Strengths: Simple geometry. (Straight top-tube, high chainstay) Anodized finish. (I can't look at powdercoat anymore) Light Aluminium. (Cheap, rigid, light)
Weaknesses: The achilles heel for the superlight is obviously the single pivot suspension. Legend has it that Achilles was destined to die young, but nothing stopped him from going into battle and becoming a heroic warrior, and, all the women loved him.
Bottom Line:
Non-racers, racer-posers: Buy used from a racer. Don't spend more than $2000 unless you want to be a prick on a bike.
Racers: Buy new, sell cheap, win more races on the superlight.
The dual suspension superlight is ironically lighter than the hardtails I had. After hauling steel up the ski hills with pounds of tools and throwing myself down the mountain during my younger years on a hardtail, with rigid fork, I'm lucky to now be able to afford a superlight. Suspension in those days consisted of arms and legs only.
Most bikes don't have any character. But my superlight waits patiently for me every weekend to be ridden. And there aren't many days that I'm not thinking about riding her. Sometimes I have to ride her on the weekdays to work despite the sweat I build up, and despite the fact I'm wearing a suit and have nowhere to park her. I'm going to take her out, ride her, and ride her until we die. I hope noone gets too jealous.
Similar Products Used: Raliegh Something ($650, 35lbs); Fiore Potenza ($250, 70lbs); Green Coolkidbike w/ bananaseat.
Bike Setup: Psylo Race, XT all, Disc.
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Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Shasta, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2002
Strengths: Great handling bike, climbs well, and fun on the downhill(cross country).
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Been riding it strong for 1 year(3 rides per week,avg 20 mile rides), I like the downhill and hammer this bike and it still rides strong. I blew out the fox shock after 9 months and had a new one in 5 days(the rl model-thanks fox). I have also been riding the sid 100 and had no problems with it either. I broke 2 deraillers(hitting objects and breaking), and no frame damage-for those worried about no dropout. A friend asked the other day if I was going to be getting a new bike this year- I still feel there is nothing that is better than my superlite. I was a hardtail person who put off upgrading and now the result is I ride much more and have alot more fun doing it. I have 2 friends who are now riding superlites and they comment on how much more confidence the bike has given them. I test rode lots of bikes and got on the superlite and knew right away it was for me, thanks to the reviews also-I had already felt it was the bike for me and the reviews helped make the decision to fork out the money easier. Keep up the good work Santa Cruz. No regrets.
Similar Products Used: Sugar,yetti,gt,specialized,giant
Bike Setup: super-x with hayes
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Chaz
a Cross Country Rider
from Madison, CT
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2001
Strengths: Reasonably simple design, great all around performer. If you break that mother of a d-hanger you win the kewpie doll.
Weaknesses: Relaibility resulting in too much downtime and forcing me back to my old hardtail.
Bottom Line:
Love the bike. Once dialed in, she disappears beneath you. However, have had 3 large problems. Swingarm broke at lower pivot bolt for no apparant reason - just riding along. Fox has blown out twice (not really SC's fault). Rear triangle was replaced, but still meant a week or so without bike. Shock was replaced 1st time, same time penalty. 2nd blown shock sent back, disposition unknown - but I'm w/o the bike yet again. I weigh about 180 and ride about 4 days a week on technical east coast single track, but it's not like I'm some moose hucking myself off big drops. This stuff shouldn't break. My buds on their silk-ti's have no such probs. Can't dole out 5 chilis.
Bike Setup: Valient wheels, xt stuff, flat bars, Zoke 80mm
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Submitted by
Chris Patrick
a Cross Country Rider
from N Easton, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2001
Strengths: This is a review for all of the Clydesdale skeptics that are looking to purchase, but are concerned about the 225 lb published weight limit on the 2001 model Superlight frame. I'm 6'2, 223lbs, and ride aggresively in typical New England technical terrain. I've had no serious problems with the frame design, and the bike takes the punishment without any problem. This is a great trail bike, and also has the following strengths: 1. Lightweight minimalist single pivot design that functions nicely. 2. Low maintenance, what does this mean? Every hardtail, and suspended bike needs maintenance - period. I think it refers to the need to address any pivots or related rear suspension components to keep the bike riding properly, and in this bikes case, it is low. A horst link has a few more pivots and probably has nearly (not really measureable) the same amount of maintenance...but really now, how much more maint is a few more pivots, I think maintenance really has to be something separate from the real thing to look for - QUALITY, low quality pivot(s)= lots of maint and frustration. This bike uses high quality parts for the suspension components - IE bushings, hardened bolts etc. 3.Geometry. I love the way this bike rides, it wants to be pushed on the downhills - and does so with confidence, and also seems to climb MUCH better then my old Stumpjumper.
Weaknesses: There are two things for us heavy riders to keep in mind for this frame, and they are not necessarily weaknesses: 1. If you ride regularly you will need to check the torque on the pivots regularly. While this is mentioned in the owners manual as something to check maybe 2 times a season, I find comfort in checking more often (I'm happy to report that I've never found the torque out of spec!) 2. I have found that the bushings (at the fox shock end of the frame) are wearing out after about 500 miles, which equals about 6-8 months of riding. The main pivot is just like new still, but the pivots when worn can cause a little slop in the rearend, and must be replaced. This is a do it yourself task, and I recommend getting a few extra pivots to have in your home toolbox and don't forget the torque wrench (inch lbs not foot lbs torque wrench) 3. Lack of breakaway for rear deraileur. This is not a weekness in my mind, since I believe Santa Cruz has such a well thought out bike. I have read so many of these reviews, and not found one instance where a broken deraileur cause frame damage - with this design yet, so why are all of the owners complaining? who knows...anyhow, if your so concerned, just install a breakaway bolt (replace deraileur bolt that came with orig der) for the mounting bolt in the rear deraileur - sold at most good bike shops, and stop complaining. It its not broke - dont fix it!
Bottom Line:
What's your preference? High quality? light-weight? Low Maintenance? Affordable (relative term)? Able to handle the regular abuse a 223lb rider can dish out? A bicycle that seems to be so thoroughly thought out as far as geometry, suspension travel, and feel, that no matter what the circumstance, you always finish every ride thinking you have the best bicycle made? This bike has all of the above. I think this review says it all, and based on some of the other reviews regarding customer service (which I haven't needed thus far) I think this manufacturer seems to have that aspect all together.
Bottom line - Stop the re-thinking your choice and buy it! No regrets!
Similar Products Used: Cannondale 700 (i think) with Headshock
Bike Setup: Superlight Grey anno w Fox Vanilla R/C (large) Zoke - Z1 Xfly 100 mm (4 inches travel) Avid disc front, Arch rival V rear Raceface cranks, SRAM deraileurs, Thompson and stem, Easton monkeylite bars. Quality has to come before weight weenie on this bike, and I haven't broken anything (yet).
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Scott Frazier
a Cross Country Rider
from Alpine, UT
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001
Strengths: Lightweight Great handling Low maintenance Good components
Bottom Line:
I decided after six months that the medium frame I purchased was too small. Santa Cruz traded out the front triangle (to make it a Large) for a nominal cost. Great customer service!
Bike handles great in all conditions. Single pivot rear triangle has required no maintenance so far. Santa Cruz's choice of components (the X package) has proved top notch. Particularly like the Avid V-brakes.
Submitted by
mike b
a Cross Country Rider
from Sodom in the North
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2001
Strengths: sprinting ability
weight
cornering ability
Weaknesses: all suspension bikes bob to some extent while climbing
Bottom Line:
i just got this bike thursday and have only ridden it fifteen miles though golden gate park on thursday night. i'll be sure and post another review once i've ridden this bike for a month.
the superlight seems to climb as fast as my ibis hardtail. as i said, you can feel the suspension move, as you can on all dualies. i'm not sure i like that, but i sure do like how this bike feels on downhills and bumpy singletrack sections. (there is bumpy singletrack in golden gate park, let me tell you) i am already thinking about adding a four inch travel fork when my wallet has rcovered from the shock of buying this thing--the rear suspension does not feel evenly matched to my i-don't-know-how-much-travel-it's-got manitou sx r with the spring from an sx ti. i think that four and four is the way to go for an aggressive cross country rider.
Similar Products Used: heckler (10 or 12 long rides)
fsr (demo'd)
Bike Setup: xtr, race face, titec, syncros (i mean OLD), monkey light, mavic, on and on and on. oh yeah, manitou sx r with the ti spring from my ruined sx ti. all in all, just over 25.5 pounds.
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Submitted by
Flash Mofo
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2001
Strengths: simplicity, durability, climbs great, great proven design, light, low maintenance, on and on....
Weaknesses: rider
Bottom Line:
Well, I'm finally reviewing this bike now that I've owned it for two years. I've been very happy with it! And I have ridden the living crap out of it too. It's been on singletrack all over the US and parts of Canada, year round.
really I have only three things to say:
buy and use a torque wrench! All FS aluminum bikes & bearings are very sensitive to the amount of torque applied. Protect your investment! Also be forewarned that like all FS bikes, you will want to replace the shock bushings every few months of hard riding to keep it riding like new. The kits are inexpensive and take less than 5 minutes to install. Be smart and keep extras handy.
Don't worry about the Der. Hanger. Not to say that you should go plowing through fields of sticks and blowdown! But really, it's very very strong. I think its 4x as strong as a replacable hanger at least. It has survived crashes that ripped XT derailuers in two!
Finally, happy customer story... Sometimes bad things happen to good frames. Things that the frame was not designed for. Things that probably are not covered under warranty. A lot of bigger companies might leave you high and dry in a situation like this, but Santa Cruz took care of me. I'm not going into detail, but lets just say I really didn't expect the level of customer service I have recieved from these guys, even for a $1300 frame. And that is what separates Santa cruz from the competition. See you ou on the trails!
Strengths: Light, strong, and good travel for XC racing. Best bang for the buck.
Weaknesses: Slight pedal feedback in granny
Bottom Line:
I've been very happy with this bike. It's light (for FS), strong, and cheaper than the competition. I previously owned a hardtail. I rode friends bikes trying to find a good FS ride. Couldn't afford a whole bike so I bought the Superlight frame and used my old parts. The FS ride is sweet. I rarely feel the rear suspension working. It just does it's job and doesn't bother me. I do notice some rear movement/flex when carving hard turns (but no more than any other FS bike I've ridden). You just can't beat a hardtail for rear stiffness. The only "problem" I've had is that when I first started riding the Superlight, I noticed slight pedal feedback when climbing in granny gear (due to the high-pivot design). But since my pedal stroke isn't the smoothest in the world, I got used to it and don't notice the feedback anymore.
For the rough XC trails in AZ, this bike is perfect. If you ride flat trails in Kansas, stick to a hardtail. But for rough XC and light freeride, this bike is perfect. 4 inches of travel is just right for this design. Any more would be inefficient, any less would not be enough (the main problem with the 2.5 inch travel Sugars, IMO). The high-pivot design helps eliminate bobbing when pedaling (unlike low-pivot bikes). I think that the simple single-pivot is stiffer than the 4-bar bikes that I've ridden.
FWIW, my bike is metallic blue powdercoat with a polished swingarm and looks pretty sweet ;) Now I just need a new fork that's a little stiffer...
Strengths: reasonable for going out to yuppy wine bars on and stopping off for a greasy slice off the elephants foot on the way home
Weaknesses: oh yes, just a few sir
Bottom Line:
the bike claimed to be a bit of an animal but I had to put the sick old dof down cos it was very LAME and couldn't be helped, a suspension bike without a real spring, I ask you?Got me self an Ellsworth Joker which is one tasty burger and is a trully evil beast. As with so many things in life, riding a bike up hill is also down to technique and raw stamina...some of us have it and some have to buy gaylord superlight bikes to help out their weak legs.'stu the weekend warrior' the force is strong in that one.NOT A BAD BIKE ALL IN ALL (for a burds bike)
Strengths: Being able to ride past fat downhillers on the way to the top of the hill
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
the best of the best, allowing superior skills of all day trial riding to flourish. Also with respect to "Stu the weekend warrior" on the Aeon Joker review, We Know you Stu. The only reason you love downhilling is because your gut is too big to ride all day up hill. Where is the skill in throwing yourself off a hill and hoping for the best? I've seen the future, and its name is Santa Cruz SLA. Reed and weep fat boy!
Strengths: Stiffness, balance, all day comfort, looks, kudos, speed
Weaknesses: Lack of disc hose routing, access to front mech adjusters, no relpacable gear hanger
Bottom Line:
Worth every penny - lifes way too short ! Burns up hills and eats everything but the most extreme downhills. The balance of the chassis is beautiful enabling you to throw the bike into turns and technical sections. Slow technical climbs are much easier than on other bikes due to the well balanced pivot points / stifness off the chassis. The lockout front and rear are a nice toy but only used on road. Well controlable in the air (on dual tracks...really!!) Basically, you can ride much harder for much longer. The anodised finish is a work of art. The only down side is the amount of attention the bike attracts.
Bike Setup: Chris king hubs and head set, Hayes disc brakes, Thomson seat post and stem, monkey lite bar, Manitou Mars shock, Wilderness Trails 2k saddle, XT cranks ...
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Lon
a Weekend Warrior
from Scottsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2001
Strengths: Awesome climber, great ride, fast, beautifuly engineered
Weaknesses: None, only wished I had gone with the X Fly 80 instead of the X Fly 100 for the shorter wheelbase
Bottom Line:
Having ridden my old Raleigh for over 4 years (actually a pretty nice bike), I am totally surprised at the difference in ride, climbing ability and overall performance that this bike gives. The ride is extremely comfortable from the Fox Float shock. I have not used the lockout function since this bike climbs so well with it open. I am climbing steeper grades with less effort. The difference from the XT to XTR components was a slight adjustment having to go from 8 speed the Mega 9. The only possible change I would consider is using the X Fly 80 instead of the X Fly 100 for a shorter turning radius, but I havent had the bike long enough to really make a concrete decision. Overall this is an awesome bike that will make you the envy of many riders that see it. I give it 5 chilis for value cause if you have the best it is the best value!
Similar Products Used: Raleigh M7500 Full Suspension with full XT components, Marzocchi Atom Bomb,Rock Shox Rear, Easton Monkey Lite Low Rise
Bike Setup: Full XTR, Chris King Headset, Easton Carbon bars and seatpost, Easton Magnesium Stem, Mavic Cross Ride wheelset, Marzocchi X Fly 100, Fox Float shock w/lockout
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Submitted by
Bill Jaycox
a Cross Country Rider
from Norwich, New York USA
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2001
Strengths: Great Climber with little or no resonance while seated. (Even in the smallest chainring.) I rarely use the lockout option on the shocks. Awesome and confidence inspiring on the downhills. Quick, responsive handling. None of the lateral flex that I read about in other reviews. Light! (a little over 24 pounds for a large frame with Hayes Disc brakes.
Weaknesses: None that I can see or feel.
Bottom Line:
A truly incredible XC bike that is everything it is touted to be. It is great for everyday on and off road riding, but fully race raceable and ready to go when you are. I read many reviews of this bike in various magazines and websites and everyone who raved about it was absolutely correct. Santa Cruz support was very quick in responding to my inquiries and the support is top notch. The Bike Loft in Syracuse is a great shop with a staff that rides and loves Santa Cruz bikes. With the help of the Bike Loft I spec'd it out via the Santa Cruz website. (Great price and weight calculator) It was very expensive but worth every penny. If you are serious about mountain biking and can afford it, buy one. You will not be disappointed. I venture to say that it quite possibly is the best full suspension XC bike attainable...
Similar Products Used: First time full suspension user but have a Giant ATX 890 hardtail and previously owned a Bianchi Osprey hardtail.
Bike Setup: Anodized Blue, Full XTR, Hayes Discs front and rear, Easton Monkey Lite Riser bar, Bontrager ASYM wheels, Hutchinson Python Lite Tires, Rockshox SID fork with lockout, Fox Float RC with lockout, Gore cables.
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Submitted by
Ping
a Cross Country Rider
from Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2001
Strengths: Light and simple but effective design. 4" of fully tunable travel..... which is all you'll ever need.
Weaknesses: None that I can think of...
Bottom Line:
Climbs well, descends well, accelerates well. Very responsive chassis (I got a med at 5'10"). Suspension bob is unnoticable 95% of the time. Stick to the middle ring and you never feel anything at all. It never feels as fast as a hardtail but 4" of suspension more than takes the edge off any ride, in fact you could ride it for hours longer than without feeling beaten up. 80mm SID SL complements the chassis perfectly, and is more rigid than some other reviews might suggest. Weight comes in at 25lb all in ... disks are worth the extra weight anyday.... Lockout is only ever used when riding on the road, you never need it on the trail, even for long climbs.... Generally climbs better in the saddle... and if you're a spinner, this bikes for you. Adding a set of low pressure tubeless tires feels like adding an extra inch of suspension, and traction, whilst not infallable is better than on any other bike I've tried. I built it up from a frame and proceeded to put on the best components available... hence it cost a lot... but the frame itself is very reasonable for the quality, especially if you compare to the Truth and Tracer.. Definitely consider buying just the frameset to start if you're on a budget.. I expect to be riding this bike for a long long time... and so far, I'd definitely say that it was worth the investment.
Hello, I'm new to this disk brake thing.
I have a 2001 Santa Cruz Superlight frame and an newer XTR disk brake for it. I went to install it today and the disk brake tabs on the fr Read More »
I have a buddy who is looking to do some major upgrades ($2k) to his 2001 XL Santa Cruz Superlight. He generally rides cross-country but comes from a motor cross background and is Read More »
Have a 2001 Santa Cruz Superlight w/ the original 80mm Travel Marzocchi fork that came w/ the bike. The fork shows its age. Want to upgrade to a more modern fork. What would you re Read More »
I have a 2004 Superlight and I was wondering what the max tire size would be. I am looking at the Geax AKA tires, and some others. I currently am running IRC mathos II 2.1's on BWW Read More »
I'm considering the purchase of a 2001 Superlight but it's a small frame, which I believe is 16".
I'm 5'8" with a 30 inch inseam. Am I gonna be alright on this frame or should I Read More »
