Submitted by
RacerBoy
a Racer
from Durango, Colorado, USA Date Reviewed: July 19, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Strengths:
Awesome bike the 5th element shock makes the bike the best. When your going uphill you don't bob like the average full suspension, you tear up the trail like a hard tail but as soon as you hit a rock the great suspenion kicks in perfectly so you dodn't get thrown up by the rock you just keep tearing it up.
Similar Products Used:
The origanal VPP Outland was one of the first full suspension bikes I owned and when I got it I loved it but when they went out of business cause there bushings stunk. I almost had a stroke from hearing that, Later when I herd about santa cruz getting the VPP I was in heaven a again. the nice thing about the blur is that they really made the VPP a lot better
Bike Setup:
Shimano XT&LX
Bottom Line:
The Bottom line is DEFINATLY GET A BLUR THEY ARE THE BEST OUT THERE, what can you say to a bike that doesn't bob up hills but still hits the bumps with no diffuculty. I think this is a great bike for anybody thats considering a fullsuspension
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Submitted by
Ethan
a Cross Country Rider
from Orange County, CA Date Reviewed: April 1, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
Back Alley Bikes
Strengths:
Where do I start. This bike is awsome!!! I bought this bike a little over a year ago and have about 1000 miles on it. It rides like no other bike I have riden. I can go down anything and not bottom out and the suspension works great, and there is no BOB. It responds instantly when you need to stand up and get moving. I am a 200+ pound rider and the frame has held up to me punishing it. Customer service is great.
Weaknesses:
Well unfortunatley there has been a couple weaknesses. I broke the link that conects the frame, shock, and the rear swing arm. It broke right in half. Customer service was great though. They sent out a replacement right away and got it fixed, no charge. Don't know if this is a weakness but had to replace the bushings in the link where the bottom of the shock attaches to it. I would say and as the bike shop explained to me that the bushings wear out over time and have to be replaced.
Bike Setup:
Gun Metal gray large frame, xt components, hayes disc brakes, spinergy cyclone disc wheels, 03 marzocchi marathon sl forks
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike. If you want something you can punish and not feel like the bike is punishing you back this is it. Its not too heavy but there are lighter bikes out there. Although I have mentioned a couple of weaknesses this bike truely has none. It climbs with the best of them and stand by going down hill you can hall *** and enjoy it.
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Submitted by
Jay Dwight
a Cross Country Rider
from Cummington, MA Date Reviewed: January 21, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
Competitive Edge
Strengths:
Where do I begin... This bike is a revelation. I usually discount the reviews that are based on short experience, but I have to say that the two times I rode this bike before two feet of snow ended single-track riding till spring were just off the chart. I've been riding a Breezer Beamer for, I don't know, seven, eight years, and loved it. When I finally snapped the frame- Softride sent me a beam rated for 220, and I am 160, but couldn't wait to return it and have them send the lighter unit- I went immediately and picked up the Blur. I'd already done my homework, talked to riders, and read all the reviews of possible replacements. The day I picked up the bike I didn't get home till dark, and rain was pouring down, as it had all year. No better time to test the new bike, I figured, and put on my light and went out into the woods. Three hours later I came out just plain dazzled. Like that guy in the Sam Adams Light ad, I was whooping and hollering. This thing is just plain cheating. I went over the usual slick mess of roots and rocks that is East Coast single-track, and I came off this bike I had never ridden before only once. I felt like I was on the couch with a clicker in my hand. It seemed too easy till the next day when I felt the full effect of what I'd done. My second ride was on the same track, only it had frozen, and had a dusting of snow on it. Same difference. The bike just breezed through what would have been a pretty dodgy proposition on the Beamer, and I didn't take a beating in the process.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Breezer #23, Beamer, and several other bikes over the years
Bike Setup:
Marathon SL, 5th L, Hayes disc, XT, Easton bar, stem, seatpost
Bottom Line:
Fabulous ride. I have carpal tunnel syndrome, and my hands took a beating riding single-track till I tried the Blur. Don't care if it is a bit heavy, as I pretty much stick to trail riding, and I would rather have the weight than a broken frame. Beautiful finish. I think that relative to the technology of road bikes, of which I have three of the best, this bike is cheap. Coming from a hard nose/tail bike, granted with a Softride beam, I am floored by the way this bike works. The complaints about Bob leave me wondering why those people haven't learned that Bob's your good buddy. Learn how to use it. At least on 1track, it can be an asset, and there's always room for improving one's spin.
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Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Fremont CA Date Reviewed: October 20, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Toads Wild Ride
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At:
Colorado Cyclist
Strengths:
Great looking durable anno finish , superb handling , great climber , great price and super plush .
Weaknesses:
Holes in lower left swingarm will collect small rocks and rattle - a lot . Do yourself a favor and put duct tape over the holes before first ride . A bit porky for XC racing .
Similar Products Used:
FSRs , Truth , Tracer , Superlite - very flexy , and a few hardtails not worth mentioning .
Bike Setup:
Large anno black fits me - 6' perfect . 5th element is a must , XTR drivetrain and disc brakes , Fox Talas RLC fork set at 104 mm , Monkey bars and seat post and Specialized Roll X tires .
Bottom Line:
Well after about a month of riding , the bike is simply amazing ! Does everything and I mean everything better than the other heavy hitters such as the Truth and Tracer and for less money . The bike climbs with the best of them when using the 5th element shock - no bob whatsoever and rips like a freeride bike on the downhills . The bike feels so plush because you are using all of the travel - often , unlike a 4 bar link wich rarely uses all of its travel and ramps up very harsh towards the end of its stroke . When setting up the 5th rear shock use the recomended sag and air pressures that Santa Cruz recomends and you will be right in the ball park . The bike has no flaws or weaknesses , those experiencing rear brake jack do not have the rear shock set up properly . I sold my Tracer frame for this one and could not be happier . I was a bit skeptical with all the hype and hoopla but it is all true , this is one of if not the finest mountain bike frame on the planet .
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Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh Date Reviewed: October 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
SpeedGoat
Strengths:
Soaks up all bumps big or small. Climbs like nothing else, unreal. Tracks very true.
Weaknesses:
The Fifth element $ucks. Went back to Fox.
Similar Products Used:
Titus racer X, GF Suger, Trek Fuel etc.
Bike Setup:
Steel Blue Ano w/ Fox rear, Fox F100(awesome), Mavic Cross Max XL, Sram XO, Race Face Turbine ISIS,Avid mech. ,XTR FR. Der.
Bottom Line:
I was skeptical about all the press and it took awhile until I bit. Rode a Blur at a race and that was it. The next week I was a proud owner. This bike is unreal. I rode this past weekend in the mountains and it take the big rocks and crushs them. Single track it flys. I can not find any weaknesses so far. I was climbing a short steep climb,standing a friend was watching and noticed that the rear does not move. The Blur has great traction on the rooty climbs. I just can't say enough. Yes, nothing is perfect, but it can be awesome.
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Submitted by
Luis
a Weekend Warrior
from Lisboa, Portugal Date Reviewed: October 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Arrabida
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
(frame only) LBS
Strengths:
This a frame only review, since I only rode 5 mile on the trail with the bike.
Blur (anno black 03 paint job)(large) with 5th Element Air: -Lots of travel for trail riding and cross country -2.4kg (L) with 5th Element Air -Good welding & paint job -Good looking! -two water botle mounts (good for lighting system & water combo)
Weaknesses:
None so far but only got it 2 days ago. The o-ring in the 5th element dissapired. The shock pressure settings for my weight make it too soft, and it bobs a little. Going to increase air pressure. The shock came with more pressure (170psi) in main air spring & IFP chamber than what they say that should be used.
Similar Products Used:
my Specialized Hardrock counts??? nahh. none. went with the hype and hope it is good. (in Portugal there arent test riding opurtunities with most bike brands)
Bike Setup:
SC anno black Blur (L size) wt 5th Element Air; Fox TALAS RLC, Chris King, Thompson stem, Easton EA30 handlebar wt Crank Brothers grips; Formula B4SL, Mavic X139 wt Hutchinson Python Airlight 2.0; LX Crankset, LX front derailer, XT in the back and EggBeater pedals. Thompson seatpost and Selle Italia SLR.
Bottom Line:
Welcome to the club!
Expensive. Month and a half salary gone... :| The overall rating is 5 chilis for what i've done already, altought I still have'nt it all dialed in. I'll post later a review, as kilometers get by...
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Submitted by
Alan Brown
a Cross Country Rider
from Paducah, KY Date Reviewed: September 29, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Next one
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1550.00
Purchased At:
Phat Tire
Strengths:
Very smmoth ride, minimal bob, superb climber.
Weaknesses:
Hard to find (but well worth the wait). Some front end wag on steep climbs. Minimal rear tire clearance.
Similar Products Used:
Most full suspension XC bikes, last bike GT XCR-1000.
Bike Setup:
Large frame, black anodized, Fox AVA, Marazochi Marathon SL, Mavic CrossMax SL, Thomson post/stem, Bontrager 2" riser, Avid discs, WTB Lazer V saddle and WTB 2.40/2.24.
I am 5'10", about 185# and ride XC pretty agressively.
Bottom Line:
Took forever to get my frame, but like nearly everyone else who actually owns a Blur, I could not be happier with this bike. It acelerates and climbs like it has a motor hidden somewhere! Descents are smooth and very controllable. I am on my third full suspension bike and have tried many of the top rated XC bikes and nothing else compares to the Blur (sure the Spyder is about the same but at almost $2000 for the frame...).
My only complaint is that there is a fair amount of front end wag while doing long, steep climbs. You have to stay focused to stay in the middle of the trail.
I just rode a trail that may have had more roots per mile than any I've ever seen and the Blur just ate this stuff up like it was smooth, hard dirt. It did not matter what line I took or angle I attacked the roots, it just went up and over with no monkey motion or wasted power. Like I said: it has a MOTOR!
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Submitted by
Matt McG
a Cross Country Rider
from Pleasant Hill, CA USA Date Reviewed: August 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
3rd divide, Downieville
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1350.00
Purchased At:
Sharp Bicycle
Strengths:
Versatile Handling Smooth
Weaknesses:
None discovered yet
Similar Products Used:
Giant XTC hardtail
Bike Setup:
Hayes discs, SID 100 fork, XT, Easton bars/stem/seatpost
Bottom Line:
I bought the frame only and had my local bike shop swap most of my current parts over to it, with a few upgrades. I'd read everything possible about all the latest trailbike offerings and looked like this was top of the heap - I have not been disappointed. I do mostly XC with a lot of climbing and this smooths out the trails, both up and down. Best thing, though is the versatility. I like a change of pace from XC occasionally, so I've taken it dirt jumping (held up fine, though I only weigh 160 lbs), road riding (with Specialized Fat Boy slicks), lift accessed downhill at Northstar, and shuttle runs at Downieville (you gotta do this if you live anywhere in Northern CA!) It whips thru steep, technical terrain like it was made just for it.
The trick on this bike is to spend a few extra bucks for a set of downhill tires for weekend trips to the mountains. I just got a pair of 2.35/2.25 IRC Kujo DH's for my trip to Downieville and they turned the Blur from a fast XC ride into a respectable downhiller - those tires feel like an extra inch of suspension and the're bulletproof in rocky conditions.
Buy the Blur - you'll wonder why you've waited this long! Great bike. It ain't cheap, though.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
G Man
a Downhiller
from Portland, OR, USA Date Reviewed: July 10, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Hospital Hill
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2700.00
Purchased At:
Cycle Gallery
Strengths:
Probably be the best FS XC bike ever made. Bob. Hey Bob! Where's Bob? GONE FOO! The guy at the bottom of the page is sadly mistaken - he, obviously, was too heavy for the Blur's rear shock pressure compared to the Superlight's which was probably spot on for his fat a**! I've been riding Santa Cruz's for ten years and this one takes them all down for XC use. You'll be much faster, especially UPHILL than on a Superlight! VPP keeps the up and down shock motion separate from the forward motion of the bike so you don't lose pedalling efficiency. NO single pivot, rising rate design can do that! Get an engineering degree and figure it out MO!
Weaknesses:
This doesn't cross into the downhilling or even freeriding realm so don't go huckin with it! It does what it was intended to do - an excellent XC ride that can deliver the goods on technical XC trails.
Similar Products Used:
Like, every FS bike out there!
Bike Setup:
Fox Float R (does the job), Fox Float RLC (best air fork), Hayes 6" (JUNK), XT comps, Easton carbon bars and post (JUNK), Onyx hubs (JUNK), Profile stem, King Headset, Kenda Karma rear and Panaracer Dart front (GREAT setup for this bike).
Bottom Line:
Unbelievable FS XC bike - buy one if you can get your paws on one. As for the guy below me hypin the discs, I absolutely glazed the bejeezuz outta them while runnin the Blur on the downhill course at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl (I don't want to hear it - I DID have the lightest bike on the mountain that day ). PROPERLY set-up V-brakes (set them nearly parallel at rest for better leverage and get rid of the dummy spacers in the levers dummies!)work nearly as well and don't have the weight, maintenance hassle or cost penalty. If you want discs, get some Hayes 8" REAL discs. The 6" are a freakin joke! And if you're looking for 8" discs, you'd better be lookin for another frame because this is an XC bike! Discs on an XC bike is a waste of JINGO! Quit readin and start RIDIN!
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Submitted by
Adam
a
from Tustin,CA,USA Date Reviewed: April 18, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Strengths:
Great Bike!! suspension works great, when you need it its there, No Bob.
Weaknesses:
None,,,
Similar Products Used:
Heckler
Bike Setup:
Hayes Disc, Marz 03 Marathon, XT everything
Bottom Line:
This bike kicks butt. I had a hard tail and this bike is a dream. Makes going down hill alot more fun you don't feel the bumps hardly and when you need to stop, you can. Climbing is great too. I highly recomend this bike to anyone who is looking to get the most out of your money, and this is around your price range. It looks awsome too.
The Marzzochi forks work great once you get them dialed in I have not had any problems at all and they haven't leaked. The ecc is a great feature.
Disc brakes are great,,,if you are going to spend this much on a bike you might as well get the disc brakes. You will be much happier later when you ride a bike with discs and you don't have them.
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Submitted by
dr. no
a Weekend Warrior
from boulder,colorado Date Reviewed: April 6, 2003
Favorite Trail:
the one through my refrigerator
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
got it as a cristmas present
Strengths:
it is a god that rules over all bikes extreme verstality stable rideing looks like a bad muta futa
Weaknesses:
gods have no weaknesses
Similar Products Used:
this one girl
Bike Setup:
hayes, black super, easton bar/stem/seat post,full xtr(old)exept cranks (xt)
Bottom Line:
if you want a god if you want a bad muta futa if you want to ride like never before get this bike
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Submitted by
John Hendry
a Cross Country Rider
from North Shore Hawaii Date Reviewed: January 23, 2003
Favorite Trail:
West Maui Mountain/Pupakua
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Barnfield's
Strengths:
I just road a Santa Cruz Superlight. Really, really nice, but the Blur is better. The Super light eats your energy. The Blur conserves it.
Weaknesses:
Poor mud clarence on rear wheel as found on most bikes....that's it really.
Similar Products Used:
Outland VPP5
Bike Setup:
all XTR disk
Bottom Line:
Man.....this bike is really sweet! The new XTR disk brakes are hard to believe too. VPP rules rs bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Annandale, Va USA Date Reviewed: January 22, 2003
Favorite Trail:
your mom
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1475.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Lane
Strengths:
PLUSH!!!!!!!!!!! SUPER EFFICIENT!!!!!!!! its a santa cruz great geometry
Weaknesses:
hmmmmmmmmmmm, uhhhhh, no
Similar Products Used:
plushness: Giant AC, SC Bullit and Heckler, and Kona Stinky efficiency: Trek Fuel, Specialized Epic
Bike Setup:
borrowing my friends parts now until my parts arrive. His frame was recalled so his parts were uselsess so he let me use them.
Bottom Line:
This is a fantastic bike. I can't believe the guy below me who is actually comparing a POS warp to this especially when he only demoed it. I've ridden a warp and it bobs like hell. This bike doesn't bob at all. I weigh 145 lbs. and have the shock set at 130 psi which is 5/8" sag. The max that SC recommends. This results in no bob but absorbs everything and has a floating sensation on bumpy descents. I'll post a follow up review once I get more miles on the bike along with my new parts. When my friend rode this bike, he quoted Ferris Bueller when he said, "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly reccomend picking one up." If god had an fs/xc bike, this would be it.
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Submitted by
Phillip Wright
a Cross Country Rider
from Bracknell, UK Date Reviewed: January 3, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Mountain Trax, Wokingham UK
Strengths:
Very plush and smooth. Very comfortable and easy to ride. Well balanced between front suspension and rear suspension.
Weaknesses:
Not as good at climbing as I would have hoped. Acceleration good but not great.
Similar Products Used:
Ellsworth Truth. Rocky Mountain ETS-X70.
Bike Setup:
Fox Float RLC front, Float R back, Hope minis, Deore/LX/XT, Thomson post/stem, MonkeyLite riser bar. Own Mud Pros (its muddy here big time!!
Bottom Line:
A great bike which deserves to be tested by anyone looking to spend this kind of money. Will suit the aggressive cross-country rider who likes downhills better than uphills. Far more refined and educated than the ETX-X70 (which I thought felt very agricultural) and is clearly very capable downhill and along the flat. I was particularly impressed with the matching of the Float R at the back with the Float RLC at the front which made the ride balanced - my old Marin Mount Vision would always tend to "buck" with its poor matching of the back (Float R 100mm) with the front (Manitou SXTi 80mm). I thought the R-D spec was a real mix-and-match affair with a great fork and brakes but low-spec. drivechain. At this price, a full XT drivetrain would have been expected by me and demanded by the bike! I say great but not outstanding which I would have looked for at this price. Its doesn't handle, accelerate or climb anywhere near the Ellsworth Truth which feels much more special than the Blur. At a lower price, the Blur would get a 5 rating but at this price it just doesn't match up to the Truth. This is only my opinion and you should try them both before deciding which hits the spot for you!
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Submitted by
Mr Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: December 5, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
Helen's Cycles
Strengths:
Plush rear suspension, seems to love jumping and bunny hopping. The Blur lands soooo smooth off jumps or drops. Awesome in tough technical rocky stuff and it feels like a very capable downhill bike.
Weaknesses:
I wasn't all that impressed with the bikes climbing ability, and on my bike at least there was definitely some bobbing going on during pedaling.
Similar Products Used:
Tested several bikes, I own a Giant Warp
Bike Setup:
Fox 100mm air shock up front, disc brakes.
Bottom Line:
Make of this review what you want, but I have to say I wasn't all that impressed with the Blur as a dedicated XC bike. I took my demo Blur through a 14 mile group of trails in the Santa Monica Mountains that had a little bit of everything -- lots of climbs, rock beds, mud, dry sand, gravel, long downhills, tight singletrack, and a few little jumps. I do this trip on my Warp, which is a 34-pound DH/Freeride oriented bike costing only half as much as the blur FRAMESET, and I expected the blur to school me on what a "real" XC mountain bike can do.
I was surprised to find that, at least in the XC arena, the Blur didn't feel all that sharp compared to my Warp. Acceleration seemed fairly good ... didn't blow me away though. Climbing -- what I was most looking foreword to (“climbs like a scalded monkey”) -- was just a bit better than I was used to. I still had to bump down to granny-gear in the same places as always. And there was definite biopacing and a fair amount of “pogo” in the rear shock when pedaling ... not a huge deal but definitely not a “no-bob” system when I rode it. Don't know what was up with that. The store suggested maybe the rear shock was setup wrong, but the sag was right like it should have been, and other than the biopacing the rear suspension worked really well. And I noticed a lot of bouncing around when pedaling even before we took air out of the shock (to adjust for my 140lb weight).
Back on the positive side though, the Blur and I started to get along much better during the rocky technical sections. It pulled me through the jagged terrain as easily and as comfortably as I imagine any bike can. I credit some of this to the awesome Fox Float 100mm air shock on the front.
And I really began to love the Blur when I started doing stuff involving a little air under the wheels. I was totally blown away by how the bike seemed so light when I wanted to hop over something ... and landing was incredibly stable and smooth. Landing on "cat's feet" describes the feeling exactly.
IN CONCLUSION In my opinion and based on my style of riding, the Blur is a good "all mountain" bike, with a bias towards moderate downhilling, rough-terrain, and anything else that might require a plush rear suspension. But for XC use including a lot of climbing, I'm looking into other options ... a superlight probably, which to me felt very crisp where the Blur was not.
4 chili's for value not because this one is cheap but because others are so expensive. 4 chili's overall because the Blur didn’t live up to the hype as an XC bike, but I’ve got to give it respect as an awesome “all mountain” or similar machine.
$ 3007.00
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