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Submitted by
tony
a Cross Country Rider
from san diego
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Durability, simplicity of design, great geometry for all day riding, flexy rear end, great bargain | | Weaknesses: | Weight, drivetrain induced pedal feedback | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Truth, Titus Motolite, Trek Liquid, Trek Fuel, Titus Loco Moto, Santa Cruz Superlight......many, many more | | Bike Setup: | XC | | Bottom Line: | I've been beating this thing for 5 years now and this is a follow up review. While the Bullit is no longer being made, I have to say the design is a lasting one as there is an iteration of the single pivot from almost every manufacturer these days. While the biggest detractor is the pedal feedback in the small ring, there's not much else to complain about outside of the heft. It was never meant to be an xc racer and for my use as an all-mountain/xc ride, there's hardly anything new out there today that can match the Bullit in regard to durability, weight, value, and sheer performance.
Nothing fancy about this design, but it just plain works. If the Santa Cruz Bullit were a car, it'd be that hard working, beat up, reliable pick-up truck that just gets the job done.
I've gone through steel, carbon, ti, 4-bar, mac-strut, other single-pivots and I can say that of the 20+ bikes I've owned, the Bullit has been my tried and true favorite.
The best thing I can say about this is that if it ever breaks, I'll go out and get another one........new or used. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Bowers
a Downhiller
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Dogbone, Northstar | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Everything. Great at downhill, freeride, dirt jumping... etc. Strong, single pivot design. can be set up for agressive XC or FR and DH. Inspires confidence. | | Weaknesses: | fox rc is decent, but upgrade to a 5th element and 7 inches travel | | Similar Products Used: | specialized bighit, yeti asx, cortina dh8, demo 9, enduro, kona stinky, V10, orange 222 etc...
| | Bike Setup: | bullit, whitebrothers dh2, hayes, MRP, North Shore cranks, trail pimps, azonic, chris king, thomson... | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike and wouldn't trade it for anything... except maybe the vp free. It feels great on steeps, 15 foot drops, big jumps, rockgardens... it feels a lot more nimble and not as sluggish as a full on dh bikes. The perfect bike if you are looking for a freeride bike that is also good at downhill and is possable to ride uphill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from The Right Coast
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything with rocks | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Mid State Cycles | | Strengths: | Durable
Excellent ride, corners, handles excellent.
Suspension works well | | Weaknesses: | None at all | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Zoke 5" QR20 fork
LX/XT Mix
CK Wheels
Hayes Hydros
Carbon bar
Thomson post | | Bottom Line: | What can I say? Going on four seasons and riding this bike still makes me happy. The pivot bearing is still tight and smooth and the brakes outside of swapping the pads have never been touched. This bike has a few thousand miles on it easily. The shock needs to be serviced (for the 2nd time) so I'll take this opportunity to upgrade to a 5th element. I guess I'll hang on to this frame until it cracks, which may be a long time from now !
If you're looking for a long travel trail bike and don't mind the additional heft I can't see how you can go wrong !
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a
from Modesto, CA
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow-up review for the frame...I'm 230 lbs. and I have hammered this bike! I've broken two Specialized full suspension frames. I use it for XC, trail riding, jumping, and DH. Now keep in mind my weight...it's survived 5 foot drops to concrete, 6-8 foot drops onto dirt transitions (basically any drop I can get up the courage to do), and BMX track jumping when all I knew how to do was case every double. It's biggest claim to fame is how well it performs and holds up to my weight on harsh DH chair lift days (i.e. Whistler mountain bike park). I'm amazed at how much abuse it can take! I do stuff on it that should be reserved for a full-blown DH bike. And it rides so smooth. It's simplistic design makes it effortless to maintain and ensures years of reliable service. So you do end up breaking it...Santa Cruz offers a no-fault lifetime warranty to the original owner (you can get a new main frame for around $450 and a swing arm for around $250). That's a lot cheaper than shelling out $1,200 again. Bottom line: it's one of the best performers and THE best value in the business! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
carlos
a Downhiller
from zaragoza aragon españa
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | pinares de venecia in my city | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | a guy from guadalajara (SPN) | | Strengths: | the best of the bike is the well contruction of the frame, don´t crack!! | | Weaknesses: | the worst thing is unavailable disc of 8" and the part where i fix the shifter, doesn´t remove | | Similar Products Used: | a national brand, monty, made a similar frame, about 6" of travel, giant atx 1 dh,... | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi jr. t ´01 formula 4racing 03, stronlgiht century, xt/xtr, mavic d521, michelin, kujo dh.... | | Bottom Line: | la bici esta bien pero lo dicho, lo de la puntera del shifter y no poder poner disco de 8"... eso es lo malo, pero para subir lo hace bien y el bajar mejor.
ARAGON YE NAZION! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MIKE D.
a Weekend Warrior
from BRUSSELS BELGIUM
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | COTE QUI CRAQUE | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | HOT WHEELZ | | Strengths: | CLEAN DESIGN ,HANDLING ,SUSPENSION FEEL WITH 5TH ELEMENT ,A 7" TRAVEL BIKE THAT ACTUALLY CLIMBS! | | Weaknesses: | NO REPLACEABLE DROPOUT(CURED WITH A SRP WRECK DEFIER BOLT).BIT OF CHAIN GROWTH. | | Similar Products Used: | KONAS ,SPECIALIZED ,SUS1300(great lateral travel,not much vertical though) ETC. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 17" FRAME,5TH ELEMENT ,SUPER T PRO 2003 ,HOPE M4 ,KING H/SET AND HUBS ,MAVIC D3.1 ,GAZZALODDIS ,DEORE ,XT ,AZONIC STEM ,THOMSON ,DMR PEDALS ,SDG ,ODI. | | Bottom Line: | WANT A BIG HIT BIKE BUT NEED TO RIDE UP THE HILL?HERE'S YER TICKET MATE! AWESOME HANDLING WITH THE SUPER T ,5TH ELEMENT SHOCK IS FAB:100 TIMES BETTER THAN THE FOX. IDEAL BIKE FOR HEAVY DUTY FREERIDE AND AMATEUR DH RACING.NOTHING BAD TO BE SAID REALLY.BIT OF PEDAL FEEDBACK MAYBE... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike DiStefano
a Downhiller
from Scottsdale, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Papago Canal Park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Showcase | | Strengths: | This bike rules the trails. Not only can you drop the sickest lines or huck the big gaps, you can also climb back up the hill! | | Weaknesses: | 8' rotor in the rear would be key, no replacable dropout. build kit is weak, beef up the bb | | Similar Products Used: | bighit, kona stinky, giant atc | | Bike Setup: | large frame, monster t, sun doublewides,azonic stem,bars,loveseat,raceface ns with bash,fox vanilla rc | | Bottom Line: | I have thought about getting a dh only frame, but you can do all the big stuff on the bullit.I am 100/ satisfied with this one and recomend anyone to take one for a spin. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Radford
a Weekend Warrior
from Roblin, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Whiskey on the Rocks, Rossland,B.C. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$5500.00 | | Purchased At: | Frame and Fork West Coast Cycles/ build kit at Larry's Bike Shop in Kelowna | | Strengths: | Very nimble on the trails and on the stunts. Very solid feel on the little hits and on the 10 footers. More than decent climber considering it weighs in around 40lbs. The Fifth Element has 7 inches and lots of dialing in to work with-have been playing with the rebound dampening and have found that is very nice on the bigger hits. Very plush and capable 7" boxxer with ti/nitride up front. front and back 8" rotors in fr/back are very nice when you need them. | | Weaknesses: | My rear-fifth element- shock needs to have the air pressure pumped up on every ride(but the manual does tell you this). I am wondering where my air pressure is going and will this be a problem in the future? I keep it at around 125psi. but on the next ride it is always around 110psi. I am not sure that my Fox pump which came with the fork is messing with me or not? There is some pressure loss when you take the pump off the shock valve so you need to put the pressure higher if you want a good setting.
My frame is a 2002 but SC has made changes midway through the 2002 model. The seat tube is now straight, there are cable/hydraulic hose routings, and a beefy top/down/head tube gusset was added in (all great additions so look for the differences if you are buying soon).
The paint, yah well. It just looks tough with the chips! And really i drop the dam thing on rocks so what do you expect!
| | Similar Products Used: | Norco VPS Launch and Team DH, Specialized FSR. And a handful of others that didn't make enough of an impression to remember their names. | | Bike Setup: | Dream Bike for me! Full XTR, Hayes Hydraulic 8" fr/back, Boxxer with Ti/nitride 7", Progressive Fifth Element with 7", Race Face Diablo stem, Chris King headset, Race Face DH bar, RF XY seatpost(warrantied once allready), RF splined BB and DH crankset, Mavic 521 with Formula(F) and XT(R) hubs, ODI grips and Lockjaws(fantastic), Schwalbe Space 2.35 tires. | | Bottom Line: | I took my time riding a lot of different bikes, some good and some not so. But it came down to two things for me. One, it fit me really well(large size)and comfort in the saddle means a lot more time spent on the ride! Two, SC Bullit has a great reputation as a bike that can do the dirty deeds we tend to enjoy in our little freeride world!
You can build up your bullit a lot cheaper or even more expensive but if your gonna do it... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Braden
a Downhiller
from St.Albert AB Canada
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The One I Haven't Ridden | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3250.00 | | Purchased At: | A BIke Shop | | Strengths: | Everything...Basicly i think every part of this bike is beautiful..Amazing craftsmanship, Beautiful Shock, Sexy Paint, And I'll Never have to worry about bending another derailer hanger. | | Weaknesses: | I havn't found one yet | | Similar Products Used: | Norco Vps 1, All sorts of Devincis, Rocky Rm7, Giant DH Comp,Fisher Repack, Norco Shore,Specialized Team DH, Specialized Big Hit Pro, Santacruz Super 8 | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Bullit Frame, Fox Vanilla RC, 2002 Marzocchi Super T, Shimano XTR cranks, Shimano XT Hydros, Mavic D 321's | | Bottom Line: | If you want an absolutly perfect bike which feels plush yet never bottoms is light for what it is and can take the big hits and u like to upgrade over the years basicly u can tack anything on to a bullit without worrying about compatibility (24 inch wheels a Monster T Shivers etc.)and now with all the available shock upgrades its more versatile than ever.THIS IS DEFINATLY THE BIKE FOR YOU and you can't complain about the indestructable hanger and sexy custom paint jobs which they offer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Runcidude
a Weekend Warrior
from Lancashire, UK
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Coed y Brenin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Cafe, Canmore | | Strengths: | Great frame, light, climbs well for the amount of travel it has. Thinking of realising its full potential though by adding a 5th Element Ti shock and Risse Trixxy fork = 7" of lush travel at each end. | | Weaknesses: | Weak paint jobs - SC should spend some of the time that other manufacturer's do on a good paint job or hard anodising. cables rub through in days. Fox Vanilla RC shock - ask yourself why Santa Cruz have changed to Progressive's 5th Element????? Because the Fox is crap and the their service is worse. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Avalanche, GT Zaskar LE, GT Zasker Race, GT LTS DH, San Andreas, | | Bike Setup: | Bullit 01 frame, Z1 MCR QR20s (new Dirtjump lowers), WTB Laserdisc DH wheels, Conti Survival Pro 2.3s. Hope M4 (awesome brakes), Monkey lite carbon bar, ODI lock-ons, Raceface Northshore, V12 pedals, XTR/XT mix, Avid Flakjackets. | | Bottom Line: | About to get a serious additional upgrade as I realise I am only using half the potential of this frame. Risse Trixxy 7" going on the front end, current Z1s are good but out of synch with the potential of the rear end. 5th Element with Ti spring going on there (7.5") as the Fox Vanilla RC is crap and has blown after very little hard work at all. What can one say, I would love to be able to ride this bike as hard as it can take it. The set up helps build confidence and skills fast catching up after several years off due to work commitments. This like is what MTB riding is all about. A classic and if I don't upgrade it I will keep it as is and buy the 2002 frame to build into a Dh/ freeride beast. Full 7" travel and good climbing ability with a 34lb build. People in my club give me strange looks when I turn up for a XC ride but the additional work on the uphills is rewarded on the down where I can hit almost anything and ride away from it. The fun has just begun with this baby and it is going to love forever as far as I am concerned. Would give it 6/5 if I could. Would only get 4/5 if I wasn't replacing the Fox (POS that it is!!!). Get out there and buy one and open a whole new world of riding!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Rogers
a Downhiller
from Prince Rupert B.C.
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | celltower | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | mcbike /terrace | | Strengths: | This bike is the best bike I have ever ridin!! It handles every thing 6 to 10 foot drops and I dont even feel them! the over sized tubing is really #$%#@ strong and there is not much to mess up on the frame it is real simple. | | Weaknesses: | These really dont matter but the only ones are no 8" on the back and weak paint but those dont really matter. | | Similar Products Used: | This bike is better then all the other bikes I have ridin | | Bike Setup: | Santacruz bullit 2001,Dirt jumper 1's, fox 6" rear,hays 8" front, 6" rear, North Shore XS,XT rear D, and so on... | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike I have ever tried If u are looking for a new bike stop now and buy this bike it u will be very happy with it. It does it all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Downhiller
from Corona, Ca, US
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Skyline (Troy Lee Trail) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | sshhhhh | | Strengths: | OMFG yes the stiffness is so good. The frame itself is pretty light and the single pivot design is so simple, pretty hard to screw something up there. The fox shock was ok until i bolted on my 9" romic which put my 01 bullit at 7" plush plush plush inches of speed sensitive travel. | | Weaknesses: | NO 8" ROTOR IN THE REAR?!?!!@#$% whats the deal with that. The bike is yelling for an 8" rotor when riding fast trails like snow summit. Other than that none. Except I have one small question. Santa Cruz says the 01 bullit cant handle a 7" fork.. Well I just put my 02 super T on it and now I am afraid to hit anything big:(
If theres anyone else out there running an 01 bullit with 7" or more in the front let me know!!! | | Similar Products Used: | GT i-drive (CRAP CRAP CRAP OMFG SO MUCH CRAP) | | Bike Setup: | 01 bullit, 02 super t, xt shifter pod and der, mrp guide, intense 2.7s front and rear!! romic shock (omg dont waste your money and time waiting for SC to come out with the progressive kit, just go to romic in hisperia and they will build you a shock right infront of you for $350. this shock is so amazing, will make your bike feel like a dirtbike) | | Bottom Line: | If an 8" rotor could fit on the back of this pig i'd be happy with this bike for life. WTF am i talking about i'm still happy with this bike. Im gonna give it 5 flaming thingies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dougie
a
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything steep n' deep | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | The sheer Beefiness of this baby. Takes everything I throw at it with ease. Santa Cruz' reputation is second to none. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | everything else. And I mean everything: Kona, Intense, Fisher, Karpiel, Ellsworth, GT, Yeti, K2, Schwinn, Marin, etc. (i'm a bike tester for a magazine), | | Bike Setup: | boxxer, hayes, race face NS cranks, Answer pro taper, Tioga Ithys, Sun double wides, Maxxis MOFO's | | Bottom Line: | I've tried alot of bikes, and there's alot of crap out there that shouldn't be. The Bullit isn't one of them. This bike is the most capable whip i've ever rode. I travel to North Van on a monthly basis, and it's like the bike was carved from there. Do yourself a favor, stop looking right now. I mean it...STOP!!! You're not listening to me. You have to end your search ....right now! The Bullit really is the living end. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Richards
a Weekend Warrior
from farmington NM US
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3300.00 | | Purchased At: | PTP | | Strengths: | Basically every aspect of this is a strength. It is an all around bad ass rig. Eats drops for breakfast. And plus it climbs very well for a longer travel full suspension. | | Weaknesses: | None, except i would like to be able to run a larger tire size. | | Bike Setup: | Lg frame transparent red with black swing arm, Mrp kit with Race Face north shore cranks. Xt Derailleur. Hayes Hydralic disk brakes with 8" rotor up front and 6" in the rear. Monster T. Wtb laser disk dh wheels and Wtb Moto 2.4 tires. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line can be summarized using two words Mutha Trucka. This is a Mutha Trucka of a bike. One of the best ive owned. If you purchase this bike dont forget to keep your pants on. Take it form me pants are important. And so is the Santa Cruz BULLIT. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Ken
a Downhiller
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | ladies first | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | No weird design on this bike. Single pivot=simple, strong, effective. Climbs like a dream. Very light for a freeride/dh bike. Love the oversized tubing. Matches a monster t pefect. | | Weaknesses: | are you for real? | | Similar Products Used: | cove gspot, giant XTC, Ellsworth dare (but only for a weekend). | | Bike Setup: | 'zoke monster t, panaracer fire dh's..2.45, Sun rhynolites, thomson stem & post, shim xt hyds. | | Bottom Line: | I thought the gspot was a sweet rig. My new Bullit wipes it all over the hill. I literally am laughing when droppin in on a new line that's rutted and tight. I thought the bike would be sluggish and slow to respond due to the huge tubing. Ah, no...WRONG!! The bullit is as tight as you want it to be, and opens up for wicked descents. I was on an eight hour epic once in Greece, and I thought before I left that after the ride, I'll be looking for a new lighter xc bike. Again, wrong! The bike performed top notch. All those things you've been hearin about the bullit, believe it! IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST ALL AROUND 6" TRAVEL RIG ON THIS PLANET. Hands down.
I'm gone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert
a Downhiller
from Golden, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Going down-The shore | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | total to date-$4876 cdn | | Strengths: | Monster sized tubing on this puppy. I take way gnarlier lines now that I'm on the Bullit. Soaks up babyheads and eats drops for breakfast (i'm talking 6-10 ft-ers) AND...climbing is unreal. Was scared shi*less to climb with it, but I was in awe how well it did. There's a reason why they sell alot of these: they are the shi*!! Look no further, boyz. | | Weaknesses: | excuse me? | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR, Aeon Joker, Rocky RM6 | | Bike Setup: | Hayes hydraulics, '99 Boxxer, xt/xtr package, king head n' hubs, Mavic Crossmax w/IRC Kujo's (2.5's) | | Bottom Line: | I'm sold on this rig. I thought my Joker climbed well...can't hold a candle to the Bullit (plus when I SNAPPED the downtube away from the bb doing a totally calm huck (5-1/2' or so) on the Joker, getting it fixed by Ellsworth took almost a year and a half!! I was so pi**ed off that I practically gave the bike away. The dudes at SC rock, totally go out of their way to accomodate). I've done a couple of DH races this year on the Bullit. The first two, I got 2 and fourth respectively, and the field was massive. Was awesome, I flew by about 3 or 4 ellsworth freaks on the second race, with a huge sh**eating grin on my face. The Boxxer is so well matched to this bike, it feels like an mx bred unit. As far as the rear derailer complaints go, you guys should run a xtr setup. The derailer will snap long before the hanger bends. Go read the website, there's a reason why it's not replacable! Anyway, if you want a brawny climber, and the best retail descender out there, go plop down two large and start building one up...you won't regret it, I promise you. I give it 487,898,789,897, billion flaming chillies. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Modesto, CA
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Northstar & Downieville (Tahoe) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Strengths: | *Beefy, oversized frame tubing.
*Fox Vanilla RC rear shock (6 inches of travel).
*Simplistic, low maintenance single pivot design.
*Life-time, no fault replacement warranty.
| | Weaknesses: | *Paint is not durable. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR Enduro | | Bike Setup: | *Fox Forx (Vanilla R - 125mm)
*Sun Rhino Lite rims with WTB 2.4 Motoraptors
*Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes
| | Bottom Line: | This is THE ultimate DO-IT-ALL machine!
*WANT TO RIDE XC? It pedals efficiently ("bob" is NOT a problem). At 220 pounds, I can climb anything my out-of- shape body can take me. Mine weighs 33.5 pounds (very lite for a bike with 6 inches of travel in the back & 5 inches up front). I saw a 16 year old kid break the course record (set by a pro) on the Downieville "downhill" course (which is 50% XC).
*WANT TO BOMB DOWNHILL? It is tough enough to handle 5-6 foot drops (probably too much bike for most people). It is extremely smooth & stable at high speeds over very technical terrain (perfect for rides like Northstar, Downieville, & Northshore).
*"VERSATILITY" is the Bullit's middle name (which makes it a great value...you will have to shell out a couple grand, but it will be the last time). The Bullit is the only bike you will ever need (unless you are a PRO downhiller or XC racer). The bullit will shine in any situation you put it in. I rode with a guy this weekend who, after riding the Bullit, decided to buy one (this was after he swore the Giant AC1 was the ticket). If you are going to get serious about aggressive riding, get a Bullit. The initial investment will pay huge dividends. You will quit mountain biking before the Bullit quits on you.
*BUY IT IF...You are a big guy who wants to pound it downhill over obstacles at fast speeds...You are on a limited budget & need to make the next bike you buy the last bike you buy...You like good customer service...You are tired of trying/breaking "enduro-style" bikes (with too many weak pivot points) that just can't stand up to heavy duty riding.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a Downhiller
from North Shore,British Columbia in Canada
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Nutcracker | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Freaky Freddies Freeride Facility | | Strengths: | Single pivot...less maintence..overly built frame..exceptional welds | | Weaknesses: | None as of yet | | Similar Products Used: | Kona "Stinky dee-lux"...RM-9...Chuck...Ellisworth | | Bike Setup: | Raceface...Chris King...XTR...Atomic Labs wheelset...Hayes
...etc | | Bottom Line: | As you can tell by my location...I'm from the dreaded "North Shore". So this bike has seen drops and jumps that most of you riders will never see,and to a certain "experienced" mtb'er who shall remain nameless....YES,even a 10 foot drop on occasion...Just because you don't have the "marbles" to do it....Does NOT give you the right to call those who have...AND CAN do it names...grow up!!
For those looking for a outstanding freeride frame I recomend this frame highly!! It can handle virtually anything you can throw at it.But keep in mind...The Bullit is not a XC frame,so expect a bike on the heavier side.
As far as pedal bob goes...Let be real here shall we?? There is not a single full suspension bike on the market that does not suffer from this minor flaw..and the bullit is no exception to this...Heres a novel idea...try pre-loading your shock accordingly! If you can't do that little task then go buy a Huffy and quit your whining.
With the proper fork on a Bullit..(5" or more) you'll have a great freeride/urban assult/entry level downhiller.
All one has to do it point where you want to go and hang on.Your confidence will improve on this bike due to the great geometry of this frame.
5 smokers all around | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dennis
a Downhiller
from colorado
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Strengths: | Plush, seems to be well built | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, ghost shifts, bobbs | | Bike Setup: | manitou super nova, Hayes, xtr, etc. | | Bottom Line: | After reading peoples reviews of this frame, it seems this frame appeals to people who think they are sick "freeriders". "It handled my huge 10 ft. drop dude" Great! you probaby mean 10 inch drop, fool. Bottom line, if you don't care about weight and you don't mind a frame that bobs and you don't mind a little ghost shifting buy it. Yes, I've tried running a non stop piece of housing from front to back and it still ghost shifts. Frame will be more efficient once it's avail. with the Progressive shock. It's a good frame if it's the type of frame your looking for. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AMF
a Weekend Warrior
from Bolivia
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Strengths: | Solid, stiff bike. Good climber, amazing going down. | | Weaknesses: | What ? | | Similar Products Used: | Trek VRX 500, Y-Five 0, Y-33 | | Bike Setup: | Fox Vanilla RC, Stratos S5 20 mm TA, Answer Pro Taper, Kore B-52, full XTR drive with triple chain ring, Chris King headset, Shimano M636, Mavic 321's, Hayes Hydraulic 8" F, 6" R, ODI lock on's, Flack Jacket derailleur cables. | | Bottom Line: | I am doing things on this bike that I never thought possible compared to my previous Treks.
I am a little slower going up the hill but but it's not bad for a 40+ lbs bike.
On the way down is where this bike shines, I knocked off 60 seconds in one of the local DH trails last weekend and I'am doing 6 foot drops with no complaints from the bike (I am 6'1", 205 lbs)
If you don't mind carrying a little extra weight on the climbs and like to descend like a mad man without having to worry about breaking stuff this is the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Downhiller
from monmouth cty new jersey
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | hawthorne | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | planet bike old bridge | | Strengths: | this bike is unstoppable. great suspension no bobbing even in sprints. climbs like a hard tail. heavy bike but feels lighter then it is. | | Weaknesses: | is that even possible | | Similar Products Used: | gary fisher joshua, trek hardtail | | Bike Setup: | black bullit, marzocchi free ride fork, shimano, titec stem, azonic riser bars | | Bottom Line: | okay okay i have only had this bike for 2 days now but i have blazed up climbs that used to have me sucking wind smoked my 3 friends on hardtails on a few of them. and the descending was like i was riding a cloud. flew further on the jumps, carved tighter on the turns and just plain rode faster. i looked at a lot of bikes for the past year and really had my choice of almost any of them and i picked the bullit. if your a bigger rider( i am 6 foot 210 lbs) then you need a bike that isn't gona break. and the bullit is the bike. no bobbing( amazing for single pivot) it takes off in the sprints. can't wait to upgrade to disc brakes so i can go as fast as this bike is supposed to. if you have questions email me let me know whats up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DW Brown
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Moab PP Rim | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | This bike promotes confidence. Within a week of having the bike I was jumping off things I would never have dreamed of on my specialized. | | Weaknesses: | Heard alot of talk about ghost shifting. I have a little trouble but nothing worth complaining about | | Bike Setup: | XTR Rear, XT front. Hope DH4 disc brakes (which rock!) Z1 fork. | | Bottom Line: | I was originally riding the specialized FSR. I am a heavier guy @200+ and I never felt the CC bikes held up well for me. I was really worried about keeping up with friends if I went to the heavier free ride bike but unless your racing, CC bikes just dont cut it. This bike has improved my riding immensly. Friends from home could't believe how much I improved my riding and when they rode this bike, its all they talked about. Climbing is more work than on the light bike but what do you expect. I play around with the adjustable slide on the rear shock to adjust bike angle and I find this helps alot. On those long climbs I'll reach down and lock out the rear shock for the hardtail feel and its great. Playing around and learning how you like the bike setup is the key to making this bike climb. I would recomend it to anyone and I cant wait to take it to Moab next year! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe L.
a
from Snowmass, CO
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Moore Fun, Fruita(for now) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1150.00 | | Purchased At: | VBS | | Strengths: | Tough, stiff, plush, adjustable, Fox Vanilla RC. Climbs and rides like a much lighter bike even though mine weighs about 35lbs. Oh yeah, simple design. | | Weaknesses: | Little bit of pedal feedback, but hey wtf. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR | | Bike Setup: | Z1 MCR QR20, Sun Rhyno lite XL, Hayes 8" frt, Hayes 6" rr, Shimano XT derailers, Race Face LP Turbine Crankset, Titec 1.5" riser, Azonic Shorty Stem, Thomson seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike! It climbs great for a 5"/6" travel bike, hell it climbs great for any full-suspension. Z1 MCR QR20 with ECC doesn't hurt either(except for the poopy seals). I've been a long time Marzocchi fan/user but have had seal problems with every fork(just not a maintenance-free fork, big deal). Frt and rear are well balanced. Downhill is amazing especially with the easily adjustible travel and head tube angle. What a deal for a frameset. A lot of bike for a little dinero. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan
a Downhiller
from Littleton, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Quite possibly the most versatile bike in the world. You can take it freeriding downtown, then to the dual slalom or downhill track. Lighter than most DS/DH bikes... feels more nimble than others. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't come with it's own downhill course. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 model, 8" Hayes up front, 6" Hayes in rear, Raceface bottom bracket, Raceface Northshore cranks, XT/ Deore drivetrain, Titec stem, Azonic bar, Marzocchi Super T fork, Rhyno Lite rims (for the moment) | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike. It handles everything you can throw at it. I really really like the adjustable geometry... takes two seconds to do. Santa Cruz is quite possible the coolest company in the world when it comes to customer service and sales. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Cumbria, Engalnd.
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Helvellyn/High Street/Coed Y Brenin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | M&P Cycles, Staveley | | Strengths: | Everything about this frame is quality. I have found no weakness to date, other than...... | | Weaknesses: | Cable rub. PACE Carbon Armour patches sort this though. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing similar. 1st bouncer. Went from PACE RC200 F8 to this. | | Bike Setup: | Hope E4's, XT and XTR drive. Thompson pin, Easton bars and stem, Middlemurn crank and Z1CR forks | | Bottom Line: | This bike is superb. Almost 30lbs but rides so much lighter. Competed in two 24 hour races in the last 4 months on the bike and posted times as fast or faster than the other riders in the team (we came 11th at the last event! (and yes there WAS more than 11 teams)).
Downhill it flies, eats singletrack and even climbs well. 30lbs may seem heavy, but once it gets going its like Rolling Thunder.
Superb in every way, I am 6'6" tall and ride hard but there is no way I'm going to break 'ole Rolling Thunder! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a
from Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2900.00 | | Purchased At: | West Point Cycles | | Strengths: | Design - geometry - feedback.
Very Fast Tackles any Downhill Terrain. | | Weaknesses: | Have not found any weaknesses | | Similar Products Used: | New single pivot bikes.(Trek)(Orange)(Aeon)(Marin)
Similar but different. | | Bike Setup: | FreeRide-Downhill:WTB,RaceFace,Jr't. | | Bottom Line: | The SantaCruz Bullit is an extremely amazing mtb.
I did extensive research & came to a conclusion that this
was the bike I wanted.
Tough & rides like a dream, very light for a downhill
Climbs uphills easily.
What surprised me was the speed. Very Fast
Tackles any Downhill Terrain.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joshua Davis
a Weekend Warrior
from Tualatin, Oregon
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any trail with my Brother! (Cle Elum, WA) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3535.00 | | Purchased At: | Fat Tire Farm, Portland Oregon | | Strengths: | It's a Santa Cruz! Strong pivot. Great standover for a long travel bike and adjustability! Great travel in the rear, and NO, the rear hanger is NOT a weakness. | | Weaknesses: | Can wearing paint really be a weakness? When I initially set up the sag, it ended up a little light for what this bike was intended. The right spring corrected this however. | | Similar Products Used: | Intense, Rocky Mtn, Kona and Mongoose. I shopped around and demo'd quite a bit. | | Bike Setup: | Dream Bike USA BABY! Thompson post and stem, Monkey Bar! Hayes Hydraulic-8" Fr and 6" rear, XTR Drive, Race Face Crankset and rings and yes...Z1 MCR/QR20. Fox Vanilla RC rear. Oh yeah, RhinoLite DH rims and 2.4 MotoRaptors!!!! Did I mention this was my dream bike! (God I love my Wife!) | | Bottom Line: | This was my 30th B-Day present from my Wife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I shopped all over Portland for an all around bike with a lot of travel. I know...kinda a contradiction in terms, but the Bullit really pulls it off. The lock out on the Z1 really allows this bike to climb. Keep in mind this is a 33 pound freeride (Yes...I jumped on the bandwagon there a bit with that word!) bike. On my first outing with my brother and the fellas I kept pace with everyone on the climb. I just locked the front and went along for the ride. Initially there was a little bob in the rear in the smallest chain ring on the steeper sections. But a heavier spring rate has now all but corrected that problem. Although you will never totally rid the bike of this, it is much more tolerable than my friends Pro-flex and my Bother's best friends' GTi Drive. Not to mention the Fox's nitrogen reservoir tunability really helps too! At the top the Bullit allowed me to let it all hang out. An 8 footer on the first day! Not to mention it can Haul booty on trail as well as off! This bike goes anywhere. Rocks, drops, whoops and ruts! If you are looking for a long travel bike that can cruise around all day, no matter where the terrain takes you, the BULLIT is it. Obviously there are better cross country machines out there, and full on DH bikes are just that, FULL DH, and the weight proves it! But if you have the money (Or a Rich Wife to support your childish habbits!) the SC Bullit is your best friend during recess! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dante
a Cross Country Rider
from Peekskill, NY
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Y2k at Blue Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | amazingly versatile, strong, looks (got a comment on it on my first ride). | | Weaknesses: | None, unless you count some cable rub or minor scratches in the paint job. Oh yeah, and feels like cheating when I power over stuff that was so difficult before. | | Similar Products Used: | Other bullits, NRS 1, Aeon Isis, Cannondale Super-V (all just tested) | | Bike Setup: | Z.1 MCR (no QR20), Vanilla RC, Hayes 6", Race Face NS w/ bash guard, RF Low Riser, SYStem, 317s on XTs with Gazzi 2.3, XT/XTR components. Rear shock in "XC" condition | | Bottom Line: | Kicks ass. Up as well as down, for short, steep power climbs the ECC lockout on the shock is amazing. Can climb the short steep stuff better than my hardtail (GT). Has inspired amazing confidence (too much? nah...) for downhills/jumps/drops, and the handling is superb. All in all an amazing bike. Had high expectations, and has surpased all of them.
PS Check out the santa cruz website's FAQ as to why they didn't put on a replaceable derailer-hanger. They list it as a strength, not a weakness. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Racer
from Northern California
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Factory sponsorship | | Strengths: | Strong, simple, effective. It doesn't get any more "tried-and-true" than this. | | Weaknesses: | Depends on how picky you want to be. The factory paint job scuffs and scratches easily, but the polished and powdercoated finishes last longer. The fixed rear der. hanger is not a weakness. See below... | | Similar Products Used: | Other Santa Cruz Bullits
Bontragers, Fishers, Treks, Ellisworths, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Polished Large frame, Marzocchi Z-1 MCR QR20+, Super-X Freeride build kit, Hayes 8"F 6"R | | Bottom Line: | This is my second Santa Cruz Bullit. I bought my first one used, and it totally changed my riding style. I used to race everything on a hardtail, including DH, and manage to be competitive in the Sport catagory. A couple years ago i bought my first Bullit and loved it. It moved me up in the ranks, as well as unleashed more of my ability to ride. I bought this new one because I wanted one new, equipped just the way i liked.
The polished frame is beautiful, but does require maintenance to keep it looking good. AKA "The Silver Bullet"
My previous Bullit had a Jr.T on it, and i found myself hitting my knees on the upper clamps. OUCH! So i opted for the Z-1 QR20 this time. The fork is as stiff, or stiffer, than the old Jr.T. Plus, the infinite amount of adjustablity suits any type of terrain and the adjustablility of the rear shock and suspension.
The rear suspension does give a bit of pedal feedback over rough terrain. The larger the chainring in front, the less feedback you feel, so just go faster and use bigger gears.
The bike does have some brake jacking, but i don't really care and you can easily adapt to it.
The disk brakes are WONDERFUL! I can stop now! I'm so happy. It's given me confidence to ride faster and brake harder knowing that the brakes will be there to stop me. My previous Bullit had XTR V brakes, which worked well, but not in the snow and mud or coming down from 60+mph.
The overall build kit is great, but i'm having some bottom bracket problems. The Race Face ISIS bottom bracket is loose. I'm not sure if i've messed up the bearings inside it, or it's just become loose. It's hard to find one of those Race Face ISIS tools when you need one.
Also, the WTB LaserDisk rims don't fit the WTB tires. I talked to WTB about this (as well as several shops and other racers) and they've said that WTB produces their rims to be just a little bit BIGGER in diameter than most other rims. This is to keep the bead on the rim when racing. Not a problem in general, but when WTB also produces their tires with a slightly SMALLER bead than normal, the fit becomes too tight. I've had some serious problems regarding the customer service with WTB and this issue, among others. If anyone is affiliated with WTB and would like to help me resolve this problem please contact me. Try Contenential tires if you can't seem to fit anything on these rims.
I ride pretty hard, and compete pretty hard too. But i've never had a problem with the rear derailuer hanger. Sure, i've busted a couple derailuers, but never had a problem with bending the hanger. I feel that if you bend the beefy hanger, then you were probably doing something wrong and have other issues, so stop blaming it on the bike.
After changing a couple things (stem, handlebars, etc) the bike is nearing the 30lbs mark. That's where i want it so i can be comfortable when racing it in XC as well. Yes, i will be racing the bike in Sport XC races, and i feel that the bike is very capable to do so.
Overall, this is the best bike for the buck. Spend your hard-earned money right the first time and get something that will last.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KY
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | RatPack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Santa Cruz | | Strengths: | SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE Design, Single Pivot, BEEFY!!! Value. the bullit does it all, and very well to boot. | | Weaknesses: | Cable routing not setup for discs. Cables rub paint off. Replacable derailleur hanger. only acceps 6" rotor in the rear. jacking under heavy braking. | | Similar Products Used: | Not many... | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Z1, Hayes, Thompson post, Azonic bars, XT der, LX splined crankset (don't laugh, i have broken many cranks including race face, and these things have held up better than any other crank i've tried), Vuelta rims, Maxxis tires, A-frames, etc. | | Bottom Line: | Ok, so i have two buddies who also bought the bullit (frames only) and built it from the ground up.
First impression:
WOW. I don't have to learn how to ride this bike. the angles are all perfect. Didn't feel weird at all, just super forgiving and beckoning for drops. The fox Vanilla RC is the best shock on the market (at least in it's class). ultra adjustable.
The problems i (and my buddies) have experienced:
paint has begun to wear near the cables on the seatpost and headtube, and it has worn down the metal as well. This happened to my buddies as well (only worse). This was fixed by using electrical tape (doesn't look pretty, but who cares). Second, my buddy had his rear shock come very loose at the rear of the shock pivots. This consequently caused the bolt to break (during a ride). This was easily replaced with a 35 cent new bolt. A little lock tite kept it from coming loose again. Also his shock started malfunctioning and is now in need of being warranteed. The other buddy bent his derailleur hanger pretty bad. chipped all the paint away from the area. We were able to successfully bend it back. This was a weird one in that there was no crash involved. Just noticed it one day. This is something that Santa Cruz needs to address. Okay, so my bike has had no problems worth mentioning except for some squeaking in the rear shock mounts. Tightening up the upper shock mounts took care of that (still comes loose very occasionally, but is remedied by a simple twist of an allen wrench).
On more positive notes:
My bike has performed solidly for 6 months or so. i have taken some pretty ugly crashes (ie: casing jumps with front wheel and rear wheel) and the frame doesn't skip a beat. I have pretty much mangled the wheels (so much that the rear wheel almost hits both rear stays) and the bike still tracks. I feel lots of wobble until i get it into a corner. Butter... I am not one for maintenance (ok, i avoid it at all cost) and the bike seems to find it's happy place and just stay there.
Bottom line:
Anyone who is looking for a bike that will push your limits should buy this bike. For the price you can't beat it. Drop it, jump it, xc it, ride it to work, do it all on the bullit. The bike tracks so well in the corners that you will find yourself pushing it seemingly too far, but it will always hold. We have had problems with certain things, but mainly due to setup issues and bad luck. Setup this bike however you like, xc, freeride, downhill. i ride it all on the bullit. Don't waste your money on an 8+ inch downhiller. buy something that you can really use. Build it right and it will love you all the way down the hill. Build it wrong (or sloppily) and you will be disappointed (naturally). The single pivot is so simple that any dummy can maintain it (trust me). If you're a downhiller, get at least a 6" fork. My bike is setup pretty steep and i've noticed that on DH courses, you just can't get back far enough. This bike can be setup any number of ways, just make sure you use quality parts and you will have no problems.
I'm giving it 5's despite some of my negative comments and long list of weaknesses. this is because i truly believe that YES it does have weaknesses, but not in light of other products out there. You just have to be smart when setting up the bike as most of the problems can be avoided. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Downhiller
from Oly
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1150.00 | | Purchased At: | The Peak | | Strengths: | It's a Santa Cruz. Efficient pedaling bike. Nice on big hits, jumps well, smooth on corners. Everything you might want. | | Weaknesses: | Some feedback into the peadals through it's travel. Only noticeable while pedaling. | | Similar Products Used: | All Kinds. | | Bike Setup: | JrT,raceface risers, rings,headset. Hayes. Rhynolites on XT disc hubs. XT drive. Kooka FR cranks. Mountainspeed spring. Upgrading to D321s on hayes elite w/alpineIIIspokes | | Bottom Line: | I'm the post second from last. I thought I'd comment a little on how the bike performs.
I shopped around quite a bit before buying. I rode a Stinky, Norco Shore & Team DH, Super8, and opted for the Bullit. I built it from the frame up so I did a lot of parts selection.
The bullit has great angles. The 2001 JrT gives the bike a 67 degree HT angle so it's just about right on the DH. Then you can steepen it up a bit if you're going for the 5 ft to flat wheelie drop. It's a fast forrest bike. I find myself going faster and hooking up on corners better than ever with this bike. I can actually say this bike has given me the confidence to do things I never would attempt before. The suspesion keeps the wheels on the ground on the hardest hits and has saved me more than a few times.
Climbing. I have a somewhat light wheel setup with the rhynos so I do quite a bit of pedaling.
It's not bad although it's no RM element, I do a lot of 1hr fireroad climbs to take 1hr downhill.
It's quite efficient when it's in the granny on the long grind up.
Jumping. I have had some rear end flex on big jumps. Enough to rub the tire on the swingarm. This might be due to my light wheelset. Although the rhynolites allow me to climb like a goat, they might be my downfall along the line. Currently getting a new wheelset. Have to decide if I'm going DH or lighter FR setup.
The bike is great on wheelie drops. I'm 200 lbs and dropping 5ft to flat consistently. The bike
just takes it. I had problems with bottoming with the stock fox spring. So I went to a 600# speedspring. The 500# gets you through the forrest nicely, but when your day consists of sessioning jumps to flat and wheelie drops I needed a bigger spring. Now it's way plush on big hits and I'm not running any preload. Much more progressive so It's still smooth, but now it's not bottoming nearly as hard.
Bottom line rrice wise, this bike is very reasonable. The single pivot bikes among being cheaper have great attributes to their design.(climbing, less maint etc.)
This is a very tough bike. SC is making a DH upgrade to give it 7 1/2 travel so it's still after 3 years in production a great bike to look into. It just looks cooler than most other bikes too.
If you are lookin for a FR type bike you should really look into this bike. If you are starting to race DH, this bike is perfect. If you just want tostart getting gnarly on the trails this bike will allow you to do it. There are a number of options on how to build your bike, I believe this bike is meant to be hammered and built strong. SC is QUICK. Had my bike back in a week and a half.
No problems thus far with the headset. Tight once again.
Truly a beautiful bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marko
a Downhiller
from Slovenia
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | behind my house | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1950.00 | | Purchased At: | various places, built it up myself | | Strengths: | Enough travel to bail you out of lots of tight situations, climbs amazingly well, it can be built up reasonably light for under 2000$, should last a long time
Also the adjustalbe headtube option, even though I don't use it (it's still nice to have the odjustability just in case) | | Weaknesses: | Paint on the chainstays scratched easily, no replaceable derraileur hanger.I managed to bend it a few times on my other bike, but that was no problem because it's cro-mo so I could bend it back.That won't be possible with an aluminum hanger | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher | | Bike Setup: | Sc Bullit, Psylo XC, componentry mostly LX, some XT, SRAM Rocket shifters, Magura Clara disc brakes, riser bars, Concept hubs, Conti Vertical Pros, around 30 lbs | | Bottom Line: | This is not the same Bullit as the one you can buy from Santa Cruz, because I built it from the frame up (it cost me much less because I was shopping around for deals on stuff and I would recommend it for anyone who's not mechanically inept), but it's esentially the same bike.It still has 5" and 6" of travel front and back, riser bars, disc brakes,...
That said, the Bullit is great.One of the biggest reasons I chose Bullit is because it climbs well (actually it climbs amazingly well, which I found out very soon).I was worried in the beginning that it will be a chore climbing on a 30lb long travel freeride bike (I know climbing isn't the first thing a majority of you would consider in a freeride bike, but I have to ascend some big climbs to enjoy a great downhill).But the first climb I tried (a very steep and slippery half hour ascent) was the same as on my hardtail!Pedal feedback was unnoticeable.OK, so the climb went well, but it was nothing compared with the descent.I found myself speeding through the corners and jumping off of everything.It was great!The suspension leveled almost every rock and root in its path (you always notice the big stuff underneath you).
It's even possible to ride comfortably enough on smooth surface, even pavement if necessary.You just turn the compression knob on the Vanilla RC to fully closed (and you can do this on the fly without a problem on smooth surface) and you have a much less active rear suspension.
As for the ghostshifting problem: I had it, too, but it was my fault because I didn't put enough housing between the front end and the swingarm.I didn't experience any problems after fixing that.
It's not so difficult to make a bike that descends or climbs well, but it's a much bigger challenge to make one that does both things well.So kudos to Santa Cruz for making the Bullit! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Racer
from Olympia, Washington
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The whole wide world | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1150.00 | | Purchased At: | The peak bike shop & race center | | Strengths: | Where can I start? I'm not going to go off saying that this is the best bike in the world, although there are only a few in it's class. It's a solid bike. It climbs GREAT! Single pivot and enduro max bearings. This is more of a fast technical riding bike. | | Weaknesses: | Had a few in the beginning but cured em. Chain slap & ghost shifting were cured by removing the big ring and mounting a bash guard, then shorten the chain leaving only a link or 2. This will keep it tight enough to reduce the slapping and cure the most of the ghost shifting. And slap some velcro on the rear end. You won't ding your bike and won't hear the slap. Lizard skins don't work with this swingarm. | | Similar Products Used: | Single pivot: K2 Evo, Cheeta,
Big hit bikes: 2001 Stinky, 2001 Norco TeamDH
Norco launch,. That's it under 8" | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line.
I'm currently going over an ordeal with the Bullit and the raceface real seal headset.
The bottom cup popped out closest to where the HT meets the DT. Sent the frame in and it's not ovalized, neither are the RF cups. But the cup did pop out and the enduromax bearing got crushed between the cup and race.
So now I'm popping in a raceface DH headset with a heavy duty cup and sleeve retainer.
Don't get me wrong I love the Bullit and SC builds some of the most beautiful quality bikes there are. If you do any big hit, get the DH cups and leave em. It's probably my fault that it popped. I should have gone with the DH, but I wanted my black frame to match the headset.
And, SC is totally cool to deal with. They're quick too.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Felix Lin
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, Alberta
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. 7 (Golden, B.C.) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Strengths: | Strong frame, simple low maintenance design, climbs well, descends really well. | | Weaknesses: | Paint job scratches easily, standard cable routing paths will cause ghost shifting | | Similar Products Used: | Foes Weasel, Kona Stinky Deelux, Specialized Bighit | | Bike Setup: | Stratos MX6, Hayes, D521s, Tioga DH 2.3s, Thompson seatpost | | Bottom Line: | I raced this bike in Psychosis (a DH race) and the 24 Hours of Adrenalin. It may be a little heavy for cross-country racing, but it wasn't too bad. Just run a solid shifter cable to the rear deraileur and you will not encounter ghost shifting problems. It is a sweet bike for freeriding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Rose
a Weekend Warrior
from Oklahoma City
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything gnarly | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2950.00 | | Purchased At: | Pro Bike | | Strengths: | tough, simple, great customer support, travel travel travel | | Weaknesses: | non-replaceable der. hanger, x/c components not up to serious abuse | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Trek, S.C. Heckler | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Jr.T, XTR, Hayes, Laserdisc DH rims. All stealth black, baby. | | Bottom Line: | This is an awesome bike and now I know why all the privateers ride these things. I ordered mine with the x/c component package hoping to save weight, and that was a mistake. If you want a light bike, by a Superlight. The seatpost bent on a big drop off (my fault), the der. hanger bent (my fault), and I taco'd the Bontrager Valiant rims on a sideways drop into a concrete culvert (my fault again). That's when I laced the wheels up w/ some DH rims.
This is an awesome bike, but keep in mind the riding that you do. This is not an x/c bike. If you're into sick riding, DEFINITELY get the freeride kit instead of the x/c kit. My buddy ordered the freeride kit and his bike is bombproof.
The best thing about the bike is that the frame is tough and durable. My three-year-old S.C. Heckler held up great to abusive riding, and never needed maintenance; I expect the same from the Bullit. Santa Cruz has awesome customer support. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hugh Jass
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Cellar (Victoria, B.C.) | | Strengths: | Single pivot
6" of sweet travel
plush
strong | | Weaknesses: | none really (okay maybe the non-replaceable derailleur hanger), but that's nit-picking. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain RM6, Specialized Big Hit Comp | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Jr.T, XT/XTR, Hayes, Mavic D321 rims and Intense DH tires, Truvatic Hussefelt splined cranks, assorted Raceface and other stuff. | | Bottom Line: | I busted my 2000 frame exactly at the 1 year warranty expiry date (sweet timing) in two places. Near the head tube, top tube junction and near the right rear dropout... kinda nice cause I got the whole frame replaced instead of just a front triangle or swingarm. Also got it in a sweet white with polished swingarm (nicest one around in my opinion)... the 2001 has a thicker head tube and a few small changes and have only taken a few rides on it so far. Hopefully this one will last close to 1 year...
P.S. there is no bike that won't break eventually, don't worry about the durability of the Bullit, it won't let you down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ian
a Downhiller
from lafayette, cal, USA
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | My little secret | | Strengths: | strong, plenty of travel in the rear, light for a bike of this genere | | Weaknesses: | came with an ok fork, not to good of components (x kit) | | Similar Products Used: | nothin at all like it | | Bike Setup: | 01 bullit frame
x kit
rs psylo sl fork | | Bottom Line: | this bike rocks, but if u get one, get good components disk brakes and a good fork(like a super t) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Weekend Warrior
from Fife
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Victor Falls | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Used @ The Peak Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Beefy frame, looks cool, all out fun to ride | | Weaknesses: | No replacable rear derailleur hanger | | Similar Products Used: | Univega rigid, Marin Rift Zone, K2 Flyin Monkey, Specialized Big Hit(Test), Giant AC1 (test), Rocky Mountain RM6/Slayer/Pipeline (test), Kona Stinky (test) | | Bike Setup: | Super T, Race Face North Shore Cranks, Azonic downhill seat, Hayes hydraulic disc, MRP Chain Guide, Mavic D321 rims, IRC Kujo tires | | Bottom Line: | After having my K2 stolen (f***ing thieves!!!!!), I decided to start test riding as many bikes as I could. I managed to ride all of the "freeride" bikes I could locate and this one felt the best of all of them. I've only put about 1.5 hours of actual trail time on the bike, but even riding it around my apartment complex feels awesome. I cannot imagine a better feeling bike in this category. If you live in WA and are looking for a freeride or downhill bike, I recommend looking up The Peak Bike Shop in Olympia (www.ridethepeak.com).
If you are looking for a high end all purpose/freeride/fun bike, this is about the most cost effective frame on the market. If you are at all concerned about the weight of your bike (why are you reading this?), then you might want to look at elsewhere. All in all, this bike rocks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alfi
a
from germany
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | incredible on downhills, nearly no pedal feedback on climbs, beefy frame | | Weaknesses: | a bit high priced on the first look but worth every penny. and of course: the rider...
| | Bike Setup: | psylo, vuelta excalibur rims, hayes, deore/xt/xtr, race face | | Bottom Line: | the reason for buying this bike was to reanimate those good ol´ bmx times when we jumped over everything in our way even if we weren`t able to.
times changed, the bike too but not my love for jumping around and feeling the thrill of not knowing what`s behind the next drop or ramp.
i bot this bike from a cc rider for whom this bike has to much rear travel. he`s right! a cc rider should not buy it. it´s too heavy and long uphills can become very unconfortable as i mentioned below. but for a freerider this bike is first choice.
so as i nowadays i want to combine trainig exercise with freeride i decided to take a bullit and have to say that i`m completely satisfied with that bike.
climbs are less hard than i thought. i climbed higher than never before with a bike (o.k. it might have been to have a longer downhill afterwards) and did not feel the need of a oxygen mask. and suspension compression that takes all your power away is a term that hasn`t been created for this bike. the only negative thing is the very upright position that makes it difficult to put pressure on the front wheel.
downhills are great. as i normally use a hardtail i decided to be a bit cautious the first time but sitting on it means getting more confident in the own abilities. shoxx perform very well so that you don`t need to be afraid of feeling every rock.
for the rest please read "lavamantis" statement. i completely agree with him and made the same experiences so that i don`t need to add anything. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Poreda
a Downhiller
from Douglaston, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Saxon Woods County Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1150.00 | | Purchased At: | Peak Pro Mountai Bike Shop | | Strengths: | The Bullit is a F**KING MACHINE. The frame handles extreamly well. Big Drops, Steep Climbs, Technical SingleTrack... it does everything. The single pivot design and straight seat tube that has no break in it(enables you to use a long seatpost). | | Weaknesses: | Only one....no replaceable derailleur hanger. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky Five, Giant XTC Air, Intense Uzzi Sl and SLX | | Bike Setup: | Manitou fork, Hayes disk, Race face cockpit, XT drivetrain, King headset, Mavic rims, Toga 2.3's. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a bike that can do everything.. I strongly suggest a Santa Cruz Bullit. I have done everything but downhill with it yet, and I can wait to rip it up. The Bullit handels great while climbing which is a big thing in the dark with big travel freeride bikes. The Bullit feels indistructable. I love the heavy oversized tubes that are present around the whole bike. So far, the bike has sucked up 5 and 6 footers with ease. If you do buy a Bullit, it looks kick ass in polished and you would be stupid not to put a triple clamp on it with some beefy components because the bike is an animal and you will eventually be forced to do some sick $hit with it. For all you cross country weight weanies, any way you build it, its gonna weigh over 30 pounds, so suck it up and ride more. The frame is very cost conscientous, at only $1150.00 it doesn't clean you out. If you are going to buy a Bullit and live in the NYC area, stop by Peak Pro Mountain Bike Shop in Douglaston and you can personally try mine(as long as you buy it there!!). By the way, if Jerry asks you to smell his face, run like hell. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TC
a Weekend Warrior
from MA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Strengths: | Beefy beefy bike. Very strong, sweet suspension, ability to take abuse. THIS IS THE PERFECT BIKE. For the price of the frame, you can't beat it. | | Weaknesses: | Paint sucks. Get the Polished aluminum...I wish I did. | | Similar Products Used: | Intense SL, Intnese DH (now the SLX) & Kona Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Black Boxxer - 7 inches, XT, Tru Vative Crank, Hayes Brakes | | Bottom Line: | Unbelievable bike. I regret not paying the extra couple of bucks for polished color, but besides that, it's such a sweet ride. I threw a black boxxer on...very plush set up. I'd recommend getting either a Boxxer, Jr. T, or Super T. You want at least 6 in the front. Words can't express how good this bike is. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Craig Cheeseman
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, B,C. Canada
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything in B.C. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | bought used off kid in Victoria | | Strengths: | This is very simple realy. If you bike North Shore Van, and you weigh more than 170 lbs then Santa Cruz is THE bike. Anywhere else on planet earth you can ride whatever you want, but here I highly reccomend this bike. Single pivot, quiet smooth, and one rugged son of a gun. I have ridden all kinds of bikes in all kinds of conditions, and although a bit heavier than my previous bike (Litespeed) my riding has improved in only three or four rides. The bullit forces you to become a better(more aggressive) rider because it demands to be pounded. The harder you ride the better the bike performs. Being a former hardtail rider I was very concderned about climbing, cross country, due to energy crushing bob and weave.As long as you stay seated no problem. It is quite impressive realy. It is so smooth over the babyheads. I have not even begun to tap into the power of this bike. It is very solid, and I am a punisher so this is a very good thing. | | Weaknesses: | Bit heavy, but you get used to it pretty quick. The price is steep. Up here in Canada a bullit basically goes for 5 grand so look for the used ones as they retain their value well. The paint job is thin and weak, but I am nitpicking here.The only real weakness on this bike is the rider. | | Similar Products Used: | The only bikes that come close would be the Ellesworth Dare, and the Norco North Shore, and don't even think that an RM7 compares to this bike...it does not!!!!! | | Bike Setup: | The usual stuff, Shimano XT, Z1 Qr20, rino lights, Put whatever parts that turn you on on this bike, but go with heavier more rugged stuff if you're on the shore. This ain't no Californian fire road...this is the real deal. | | Bottom Line: | Wikid BIKE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Lideen
a Racer
from Phoenix AZ
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any S. Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$4400.00 | | Purchased At: | Rage Cycles | | Strengths: | Couch-like ride, bullit proof frame | | Weaknesses: | paint scratches and rubs off easily unlike my '98 Heckler which had a very resistant finish | | Similar Products Used: | SC '98 Heckler & '99 Superlight | | Bike Setup: | Psylo SL w/Tulio, Vanilla RC, Hayes discs, Rohloff 14 sp. hub, XT crank & BB, Mavic 321 discs w/Velociraptors, Monkey-lite, SDG saddle, King headset, Profile stem | | Bottom Line: | This 38 lb bike serves well its overall purpose which is to hold up under high speed, very rough & rocky conditions.I'm an SC freak (can't wait for their new downhiller) and this bike is the natural progression. Have 600 dirt miles on it since Feb. It's no climber but can usually catch most others on the down side making the climb worth it. It hasn't yet thrown me over the bars but that is likely to be eventually inevitable. Had to ride my Superlight for two weeks while getting the Bullit fixed and my butt was so grateful to be back on this sled.
This bike is recommended to anyone who rides alot, in rough terrain with alot of fast downhills and doesn't want to spend time working on the frame. God knows the rest of the bike maintenance takes 'nuf time as it is. Not for XC racers or hardcore downhillers. Five flaming pony loafs for another simple Santa Cruz success.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Schostek
a Racer
from Calgary, Alberta, CANADA!!!
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Rollercoaster | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3875.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycle cafe | | Strengths: | Everything!
Single pivot provides super strength
plush
nice looking
handling is awesome
isn't sketchy and never wants to be ridden slow
is ALWAYS ready for the big drops
And it can handle anything and evrything you ever wanted to huck off | | Weaknesses: | None so far, but heard alot about a non-replaceble rear dropout | | Similar Products Used: | ellsworth dare, RM9, super 8, stab primo, giant ac 2 and 1, vps-1 '99 and '00 | | Bike Setup: | Bullit with 8' hayes front 6' rear, boxxer '01, north shore xs crankset and bb, xt and deore components | | Bottom Line: | The bullit goes when fed gas, and doesn't hesitate. It won't wait for some 275 pound xc rider eating long johns on the cafeteria patio which built it up with some 80 mm sid's. The bottom line is it was designs for big hucks and steep rutted out downhills and if you want to get in shape it won't say no to a freindly hill climb, even when weighed in at about 40 pounds. the single pivot rear suspension was designed to help you get up the hill without any bob (unless riding in the granny gear) and rocket out of the start gate for your dh race. A true speed demon, top of the line for freeriding and definitely an contender fr the ultimate death-defying downhill challenge. So if you are the rider which didn't like to ride a 3 foot drop on your old hardtail because it hurts your ass then you shouldn't go for this bike because it was designed for the big hucks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lavamantis
a Weekend Warrior
from Westlake Village, CA USA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Chesebro | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2095.00 | | Purchased At: | Helen's, Santa Monica | | Strengths: | Truly amazing downhill performance.
Single-pivot rear suspension helps climbing, reduces noise and maintenance compared with 4-bar designs.
Plush but efficient ride.
Strong and durable frame for my 215 lb weight.
Best looking bike on the trail (well, ok, that’s subjective)
Nice price for 6” rear/5” front travel
| | Weaknesses: | Comes stock with wimpy XC tires (Hutchinson Python Air Lights) for this type of bike. | | Similar Products Used: | owned Univega hardtail, test rode Cannondale Super-V, Santa Cruz Superlight, Trek Fuel 90. Researched countless others (but didn’t ride them). | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Bullit frame with Santa Cruz “X-Kit” components (see Santa Cruz website for specs), Vanilla RC coil shock in rear with 550# spring, Rock Shox Psylo SL in front, Velociraptor tires front and rear, total weight 29.5 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | Climbing performance
I was coming from the hardtail world and I was real concerned about the bob and excess weight that dual suspension brings. Nearly 100% of my riding requires climbing up the trail before I can enjoy the downhill, so the last thing I wanted was to get a bike that destroyed my uphill ability and would make me not enjoy rides as much.
My first ride on this bike erased all fears. Due to the high single-pivot rear link, there is no perceptible power-robbing suspension compression. The rear tire seems to dig in when you’re cranking hard. I’ve read that rear links like this are supposed to cause pedal feedback through rough sections, like rock gardens, but as of yet I haven’t noticed that phenomenon.
I was able to get up all the tough hills just like I could on the hardtail and I was no more tired at the top.
Downhill performance
The downhill performance is the area of the Bullit that receives the most hype on this site and in magazine reviews. I was a little skeptical about how much better full suspension would be in the real world, since for the most part I was able to keep up with full suspension riders on my hardtail.
Wow, was I in for a shock. I told myself that I was going to be cautious my first ride and wouldn’t push the limits too much, but all those thoughts quickly evaporated when my speed picked up and the terrain got rough. Much to my amazement, I couldn’t feel any bumps! It seemed like I was floating down the hill on a magic carpet. I found myself steering off my usual riding line in search of the biggest rocks to go over – just to feel the suspension soak them up.
With my old bike, the guys I ride with on XC bikes (e.g. < 4” travel) would usually ride about the same speed as me on the downhills. Those days are over. After the first tough downhill section they rode up to me at the bottom with eyes bulging and jaws open in amazement. They couldn’t believe how much faster I was than before. To me, it didn’t seem like I was going that much faster. I just don’t have to use the breaks nearly as much now – this bike lets me stay safe and in control over all the stuff I used to have to concentrate really hard to ride through.
I’ve read about “brake jack”, and some opinions on this board say the it’s present in single-pivot designs, but I haven’t noticed anything remotely like that. Perhaps that’s because I don’t use the brakes much anymore?!?
Recommended upgrades
The tires that come with the X-Kit look like really mellow XC tires. I didn’t even bother to ride with them, I got Velociraptors and put them on the first day.
I heard about chain-slap on the chainstay, so I got the biggest Lizard Skin (the one made for rear shocks) and attached it securely with nylon zip ties.
I also heard about the cables rubbing off paint on the frame, so I got some 3M colored plastic tape that matches pretty closely with the bright blue frame and put small pieces on the frame in the areas where cables rub. It’s hardly visible and the frame is now protected.
Conclusion
This was the bike recommended to me by several hard-core downhill riders, and it turns out they were right. It’s an amazing downhill performer. I’m really glad I didn’t go the XC route and get a lesser travel sled. I can get up hills just like everyone else and I have unsurpassed control and speed on the downhills. For just over $2K you get an amazing value and a sweet all-around performer.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LUIS MEDRANO
a Weekend Warrior
from LOS ANGELES
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | EL PRIETO | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3700.00 | | Purchased At: | HELENS CYCLE | | Strengths: | WOW! THIS BIKE IS CRAZY! THERE SEEMS THAT THERES NO LIMIT TO IT! YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING ON IT! I HAVE A TRIPLE CHAIN RING SO I CAN TAKE IT UP, AND I HAVE A MONSTER T SO ITS A HARD CORE FREERIDING BIKE. I LOVE IT. I GOT THE FREERIDE KIT FROM SANTA CRUZ, I CHANGED THE FORK, TO SOMETHING MORE BEEFIER. SIX INCHES IN THE BACK ITS THE BEST. I HAVE YET TO FIND THE LIMITS ON THIS BIKE.
I TOOK IT TO BIG BEAR AND BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF MANY A DOWN HILL RIGS!!!! | | Weaknesses: | THE F***! PAINT JOB!!!! IT SUCKS, MINE IS BLACK W/ CROME SWINGARM. THE PAINT RUBED OFF WHERE THE CABLE RUBS AGAINST THE FRAME! | | Similar Products Used: | GT XCR 2.0 W/ MARZ 5" IN THE FRONT FOR FREE RIDING | | Bike Setup: | XTR SHIFTERS RACE FACE COMPONENTS WTB RIMS NOKIANS TIRES
MONTER T FORK FOX VANILLA HAYES DISK W/ 8 INCH ROTORS
SDG SEAT | | Bottom Line: | THIS BIKE ROCKS! FOR A FULL SUSPENCION, LONG TRAVEL,FREE RIDING, BIKE IT CLIMBS. AT 35 lbs ITS NOT A CLIMBER.(NEITHER AM I ) BUT WHEN YOU DO GET TO THE TOP AND POINT IT DOWN IT OUT PERFORMS JUST ABOUT ANITHING OUT THERE!
IT CARVES LIKE A FILLET KNIFE! I LOVE IT!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al Cella
a Weekend Warrior
from Massapequa
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Zweet Urban Azzault | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | all over | | Strengths: | Solid, vanilla rc rocks, climbing ability. | | Weaknesses: | paintjob, pricey, | | Similar Products Used: | stumpjumper a1fs | | Bike Setup: | qr20, race face goodies, hayes, mavic 519's, 2.4's front and back. | | Bottom Line: | PROS:
Makes you a better more confident rider
makes drops and lines that were not conceivable, doable
tracks like an animal
Climbs shockingly well for a six inch bike
Looks Great
CONS:
Not the cheapest thing going
bit heavy
no replaceable derailuer hanger
paintjob is fragile
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A TOP OF THE LINE FREERIDE BIKE LOOK NO WHERE ELSE THIS THING IS TRULY INSANE!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eli Krahenbuhl
a Downhiller
from Cheyenne, WY, USA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | good ones | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Station | | Strengths: | Very light for a downhill bike, but when I bought it it was a cross country machine with a Z1. Very good for dirt jumping even with a bigger fork. Santa Cruz will take care of you. A friend had a Bullit, broke 2 swing arms and 2 or 3 main frames and they kept em coming untill he put a monster T on it, then they gave him one last one and said hit the road. The bike pedals very well in the middle ring. | | Weaknesses: | In the small ring you can feel the wheel trying to extend into the ground but not a big problem. The oposite happens in the big ring. The rear wheel gets sucked up and goes through more travel. I think this is more noticable than the opposite effect in the small ring.
Fox shocks sucks a lot. It just doesn't feel good any way you set it up(plus the fact that mine seized up after a couple of days of not hard riding, had to get a whole new one). Another friend with a Bullit bought a Risse Jupiter 5 LT rear shock which extends the travel to 7 inches, yes seven not eight like claimed, and it improves the rear suspension greatly. Suspension design is prone to suspensioin lockout when brakes are applied making it feel as if the rear end isn't even moving when you hit the brakes(not good). I know this isn't a downhill bike but my running changes have made it into that, and it's not the greatest for all out downhilling, but I like to ride street and dirt a lot, and it's good for that, mainly because the nearest downhilling is 200 miles away in Colorado. Mine weighs 45 lbs and you'll see why if you look at the parts list | | Similar Products Used: | none that I've owned, but i've ridden many | | Bike Setup: | Chrome Bullit, Pro Tapers, B52, (Thomson post and zu zu pedals(the only original equipment)), Profile cranks and BB, 2001 Mr. Dirt Gizmo Chain Guide, Ringle MODO front wheel, Rohloff hub with a double wide, Risse Jupiter 5 LT rear shock, Shiver, Hayes HMX-1 with 8" front 6" rear(the 8 is plenty powerfull in the front and they are one third the cost of other discs), Avid speed dial ultimate L levers(oh, these are original too, in my modified X-Kit. | | Bottom Line: | If your going to get a Bullit I would recommend it to anyone from a trail rider with suspension in mind to anyone who wants to build up a freeride or even DH if you want short travel(But definitly get a different rear shock) The 8 pound frame can be dressed up or down. weights for built up Bullits could range from 27 with light parts and a cross country fork to 50 with tough stuff on it or any where in between.
I feel that the ultimate Bullit would be built up with a Z1 MCR and a light parts mix with wtb moto raptor tires to make for a sweet trail bike or light freeride. But then again mine was great when it weighed 37 pounds for trail riding. Gota have a Rohloff too.
Feel free to e-mail me with questions or comments about things you have found out about your Bullit. Givin it 5 flaming turds for value cause it's cheap for what you get and a 4 on the overall(look at weaknesses for a reason)
(wouldn't more flaming turds not be be as good as less, I mean, they're piles of sh*t)any way sorry to confuse you | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike
a Downhiller
from california
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | two wheeler dealer | | Strengths: | built solid nothing phases this champ of a bike | | Weaknesses: | what?! | | Similar Products Used: | trek vrx300 z.1 rhyno lites fat tire | | Bike Setup: | bought the freeride kit it's worth the extra money and you get so much more e.g marzocchi super t 6" ,8" rotor in front
wtb dh laser rims and hubs wtb 2.4 moto raptor tires race face north shore cranks | | Bottom Line: | the bike so far handles everything even climbig! this is the last bike you'll ever have to buy!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Rose
a Weekend Warrior
from Oklahoma City
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | it doesn't have a name | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Pro Bike | | Strengths: | heavy duty frame, decent weight for a free ride bike, Santa Cruz customer service, good drop-ff / jump bike | | Weaknesses: | non-replaceable deraileur hanger, needs a stronger seatpost | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bike Setup: | XTR / Hayes disc / Marzocchi Jr.T | | Bottom Line: | I was so happy with my Heckler after 3 years that when I decided to buy a long-travel bike the choice was easy, especially with the great reviews the Bullit gets on this site.
The Bullit is great at general trail riding in rough terrain and for urban assault rides. Rear suspension was great after a few rides to break in the bushings, and the fork is awesome. Jumping is a no-brainer, as are drop offs and general rough conditions.
The bike is a little heavy for non-technical trails or anything with a lot of climbing compared to my Heckler, which weighs about 5 lbs less. Also, I've read Santa Cruz's reasons why they don't use a replaceable deraileur hanger, but after having bent one I really wish they would figure out a way to make it work. Finally, I would prefer a Race Face seatpost; the Thompson post bent on a 5 foot drop (okay, so I weigh 190 lbs and one of my feet came unclipped).
For its intended purpose, I give the Bullit 5 wolf turds. Plus, it's a great value for such a well put-together frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Hightower
a Weekend Warrior
from Alta Loma
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | San Juan trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Competitive edge cyclery | | Strengths: | This Bike gets you every where ,you can climb any trail your leg`s let you motor through rock gardens Jumps great you just have to load the suspension to jump ,When I bought this bike I knew it would be great but it extends my expectations beyond belief ,If you are loking for the free ride rig this is it ,I put a different fork for more travel I used the White Bro`s DH>2 ,Also I use Hadley hub`s. | | Weaknesses: | UHMMMMM UHUH UMMMMMH NONE Really | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Suoer V700 | | Bike Setup: | Bullit frame , White Bro`s DH>2 Hadley DH hub`s Mavic 521`s Shimano X-T Disc`s 8" front 6" rear X-T crank`s casset front Der. XTR rear Der. Pannaracer Fire DH 535 pedal`s Thomson seat post | | Bottom Line: | Ilove My Bullit This bike is so much fun By onje and Enjoy the Ride | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Burnham
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson AZ USA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2150.00 | | Purchased At: | Arizona Bicycle Experts | | Strengths: | Climbing- It climbs with almost no bobbing, no matter what chainring you're in. You don't feel like any energy is wasted. The long travel sucks up rocks up front, and keeps the tire hooked up in back. To keep the front end down, you have to scoot forward on the saddle more than you would with a shorter travel fork. As advertised, it climbs much lighter than it's 29 pound weight. I've never felt as though I was on a heavy bike, though you could build it up much lighter than my LX XT mix of parts. I never wish that I'd bought a shorter travel trailbike.
Descending- Absolute perfection. It goes where you point it, and will save your ass if you get in trouble. I go over all types of trails much faster and safer than on my old 'Goose. This bike allows you to move much faster over nearly every kind of surface, and lets you survive surprises like dropoffs, boulders, roots and step ups. I've found that I can pedal through rock gardens that my friends have to coast. The Bullit will get you down the mountain alive and make you feel like a superstar.
Flatlands- Just keep pedaling and aim. The tire stays hooked up. Shimano LX XT shifts perfectly if you keep it clean.
Other benefits- You can run massive meats for big traction, and there's tons of clearance on the frame. Even downhill tires fit this frame. No squeaks, no rattles, no slop. It's very light for a freerider. Elevated chainstays are nice and quiet. Only one massive, cartridge bearing pivot simplifies maintenance. No stupid bushings to wear out. The Marzocchi works perfectly. I haven't needed to tinker with the settings on the fork or the shock. The bike just plain looks mean- it's a thing of beauty. Looking at it makes you want to ride. | | Weaknesses: | Minuses- The long legs, slack angles and long wheelbase make the bike a handful on extremely tight switchbacks and hairpins. It doesn't exactly turn on a dime, which is a small price to pay for a bike that glides through rock gardens like a hovercraft. You can stuff the bike into 180 switchbacks but you've got to work the rear end more than you would on a short travel trail bike.
Jumping- For me, this is a hard bike to jump. It keeps absorbing the ramps. You try to launch it off a hump in the trail, and the bike just sucks it up. I haven't figured out how to jump well yet. The landings, as you would expect, are no problem.
Another minus- The beautiful midnight blue powdercoat is kind of soft. In the first couple of rides, cable housing rub removed patches of it, down to the aluminum. Strategically placed electrical tape solves this problem but looks bad. I caught the problem before it became too ugly. A friend of mine has the same problem anywhere the cable guide rubs the finish on his candy red Bullit. The powdercoat is wimpy.
The 'travel limiter' on the Marzocchi Z1-CR fork is strange. It essentially locks out the front end at 3", with almost no travel. I've tried using it to lower the front end for steep climbs and slickrock, but having a rigid front end with 6" in the back is disconcerting and weird. It makes your bike a stinkbug. What it is good for, is for lowering the front end to fit in the camper shell on my truck. Even then, it creeps up on it's own, back to the full height after a few minutes. | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose Pro 8.3, Kona Stinky demo, Specialized FSR XC demo | | Bike Setup: | LX, XT mix. Marzocci ZI CR 6" fork with travel limiter. Kenda Kinetics 2.6 tires, Fox Coilover rear shock. Shimano 11-34 Mega 9 cassette- basic desert mix | | Bottom Line: | I've owned the Bullit for nine weeks now, and have enough experience with it to write a credible review. I used to think my Mongoose NX Pro was a 'good basher bike' until I rode a real freerider. The Bullit far exceeds anything else I have ridden in nearly every type of riding. This bike will save your ass, over and over, and ask little in return.
The Bullit is perfection, unless you spend all your time trials-riding switchbacks and hairpins, then get something with shorter travel and steeper geometry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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