A two-year absence can imply many things - a round-the-world sailing trip, half a college education somewhere far from home, going to jail for tax evasion – two years can change you, man...
In the case of the Bullit, it was like a two-year stint in charm school. The bike is still big and brawny, built for tall drops and hard landings – with 178mm of rear wheel travel, a heavy duty 6069 aluminum frame with a stout 20mm pivot axle, a choice of either 135mm q.r or 150mm thru-axle dropouts, 203mm brake rotor clearance, an optional floating brake kit and a 1.5” steerer tube – but she’s come back with some very refined trail manners and a curvy set of new tubes. Charm school? Sure, but one that teaches judo too.
Submitted by
setan13
a Weekend Warrior
from Jakarta, Indonesia
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2011
Strengths: strong and stiff frame. been hitting big rocks, feft from 1 meter away, hitting tree and still look strong.
Weaknesses: since im using singe speed crank, it raelly hard to do All-mountain when i face some ascending track. otherwise..this bike is really awesome
Bottom Line:
This is the bike that you can bring to any terrain. it works on all mountain terrain as well as agressive downhil.
7" rear shock travel doesnt mean it cannot go uphill. ive change my crank from single to 3 speed xt and it works great too.
it can be xc when u have 140-160 mm fork with medium tire
it can be am with 160-180 mm fork with wide tire
it can be fr/dh with 180-203 mm fork with wide tire
yes..its an ultimate weapon to knock down everything in front of you..
Similar Products Used: no other so far (this is my 1st free ride bike :))
Bike Setup: frame: Santa Cruz Bullit
Shock: Fox DHX 4.0
Fork: Rock Shock Totem 180 MM
Crank: thirdteen 32
Chain Guard: MCP Crank
Arm: XT
Shifter: Shimano Saint
RD: Shimano Saint
Brakeset: Shimano SLX
Rotor: Shimano 8"
HB: control tech oversize
Stem: control tech Headset: across
Stem lock: Amoeba
Seat post: control tech
Saddle: WTB Aviator
Hub: Novatech
spooke: dt swiss
rim: sun ringle intense mag 3.0
tire: kenda kinetic
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Fish111
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver Island Canada
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2011
Strengths: Simple beefy suspension. Overall light weight. Little maintaince. Very nimble, quick turning, very manouverable. 150mm rear end, 1.5 stear tube. You can pedal it uphill.
Weaknesses: Poor high speed tracking, bike feels unstable because of short wheel base, steeper angles. Linear shock travel.
Bottom Line:
For the price this bike is good. For tight shore style trails this bike is great, big hits, skinnies, air the bike handles very well. For any kind of high speed the bike feels unstable, I got the floating brake kit, I couldn't tell the difference (waste of money). I'm looking to replace the frame, as I all my other parts outclass the bike. It will be a linkage bike as I have lost the love with the single pivot bike. That's my honest opinion.
Bike Setup: Totem solo air, Fox DHX 5.0 coil, Cromag bars,seat post and seat , Holsfelger OCT cranks. Sram x9 shifters and derailer, MRP chainguide, Industry 9 wheels. Code brakes, floating brake kit.
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Submitted by
derekg399
a Downhiller
from calgary alberta canada
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2010
Strengths: very strong frame holds up very good hit about 300 trees and it still hasn't dented very good components
Weaknesses: good luck finding any ;)
Bottom Line:
an unbelievable bike for the price i wouldn't get anything other than this anyone one wants a bike that will do everything get this
Similar Products Used: kona cindercone, specialized sx,specialized enduro EVO
Bike Setup: handlebars: easton monkey bars
stem: easton vice
grips: odi lock-on ( 1 season old)
shifter: mega 9
headset: AHeadset
brakes: avid juicy 5 ( 8" front, 6" rear)
cranks: truvativ holzfeller
pedals: kona stock
bottom bracket: skf (1/2 season old)
bash guard: e- thirteen
saddle: wtb
seat post: thompson elite
front wheel: white industries 20mm hub with mavic 729 rim
rear wheel: dt swiss onyx qr hub with mavic 729 rim
rear derailleur: shimano slx (1 season old)
fork: manitou sherman (seals 1 season old)
rear shock: progressive 5th element
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Submitted by
big daddy
a Cross Country Rider
from tacoma, wa, usa
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2010
Strengths: solid, gusseted to hell, huge pivot bearing. good geo.
Weaknesses: none. if you think its too heavy for xc, your weak!
Bottom Line:
you gotta get up to get down. i love a long dh blast, but not before a good workout. this bike does it all. yes, i weigh in at 31 lbs, but im not a pussquit. i ride multi day trips xc, with front and rear racks, a huge pack, and im fat...and this thing makes all of that still feel comfortable. mine is a 2010, and i have a lot more to show her, but she is ready!
Bike Setup: custom built dhx 5.0, pushed vanilla rlc 140, xtr f/r der's, avid elixir cr 185's, xt crankset, xt shifters, raceface deus post, stem, and bars, loco rims on dt spokes and hope pro ii hubs
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Paul Fransella
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami, Florida, USA
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2010
Strengths: This bike is very versitile and rides beautifully. It is tough and pretty light all things considered.
Weaknesses: None that I have seen.
Bottom Line:
This is my favorite mountain bike. It reminds me of a motocross bike - the ride is soft but not too soft and it turns predictibly. The front wheel seems swept forward a bit more than most other bikes I have ridden, and the bike just seem to feel bigger than it is. Strength, simplicity, and good looks to boot. Highly recommended.
Bike Setup: Pretty much all Azonic where possible - Outlaws, bars, stem, pedals, post etc. Marzocchi forks, Fox shock, Hayes brakes.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
larry
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary alberta
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2010
Strengths: I am a big guy and it has been absolutly bombproof for the last 6 or 7 years. I have thousands of miles on it, other than routine maintenance, it has been flawless. I am pushing 60 and fully expect it to be my last mountain bike!
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
It pedals well uphil and is wonderfully nimble. If you, like me, like to just ride without doing a bunch of repairs or maintenance, buy this bike.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale gemini(tons of problems), DeVinci Full Contact(broke the frame)
Bike Setup: Simple, once I got the 5th element dialed in
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Submitted by
Dek
a Weekend Warrior
from Sao Paulo; Brazil
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2009
Strengths: Very Light frame, fast and easy to handle.The Orange colour!
Weaknesses: No one until now, but the paint will be on this list!!!
Bottom Line:
Great bike!!!After read some reviews, We can easy understand how this bike is a LEGO....I started build this bike with a sweet Fox 36 RC2 and works pretty well, but after take out the front derailler and change for a E-13 and change the Fox 36 for a RockyShox Boxxer race (200mm).Seems crazy???No....The bike has change it... and personnality also...I've ride in the first configuration over a year, and I've changed around 2 weeks....and now I can tell you that I've a new bike.
The DHX 5 Coil is a great shock, thank you for Chris Robinson and their friends at Santa Cruz factory, for that....
Great bike....a real Legend!!
Bike Setup: XT on rear, E-13, Fox DHX 5.0 Coil, Boxxer Race, Juicy Seven, Race face stem/seat post.
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Submitted by
lhliu
a Weekend Warrior
from portland, oregon
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2009
Strengths: simplicity, versatility, durability
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
can do light freeride (maybe heavy freeride but i'm the limiting factor as far as that goes), i also use it for xcountry, even use it for cardio/road riding
it performs admirably in all those scenarios; i've had zero maintenance issues so far; the aluminum tubing is a nice thick gauge so won't be prone to dents; a true all-mountain bike
Bike Setup: 05 Bullit frame, 888RC forks, Fox DHX 5.0 shock, Juicy brakes, Truvativ cranks, Dark cycles bashguard, XT derailleur, XTR shifter pod, Mavic 321 wheels w/ Onyx hubs
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Submitted by
Jason
a Downhiller
from Edmonton Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2009
Strengths: Frame, its a Santa Cruz so you know its simple and to the point plus bomb proof. Sram components come stock. Do anything bike.
Weaknesses: Doesn't come with a chain guide or lock on grips. Bike is built for free ride it should have those stock but its only a couple hundred bucks so small price to pay.
Bottom Line:
This is the best bang for your buck bike. It does anything you throw at it. With this bike your riding ability will raise to a new level. Comes with some of the best components on the market so you don't have to spend a ton more money on it. I ride downhill and free ride and there isn't a trail I don't hit then I ride home on it.
Bike Setup: Mostly stock due to stock components are top of the line. Did switch out the fork to Rock Shock Boxxer World Cup, ODI grips and Gamut P30 chain guide.
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Submitted by
Marshall Mullen
a Downhiller
from Malibu CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2009
Strengths: Great bike for whatever you need it to do! Point it in a direction on any trail and its gone. Works well with anywhere from a 6-8 inch fork (I personally like 8 the best).
Weaknesses: Nothing!
Bottom Line:
If you want a bike that will do anything, then the bullit is the perfect bike wether it is downhill, dirt jump, freeride, or all mtn.
if you plan to get heckler nah....
get bullit. this is it.1000 times better when you downhill
u can even eat up those XC machines.while up hill
dont worry about single pivot....you get over it soon
it ultimate machine...this is the one we call it MTB
Bike Setup: 08 lime green frame,36 float rc2,dhx5,xt's,hope pro2
syncros rims28,saint ,wtb rocket v,thomson seat,kenda blue groove2.5 front 2.35 back
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Submitted by
deron ash
a Weekend Warrior
from dcash@wcgwave.ca
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2009
Strengths: Fox DHX 5.0 is super plush and the simple design of the single pivot makes maitenance a snap. Tracks the climbs well and built super tough. For the person who brakes anything.
Weaknesses: Chain line issues, I run triple crank.
Bottom Line:
I use this bike for everything and it handles it all well. I do not notice the brake jack in the rear and figuere you need to learn how to ride if that is an issue. best bike for your money and looks super sweet moto style. A bike you can depend on for years.
Bike Setup: Full Easton Havoc set up with Vanilla up front,Fox DHX 5.0 in the rear.
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Submitted by
Kenny Gavin
a Downhiller
from Las Vegas, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2009
Strengths: Handling is superb, Balance,
Weaknesses: have not found one
Bottom Line:
This IS the best bike i have ever ridden, the new frame design is incredible, it seriously has the best balance of any bike i have ever ridden, it handles 5 out of 5, If you want a bike that does everything perfect and can only have one bike then this is the one
Similar Products Used: VP FREE, Kona Stinky DEE-LUX, Kona Stinky nine, GT i-drive
Bike Setup: Bomber 66 single crown fork, FOX DHX 5.0, avid juicy
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Submitted by
ubugga
a Weekend Warrior
from san diego, ca
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2009
Strengths: solid build, simple design, geometry
Weaknesses: paint
Bottom Line:
If you want one bike to ride this is it. It can do dh, xc, fr, you name it. Lot of other bikes lean towards a certain type of riding. The bottlerocket for instance was at its best for djs and big air, but that's it. The bullit can be ridden xc one day and enter a dh race the next.
The best part is that it's half the cost of all other bikes in its class.
i bought one of the last bullit's available and i'm going to build it up soon.
up front i'll probably put a dorado (maybe 180mm) but i'm not to sure about the shock. i'll use it f Read More »
Super sucks but got my 2 mountain bikes stolen from my house on the night of January 2nd in Santa Cruz, CA. The bummer is that I just finished building up the Niner One9 in Decembe Read More »
Super sucks but got my 2 mountain bikes stolen from my house on the night of January 2nd in Santa Cruz, CA. The bummer is that I just finished building up the Niner One9 in Decembe Read More »
i just bought a 2006 (?: so says the EBAY seller, being shipped) Bullit frame with a Fox Vanilla RC shock that'll complement my crusty old steel hardtail.
Currently I have a 130 Read More »
Conundrum. I think Im gonna finally retire the fox dhx 5.0 coil on my '08 bullit. (blew it up again, instead of another full rebuild I wanna get something new). I have a Xfusion Ve Read More »
