Submitted by
Jonathon
a Weekend Warrior
from Telluride, CO
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2002
Strengths: The bike sails through bumps, roots, rocks, anything. Looks burly. Welds are nice if you care. Strong and reasonably light.
Weaknesses: Long wheelbase-but what do you expect, it was designed for FR with a slack geometry. The wheelbase makes it harder to turn 180 degree switchbacks...or maybe I just need to get better at ridin :)
Bottom Line:
Good stuff. I'm not much of a rider so I can't really say. I use this bike for technical XC and trailriding. Very gentle urban stuff (6-7 stair gaps, <4ft. drops). The bike is easier to bunny hop then my FSR s-works. I cannot feel the suspension cons associated with single pivots compared to 4-abar. Climbs well considering the geo and weight. 5, because I'm reviewing the 01 bullit and got it for 1350 in pristine condition.
Bike Setup: 00 psylo sl, xt disc hubs laced to 519's, hayes discs, carbon bars, XT throughout, race face forged cranks (triple ring)....size large: 32lb
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Submitted by
Nikolai hell no
a Downhiller
from Los Altos, California
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2001
Strengths: Accelerates like crazy. Eats up the drop offs. Takes small and large bumps with ease. Jumps extreamly well. Fast downhill
Weaknesses: non so far
Bottom Line:
Awsom bike. My friends have no chance any more. the bike is plush responsive and it climbs! if you are undecided between The Bullit and something else, definatly go for the bullet. It is a DH bike with climbing capability to get you back to the top of the hill.
Bike Setup: Z.1 Drop Off, Intense 2.4 tires, Mavic 321,DT Champion, DT onyx hubs, XT Group set, Azonic P.D.W Bars
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Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Bethlehem, Pa
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2001
Strengths: Everything about this bike is awesome. The bike not only loves to go down, but it also likes tight single track and is a good climber for a bike with 6 inches of travel. This frame is also bombproof, if you look at the headtube with out a fork in it you will see how THICK it is.
Weaknesses: I'm not too sure about the bike not having a replacable derailer hanger, but it so thick and strong your derialer will probably go first, and if you look on the SC website they give the reasons for doing this way. So overall I'm not sure if it's a weakness or not.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike!!!! This bike is unbelievable it is so PLUSH!!!! If you are looking for a bike for freeriding with 6" of rear travel this is the ONE!!! Don't listen to some of the schmucks below this bike is bomber. I don't know what else to say other then GO BUY ONE!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Road a friends Specialized Big Hit(Bullits better)
Bike Setup: Race face north shore isis(awesome), 2001 Marzocchi Jr.T, Hayes hydro's front and rear, king headset, race face bar, Sun Mamoths laced to XT discs hubs.
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Submitted by
Jeremy Hakes
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2001
Strengths: Takes everything you throw at it. Bombproof. Goes up hill well, downhill awesome. Strong frame, great dropouts, adjustable head tube angle a benefit.
Weaknesses: Due to elevated chainstays, chain sometimes slaps against rear tire (2.3" wide) whilst downhilling.
Bottom Line:
Hell of a machine if you wanna have a bombproof bike. Trashed the rear hub (Real hubs), but not the wheel over 440 miles of fairly rough riding. Recovers when you overestimate your skills. Takes it like a champ. I recommend it very highly. Good bike for heavier riders or extreme riders (drops, etc.)
Strengths: Climbs decent, good design, not too too heavy, rides wonderful, still works with no major defects after almost a year of riding
Weaknesses: SC sent some wrong parts when I first got the bike (a 4 inch z1cr and the wrong hayes adaptor), it is a little heavy, the wheels, bars and tires are a joke for freeriding.
Bottom Line:
This bike is the shiznit for all around riding and freeriding. This is my second review of the bike, the first was given shortly after I bought it. The only part replaced were the wheels (trashed, but what do you expect for a sub 400 gram rim being bashed continuosly). The rest of the parts were done away with when the bike was being built. I can XC, freeride, urban and DH on this machine. The biggest drops I have hit are about 6-7 ft landing on almost flat grass. They put some punishment on but the bike is cool with it. I can do several hours of riding at a time on it and have soooo much fun despite the 35.5 lb weight. In the words of Thurgood Jenkins, this bike is the shiznittlebamsnipsnapsack!
Similar Products Used: I work at a shop so I have tried a bunch of bikes
Bike Setup: stock bullitx, (now changed to correct 5 inch z1), with Monkeylites, Panaracer DH tires, XT hubs, Singlewides, Oury grips, Azonic Shorty stem and Wellgo BMX pedals (the last 2 are for Urban and DH only, the rest of the time I use the stock titec and 636 SPD pedals)
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Submitted by
Jim Maybee
a Cross Country Rider
from Salmon Arm
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2001
Strengths: Beefcake frame Solid Feel Super-tunable rear suspension Adjustable head angle Great seated climbing in granny
Weaknesses: No Q/R for the seatpost? I know its made in Cali, but don't they drop their seats down there? There seems to be some suspension-induced feedback at the pedals in the granny. It feels kinda wierd. My pivot bolts and head tube angle adjustment came loose after about 3 weeks of riding. Keep an eye on 'em.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike by default, because a Norco, Giant, and Rocky weren't available. I would have preffered a fully active setup, from a CANADIAN company, but I must say, I am happier on the climbs than most of my riding buddies. Around here you ride up to ride down, and this bike does both very well. The total lack of flex feels awesome. I was used to light XC susupension, and this is a dream in comparison. Having the lock down on the front shock makes all the difference on longer smooth climbs. I think there are better bikes for the money out there, but if money is no object, go for it! I hear prices are going up, so act soon, if your gonna do it.
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Z1 XCR fork, XT disks, Sram 9.0 drivetrain & shifting, Sun Rhyno Lites, XT hubs.
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Submitted by
Jon
a Downhiller
from Olympia, Washington
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2001
Strengths: This bike is just pimp. If you ride DH, XC or just freeride it does it all. If you're counting grams, why are you even reading this. This bike is for xtreme riders. You can loft it in the air, climb it, jump it, drop it balance it and just plain ride the SH#T out of it. Skinnies are nothing. Switchbacks are cake. Just lean into any turn and feel it hook up.
Weaknesses: WHAT???
Bottom Line:
This bike is truly beautiful. The Santa Cruz welds are nice and clean unlike some other bike manufacturers, and the reinforced front end can sure take a beating. If you get a chance to look at the frame alone, take a look inside the head tube. BURLY!! The swingarm isn't dainty either. I drop constantly and repeatedly and it doesn't give at all. I've heard of ghost shifting. Well not mine. I've pounded it as hard as it gets. Measure the housing appropriately and you won't have any problems. I can't say enough about this bike. I guess it's not for a weight weenie named Zap! Just ride one and find out for yourself. I give double the flamin chilis. 10 all the way
Similar Products Used: K2 Evo, Kona stinky, and Norco VPS. All were demo'd only. K2 actually saw some dirt with me on it.
Bike Setup: Black medium frame, Black Jr.T, Kooka Razor DH cranks w/FR spider, race face RS headset, rings, riser bar. XT disc hubs on rhyno lites, soon to be swapped for M321s. Avid arch rival Vs. Hayes discs are next upgrade. Kona DH stem. All XT drivetrain.
Strengths: ALL, PLUSH, CAN CLIMB, GEOMETRY, DESIGN, FIT, FINISH, ETC.
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
I CAN RIDE OFF OF BIG STUFF, THINGS I WOULD HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED WITH MY OTHER BIKES. FUN TO RIDE, AND IT CLIMBS, MAYBE NOT AS EFFICIENT AS A HARTAIL BUT THEN WHO CARES, I DON'T WARE LYCRA ANYWAY. JUST WANT TO GO DOWN!
Bike Setup: Z1 MCR, RACE FACE, SRAM. (NO SH-TMANO), THESE GUYS WON'T LET ME PU IN THE "I".
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Submitted by
Sonja
a Weekend Warrior
from Terrace, B.C.
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2001
Strengths: Frame is actually a 2001; rugged frame, tight cockpit, low stand over height, feels plush, but a different kind of plush than that of a four bar linkage. Feels more like riding a monoshock dirtbike. The Fox Vanilla RC is adjustable on the fly, which I haven't tried yet.
Weaknesses: None noticed so far; heard the bike had some chain tensioning issues, but this was resolved immediately before the bike even left the store, by dumping the front derailleur, and the first and third ring and putting a ring god in the front and the back of the middle ring and switching to the SRAM shifter. Have had absolutely no problems with chain tension.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. Don't go with anything less than a 6" travel fork in the front and definitely get an 8" disk in the front as well. The 8" inch makes you stop on a dime, while the 6" rear allows for a little more modulation. It appears that the double ring god trick that was first applied to my bike, may be setting a trend here in Terrace, thanks to Keb's suggestion from North Van's BSP, it adds a little more weight, suggest going with a lighter ring god on the inside, but at 37 lbs already, what difference is a few more ounces going to make? This bike just wants to go and has saved me more than a few times, where I would have crashed huge on a hardtail. Very solid and the bike feels tight; with the short cockpit, you feel like you're riding in a sports car and you and your bike are one. It's a fantastic feeling.
Similar Products Used: 2000 Santa Cruz Bullit (demo'd on trail), Kona Stinky D, Norco VPS, Giant XTC AC1, Cannondale Super V DH (none on actual trails though)
Bike Setup: Marzocchi Super T QR20, Hayes Hydraulic brakes (8" front, 6" rear), Race Face DH headset and BB, Race Face DH crank (splined), Tioga DH Tires (2.3 front, 2.1 rear), LX rear deraileur, SRAM rear shifter, Bontrager XXX DH crowbar, the front fender, SunRhyno rims, Formula Hubs
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Submitted by
Roger
a Weekend Warrior
from Terrace, B.C.,Canada
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2001
Strengths: Plush Travel,Lateral Rigidity,Color Choice,Dealer Support
Weaknesses: Chain Stretch During Rear Suspension Travel=Ghost Shifting,Broken Lower Stays Of Swingarm
Bottom Line:
WOW, What A Bike,Inspired Me With Confidence.Doing Drops At Home And On The North Shore That I Never Thought I Would Even Consider.I Did Crack The Swingarm (At The Weld) But My Dealer Warrantied It On The Spot, The New One Is Gusseted.The Cockpit Feels The Best Of Any I've Tried, Like An MX.This Bike Eats Up Rough Chundery Terrain Like A Ride On The Sea-Wall At Stanley Park, Just Point And Chute.
Strengths: Stiffness,plush ride... suck all of the drops I've tried untill now
Weaknesses: Sometimes ghostshift after jump
Bottom Line:
First of all I want to say that at the beginning of the last year I've bought an XCR 1000 from GT for doing some freeride. Well I've broken up 2 frame of this bike ( see my comment about this in the XCR page). So I decided to try a Santa Cruz Bullit, but evryone sayd me not to buy it because of its frame flexure and its weight. Well the bike so assembled is not really light, about 33 lbs., but it's really rough and stiff, and now I can say to everyone that the Bullit come uphill better than the XCR. Believe in me when I say those thing and, owever, Bullit really fly in downhill. But the best thing about this bike is its ability to doing drops ( the XCR really don't have it); now I'm doing 5' drops and I'm fast going higher thanks to the Bullit frame. The Fox Vanilla RC easily support mine 185 lbs. body and, untill now, I've never felt any strange frame flexure in jumping or in coming down in really steep sections. I'm really satisfied of this bike and I thik that I will not change it for many years. So if you want a real freeride bike, but you also want to go uphill, buy a Bullit!!!!
Purchased At: Local authorized dealer near to MIlano
Similar Products Used: GT XCR 1000, Santa Cruz Heckler, Cannondale Super V, Specialized Enduro Expert
Bike Setup: Buoght frame only assembled with Manitou X-Vert, Magura Louise, Sram 9.0, Easton, IRC Kudjo 2,25 and Nokian Gazzaloddi 2,6.
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Submitted by
john moore
a Cross Country Rider
from canmore canada
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2000
Strengths: good all around bike
Weaknesses: drop offs yuk
Bottom Line:
its my second bullit there a great bike but have had some problems with drop off my next bike will have replacable onesso it wont be a sc . It does most of the type of riding i do other than the odd broken part maybe i am to rough on it other than thatits a good bike
Submitted by
sin-ick kill
a Weekend Warrior
from new bedford mass us
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2000
Strengths: burly stiff frame, placement of single pivot, not too much pedal bob. simplicty, suprisingly light for size.
Weaknesses: in all seriousness, i have not found any except, whoever is repsble for shock set up/ rc vanilla/ did not tghten oil reservoir cap and oild leaked on run.either fox or santa cruz goofed. warranteed by fox, no prblm. but i was pissed. i have not heard that this is a normal occurance though.
Bottom Line:
set up this bike is 30lbs. single crwon kept weight down.this bike climbs just fine// so many cry babies wining abt weight. do not belive the hype. the is the most fun bike i have ever ridden. my rocky mtn elemnt race weighed 32 lbs with an air shck. i thght that i was going to really like this bike, but i had no idea that i would totally love this friggin bike. i just wish they hadnt cost a week and shipping costs with the goof on the shock set up.but seriosly, the fox shck is the real clincher on value. this shock is 350.00 alone.
Similar Products Used: for all you guys wondering, between joker and bullit. the bullit is way more plush, superior shock,, vanilla rc is the best freeride shock in my opinion. the joker was 250.00 more and weighed 1/2 lb less. but bullit felt as light if not lighter than the joker. both great bikes, but bullit has more freeride attack feel. joker has more xc feel. stiffer on climbs. but the bullit is totally adj.
Bike Setup: xtr drive w/ raceface tubine cranks. z1 qr20. magura loise discs/ azonic stem and bars. panaracer 2.0.
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Submitted by
Daryn
a Weekend Warrior
from Lake Worth
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2000
Strengths: adjustability, weight, suspension travel, value
Weaknesses: seems to ghost shift, probably due to travel of rear swingarm
Bottom Line:
From an intermediate riders view, this bike rocks!!! Due to the adjustability, I set it up nimble for our usual tight, technical courses--then longer for more open/downhill fun courses. Surpisingly agile in tight areas for an extended bike. But I was most surprised by the climbing. On all other fully suspended rigs on long steep climbs I would have trouble spinning the rear on ascent. On this thing I can stand up & grind and it just digs in & grunts with you with no slippage, possibly due to the long swingarm pivoted far foward of the cranks. People tell me this bike is too heavy at 30 lbs., but it rides like 27. I'm very happy with the versatility of this bike, and would recommend it to any one for all-a-round riding. It also gets alot of looks and comments, and I'm proud to say thanks to all who do.
