A two-year absence can imply many things - a round-the-world sailing trip, half a college education somewhere far from home, going to jail for tax evasion – two years can change you, man... In the case of the Bullit, it was like a two-year stint in charm school. The bike is still big and brawny, built for tall drops and hard landings – with 178mm of rear wheel travel, a heavy duty 6069 aluminum frame with a stout 20mm pivot axle, a choice of either 135mm q.r or 150mm thru-axle dropouts, 203mm brake rotor clearance, an optional floating brake kit and a 1.5” steerer tube – but she’s come back with some very refined trail manners and a curvy set of new tubes. Charm school? Sure, but one that teaches judo too.
Submitted by
Dek
a Weekend Warrior
from Sao Paulo; Brazil Date Reviewed: July 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Cantareira Mountains
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3200.00
Purchased At:
Robinson Wheel Works
Strengths:
Very Light frame, fast and easy to handle.The Orange colour!
Weaknesses:
No one until now, but the paint will be on this list!!!
Similar Products Used:
Nomad, Big Hit....
Bike Setup:
XT on rear, E-13, Fox DHX 5.0 Coil, Boxxer Race, Juicy Seven, Race face stem/seat post.
Bottom Line:
Great bike!!!After read some reviews, We can easy understand how this bike is a LEGO....I started build this bike with a sweet Fox 36 RC2 and works pretty well, but after take out the front derailler and change for a E-13 and change the Fox 36 for a RockyShox Boxxer race (200mm).Seems crazy???No....The bike has change it... and personnality also...I've ride in the first configuration over a year, and I've changed around 2 weeks....and now I can tell you that I've a new bike.
The DHX 5 Coil is a great shock, thank you for Chris Robinson and their friends at Santa Cruz factory, for that....
Great bike....a real Legend!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lhliu
a Weekend Warrior
from portland, oregon Date Reviewed: June 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
black rock, post canyon, whistler
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
santa cruz as warran
Strengths:
simplicity, versatility, durability
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
heckler
Bike Setup:
fox 36 talas r, dhx air 5.0, nevegal 2.35, formula brakes
Bottom Line:
can do light freeride (maybe heavy freeride but i'm the limiting factor as far as that goes), i also use it for xcountry, even use it for cardio/road riding
it performs admirably in all those scenarios; i've had zero maintenance issues so far; the aluminum tubing is a nice thick gauge so won't be prone to dents; a true all-mountain bike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jeffbari
a Racer
from seoul korea Date Reviewed: May 10, 2009
Favorite Trail:
ansan seoul
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
odbike korea
Strengths:
its bullit...
Weaknesses:
some noise at pivot...
Similar Products Used:
marin quad xlt,heckler.
Bike Setup:
08 lime green frame,36 float rc2,dhx5,xt's,hope pro2
syncros rims28,saint ,wtb rocket v,thomson seat,kenda blue groove2.5 front 2.35 back
Bottom Line:
if you plan to get heckler nah....
get bullit. this is it.1000 times better when you downhill
u can even eat up those XC machines.while up hill
dont worry about single pivot....you get over it soon
it ultimate machine...this is the one we call it MTB
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
deron ash
a Weekend Warrior
from dcash@wcgwave.ca Date Reviewed: May 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
to many to list
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Canada
Strengths:
Fox DHX 5.0 is super plush and the simple design of the single pivot makes maitenance a snap. Tracks the climbs well and built super tough. For the person who brakes anything.
Weaknesses:
Chain line issues, I run triple crank.
Similar Products Used:
none compare
Bike Setup:
Full Easton Havoc set up with Vanilla up front,Fox DHX 5.0 in the rear.
Bottom Line:
I use this bike for everything and it handles it all well. I do not notice the brake jack in the rear and figuere you need to learn how to ride if that is an issue. best bike for your money and looks super sweet moto style. A bike you can depend on for years.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kenny Gavin
a Downhiller
from Las Vegas, NV, USA Date Reviewed: April 15, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Urban Assault
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Strengths:
Handling is superb, Balance,
Weaknesses:
have not found one
Similar Products Used:
VP FREE, Kona Stinky DEE-LUX, Kona Stinky nine, GT i-drive
Bike Setup:
Bomber 66 single crown fork, FOX DHX 5.0, avid juicy
Bottom Line:
This IS the best bike i have ever ridden, the new frame design is incredible, it seriously has the best balance of any bike i have ever ridden, it handles 5 out of 5, If you want a bike that does everything perfect and can only have one bike then this is the one
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ubugga
a Weekend Warrior
from san diego, ca Date Reviewed: March 10, 2009
avid brakes, gravity dh wheels, straitline stem and pedals, raceface cranks, fox van 36, maxxis highroller, e13 chainguide, fox dhx air
Bottom Line:
If you want one bike to ride this is it. It can do dh, xc, fr, you name it. Lot of other bikes lean towards a certain type of riding. The bottlerocket for instance was at its best for djs and big air, but that's it. The bullit can be ridden xc one day and enter a dh race the next.
The best part is that it's half the cost of all other bikes in its class.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
wasea04
a Weekend Warrior
from st.george utah usa Date Reviewed: December 11, 2008
Favorite Trail:
ama, barrels, gv stuff
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Great handler especially in tight techy spots down and even up, took my skills to the next level, confidence inspiring on jumps and drops, manualed very easily, very flickable, felt very "light," when you needed to move around yet solid, very stable at speed and in the rough stuff, strong and reliable frame.
Weaknesses:
none really, the weight for my application......I pedal to the top of the dh and fr runs. Of course the single pivots do stiffen up when the brakes are on, but the floating disc option cures that......not that big of a deal anyway.
Similar Products Used:
RFX, HELIUS ST, GEMINI, ML8, COVE, EL GUAPO, MT CYCLE
Bike Setup:
DHX 5 coil, 66rc3, Hadley's on 729's
Bottom Line:
This bike rips, I can honestly not think of a better value out there in terms of a fr/dh bike, and what's more it'll be great for years to come due to it's durability and simplicity of design. I'v loved this bike, alas I also love buying new bikes........buy this bike if you want to do it all with one bike and you go huge, not just big!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
diego
a Weekend Warrior
from hollister california Date Reviewed: October 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
A-Line at whistler
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
family cycling cente
Strengths:
travel is smooth.i havnt had any problems with it.super gnarly survived whistler when i went there rode a-line crack addict etc awesome trails.handles well.bike works great for big stuff and corners great.it is a lot lighter than it looks.
Weaknesses:
none i have noticed
Similar Products Used:
first bike im thirteen
Bike Setup:
avid juicy 7 sram x9 totem coil dhx 5 air
Bottom Line:
im only thirteen but i can jam.i rode whistler double blacks with a day of riding at mt. hood before that.im not sure how the old bullit was but the new one dominates.the bike performs great for downhill and freeride.if you get it i would suggest getting it with a dhx 5 coil.i wouldnt ride uphill on it though.if you want to ride xc get a heckler or blur.if you want to ride freeride with some downhill this is the perfect bike.the bike handles great for me it is the perfect downhill freeride bike and it takes anything you throw at it.THE BIKE IS BURLY AND FAST!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jazzboy
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver Date Reviewed: June 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Roller coastwe
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
waka, waka, waka
Weaknesses:
scooby doo.
Similar Products Used:
shnizzle
Bike Setup:
stock r fr 1.5
Bottom Line:
Phoque the Nomad, this is the bomb!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nathan
a Downhiller
from Australia Date Reviewed: May 17, 2008
Favorite Trail:
lots
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
comes with shock pup, t-shirt, stickers.
Weaknesses:
santa cruz use stickrs for their logos on powder coat frames. not made in usa. frame costs almost as much as a complete giant reign.
Bike Setup:
150/12mm, dhx air, 08 fox 36 talas, dt440's on mavic 823's, all thomson, e-thirteen, hones, soon to get new saint and get rid of sram all together. 15.1 kgs.
Bottom Line:
onto my second set of bearings. nezzy sent them to me for free but if i had a multi pivot bike i would have had to change around 8 insted of just 2. onto my 4th or 5th bushing and 2nd set of reducers but these parts are ment to wear out.
everyone has gone dw-link and vpp link crasy, i'm just waiting of santa cruz to bring back the super8. single pivots are the go. the angles are dialed on all santa cruz bikes you just have to ride single pivot bikes less like a hack.
perfect short travel, light, dh bike. does lose out on crazy rock gardens probably a perfect megaavalance bike. if you want to ride up hill get the heckler. if you want to race xc get a superlight and if you want a dh bike get a moorewood or orange.
the bulit is an awsome bike hands down. when i look at other bikes produced today i think i might end up buying another bullit in 1 or 2 years time. thats how happy i am with this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: January 6, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
simple single pivot design, well built, well balanced, super smooth on the down hill, takes big hits with ease, pedals a whole lot better than previous model.
Weaknesses:
Anodizing's a bit poor and the rear shock mount bolt has a habit of coming loose if you don't lock tight it, other than that nothing
Similar Products Used:
2003 bullit, sx
Bike Setup:
Ano bronze frame, dhx 5.0, 07 66 rc2x's, formula the ones, hope pro2's, mavic, saints, race face etc...
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike, had the previous model and thought it was the daddy, got this and it loads better, feels much tighter, rails corners way better, works with big travel forks far better. Rear end soaks up anything you care to throw at it. You do get some pedal feedback, it's hardly noticable and can mostly be dialled out with the correct shock setup, I personally don't notice any but than again I don't go in for any epic xc rides. Just make sure you upgrade to the dhx 5, much better than the stock dhx 3 that comes with it. Mines built heavy, around 42lb but still pedals pretty good and is easy to flick around in the air. Don't be buying if all you want is a long travel XC bike, you will end up whining about weight, pedal bob etc.. I'm pretty sure it'll do the all mountain thing Ok, may take a bit more effort up the hills, but it's best used for freeride with some downhill chucked in. If your looking for a low maintanence, easy to pedal freeride bike, there isn't much that comes close to this. Stop having doubts, just buy it!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
simon
a
from Uk Date Reviewed: January 2, 2008
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Great free-ride frame built to the highest standards,super smooth endless travel takes big drops/jumps and anything you want,depends on the rider of course, pedals up hill well for its build. Once set up it is a maintence free bike.
Weaknesses:
Pedal feed back, though this is only when going slow over small bumps as far as i can tell,i wouldn't buy this if all you are going to do is XC, people say that they have built up light mine weights 42lb. When ordering go for the DHX5, don't waste your time with the DHX3 it may work but not for long.
Similar Products Used:
Stinkey,sx,orange,
Bike Setup:
Heavy free-ride,66 rc2x ,dhx5,saints,race face,easten, mavic,v12 etc.
Bottom Line:
This bike is great for everything more based for free-ride/downhill/all mountain (blast i said the last one). i have had mine for 6mths and have had no problems at all it soaks up everything espically long flowing down hill tracks/decents . if you want a bike that is a all rounder then buy, but don't try and build this into something it's not.i.e XC machine you will hate it go for a heckler/super light. Have a look for yourself a example of that this bike can do copy/paste this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F2p4-JmhC4
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Zach
a
from Cincinnati, Ohio Date Reviewed: December 23, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
shop I work at
Strengths:
lightweight for what it is, super burly, lifetime bearings, 1.5 ht, capable for anything. Common single pivot strengths.
Weaknesses:
chainstays can hit your heels if you're not centered, dhx air that came with it blew 4 times, now with a dhx coil which is perfect. Also head tube required punching and loc tite to keep cup tight, but also now perfect. Obvious single pivot issues.
Similar Products Used:
diamondback strike, session 77, cannondale perp, GF king fisher
Killer bike with a killer value. Can truly be built up for anything, and way more confidence inspiring than anything else I've ridden. Now that the floating brake caliper is available, it should be perfect. I have switched bikes around a LOT in the past due to not being comfortable and this is the longest I've had a single dh/fr frame built up, so what does that tell you?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Calvin Lee
a Weekend Warrior
from Malaysia Date Reviewed: November 15, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Kiara
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
KSH TTDI
Strengths:
freakin strong looks sturdy but yet quite light
Weaknesses:
dont know yet
Similar Products Used:
none, used to ride a kona hardtail n a giant nrs3 though
Bike Setup:
x9 components, avid code, dtswiss 6.1,
Bottom Line:
GREAT BIKE! AWESOME!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dan
a Downhiller
from Brighton UK Date Reviewed: November 12, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Les Arcs
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$999.00
Purchased At:
Stif
Strengths:
Looks, build quality, weight, price.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Orange Patriot, Commencal Pasta Power, Kona Stinky, Specialized Big Hit
Bike Setup:
Totem Coil, DHX3 & Ti spring, Lightish FR build.
Bottom Line:
Very impressive bike so far. Able to ride XC for the first time in ages, but this bike is really crying out for the downhills.
A true all-rounder.
Will post again once i've been out to the big mountains with it..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ian
a
from British Columbia Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
suncoast cycles
Strengths:
strong, stiff, no noticeable pedal bob, rides really well
Weaknesses:
swingarm pivot came loose once so i tightened the cup again and its been fine, i dont think anything will come of it
Similar Products Used:
giant VT, giant ac, cove hustler, a jackal(not similar but same company)
Bike Setup:
rock shox totem solo air, custom build
Bottom Line:
great bike, looks alot heavier then it is. i used to have a 2006 888rc2x on it until recently i sold it and the totem on. that upgrade(stem/wheel/tire aswell) dropped 7lbs off the bikes total weight, so it now sits at approximately 38lbs, which is plenty light for me. i have a giant VT i use for light duty stuff anyways. the bike rides so much more balance with the totem rather then the 888. i wouldnt recomend it if you get a new bike every year because im sure u can spend more and get even better performing suspension, but the real benefet is that it will last longer for those of us who arent made of money. another benefit of the bike is that it can be built up so many different ways to accomodate so many different riders. value rating is 5 because i got a smokin employee deal and 5 overall because its an amazing bike with amazing potential
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
