Submitted by
stwbiker W
a Cross Country Rider
from Bountiful, UT
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2007
Strengths: Great Suspension v Pedal Stroke compromise. Soft ride when hitting it, rides firm when pedaling.
Weaknesses: exposed rear linkage bearings
Bottom Line:
I love my Slayer, but think this is a great bike too. The prior post noted the bearing issue, with which I wholly agree (and prompting my post). The mud-n-gunk off the back tire is THROWN right into the lower rear bearing seam and though I have yet to have the creaking (see other posts), it is an obvious concern. My Blur is black, so I rig several small pieces of black electrician's tape strategically stuck to the fixed parts, which cover and slide over the moving, open gap on the rear bearings. Two or three times a year, I replace the tape. The tape keeps stuff out of the bearing seam and still lets the suspension work. Once I get a little dirt on the tape and rear linkage, it is hard to even notice the black tape, but this exposed rear bearing seam would be the Blur's weakness. But let me be clear: This is a great bike and seems to put the pedal stroke into the drive, not the suspension. It is light and handles great, while still soaking up the bumps of Rocky Mountain's Alpine and Moab's rock trails. If this bike's lone weakness can be cured by a 99 cent roll of electrician's tape and 15 minutes a year, it gets five chillies from me. Side Note: I am a die-hard Marzocchi Fan. I bought this bike used and thought I would quickly replace the Duke shock. Although I will eventually replace the shock for a Marzocchi or Fox shock, I've found the Duke SL U-Turn to be better than expected. I do not use the U-Turn function, but it seems like it works for those who dial in on the up and the down of the ride. Having ridden it for a year, it is much better than expected. I may replace it in the future solely to get more travel, like 130 mm or more.
Bike Setup: Full XT; Hayes Hydro discs (but I prefer Shimano); Duke SL U-Turn 108 mm front shock; Fox RP-23 Pro-Pedal rear shock; FSA XC-300 Wheelset (stellar wheelset); WTB Moto and Mutano Raptors 2.4.
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Submitted by
tom
a Cross Country Rider
from timbuktu
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2007
Strengths: Very nice plushness
Weaknesses: (Santa Cruz) What's the deal with the slots in the black triangle piece that houses the lower link bearings? The slots allow dirt to fly off my tires and fall onto the bearings which cause them to pre-maturely wear out (which then causes a very annoying creaking noise when riding).
Bottom Line:
The Blur is a fantastic bike, however the lower pivot point bearings (the one closest to the rear wheel in particular)are a definite weak point. Why would you expose a part that needs free and clear greased movement to be exposed to dirt and grime? If your blur is creaking like a rocking chair and changing the BB doesn't help, do yourself a huge favor and check that lower bearing- you may also want to cover up those slots to keep the bearings well lubricated and clean after you clean or replace them.
Bike Setup: fox, Magura, Thomson, all around primo parts
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Submitted by
Ryan Murphy
a Weekend Warrior
from Lancashire UK
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2006
Strengths: I cannot find anything wrong with this bike Santa Cruz really have put the effort into building this! Easy to ride & throw about in DH madness XC has become easy too
Favorite Trail: Delamere Forest & Hollingworth Lake
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3200.00
Purchased At: Leisure Lakes Bikes UK
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Prophet is what used to have
Bike Setup: Manitou Minute 1:00 Forks to front Fox. Standard rear shox. XTr group set, Hope Hubs&Disc Brakes, Thompson Seat Post, Mavic Rims
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Submitted by
Manny Wheaton
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2005
Strengths: 5th Element shock never leaks. I have re-aired it once in one year and I ride 6 days a week. Pivots are smooth and bike rides very solid. I would recommend this to any Cross country rider. There are bigger travel bikes out ther for the new free ride scene and Blur no announced the Blur LT.
Weaknesses: Anodized paint still scratches but looks cool.
Bottom Line:
The bike is plush. It feels a lot more like 6 inches of travel in the back and doesn't bottom out. I weight 200lbs and rarely have to get off my seat for the downhill. I test rode 7 new full suspension bikes and narrowed it down between the Intense and SC. I ended up getting the Blur because it just fit me better.
Submitted by
Bruce Molina
a Downhiller
from St. Louis MO. USA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2005
Strengths: Very easy to ride,will improve your riding proformance uphill and downhill.
Weaknesses: bottom bracket clearence.
Bottom Line:
I can't say enough about this bike.It has truely increased my ability to ride.I can climb rock gardens all day.My confidence has grown on technical downhills.The suspension has save me from eating dirt.Knowing this bike is to know true love.
Bike Setup: costom wheels,v-breaks,sram trans.mobster tires (very grippy).
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Submitted by
Bruce Molina
a Downhiller
from St. Louis MO. USA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2005
Strengths: Very easy to ride,will improve your riding proformance uphill and downhill.
Weaknesses: bottom bracket clearence.
Bottom Line:
I can't say enough about this bike.It has truely increased my ability to ride.I can climb rock gardens all day.My confidence has grown on technical downhills.The suspension has save me from eating dirt.Knowing this bike is to know true love.
Bike Setup: costom wheels,v-breaks,sram trans.mobster tires (very grippy).
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Submitted by
Bob Duran
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, Ca, US
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2005
Strengths: When I bought the bike I was told it was the ultimate country bike, When I first rode it felt really nice. Its light, somewhat plush and it a bike made in the states!
Weaknesses: Now after rideing it for about two years now, it nearly is about to fall apart, the rear shock has been sent back about six times. And I about to replace all of the pivots because of the annoying sqeak it makes as I pedal
Bottom Line:
vpp is not a good suspension design, i absolutley am not a fan
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Manchester, CT
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2004
Strengths: Light, fast, VPP is great, looks sweet and it climbs just like it says...a scalded monkey!!
Weaknesses: Haven't really found any yet, but the only one I can think of is the low bottom bracket clearance.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a super fast XC bike that eliminates a lot of the bob in climbing this is the bike. VPP is a great concept and it works just as good as it looks. I have only been riding this bike this season and I do a lot of technical riding here on the east coast and the bike has taken everything that I can throw at it!! It is a little on the pricy side, but worth every penny. I saved a few bucks by just buying the frame, buying all the componets separately and getting specific parts. Buy this bike! You won't be disappointed. Keep on spinning!
Bike Setup: Medium Trans gold with FOX Float RLC & 5th Element, XTR shift/brake, XTR rapid rise derailleur, new XT cranks, Thompson, Easton, Mavic 819/Hope XC disc hubs, tubeless Kenda Kharisma tires & Avid mechanical disc.
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Submitted by
RandyP
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine CA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2004
Strengths: All-around do-all trail bike
Weaknesses: Bearings and bushing made of cheese
Bottom Line:
This is a follow-up post. I have had my Blur for 11 months and about 1,600 miles. Living in SoCal, the bike rarely sees anything more severe than dusty trails and the occasional stream crossing. My equipment is meticulously looked after. That's why I am really disappointed in SDanta Cruz and the Blur. In my last post I described the Fox bushing issues I was having. Now, three sets of bushings later, I started to develop a serious clicking from the BB area which turned out to be bearings that were toast.
A call to SC didn't provide me with much insight. Once again, they feel that bearings are "wear items" and depending on conditions and riding style may need to be replaced occasionally. When I asked if they had any problems with the bearings, the sales rep said "no".
So I order a set of bearings and a bearing press. Not two days later, I am talking with a riding buddy that also owns a Blur that's about two months older than mine. He tells me that he had to replace the bearings too and that Santa Cruz replaced them under warranty. To make matters worse, one of the new replacement bearings I bougfht is actually worse than the one it is replacing. So I contact SC. So far, no response.
In my original post on the Blur, I gave it a 5-4. My last bushing run-in dropped it to a 3-3 for poor customer service from SC. They're now down to a 2-2 for basically the same reason: lack of service and total apathy. Worse yet, apparently I didn't complain loud enough to get my bearings covered under warranty. The bike when working is great. But the lack of customer service and the almost constant need to replace parts has turned me off completely. I'll never buy another Santa Cruz product. Next bike will most likely be an Intense Spider, Ellsworth Truth or a new Giant NRS Air.
Similar Products Used: Specialized, Giant NRS, Ellsworth Truth
Bike Setup: XT/XTR
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Submitted by
Otto
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Gatos
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2004
Strengths: Light, nimble, stiff, reduced bob. Long top tube climbs well. Replaceable derailer hanger.
Weaknesses: Time will tell. 5th Element longevity in question. Higher maintenance shock.
Bottom Line:
When trying to decide between the Truth and the Blur, I read all the reviews looking for a smoking gun to sway me. No such luck. Test rode both. Could not find two bikes with the exact setup to test. Ended up testing: Blur/XTR/Fox AVA Truth/XTR/Romic Ti coil.
Both bikes were relatively set to my height/weight. The top tubes about the same length..
The Truth was very plush, like a '70 El Dorado Cadillac. Bobbing was unnoticeable until sprinting up the last few feet of a long hill. Get tired, get sloppy and bob a bit.
The Blur, with a Fox AVA, was more enjoyable out of the saddle climbing. Not as plush over obstacles, but smooth enough. Get tired, get sloppy, get a bit “O” bob. Sorry did not find the bike to be bob free. Perhaps if you have impeccable form you could ride bobless. The Blur’s bob was less noticeable.
Choose the Blur for out of the saddle climbing and $$$$$$. Don't think you can go wrong with either bike. Ride them and make an informed decison.
First real off trail Blur excursion:
Expected the full suspension to suck up energy climbing the steep hills over the rough stuff. Not sure of the physics but, was actually able to keep better balance and contact with trail. That The bike's front end rose/popped up less hitting rocks and trail structure on the really steep stuff. While climbing, poor line choices are not penalized with an abrupt loss of momentum/speed. When the rear wheel hits an obstacle the shock is activated and the wheel rises.
I enjoy the climb almost as much as I do the downhill. The downhill has gotten a whole lot sweeter. No longer require intense concentration on the downhill to avoid seat thrusting impacts.
Learning to gauge speed again. Can no longer use vibration/bounce to guestimate.
No regrets over the Blur. Moved beyond the ribbing of being called "Monkey Boy". Have gotten over the sinking feeling of making a "me too!" purchase.
Bike Setup: 2004 XT, Vbrakes, crossmax wheelset, Fox 100RLC, 5th Element
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern California
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2004
Strengths: Climbs real well. Fun trail bike. VPP design
Weaknesses: VPP design, Brake jack, semi active under power, paint, steep angles, low BB, short wheelbase and lack of tire clearance.
Bottom Line:
I really like the way this bike climbs and rolls when your not pedaling. The balance is pretty neutral too. Descending the bikes kinda unstable due to its short wheelbase, steep angles and the stiffening up of the suspension under braking.
Similar Products Used: Intense tracer & Uzzi, SC heckler
Bike Setup: medium with Fox AVA, Fox Talas, mavic 317/XT wheels, Avid mech, XT/sram/truvativ/XTR drivetrain.
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Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Bern, Switzerland
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2004
Strengths: No bob, no lock-out, no non-sense, hassle-free suspension! Absolutely wicked looks! Tough enough to handle the rough stuff (whoa, the rhyme!).
Weaknesses: Paint comes off too easily. Actually, whole paint job could've been done more carefully. Weight is neither good nor too bad.
Bottom Line:
Accelerates like my street bike, descends almost like a freerider, climbs like my good ol' hardtail and handles bumps even better than the Turner I owned before. Not quite as nimble as my Chameleon on single track, but it comes close! In short: I guess I'm up for some XC-racing again! I liked this bike's handling from the very first moment, and the more I ride it the more I love it. Well, I don't see many alternatives on the market except maybe the Intense VPPs (even more expensive!), some Turners (still pretty cool!) and the new Stumpjumpers (don't like the looks!). People here ride brands like Scott, Trek, Cannondale, Canyon, Arrow and MTB Cycletech. There aren't many SC's around yet. Just wait...! So: if you're looking for an excellent do-it-all trailbike which can handle XC-racing, technical downhilling and even some dirts (I've seen hardcore dirt jumpers and dual slalom wheenies on Blurs!) look no further!
Similar Products Used: Several Specialized FSRs, Scott Strike, Turner Burner
Bike Setup: Medium size, trans red frame w/ 5th Element Air. Manitou Black Platinum, Deore Disc, Mavic Crossmax Enduro, Race Face cranks and b/b, FSA riser bars and headset, Thomson stem and seatpost, SRAM X-9 triggers and r. derailleur, XTR SPDs, Maxxis tires.
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Submitted by
David Price
a Cross Country Rider
from Corinth
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2004
Strengths: Handles excellent in corners and on climbs
Weaknesses: Low bottom bracket, Pivot points get dirty and squeak, upper pivot point weak
Bottom Line:
I weight in at 205 lb. and ride 20 to 60 miles of single track all almost every week if the trails are open I ride. I do maintenance only when I have to and cleaning on rainy days. The first 9 mouths I had no problems with any components or the frame. But in the last 3 months I have replaced and upgraded just about everything. I have had to clean pivot points to stop squeaking, put a new steer tube in the fox fork 100 shock, new bottom bracket, new chain, new chain rings, new cassettes, new shifters, new derailer. Rebuild the back shock. Replace the upper pivot point after it broke. All the shock work, pivot work and some of the components were done under warranty This has been a great bike and it performs as advertised I have no complaint because I have rode this bike hard and but it a way dirty but with better maintenance things would last a lot longer.
Bike Setup: Fox float rear shock, Fox float RL 100 front fork, avid breaks, XT components
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Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilroy, CA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2004
Strengths: Awesome Suspension, locks out when you want to and moves when you need it once you dial in the rear sag.
Weaknesses: Takes a few rides to dial in the rear shock settings. Need more info for dialing it in. Frame is somewhat heavier than I thought it would be at about 6 lbs.
Bottom Line:
Nothing but high praise on this frame. As they say, it feels good right from the start. Took awhile to dial in the rear brakes but once set, it rides like a dream. Lots of cush, well balance for a long day's ride. Will be tough to race on with the weight, but I'm sure it can hold it's own. This bike works well with my 100mm Atom Race fork.
I took care of the rattling of the seat stays by sealing the hole once I got the bike. Then I addressed the linkage squeak by zip tieing some cut up old tubes to block the seals from getting dirty.
I love this bike. Makes you want to go out ride it everyday on your favorite singletrack. One of the few products out there that does what it is advertised to do.
Bike Setup: Ultimate rim v-brakes (the best rim brakes available), Race Face Cranks and BB. Chris King headset, hubs, 02 Atom Race 100mm fork.
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Submitted by
dean
a Cross Country Rider
from new mexico
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2004
Strengths: awesome ride, felt liked i owned it for many years when i first rode it. great climber. i was totally amazed by the ride!
Weaknesses: again, rocks in swing arm rattling, finally got them out, what a pain, sup with that? low bottom bracket clearance over rugged terrain, squeaking in linkage.
Bottom Line:
sweet dual suspension bike, feels like the rear wheel digs in when climbing. great for technical riding, with the exception of low bottom bracket clearance. man, i love this bike!
