the endless travel fills you full of confidence, it rides remarkably well for its weight and ammount of travel, fantastic full on DH rig, as its an older model now and so you can pick em up fairly cheap in comparison to the new stock price! bargain
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
josh palmer
a Downhiller
from uk Date Reviewed: January 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
cwmcarn, morzine, chatell, a-line
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$11922.00
Purchased At:
V10 nwmtb
Strengths:
it can hit anything! and just gives you soo much confidence! i have toured allaround with my 07 ano black v10 and wud never want another frame!!!
Weaknesses:
even with the vpp it cant handel hills amazing but who cares
Similar Products Used:
intense m3 and an orange 222
Bike Setup:
07 ano black santacruz v10, 07 fox 40, hoap moto m4 breaks, thompson seat post, race face finishing kit
Bottom Line:
its one of the best dh bikes in the world!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charles
a
from Seattle, WA, USA Date Reviewed: August 31, 2006
Favorite Trail:
chutes n' ladders, a-line, evolution, wonderland
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Private Seller
Strengths:
Too many to list...almost bottomless travel, great rig w/ the Ti spring, 02 boxxer WC a great fork, burly frame( what do you expect, It's a santa cruz) Really strong, surprisingly light, not 55+LBS like many claim, sticks to ground like glue, rails berms/corners...overall a great rig- way better than my SGS...also manuals/wheelies well, well balanced and jumps well. Also pedals extremely well.
Weaknesses:
Long, heavy headtube, little hard to bunnyhop at first-you have to kind of re-learn how-not really though...little bit of play in the linkage, my local shop said this is normal. A little hard to pedal uphill, but what do you expect, it's a race/ extreme drop rig, not an XC bike.
Similar Products Used:
Ironhorse SGS, Spec Bighit, Transition dirtbag, kona stinky/stab, Bullit
If you are looking into buying one of these rigs-do...though they are not as light and jumpable as the Bullit, they are still a sturdy rig capable of hardcore freeride, big drops, rolling over anything, down anything, soaks up roots and performs extremely well though I have yet to actually Dh it...I've only owned it for about a month and a half...maybe two...Overall a great bike, if you are looking for a jumper though, or a light freeride rig, go w/ the bullit or an ellsworth joker or a bighit, they are better for jumping...but a great all around rig...Beats my old SGS hands down...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Hazel Nut
a
from Norfolk Date Reviewed: July 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
riding along the sand on the beach
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
the bike factory
Strengths:
big wheels, grippy tyres good becouse i do a lot of technical beach riding.
Weaknesses:
the seat is very uncomfy ive not yet learnt to stand up yet so this is a major problem, heavy for when i have to push down hill if im too scared, the original front forks were to bouncy so i put some rigid ones on.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
not sure
Bottom Line:
too heavy ive had a lot better for only £89.99 a shockwave SUS bought from halfords id avoid at all costs.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
josh oosterveld
a Downhiller
from sherwood park , ab, canada Date Reviewed: June 19, 2005
Favorite Trail:
crazy train , panorama mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
traded dorado for frame
Strengths:
fairly good pedaling , not too heavy, SUPER STRONG, can get one for cheep
awesome bike , they arnt that expensive any more , super strong,good pedaling, FAST
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
christopher BRAYMAN
a Downhiller
from PLATTEKILL, NY USA Date Reviewed: April 17, 2004
Favorite Trail:
every one I've ridden
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
$3200
Strengths:
Plush, pedals efficiently without bob. The root beer is the fastest color on the planet. Kick ass decals.
Weaknesses:
I have a seat post cut for downhill, a longer one for freeride, and yet a longer one for cross country. Yes I said CROSSCOUNTRY.
Similar Products Used:
Karpiel Disco Volante, Titus QuasiMoto
Bike Setup:
Boxxer Team, SDG Fatboy saddle
Bottom Line:
I've been reading alot of reviews about guys ripping through rear rims, and it being said outloud that the v-10 can't be bunny hopped! From the moment my bike was built I've been living in a van travelling to downhill races all over the country. I started at Plattekill NY, made three of the five nationals and ended up at Rim cyclery in Moab for the fall. With that said, I have yet to replace my rear rim. Yes I've had to tighten loose spokes from time to time but the rim is as straight as any road in Phoenix Az. And as to the bunny hopping dillemma, you must first know how to bunny hop before implying the V-10 doesn't leave the ground. I have never been happier with anything I've ever owned. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, AND AS TO THE WEIGHT ISSUE, with my 2.3 tires my medium tips the scale at just under 43 pounds. this bike kicks ASS period! Buy this bike and never drool over any other DH again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J.T.
a Downhiller
from Pa. Date Reviewed: December 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Shingletown
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
Tested
Strengths:
Bulletproof. When I was on this thing I felt like I could ride over boulders 2ft high without batting an eyelash. The plushness of the suspension is amazing. Between the spring rates and the way they have the dampers tuned at the factory, this thing soaks up curbs like they weren't there (But don't do this too much - forks don't like that sort of thing). When airborne the suspension reaches for the ground and then compresses with buttery smoothness.
Weaknesses:
Floats like a brick and stings like foam rubber. Impossible to bunny-hop if the situation should arise on the trail where you need too. Heavy as hell. This thing is like the Humvee of downhill bikes. Some tuning of the dampers and swapping out the soft springs for some stiffer ones might do the trick. If you're really into just bombing during competition and thats your style then the previously mentioned isn't really a complaint...
Similar Products Used:
Spesh Bighit, Cannondale Gemini, etc...
Bike Setup:
Was a stock 02' I believe straight from the factory...
Bottom Line:
Scary. Imagine taking a Honda CR250R and stripping off the gastank, the engine, the fairing, the seat and the fenders... What are you left with? A rolling chassis motorcross frame... That's what this thing feels like... of course I exaggerate to make the comparison - the 2 frames are nothing alike - but that's how it feels. Oddly enough your bank account won't know the difference between the 2 considering that MSRP for both in around 5 grand and change
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
erik jahne
a Downhiller
from wethersfield, ct, usa Date Reviewed: August 29, 2003
Favorite Trail:
moose knuckle junction
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$4600.00
Purchased At:
cutting edge-berlin, ct
Strengths:
Everything on this bike is super strong. With a Dorado fork on the front it is the quietest bike I have ever ridden. A bottomless pit of travel. Super fast descents are no problem over anything.
Weaknesses:
Ha! Good luck finding one.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Big Hit, Boxxer fork, Kona Stinky
Bike Setup:
Large V10 w/floating brake, Manitou Dorado fork, Super sticky Intense Tires
Bottom Line:
Go out and get this bike. now. do it. Everyone told me that this bike is no good for freeriding or trail riding. What a load of crap! The bike is definitely more difficult to get off of the ground than most, but with any speed at all you can lift it in the air. I am 6'4". Anyone even an inch over this height should know that you will not be able to sit and pedal comfortably. My seat is at the max height and it has never gotten in the way on the steepest downhills. Sprinting with the bike is a complete joy. It bobs less than on my 5" travel stinky. After two weeks of use I had to relearn how to ride my other bikes because it is so intuitive and completely different on the v10. The travel keeps compressing three feet after you land. Both of my legs were shattered last summer. Being on the v10 is the first time since then that I can look at the trail without using disabled eyes. After a full day at Mt. Snow my knees were fine. Unbelievable. Thank you santa cruz.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J.D.
a Downhiller
from Beverly, MA Date Reviewed: July 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:
trail #11 @ killington
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$840.00
Purchased At:
SeaSide Cycles
Strengths:
everything
Weaknesses:
nil
Similar Products Used:
no competition
Bottom Line:
Sweet to the Sickness
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Downhiller
from Canada Date Reviewed: April 24, 2003
Favorite Trail:
a-line, whistler
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$7700.00
Purchased At:
The Best Shop
Strengths:
pedals great, sucks up the big hits, smooth through big obstacled sections,light, super fast bike!
Submitted by
gr relano
a Racer
from yucaipa, ca. USA Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003
Favorite Trail:
angeles oaks,ca
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5600.00
Purchased At:
yucaipa bike center
Strengths:
nice..........d best DH bike ever made......SANTA CRUZ rocks!
Weaknesses:
rear derrailur hitting the frame on small gear it makes a hollata noise.....use sram der. 2 fix the problem.
Similar Products Used:
M-1 and foes
Bike Setup:
dorado fork. DH kit from santa cruz w/ monkey lite DH bar and sram XO der. 9.0 shifter upgraded rims and spokes
Bottom Line:
BUY THIS BIKE NOW! GO FOOOOO!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shean mogely
a Weekend Warrior
from ? Date Reviewed: April 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
The roof of my house
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5300.00
Purchased At:
a guy
Strengths:
well...nice colour but it snapped because it got run over by a car, the car looked mangeled but the bike was a little bent, a little bit of unbendinggot it back to shape but. When i took it of my two storeyrook onto a 10 foot landing ramp the VPP didn't like it, infact it snapped.but it rode nicely before.
Weaknesses:
dont like cars
Similar Products Used:
no one likes me
Bike Setup:
V10
Bottom Line:
Great bike before run over by a car. but then made some funny sounding noises.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonny
a Downhiller
from Santa Barbara Date Reviewed: February 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Everywhere my bike goes is good
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Velopro
Strengths:
By far the best DH bike I have ever ridden
Weaknesses:
perhapse a little bit long. Be sure and locktight the lower pivot screws 'cause you have to remove the mrp to get at them which also makes removing dirt from the area hard.
Similar Products Used:
V-10 w/ 2003 monster-t and others...
Bike Setup:
Dorado and the Santa Cruz DH kit
Bottom Line:
Simply one of the best bikes ever. Pedals so well you enjoy it. Perhapse a little long but a little room to improve is a good thing. You can still weave your way through tough sections at speed no problem. The Dorado is incredible; you can pick it up and put it wherever you want in the blink of an eye. It has such a light feel to it that if it was a single crown you'd find yourself doing x-ups off of everything bigger than a curb. Other forks I have ridden that are good forks do that brrddaaapppppp thing when you pound through rock sections fast, this bike with the Dorado is more like bwwooooshhh; you really should try it. I have not weighed it with the Dorado since I put it on there but I tell you what, with a 36 tooth ring on the front and a 11-32 or something in the back you can go up-hill too. If you want a true "free-ride" bike you may be better off with a bullit or a stinky or something but if you want the most rippin' DH bike that happens to allow you to pedal up the hill too (with a little pushin', it ain't a xc bike) then buy one. Hands down the best bike I have ever ridden.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jonny
a Downhiller
from Santa Barbara Date Reviewed: February 18, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Tunnel or Coldsprings or A-line or Joyride
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Velopro
Strengths:
Fast... what more do you want in a race bike. Sticks to the ground like you wouldn't believe. Very ridged latterally and tortionally so it corners amazingly. Confidence inspiring. Pedals amazingly.
Weaknesses:
This is pretty subjective: sticks to the ground more than you would like in some situations. Hard to bunnyhop. I have a '03 monster-t on there and it is not a good setup. I'm getting a dorado which I believe will rock. If you ride tech. stuff where you need to pick up the bike in the middle of a section to change lines this set-up sucks. Almost impossible for a shorter rider to manual with the monster.
Similar Products Used:
M1, stab, tomac, super-8
Bike Setup:
the stock kit w/ monster-t and a DH saddle at the moment
Bottom Line:
Cliff drops, loooong vert. chutes, and any other time where you want to go as fast as your eyeballs can handle in a straight line I don't think there is anything else that comes close. This bike will go stupid fast, you'll find yourself pedaling to go faster down stuf that's steep to begin with. And even though the bike weighs aprox. 54 lbs. with the monster you can still pedal pretty good. That said, I don't like this setup at all; If you have arms like tree trunks and like to ride really aggressively you might be alright cause you can just muscle it through everything. The head angle is retardedly slack when you sag into the suspension. You MUST keep your speed up because the bike is unmanageable at low speed. The Monster-T is as ridgid as, well, a ridgid fork. Unless you are on-top of it the whole time the fork will deflect latterally off of stuf and because the bike sticks to the ground like its on rails, the bike will just keep going in that direction, even if its off the trail, and as I said earlier its a big bike to pull back under you. Bottom of the bottom line: the bike is a lot of work to ride. You could do it, but a setup with a shorter wheel base, steeper head angle, and lighter fork, like the dorado I'm ordering tomorrow, this bike will be a lot better for me. With the monster the bike feels invincible in a straight line. I gave it a 5 out of 5 cause even though I don't like the way this setup rides you feel like you are riding something special when your're on it. Its a very solid bike. It goes as fast as you want in a straight line. This review is more of a comentary on the fork cause the rear-end does what they say it should and thats amazing. I'll try and update this soon as I should get my dorado by this weekend. In the meantime I'm going to go and ride the steepest, fastest stuff I can find cause the bike is absoulutely incredible in a straight line and I will miss that feeling of absolute invincibility. But I'm sure the dorado will make this bike much much faster overall. But my brand new monster-t (well, ridden a little) in the pink bike classifieds.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nick Moreda
a Downhiller
from santa rosa Date Reviewed: October 21, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Boondocks
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$7200.00
Purchased At:
from santa cruz and santa rosa cyclery
Strengths:
10inch bike that you can sprint better than any other bike out there, takes up all the hits you can point it at and it is 42 lbs
Weaknesses:
a little long
Similar Products Used:
super 8 foes dh mono intense M1 Rocky Mountain Rm7
Bike Setup:
Dorado, hadley dura-ace, king, xtr, mavic
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike i have ever ridden it weighs two lbs. less than a super8 and it pedals better and has two more inchs. of travel for being a long bike it corners with the best of them. I canceled my order on a M1 for this bike and i have no regrets on it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
john
a Racer
from dublin Date Reviewed: October 21, 2002
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4400.00
Strengths:
strength,looks,it gives you confidence
Weaknesses:
the bike goes through rear rims pretty quickly because the back end sticks to the ground like glue, but all you need to do is run rear tire pressures higher than normal
Similar Products Used:
gt dhi, intense m1, kona stab and stab primo
Bike Setup:
ti nitrade boxxers and xtr
Bottom Line:
this bike is the best thing avaidable on the market. it gives you so much more confidence than you'd get on any other bike so you can pedal where you'd brake normally.
2 things bothered me about the bike before i got it, the head angle being to steep because of the 4 inches of sag spending money on rims every 6 months but a good test run on one soon had me sorted.
NOTHINGS BETTER
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
George
a Downhiller
from LA,CA,USA Date Reviewed: September 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:
yes
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
A bike shop
Strengths:
Hand built in the USA.
Weaknesses:
took a month and a half to get
Similar Products Used:
many
Bike Setup:
perfect
Bottom Line:
Strong long travel bike...when SETUP RIGHT there is litte or no pedal "bob" at all...The gut at the top must have the shock set up wrong or is misstaking the fork "bob" for shock "bob"...Also my bike is 46lbs...with a Shiver and doublewides. P.S. The VPP is CrAzY....Thumbs up all the way...oh ya did I say Hand made in the USA
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ladge
a
from Colorado Date Reviewed: September 18, 2002
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Mountain and Road Bicycles
Strengths:
Ten inches of travel but pedals like a soft tail, 5th element shock, floating rear brake option, heavy (durable?), backed by Santa Cruz warranty. Not as expensive as some other DH racing frames.
Weaknesses:
Oddball rear hub only offered in 32 hole, routing brakes somewhat of a pain, ajusting the 5th element is difficult on this frame, heavy (please don't make me pedal this uphill).
Similar Products Used:
Shopped V10 vs. Intense, Kona Stinky 9, Iron Horse SGS, Yeti DH-9.
Bike Setup:
Avalanche DHF 8.0, Hadley Hubs, Race Face Splined DH Cranks, Atomic Trailpimp Rims, Easton Mag VRS Stem, Pro-Tapers, Chris King Steelset, Azonic Loveseat, Thompson Post, FSA DH Bottom Bracket, Mr. Dirt Gizmo, SRAM, Maxxis
Bottom Line:
It has ten inches of travel, but pedals like a two inch travel xc bike. It pedals through the nastiest rocky/rooty lines so smoothly you'd have to try it yourself to believe it.
The first impression you get sitting on the bike is an odd experience to say the least. Setting up 30-40% sag makes it feel like you've lost all the travel in the sag. But the first ride down a nasty DH run quickly shows that the big travel is there and waiting when you need it. Again, you'd have to ride one to believe how well it works. The V10 is a major confidence builder. Lines that were sketchy before are no big deal on the V10. Not to rip off any mag articles on the V10, but it really does give the rider a safe feeling - leaving the rider confident no matter what kind of terrain you throw at the bike.
Setting up the 5th element on this bike is very important. The frame comes with factory settings for different rider weights. These are good to use as a baseline setting, then tweaking slightly for rider preferences. Be aware that adjusting the 5th element on the V10 is a complete pain when trying to dial in the beginning and ending stroke compression.
It's a fairly heavy frame. The large w/titanium spring and floating disc weighed in at exactly 12.5lbs ( rear hub included ). Good from the standpoint that it appears to be very durable ( time will tell ). The downtube is MASSIVE. The rear linkage is fairly beefy too. At the same time, this weight really keeps this bike from being a free-riding frame. As described, this one weighs 50.5 lbs.
I've heard from others these bikes tend to abuse rear wheels pretty badly. Most likely this is due to the rear wheels ability to stick to the ground like velcro. There's even a second mounting position for the rear floater to force more down pressure on the rear tire. I believe this bike is a chronic wheel buster if you are a hard rider. Less than three months on this bike, and it's already sent two atom lab trailpimp rims to the grave.
If you are looking for a DH specific bike with big travel that's backed by a good warranty and customer service, this is the frame for you. However, this isn't a user friendly free-ride bike. It's pretty much limited to lift served or shuttle rides.
I give this frame a high value rating, because really for the same money, what compares? Nothing else has 10 inches of travel, nothing else pedals like it has next to no travel, most don't have the floating brake option available, and even more don't have the 5th element. Overall it's a great frame, but I don't believe three months on a frame is enough time to say it's a strong, durable frame, which is reflected in the overall rating.
General things I've found out about the frame:
Don't get a layback style post with the bend in the post, unless you don't mind "bwwaaappping" the seat on the rear tire.
The headtube on this is extremely beefy. Santa Cruz says the steel headset is overkill and not needed on the frame. However since it was originally designed around the 7 inch boxxer ( but still can run 7-9 inch travel forks), I believe it's worth while especially if you are running a heavier fork than a boxxer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DHCO
a Downhiller
from Denver CO Date Reviewed: August 23, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Anything DH
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Not Super heavy for a DH rig with 10" Endless Travel Super Tuff Relatively cheep frame Amazing pedeler
Weaknesses:
I didn't find one
Similar Products Used:
Disco Volante, Trek Pro Issue DH, M1
Bike Setup:
Shiver DH,
Bottom Line:
This bike has so much travel that you almost can't bottom out. Pedels so smooth, it might as well be an XC bike. This frame is only $1800 - $2000. You can't make a better buy
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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