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Submitted by
ryan
a Downhiller
from longviewjunkie@hotmail.com
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | dirt merchant | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | built solid, looks awesome, rides great | | Weaknesses: | i can't marry it | | Similar Products Used: | stinky, coiler, heckler | | Bike Setup: | some cool stuff | | Bottom Line: | after coming off of a couple of konas i couldn't believe the difference between suspension designs. i never thought i would be able to tell, but i was wrong. the vp-free is way smoother and soaks up way more than my konas ever did. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ghettocruiser
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | The Highway 48 Extension (RIP) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | silent sports | | Strengths: | Pretty much does everything as advertised. | | Weaknesses: | High BB....with the seat up for XC I feel like I need a stepladder to get on the thing.
Arguably way more bike than I can handle. | | Similar Products Used: | Turn-of-the-century Rocky Mountain. | | Bike Setup: | 7" fork and DHX5 | | Bottom Line: | Happy customer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
VERT
a
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Pedals amazingly well, climbs like a XC bike, strong, very plush suspension feels bottomless. | | Weaknesses: | Pivot bearings short life | | Similar Products Used: | SnataCruz Heckler, Intense Socom, Giant AC, Kona coiler etc | | Bike Setup: | 2.5" x 7.5" Fox DHX, Rockshox Domains 318's 180mm, Saint, Hope, Holzfella, Thomson etc | | Bottom Line: | I stuck a shorter shock in mine a 2.5" x 7.5" Fox DHX, this has lowered my Bottom bracket together with 180mm forks. With the smaller shock I get just under 8" of travel. This bike is very plush and takes the hits and rails the downhills like nothing I have ever ridden. And then this bike climbs steep stuff like I can't imagine. Just spent the weekend on this bike riding 7 1/2 hours worth of XC tracks on one day then the next shuttling jump tracks and the Nats DH track. This bike is truely amazing. It does everything, best bike I have ridden ever and I have ridden and owned a lot of bikes. Its just a shame the bearing wearing quickly let it down and I think mine might be on their way out :( | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DH racer
a Downhiller
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | upper A-line, SideTrack | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | kirkland cycles | | Strengths: | Versatility | | Weaknesses: | higher than normal maintenance | | Similar Products Used: | Stab, GranMal, Bighit | | Bike Setup: | Pushed DHX
Travis | | Bottom Line: | This bike can do it all. It's my everyday trail bike as well as my Whistler DH bike. Don't buy into the BS about steep head angles and high bottom brackets. Marc Beumont and Neil Donaghue dominated UK racing on VP-Frees. VP-Frees are very capable race bikes as well as great pedaling trial bikes. I think the negative reviews are a result of Sam Hill killing it on a bike with a crazy low bottom bracket. So now all the slow kooks think they need a 13" BB to go fast. You're still gonna be slow on your Sunday! Nothing makes me smile more then flying by kooks on there Sundays with my slow top heavy trail bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrick
a Downhiller
from Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Craigslist | | Strengths: | Excellent quality, Pedals great for the weight, looks amazing, Santa Cruz customer service, stable at high speeds and clears everything, endless travel, plush | | Weaknesses: | Expensive, kinda heavy, attracts thieves, no ISCG mounts | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit | | Bike Setup: | 888R, Swinger 6 Way, Diabolus parts, XT Der, 1x9, etc | | Bottom Line: | This bike is amazing for the money. Once set up right, it pedals very well, and takes the DH with ease. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen
a
from Calgary Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: October 3, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Canada Olympic Park Downhill Course | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Strengths: | Very well made frame, super beefy and has very good for peadle bob. | | Weaknesses: | No chain guid holes in frame | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Vp-Free, 5th element, Manitou Sherlin slider plus | | Bottom Line: | A ver good bike. It can take huge gucks gaps and is very good for Dh. Its awsome go buy it. If you dont like it you are not normal. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Cutts
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Morzine - nay trail in the area | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | All over the place | | Strengths: | Just about everything..... | | Weaknesses: | .....excpet the lower pivot bearing. | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit, Demos, Stinkys, Bighits, V10, Rm7 and a few others | | Bike Setup: | Sram X0, 888, single chainring Hi Roller 2.5s | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden this bike pretty hard for the last few years and love it. Keep thinking I should get 2 bikes (V10 and a Blur LT) that are more purpose built to replace it but dont have the space required to store them. I have no doubt a dedicated FR, DH or trail bike would do "its" job better but I have never ridden a bike (and have owned over 20) that seems to handle whatever I can do - I'm the limiting factor not the bike. BTW - I'm 6'6" and ride a large - fits me perfect.
It rides uphill OK, handles big drops and fast corners. I dont understand the thing about the harsh low speed ride - mine is super plush from zero to way too fast and never feels soggy or uncontrolled - maybe you guys have incorrectly setup or faulty shocks?
OK - so it does have a major bad point - the pivots wear out way too fast - and keeping them clean doesnt seem to help. It seems that if they get wet and dirty during a ride then thats it - the damage has been done and its just a matter of time before they need replacing. I do find it is only the bottom 4 bearings that really suffer - my top 4 are the originals - so you do get 2 rebuilds out of a set. I have heard of someone doing better bearings but havent tried them yet. Took a flamming turd off just for the bearings!
In my thinking it probably isnt the "one" bike for everyone (doubt that even exists....) but it is the "one" bike for me. If you can afford and have the space for more bikes then of course that is the better way to go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alain c
a Weekend Warrior
from montreal, Qc, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | big bang | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | pinkbike | | Strengths: | vpp, strong, nice welds, great colors | | Similar Products Used: | foes, kona, balfa | | Bike Setup: | Vp free, DHX 5.0, Juicy carbon, X-0, dt 6.1 on 440, boxxer WC... | | Bottom Line: | I can't belive people say this bike sucks. It's a great bike and it goes fast. I ride faster than before and it sucks everythig up. The vpp work marvel on the trail. Good for drop, jumps, freeride, and DH course. This bike likes to fly. Yes the pivots tends to collect dirt but if you clean your bike at the end of the days there should be no problem. I just love my vp free and it's only 38lbs!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Liang
a Downhiller
from North Vancouver, B.C , Canada
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Air Supply | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3800.00 | | Purchased At: | Steed Cycles | | Strengths: | amazing all round! it pedals great, you can DH race on it well, it hits drops and step ups/jumps great, light and it comes with amazing components stock (SPX kit)! | | Weaknesses: | lots of dirt gets in the bb area (behind the wheel) but can be fixed with a fender | | Similar Products Used: | norco fuse, switch S3, cove peeler | | Bike Setup: | SPX stock kit (fox 40 rc2s, truvative OCT cranks, DT Swiss 6.1 rims, Avid Code brankes, Dhx 5 rear shock, ethirteen dual ring chain guide, SRAM X 9 derailer,...) anodized orange color :P | | Bottom Line: | It is just an amazing bike! I have already DH raced on it and it runs amazing and sucks everything up, but is stable in the air and off drops and it pedals insanely well! i just didnt like how dirt got in the bb area behind the wheel but that was quickly fixed with a homemade fender which was easy to make. I mean you could make this bike almost have as much plushness as a V-10 but make it good for FR as well! Plus its an awsome value for the components you get! If you live in north van I know Steed Cycles has some amazing prices on their bikes! www.steedcycles.com | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Downhiller
from Kamloops
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | steam shovel | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Cafe | | Strengths: | Awesome, light, cafe gave me great deal(3600 canadian w/ 06 frame and 07 components), No pedal bob so u go a lot faster on the falts, can be ridden up and down | | Weaknesses: | Squeaks a little but thats just a matter of cleaning it more and NOT BEING LAZY AND DOING SOME WORK doen't eat the samll bumps | | Similar Products Used: | none this good | | Bike Setup: | orange with boxxer teams, sram 9 and avid 5 and dhx 5.0 | | Bottom Line: | I dont know why people are complaing about having to spend a little money to put some new bearings in once in a while, all fullys need it. It bike is very good, corners great and very moveable while goinfast.
I LOVE THE BIKE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jas Hill
a
from Chch, NZ
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Craigieburn | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Hub Cycles | | Strengths: | The mere fact that this has 8.5 inches of rear travel and pedals up hill as well as a Blur! Fail safe handling. It makes you want to try new lines and give hucks a nudge. | | Weaknesses: | Front mech set up takes a bit of time but otherwise nothing. | | Similar Products Used: | Demo 9 | | Bike Setup: | Med Free frame, RS Totem Solo Air, Formula brakes, Mavi 823 rims, Maxxis Highroller 2.35 rear, Minnon 2.5 front. 37lbs | | Bottom Line: | This thing is awesome. It rides up hill just great and smokes along on single track, but once gravity is on your side get ready to hold on. It will just swallow any issues on the trail including small dogs ans xc bikes! I haven't had a chance to ride a bike park on it yet but all indications are that it will be perfect. This is a bike that can work the full spectrum of mtb'ing. Enduro XC adventure ride one day, shuttle runs the next...all with a smile on your face. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
calrider805
a Downhiller
from San Luis Obispo
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Whistler, Santa Cruz, Trail 401... | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO | | Strengths: | Plush 8.5", pedalable, stiff, 150 mm x 12 mm rear end, gusseting near headtube, reputable, relatively low weight, just a FUN bike for FR and DH | | Weaknesses: | A bit higher center of gravity than I would like ideally, high BB, bent seat tube, perhaps cost, no 1.5 headtube like the 07 | | Similar Products Used: | GT Ruckus 2.0 and a hardtail, sorry not much "similar" | | Bike Setup: | VP-Free (obviously), Fox 40, Diabolous, Hope, Hadley, SRAM... | | Bottom Line: | I am VERY happy with this bike. I admit I haven't ridden any other downhill bikes so I can't compare there. I had a GT Ruckus 2.0 with 6" of travel before this, so obviously it was a huge step up in many regards. I also only been riding for 2.5 yrs. However. I've progressed quickly and taken this thing down some gnarly tech trails and drops up to 10' and I know this bike will handle everything I will be able to throw at it without a problem as I continue to progress. It flies through the rough stuff, pops off of jumps well, and feels relatively flickable through turns and in the air though the Fox 40 detracts from this a bit... I'm thinking of buying a 66RC or Totem or something to be able to swap out for longer rides, freeride, etc. All in all this is a SICK bike and I would totally buy it again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manny Lozano
a Downhiller
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | mt wilson | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle station | | Strengths: | I love the solid feel and bottumless travel.I always try to find the narlier route and the bigger drops and so far,so good....or more like yeehhaaa!! Either way, its light enought to manage up the mountain if your not able to always start from the top.It feels like a pig going up, but man it comes to life going down. And thats why I bought it.I was also suprised that it can hang on single tracks. Switch backs no prob!Its all about sick and fast 6' plus drops and rock gardens that leave you grinnin. | | Weaknesses: | does get squeeky in the pivots but who cares, when your jammin and your music is cranken, pitty things like that dont matter!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | mountain cycle dh, daimondback dh, cannondale dh,who cares as long as you ride! | | Bike Setup: | 888r fork,hayes stopers,Azonic-[bars,ti peddles,outlaw wheels,seat] shimano groupo, thompsen post,kenda sticky tires. | | Bottom Line: | the bottum line is most riders arent really capible enought to really find out what their down hill rig can really do, but for those few who can, only they will know how truly great this bike is for sick free riding and balls out down hilling. Every one else, its their own personal expensive statis symble toy that ends up as a cloths rack. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Horn
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft. Collins, Co.
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | downhill Vail/Keystone | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Full Cycle | | Strengths: | Frame is solid and lightwieght, the geometry is near perfect, and the suspension is great.
The frame is solid, geometry is near perfect and, the suspension is great. Bike is light enough to pedal uphill.
| | Weaknesses: | None so far but, bottom pivot collects debri. I heard of pivots wearing out quickly on bikes without iscg chainguide mount. I have the iscg mount on my bike and have had no problems. (I don't really see how the iscg mount would effect the pivot points though.) All pivot points on all bikes eventually wear out. | | Similar Products Used: | 03 Rocky Mountain Rm7 (Wade Simmons) | | Bike Setup: | (spx free ride kit) Fox 40rc, Fox dhx5.0, Race face diabolis bars, evolve dh cranks/neck/bottom bracket, Avid juicy 7's, DT Swiss hubs and rims. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is totally solid. The suspension sucks up the big bumps very well, springs off jumps nicely and, handles big drops (20'+) with ease. The bike is also,light enough to pedal uphill if you use a 34-36 tooth chainring. If you want a bike that can do it all this is the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Barclay
a Downhiller
from Kamloops
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Steam Shovel | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3600.00 | | Purchased At: | Cafe | | Strengths: | Great bike. The suspension system works great. NO pedal bob. I don't know what everyones talking about with the squeeking and stuff but i got none | | Weaknesses: | doesn't eat up the small bumbs but no biggie | | Similar Products Used: | notin, the only other full i've ever used is my brodie hoodlum | | Bike Setup: | 06 frame dhx coil, with the fr kit and a boxxer team | | Bottom Line: | GOOD BIKE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Donald
a Weekend Warrior
from Nashville, TN USA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3900.00 | | Purchased At: | MOAB Murfreesboro Outdoor and Bike | | Strengths: | Wow! It hucks, climbs, and looks AWESOME! Santa Cruz has nailed this one! | | Weaknesses: | Chain slapps chainstay tube due to Santa Cruz not having the advertised chain guide ready for sale! Its coming tho, I hope! Isnt it...get back to me Santa Cruz! | | Similar Products Used: | First "dually" Ive ever owned! | | Bike Setup: | RS TOTEM COIL front, FOX 5.0 COIL rear, SRAM drivetrain, AVID CODE 8", DK SWISS Rollers. | | Bottom Line: | If I won the lottery tomorrow Id buy this bike again! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
myles
a Downhiller
from Mt Hood Oregon
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | dirt merchant | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | It does have a lot of travel and ummmm. Easily resold. Makes creaking sounds when pedaling to let others know you are close by. Look cool bro. | | Weaknesses: | Glad to see I am not the only person who has pivot problems. It seems like a joke to pay so much for a frame and get a piece of crap that creaks and needs $100-125 pivot kits to freshen it up yearly (or every other month). (VPP) Very Problematic Pivot system needs some work. Suspension doesn't work well when you are on the brakes. Doesn't feel light and tossable. | | Similar Products Used: | kona, intense, specialized, dh bikes | | Bike Setup: | 888 rc and more | | Bottom Line: | If you really ride your bike, not curb drops and xc trails(you posers know who you are), it will be great until you swap bikes with a buddy who has a non vpp bike. I would not buy again. This bike was a disapointment. I would look at other bikes if you free ride and occasionally dh race. Pivots did not hold up well to a season of Post canyon and Whistler. Funny my buds spec. demo 8/big hit bikes work great. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil Schlosser
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Moras trail, Costa Rica | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | The Peak, Olympia WA. | | Strengths: | This frame handles great, Some what light and not over built. I ride downhill, sinlge track, stunts you name it i do it on this bike. Handles great at high speeds. Brakes well. Totally rips. | | Weaknesses: | I have the earlier frame with no iscg bracket. But i can't complain because this years do. I have had some serious issues with the lower pivot since it was new. First the lower pivet was making serious creak noise. So i broke it down greased it and reassembled. After a while it started again. I contacted SC and they told me to shorten the lower axle. So i did that and the creak went away and then i couldn't keep the pivot tight even after loctite. So now i have taken it down again and the lower pivot link has a lot of play around the axle. So i am going to press in new bearings and replace the pivot and axle. Hopefully that should fix the problem. I think it should be a easy fix so no hard feelings on that one. Even though it really sucks when you are in a foreign country and your rear end keeps coming loose. And the guy with the Kona doesn't have any issues what so ever. But whatever. | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit, Heckler, Nomad. | | Bike Setup: | Magura brakes, Fox 36 Van RC2, 317s, Hadely hubs, Fox DHX 5.0, Shimano crank, Saint rear de. | | Bottom Line: | This bike would be great if it wasn't for the lower pivot problems and they should have had the ISCG bracket on it from day one. The replaceable drop out is forged from some alloy crap that is seriouly fragle. If you pay for a frame that is that much money and is suposed to be high end then you should probably see some cnc machined parts on it. Thats just my thoughts. Intense does. But all in all it has been a real pleaser to shread on this magnificent handling bike. I have riden it from Whistler to Costa Rica and it has handled everything i have thrown at it. Who should buy it. The person that wants a light DH frame and a good Freeride frame that can pedal and handles great. Who shouldn't buy it. A person that thinks anything less then 6ft is a drop. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilbert, Arizona
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mormon/National | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Stiff plush ride.
Climbs fairly well. | | Weaknesses: | Wheelbase little too long.
Cheap decal stickers.
Sizing.
| | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | DHX5,888RC,Atomic Trial Pimp Rims, Hope Hubs,Easton Bars, Avid 8" brakes, Intense WC 2.5 Tires, Thompson and Sram XO. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike that climbs fairly well, eats up rock gardens and has a very plush ride. I am 6'1" 210lbs and went with the medium frame, the large felt way to big. Even with the medium frame the bike fells bit long and make tight cornering difficult, but make fast high speed runs nice and stable. Overall I really like this bike, but if I had to spend close to $2000 again on a frame I would probably have went with the Intense Uzzi VPX because of its shorter wheelbase. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
calen
a Downhiller
from fairfax, ca
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | dirt merch to A-line, fatcrobat, clown shoes | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | steed cycles, north van | | Strengths: | weight, pedaling efficiency, looks, extreme versatility | | Weaknesses: | pivots wear out - yes they do!
lack of ISCG mounts | | Similar Products Used: | transition dirtbag | | Bike Setup: | marz shiver, nevegal dh tires/tubes, 40t front ring for DH - 45lbs; marz z-150, nevegal kevvies/xc tubes, 32t front ring for fr/trails - 39lbs. fox dhx 5 coil. | | Bottom Line: | i have just one MTB and this is it. it pedals like a dream and is very light for its travel (a svelte 9.5 lbs). i'm not one to just cruise down a trail - i sprint wherever i can to pick up speed and love to crank out of corners, and i can tell you that this bike goes! i'd say the single feature that sets this bike apart is its versatility - i built it into a 45lb beast for 2 months of Whistler and it absolutely ruled the bike park everywhere from ultra fast A-line to ultra tech clown shoes, to plain rambunctious trails like fatcrobat. back home where things aren't quite as gnarly and chairlifts don't run i've got it down to 39 lbs and I prefer it to my old hardtail for climbing. i even rocked the 40t ring for a couple months of climbing and did not regret it. i would recommend this bike to any fit rider who would break a nomad but wants a do-it-all bike. if you want a dh racer one week and a trail bike the next, well there you go.
the only major issue i have with santa cruz bikes is their apallingly bad pivots. mine have major play after 6 months. my friend is on his third set in 2 years. my LBS usually has a couple of SCs in for bearing overhaul. c'mon SC, hardware store cartridge bearings are more durable than your fancy pants bearings. i lowered the value rating because it looks like i will be dropping $100 bucks a year on new bearings. an otherwise OUTSTANDING bike should not have such an achilles heel, but it does. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel Slater
a Downhiller
from El Granada CA
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | Bought the frame used, then built it up | | Strengths: | Amount of travel is perfect for free riding and works great for me for down hilling. Awsome DH/FR frame. | | Weaknesses: | It is a DH/FR bike so it's heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Stinky dee-lux, bullit, V10. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 VP-Free w/ 888R, azonic outlaw wheels, holzafeller bars, stem, and cranks. Hayes Mag HDs, e13, fox dhx 5.0 | | Bottom Line: | It is a beefy bike that is great for down hilling and free riding. Get it if you do either of them, and if you think you're an extreme XC guy, then get a nomad because I hate when I see XC guys/girls on 8 inch travel bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graham
a Downhiller
from Scotland, UK
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2095.00 | | Purchased At: | Privately | | Strengths: | Really stable through any terrain.
Handles so smoothly in the air, it is a really balanced bike.
Pedalling efficiency means it is like a trail bike, maybe an inch of pedal bob maximum.
Shock is one of the best available, nice tunability, feels nice through all the travel.
Looks stunning, paintjob is superb and really durable, cable routing is well planned, geometry is perfect!
Amazing Santa Cruz build and finish quality. | | Weaknesses: | The only annoying thing I can think of are the cable lugs just behind the headtube. These can sometimes catch on your shorts but this is a tiny problem.
| | Similar Products Used: | Kona Coiler, Giant Glory DH, 24seven Darkangel DH, Kona Stinky, Norco Six | | Bike Setup: | '06 trans. blue VP-Free Med. with Marzocchi 888R, Hayes, ?E13, Thomson, Truvativ, Raceface, Chris King, SRAM X9.0, Lizard Skins, Hope, Maxxis. | | Bottom Line: | I was looking for a bike that would work well through really hard DH and also be agile, pedal-efficient and jumpable. This frame definately lives up to the job.
If you are looking for the same as me, then go for one - it is brilliant. The bike does everything you want it to - it will land flat from 10ft+ with ease, it will blast through rocks with no spiking and complete stability, and it will launch you off a jump so smoothly you'll never have to go round a jump again.
Thanks to the guys at SC, and their design/build quality, the VP-free will handle everything you throw at it, run after run, ride after ride and it will always be there to take you back home. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kym Howell
a Downhiller
from Phoenix, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3300.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | I love every thing from the looks to the way it eats up the rough stuff. I had been riding a bullit and the difference in the way this bike lands a jump is amazing. | | Weaknesses: | Cable routing near the seatpost/top tube is a pain. I ended up wrapping mine to the tube with inner tube to keep from snagging it with my shin guards and haven't been bothered since. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit, Santa Cruz v-10, Orange Patriot, Turner Highline. | | Bike Setup: | Fox 40RC2, Hope M4's with braided lines and floating rotors. Manitou swinger 6-way, Halo Tornado wheels w/Hadley hubs. Diabolus bars,stem,seatpost. FSA extreme cranks. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. It tears through, over and around way more than I can handle and is giving me the confidence to do things I haven't tried before. I climb as much as I want with it and then bomb down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Antonio
a Weekend Warrior
from Switzerland
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Chatel NR.5 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3800.00 | | Purchased At: | Freemountain | | Strengths: | This bike is great if you want to huck, downhill, free ride, or jump. It is super stable in the air and gets alot of hight off jumps. This bike is in pole position on any bikepark-Freeridepark in the World!! | | Weaknesses: | today none | | Similar Products Used: | today none | | Bike Setup: | Santacruz vpfree M,azonic,truvativ,E13,WTB,Thomson,maxxis,DT,FSA,AVID7,888RC2X. | | Bottom Line: | I shopped around for a new freeride/DH bike for a long time before finally settling on the VP Free. Am I ever happy with my decision!!! The sickest bike ever!! I have now 1Mt, but I absolutley love it. This is a truly wonderful frame, i bought it because of the thought that i could use it even on off season racing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trevor Hebbel
a Downhiller
from Palo Alto, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mile | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3400.00 | | Purchased At: | Santa Cruz | | Strengths: | This bike is amazing. I rode it for a few days and was comfortable on it. It turns great and jumps even better. I haven't had a single problem with the frame. It is good it tight downhill courses with jumps. It has a super strong frame with 8.5 inches of travel. | | Weaknesses: | 5th element rear shock sucks. The rebound is too slow at it's fastest setting. It has bad small bump absorbtion and feels like crap. On other bikes it works fine but on a VP it sucks. On the bright side, 5th element went out of buisness. Go with a DHX. | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit | | Bike Setup: | Boxxer world cup, juicys, sram, truvative, DT swiss | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great if you want to huck, downhill, free ride, or jump. It is super stable in the air and gets alot of hight off jumps. It turns great and with the right setup, you could take it off any drop. Of course there are better race bikes like the V10 but this is a super versitile bike that is great if you only want one bike. If you happen to be unlucky and get a 5th element, just switch it out for a DHX and you are good to go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MAJOR ALDEN DELVO
a Downhiller
from DAVAO CITY, Philippines
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | TANGRAM ugat, Carabao Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | FA components | | Strengths: | Travel and weight is just right for DHracing in the Philippine trails.Burly and super strong frame,could take on every rut, gaps, drops with ease. takes the rider to the and could limits, crashes included.Can be pedalled uphill too. Fabrication is top notch and very pleasing to the eyes | | Weaknesses: | a little on the heavy side when your freeriding up and down hills. mine is a 42 pound pig. | | Similar Products Used: | bullit, gemini | | Bike Setup: | VPFR, ZOOCHI 888, xt hydro brakes and drivetrain, truvativ cranks dbomb chain guides, mavic321 rims, MAXXIS tires | | Bottom Line: | This is a truly wonderful frame, i bought it because of the thought that i could use it even on off season racing. have reconfigured it to freeride, all mountain and back to dh racing and it still continues to amaze me. had several crashes on this baby, broke some bones,dislocated ribs, muscle pains. yet, there's still a lot of urging to ride this bike some more and push some more. this thing is made for serious abuse and a real eye pleaser too.So if your'e hard core, go for this ride. cant think of any replacement for my baby free! thank you SCB. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle Mason
a Downhiller
from Squamish, BC
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | My Dixie Wrecked | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4100.00 | | Purchased At: | AKA the bike shop | | Strengths: | Frame and suspension design, component spec. | | Weaknesses: | Stock tires | | Similar Products Used: | Brodie Devo | | Bike Setup: | Fox 40's, DHX 5, Race Face Evolve/Diabolous, E-Thirteen | |
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$ 4199.00
