketShifters, Avid SD Ti's /levers, X517/XTRs, Conti VertPros, Speedplay pedals, Selle Italia Ti Flite, Ciusse(sp?) Elite h20 cages.
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Submitted by
Mark Mann
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2000
Strengths: Immacualte fit and finish. Option of a lockout for the long paved roads to get to Graceland, baby. Anodized paint, that speaks for itself. Great geometry for tall riders who don’t want a 21 inch frame. The frame is shot peened to releive stress. Need I say more. The list is endless…
Weaknesses: None that I can tell at this point.
Bottom Line:
If you are crazy enough to see the logic of spending big dollars on bicycles for the forests, as I have, than stop your search. The Superlight is the last bike you will ever own. To tell you its dialled into me means nothing to you. To say that it is possible to reach a higher state of happiness on this bike, as I have, will only make sense when you go to test ride one. This is the Porsche of bicycles. Fast, forgiving, strong and light. I bought the Gun Metal Grey colour (it sells the most, by the way) and for good reason. This is a Stealth looking bike with the enhancement of Red Mavic rims. Absolutely a visually stunning combination. A bike that you stand back to look at, and say wow. How does a 911 handle? Use that as an analogy to describe the Superlight and what it makes you, as a rider, capable of. It instantly pushes your limits because the Superlight is so forgiving that your confidence is increased. And shouldn’t a bike that costs $4,000.00 CDN do that for you? I believe, brothers and sisters, that I have seen the light. Do you? Do you see the light? Do you see the light?
Similar Products Used: There isn’t a similar bike in this price and craftsmanship range
Bike Setup: Front D is an XT, rear D and crank are XTR. XT Brakes (they squeak and drive me crazy, try Avid). Rockshock Sid SL. Mavic 517’s on Stout hubs. Assorted everything else.
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Corona, CA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2000
Strengths: Best overall bike for the money! Very light and a proven suspension system. Just look at all the copy cats out there.
Weaknesses: None so far. All the drawbacks to having this type of pivot point are known and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by far.
Bottom Line:
After riding a lot of other bikes (short list above), this is by far the best of the lot. It handles everything thrown at it and screams for more. The handling is awesome and the climbing ability of this bike is better than a hard tail. As a matter of fact, I use my bike to convert hard tail advocates all the time. One ride up and down a nice hill and they want to ditch their hard tail! This is by far the best bike for the money. If you can fork out a couple of grand for a bike then this is the winner hands down. If you can't afford it, buy the Specialized FSR XC which is probably the closest you'll get to this nice a bike at half the cost. I'm sure there is a bike I haven't ridden that compares also, but not at this price.
Similar Products Used: Specialized FSR XC, GT I-Drive (heavy junk), Gary Fisher Joshua, Rocky Mountain Race.
Bike Setup: XT Groupo, Chris King headset and hubs, Mavic 517 wheels, Raceface stem and handlebar, Marzochii Z2 fork, Fox Air w/lockout, Thompson Elite seatpost, Specialized Team Dirt Control tires.
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Submitted by
Leonardo
a Weekend Warrior
from Rome, Italy
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2000
Strengths: Ligth- you would'nt look back for a Front anymore, Stiffness -were it's needed but smooth when you want, easy to ride -forgive you almost every bad treatment
Weaknesses: anodized finish scratches easily
Bottom Line:
It's like driving a Rolls Royce, why looking for similar product, they still remain "just similar". It not cheap, but let me know if you can by a cheap Rolls.
Similar Products Used: C'DALE Jeckiil used for a week-end
Bike Setup: XT build kit. Fox Float Vanilla RC. Manitou SX Ti Carbon. Flat handlebar, with barends climbs better. CODA crunch Magura brake (HS-33)
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Submitted by
Mike kirsebom
a Cross Country Rider
from Monterey, CA
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2000
Strengths: Simple Design, robust construction, light Weight, Good Quality welds and paint, easy to clean
Weaknesses: The standard component package limits you if you want all Xt or all XTR component groups
Bottom Line:
I now ride much faster and smoother than before, technical riding is much more forgiving, and this bike is lighter than my previos hardtail. Overall, I am fully satisfied and would buy another.
Bike Setup: Combo LX/ XTR, Fox vanilla Float R (No Lock out), SID 100 Rock Shox
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Chilliwack, BC, CANADA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2000
Strengths: -light -good geometry for climbing and downhill -go anywhere bike -plush with no bob
Weaknesses: -could be lighter -ano finish scratches easily -99 model doesn't have disc mounts on rear triangle
Bottom Line:
-great bike....I totally love it. It is a do everything, light bike with tons of suspension. I upgraded the fork to the 2000 SID 100 (big improvement over the Marzochi....dropped a pound and increased travel by over an inch). Recently traded my 99 swingarm for the 2000 version so that I could upgrade to discs. Swapped out the Avids for a set of 2000 Hayes stoppers. Now this great bike is nearly perfect. My only wish is to shed another couple of pounds.....This great bike gets my rave review along with raves in MBA.
Similar Products Used: -FSR XC, Heckler, Raven, Rocky Element Race
Bike Setup: -RaceFace everything, XT derailleurs, Hayes discs, SID 100, Fox Air Float RC
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Submitted by
Allister
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2000
Strengths: Light as hell with 4 inches front and rear. Very Nice spec. for the money. I'm impressed with the wheels. XT/White Industries with Bontrager Valiant Wheels. Easton monkey lite riser EA2 seatpost. Santa Cruz's product manager could give a lesson to the bigger boys on the block.
Weaknesses: None that I can think of yet. My gear OGD broke on the first ride. That's Shimano's fault not Santa Cruz's.
Bottom Line:
Climbs as well as my Ritchy Soft Tail. The faster I went the smoother this machine handled. Big hits got swallowed up by the Fox and SID. This bike makes you haul ass. The SID 100 won me back to Rock Shox. I was a die hard Marzocchi Fan, nothing but Z.1 or Z.2 in my life. The SID 100 is over $200.00 less and weighs 4 oz. less than the Z.1 X-FLY. We'll have to see how long the seals last. For now, it's exactly what I had been waiting for.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher Joshua, Kona Mako Mako, Proflex/K2
Bike Setup: Superlight, with Super X Kit, SID 100. I swapped out brakes for AVID Arch Rival 50's and put on a Specialized Body Geometry Sport Saddle(worth all the extra weight) in leiu of the racing up your ass saddle.
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Submitted by
Tommaso
a Weekend Warrior
from Pistoia
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2000
Strengths: It's light, comfortable, as fast as your legs could do. What do you want more?
Weaknesses: Still not found, price apart.
Bottom Line:
I think this frame is great and the best FS available, here in Italy we should learn from SC boys how to develop a good Full Suspended bike (for hardtail we don't need lessons). Try it is a good climber and a better downhiller. I have a 80 mm manitou sx-ti fork, but I think that I could achieve better vibrations with a plush 100 mm fork.
Submitted by
Eric Longino
a Racer
from Greenville SC
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2000
Strengths: quality of the product quick acceleration light weight
Weaknesses: A little on the expensive side ,but I would do it all over again tomorrow
Bottom Line:
I Love this bike!!!!! Do yourself a favor and ride this bike You'll be happy you did If you ride hard several times a week and need a bike to last this is the one for you. I have a friend with a very semilar santa cruz. Almost 2000 mountain miles on it in less than a year with no problems. I have been very impressed with my new santa cruz. Give this bike a try :)
Similar Products Used: Marin Mountain Pro Fisher Sugar
Bike Setup: XT Drive Sid on the front, and Fox air rc on the back
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Submitted by
Pigrider
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2000
Strengths: Rigid, smooth, fast, precise steering, plush, great climber
Weaknesses: $$$$$$ very expensive... for the money you should get at least XT components all the way around
Bottom Line:
I only have 70 miles on this bike so far but it is amazing!!! I know that it doesn't matter how much you spend if you are a crappy rider an expensive bike isn't supposed to make you a better rider. Well guess what?? For me so far this bike has made me a much much much much better rider. I am still way out of shape but this bike is a delight to climb up hills with and even more fun going down. The most amazing part and I don't know if it is attributable to the riser bar, the shock, or the bike geometry is the surgical precision with which I can choose a line and stick to it. On my fisher I always thought my reaction time was too slow because more often than not I wound up brutishly plowing through rocks and ruts. With this bike you really do go exactly where you want to go. I can pick my way through gaps in the rocks that are only an inch or so (maybe less) wider that the tires. I will update this review after more extensive riding but I just had to comment on the amazing handling and climbing characteristics of this bike.
