The Blur XC represents a radical departure for Santa Cruz. Having pushed the concept of lightweight VPP suspension as far as it could go with the old aluminum Blur XC, we turned to carbon fiber to take the next step. It turned out to be a pretty huge step.
The bottom line is this bike can take the punnishment of a freeride all around bike and still keep the rubber side down. I've put this ride to the test and I've only had it for 4 months now. It handles even the most technical of rides yet remains unscathed. The rear monarch shox blew the seals already which I kind of expected from Rock shock. My suggestion; get a marzzochi roco, much smoother ride and better quality than the Rock shock. The DT swiss xrc 100 front fork blew out as well, so I'm still debating what shock I want to run in it's place. it may be super light but I think it's more for a one day world cup race and then it's done. The bike may be too light at 22.2 lbs because I get bounced around a lot, but the weight makes it extremely manuverable and easy to hop larger obstacles. it is definately a racers dream of a bike super light, climbs like a goat, can handle some of the roughest decents, stiffer than aluminum, and won't dent like aluminum if rocks hit it, all around A++. Now Santa Cruz needs to make the Blur LT Carbon with adjustable travel and then they're on to somethin'
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Submitted by
bizhsn
a Cross Country Rider
from Malaysia Date Reviewed: August 18, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Kiara
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5700.00
Purchased At:
KSH TTDI
Strengths:
Carbon stiffness plus the " sporty " ride on the Rockshox Monarch shocks.Good looking frame
Weaknesses:
None so far.
Similar Products Used:
Merida AM 800, Jamis Parker 1,Heckler,Nomad,Corratec Titan Superbow ht.
Bike Setup:
SID Team,Kenda Nevegals DTC 2.1 F & 1.95 R tyres on Spinergy Enduro wheelset,thomson seatpost & 90mm stem,Easton Monkeylite XC CNT, ODI Yeti grips,CK Headset Hope Pro XC2 with 160 floating rotors,WTB Rocket saddle,Shimano XTR RD,FD,Cogs & chain,crankset & Xpedo ti pedals.
Bottom Line:
This the best bike I've owned & ridden,suitable for trailing & also race & marathon.The ride is comparable to sports cars like Ferrari & Porsche.
Truly lives up to it's reviews.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CDA Blur
a Cross Country Rider
from Coeur d Alene, ID Date Reviewed: August 3, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
Mountain View
Strengths:
WOW, This is a great frame. Stiff, light!!!, smooth, fast, great looking, you only need one bike now. Got the frame quick, which was a change for Santa Cruz.
Weaknesses:
Price. Everyone wants to take the bike for a test ride.
Similar Products Used:
SC Blur, Scott Scale, Heckler
Bike Setup:
RP23 shock, Mavic 819 rims w/DT Swiss hubs and spokes, XTR cranks, Sram XO carbon shifters and components, Avid Juicy brakes, Thompson seat post, Kends Nevagal Tires, Easton carbon bars, WTB Rocket saddle, old Marzzochi Marathon fork(need to get a new one)
Bottom Line:
With this frame you don't have to have a hard tail for climbing and another bike for hauling but down hill. This frame is all of that in one. I have ridden the best in hard tails, a Heckler and the original Blur frames.
Climbs as fast as a hardtail, but does not kick your butt on the bumps. This thing tracks wonderfully on single track, and is SCARY FAST down hill. Make sure you invest in a good set of disc brakes with this frame. You will be amazed on how comfortable you are eating up the trails at high speeds. Did I mention how light this frame is. My bike is 24 pounds and it is a large frame. You have to buy a high end hard tail to get lighter than that.
The VPP makes the bumps disapear both climbing and down hill. With the RP23 shock this thing accelerates when either sitting or standing. You can use this frame to race XC or just ride for fun. I sold my hard tail and will not buy another one.
The frame is expensive, all though it is all I have said, I can't believe frames are going for the prices they are now. SC claims this frame is stronger than their downhill frame. I don't see why anyone would buy thier superlight frame anymore with this frame available now.
If you have any doubts, DON'T, but it you will Love it.
I just SMILE when I ride this, It amazes me everytime I ride it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
WilliamK
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Qld, Australia Date Reviewed: July 28, 2009
Favorite Trail:
All down single tracks
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
For The Riders
Strengths:
Super stiff, unbelievably stiff chain stays (feel up a frame in your bike shop). Robust frame, yet light. Class leading: Steering, Climbing and Acceleration.
I had the bike over a long weekend test and I rode it every day for 4 days. In the first 100m of lead-in fire trail, the first thing I commented to myself is “who put power steering on this thing”. The steering from this stiff frame is amazing and extremely communicative. I explored this steering on some single track – the steering accuracy and feel is a stand out feature of this bike. It just goes to show that lateral stiffness is all important to performance and pleasure, not just low weight – not that this bike is overweight (test bike was 10.4kgs/22.88lbs). Small bumps, rocks or root knobs on the winding single track, you virtually only have to think about them and the Blur XC seemingly will make small line adjustments mid corner at speed – the handling can be very intuitive on this thing. A big thank you to the uber service of For The Riders (Brisbane). If you’re in Brisbane and want a mtb, these guys are pros – they will build up a bike for any style of riding from a frame (plenty of brand choice) and then spend some time with you (amazing) and sit you on it and fit it to you, they know there stuff and that really gives riding results: it gives you that stupid grin on your face that your wife will hate. This bike will change you, it will make you a very very sick person – you will actually like climbing up stuff with this bike. I climbed faster and further than my Zaskar carbon hardtail could go. You can easily climb seated or standing on smooth or rough hills (sometimes a challenge on VP bikes, not noticeable on this one). I climbed stuff I still can’t get up now with my Blur (the Zaskar broke). Believe the other reviews – it is an amazing climber, climbing is fun on this bike (see it does make you a very sick person). It’s quick and very stable over bumps (it feels more like 5 inches), and the way it tracks is a true grin inducing pleasure. The other outstanding feature about this bike is the acceleration. Best described as a Rise with nitrous injection. Anywhere on the single track, if you pedal hard (sitting or standing) this bike launches ahead (once again, lateral stiffness delivers the power to the track) and it piles on speed quicker than anything out there – you will easily gap people with this rig. Then, there is the acceleration out of a corner, I think SC VP bikes excel in this area and this thing is very quick already and additional, it can be on the pedal power earlier than many bikes out there (mind the pedal strikes, because you can pedal ridiculously early). It was confident and competent at steep stuff, once again that super lateral stiffness gives the bike extra virtues, beyond the norm of the 4”catergory XC bike – and that, I guess, is why you pay extra coin for this XC bike, it really is a engineering and riding marvel. Once again to recap, it truly is a class leader with steering, an amazing climber with super acceleration. It is comfortable and will plod around too and it is real easy to lift out of the back of the Ute or more importantly, to put back into the Ute, as this bike will entice you and shag you.
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Submitted by
chronohunter
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, Co. USA Date Reviewed: July 28, 2009
$$$, oddish asymmetrical graphics, pedal strikes relative to my Trek (the one thing the Trek was good at(!)), Ibis and Specialized also have similar pedal strike issues.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Epic, Trek FS, Ibis Mojo SL
Bike Setup:
2010 RP 23, Fox 100x Push Modified, King Wheels, Kenda Blue Groove UST, XT/XTR mix
Bottom Line:
Probably the best all around frame available in the 4" travel range. Super light and latest VPP = rocket uphill, you can stay seated and rip up the rock gardens up a gear from a typical bike and if you're fit you can stand with hardtail efficiency yet still have compliance over bumps. Downhill the front end can be trusted so you can really jamb it into corners without fear of the front tucking. Also love the rear braking it has a lot of rear grip while braking which lets you carry more speed into the corners, rear remains very compliant mid-corner across bumps instead of "skipping" out. The combination is unbeatable in this travel range and a faster cross country rig compared with my other choice, the admittedly longer travel Mojo SL
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mbrierley
a Weekend Warrior
from Novato, CA Date Reviewed: June 11, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Mt Tam
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5600.00
Purchased At:
Littleton cyclery
Strengths:
Fast and Light! I fell in love with this bike the first time I saw it. (The black and silver, not that orange thing).
Weaknesses:
so far the only complaints are that I crushed the chain guard in some heavy mud on the white rim and that the front tire rubs agains the fork under heavy side to side cranking.
I had some strange rear brake fade while at white rim and had to sand the pads down to fix it.
Similar Products Used:
knolly endorphine, fezzari nebo peak.
Bike Setup:
Full XTR setup, monkey lite bar.
Bottom Line:
Over all a fantastic lite and fast bike! So far I've done the white rim in moab which ate it up no problem. Even with only 4" of travel it cruises over some gnarly ground, and gets phenominal air.. Also rode a few other spots on the front range. Buffalo creek tomorrow, rain or shine!
I love this bike and you will to!
P.S. I bought this bike at littleton cyclery and they have been very helpful in helping me maintain this bike.. so far only the derailure cables have continued to stretch... which can be annoying mid ride :)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SCRider
a Cross Country Rider
from KY Date Reviewed: June 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Brown County, IN
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Cycler's Cafe - Loui
Strengths:
Everything you could ever want in a FS xcountry bike. Climbs like a hardtail and allows for 3 rear shock settings from plush to stiff. Couldn't ask for more.
Weaknesses:
Chain rubs inside of chain stay when in the big ring. You can slide the chain stay protector down to prevent this.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Superlight
Bike Setup:
XTR, XO, Fox
Bottom Line:
After the second ride on this bike I decided I never wanted to ride another bike again. You forget you're on a Full Suspension bike when you're climbing. The geometry of this bike is perfect. I am about 5'6" and am on a small frame. I crashed the bike pretty hard and can't see any evidence of my crash on the frame. Santa Cruz has hit it out of the park with this frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Beij
a Cross Country Rider
from Torquay Australia Date Reviewed: May 29, 2009
Favorite Trail:
You Yangs
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$6500.00
Purchased At:
Torquay Cycling Fact
Strengths:
Light, solid feel, no flex, confidence inspiring, faster than my hardtail everywhere, butter smooth on the trail, handles tight singletrack and technical sections without any fuss, seems to get better traction uphill. Looks great (gray graphics),
Weaknesses:
Expensive ($8,000 AU minus wheelset), long wait for frameset to arrive
Similar Products Used:
Tested Pivot Mach 4
Bike Setup:
Sid, x9, Truvativ Noir cranks and handlebar, Thompson seatpost, Token headset, Alex rims.
Bottom Line:
Feels very similar to the Pivot but much lighter. The biggest advantage over my hardtail is that on rough terrain it is superior in every way. Expensive but got this over a new car. Buy this if you race or do cross country/epic trail rides and can justify it to yourself and/or your better half. I probably won't win many cross country races due to lack of fitness and talent but at least I will enjoy them much more from now on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
philipehynes
a Racer
from Mill Valley, CA Date Reviewed: March 31, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Dipsea
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$6000.00
Purchased At:
N/A
Strengths:
Climbs extremely well, stiff when putting on the gas..
Weaknesses:
Wheels! Really needs a light set of tubeless wheels.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Superlight
Bike Setup:
XTR, SID, Mavic Crossmax (now)
Bottom Line:
I was absolutely amazed at how the bike was so much superior to the Superlight. First - the bikes climbs like an animal, I was suprised at how well it climbed compared to the Superlight considering I could not lock out the rear shock. It was super stiff and when I jump out of the saddle, it responds much better than the Superlight, I feel like when I put a significant amount of power on the pedals out of the saddle it takes off like a jet.
Coming out of corners was where I noticed it was much more stiff than the Superlight, I can come out of a corner and jump out of the saddle and the rear end was super stiff - my Superlight tends to be a little squirrely especailly when it is not locked out.
I guess all I can say is that the technology is what is it all about. This was my first time riding a carbon MTB and I must say that riding carbon is like riding a Cadillac but yet it handles like a Porsche.....it is hard to explain.
Bottom line it I love it and was very impressed with the technology and the feel of the carbon. Oddly enough I think I like the SID but I need to adjust it a little before the next ride (it was a little too stiff for me). I liked the WTB tires but I would not race on them, the saddle was fine but I need to make some slight adjustments to dial it in. The only thing I need to do is trim up the bars as they were WAY TOO wide me! I am going to put my Mavic's on it Sunday when I ride it next and see how it feels with those wheels before I make the decision on the wheels, I find it hard to believe that SCB did not go with tubeless wheels. I have been riding tubeless without stans or tubes for years and I love them as I can run the tire pressure much lower based on the race/ride that I am doing - it just gives you more options based on the race/ride that you have planned.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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