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Description:Honing the original VPP Blur concept into a racing edge has resulted in the Blur XC. Our superlative Virtual Pivot Point suspension still offers 115mm of rear wheel travel. The impeccable trail manners that made the Blur a hit in the first place are still fully intact. However, the new shorter chainstays, longer top tube, lighter tubing and a resultant 3/4-pound frame weight loss all point toward one thing - the top step of the podium. Along the way, we've also redesigned the rear triangle to accommodate standover heights as low as 26.6" top tubes as short as 20.5". Now, fast little people everywhere have something to be real happy about.
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Submitted by
supersleeper
a Cross Country Rider
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Strengths: | Beautiful frame. Plush travel. Santa Cruz | | Weaknesses: | Price. Price. Price. $1800 for the frame only. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Anthem | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, Reba Team, RP23, KCNC post & bar, Dt Swiss 1540 wheels, Fizik Gobi | | Bottom Line: | I had a Trance, but the suspension felt to soft. So I got a Anthem. The Anthem was and is the fastest full suspension bike I have ever ridden, but the 3.5" travel killed my butt and body over the longer 4 hour rides.
I got the 2008 Blur xc with more travel and VVP. The LT was a bit heavier than what I had in mind.
One of the best decisions I have made. Trail and XC. Climbs well, handles well and my body thanks me for the good suspension. The best balanced bike I have ever ridden. Rarely necessary to lock out the rear suspension. No bob. Get it if you are a XC and trailrider. Not for downhill. I will subtract a chili for value due to the price. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GrannyGear
a Cross Country Rider
from New York
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3800.00 | | Purchased At: | Berkshire Bike and B | | Strengths: | I am continually amazed at how well this bike climbs on short steep technical power sections. It just eats those type of climbs up. On longer, more drawn out climbs, it doesn't do quite as well as the bike feels a bit sluggish. The performance in technical sections is really great, just rolling straight through most obstacles on the trail, inspiring new confidence in such situations. Front end is really easy to lift and control and put over logs and such. Really great on technical, fast descents. Suspension very adjustable. Really beautiful bike!! Even the Fox fork and shock match the frame. Berkshire Bike and Board in Great Barrington, MA has free tuneups for life!! | | Weaknesses: | Chain rub on bottom of frame on 1st half of gears in the small ring. Lots of creaks and squeaks already. Expensif. Stock Kenda tires do not do very well in the wet. High level of maintenance required.
| | Similar Products Used: | 1st FS bike in many years, so nothing comparable, really. | | Bike Setup: | Size XS ano Black with mostly XT components, Fox RLC100 & RP23, Avid disc brakes, DT Swiss XR4.2D wheels, etc. | | Bottom Line: | At first I really worried about the chainrub on the bottom of the frame causing a lot of damage. But Santa Cruz has worked with me and I feel much better about the situation now. You definitely have to protect that area of the bike and try to use the small chainring as little as possible. With my last bike, a used to love to stay in the small ring all the time. Now I am learning to use the middle ring more often, and it will probably make me stronger in the long run.
The ride itself is awe inspiring, and it becomes VERY easy to spend many hours in the saddle. It's a beautiful bike that receives many compliments.
I am still a little worried about the chainrub....we will see how that plays out in the long run, as I am a climber that does use the little ring quite a bit. If not for the chainrub, the bike would get 5 chilis overall without a doubt. Since the bike costed more than my car is worth, it gets only 3 chilis valuewise.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dr. Daniel Batchelor
a Racer
from Roswell Georgia USA
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Blankets, Big Creek, Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | colorado | | Strengths: | Point and shoot, postpones that "not so fresh feelng", more upright posture, tuneable suspension, handing, fun fun fun. | | Weaknesses: | The bike would be a perfect 10 if it had suspension lockout on the handlebar like my Trek Fuel 100 carbon. | | Similar Products Used: | Everything | | Bike Setup: | All XTR, RP3 rear shock, RLT100 front shock, Python light tubeless, disc. | | Bottom Line: | I raced this bike in the 24 Hours of Adrenaline at the 96 Olympic course in Atlanta and it was dreamy. I tried one lap on my Trek Fuel 100 and could not wait to get back on the Blur. The Trek Fuel 100 is light and fast but it is designed for a less rugged course and would eat up the Blur on most easy courses but when it comes to rugged courses the Blur will kill and eat anything in its path. The Blur ate up the granite bumps and hills and smoothed out the difficult olympic course. It is the perfect bike for a long event. If you want the suspension hard, flip the lever on the RP3 and turn the knob on the RLT100 and the bike becomes a seasoned racer. Flip the levers back and it feels like a downhill bike decending the slopes. If you cannot afford this bike, borrow the money from an orphanage or sell a kidney. If you want it, you really do need it.
Dr. Daniel Batchelor
Batchelor Chiropractic
270 South Atlanta st
Roswell, Georgia 30075
770-823-8186
DrBatch@aol.com | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nuno
a Cross Country Rider
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Monsanto, Grândola | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicioeste and several Europ. web sites | | Strengths: | VPP combines plushness and pedal/brake efficiency like no other system I tried. Geometry is excelent for XC, and the lateral stifness of rear triangle is even better than my former hardtail. Great weight for this stiffness. Frame weights 2550g size L. Pivots and bearings are ok after the terrible winter we had. | | Weaknesses: | BB a bit too low. Hit rocks with pedals too often. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Epic, GT I-Drive 4 Carbon | | Bike Setup: | Fox F100RLC. DT Swiss Wheels (240s, XR 4.2D, Aerolite). XTR crankset and F Der. XO R Der. and twistshifters. Magura Marta SL brakes. Crankbros EB SL pedals. Nokon cables. XTR cassette. SRAM 991 hollowpin chain. Syntace seatpost and stem. Easton carbon handlebar. SLR XC sadle. Nobby Nic 2.1 kevlar tyres without inner tubes. Total weight 10600g | | Bottom Line: | Infinite traction, zero pedaling/brake feedback, lightspeed accelerations, predictable handling. The more phisical or technical the terrain gets the better it shines.
Won a race only due to the bike qualitys shortly after buying it. In spite of beeing an unskilled rider, was able to get rid of the competition (some of them undoubtly physically stronger) by attacking several times over very technical terrain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Slade
a Racer
from Folsom, CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | AnyTrail AnyWhere | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Strengths: | Point and shoot... nimble easy, fun to ride does not misbehave. Climbs well, plush. The VPP works... period. | | Weaknesses: | None to mention really but it's a full suspension bike, you gotta maintain the pivots... but that's true with any FS bike | | Similar Products Used: | Ventana Fuego, Ventana Marble Peak FS, Specialized StupJumper, Numberous other FS bikes... | | Bike Setup: | Full XT, Stan's NoTubes Race wheel set (stupid light!), Fox F100X, 4ti eggbeaters, XTR cassette. 23.9lbs! | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is I've owned or test riden MANY full suspension bikes. This is the bike that gave me that s*%t eatin' grin in the first 5 minutes of my first ride. I've tried a few otheres including the new Specialized StumpJumper... nothing I've riden is this fun to ride.
This bike climbs too. With the TerraLogic Fox fork it's a hard to beat combo. You can't go wrong with a Blur! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 29, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | any trail that is not on fire | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Descends with confidence; stable in corners | | Weaknesses: | Feels heavy | | Similar Products Used: | 2007 Ellsworth Truth | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, Reba Team, carbon seat post and stem...the works. | | Bottom Line: | The bike feels very confident in descents, but feels slightly heavy ascending (compared to Ellsworth Truth). This bike feels slightly more like a downhill bike than a xc racer. This bike is a great all around trail bike, but go w/ something else if you want a nimble xc bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Devendra
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellingham
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Fairhaven Bike | | Strengths: | This bike is light, nimble, climbs like a rocket. The VPP suspension is awesome. | | Weaknesses: | For riding in the mud, slime and roots of Western Washington, the Kenda tires that came on the bike don't dig or grip like I need them to- not a big deal. | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR. Fox 32 F100RLC fork. Fox float RP23 rear shock. Thompson post and stem, King headset, DT Swiss rims and hubs. Eggbeater triple-ti pedals. Just under 25 pounds. | | Bottom Line: | For the true cross-country rider, this is a dream machine. For years I said I would give up my hardtail for a full suspension bike when there was no weight penalty, and no loss of efficiency in pedaling. Seemed pretty unlikely. Well, here it is.
Most of my riding is a mix of single-track and logging roads. Riding in the Chuckanuts means a lot of climbing, and a lot of fast traverses and descents. The Blur XC is the sh!t for this kind of riding! As other reviewers have stated, I find I am making hard maneuvers that I seldom made on my other bike. The Virtual Pivot Point suspension does what they claim! Very efficient, even under sudden bursts of torque. The steering on this thing is unbelievably accurate and responsive. And, actually a little more forgiving than I expected- a pleasant surprise.
I love that both the fork and the rear shock lock out. For long slow climbs this works great. Flip two switches and the ride becomes velvety. The XTR shifters are so smooth, I hardly ever think about shifting, it's just instinctive.
For me, what a good bike does: it disappears underneath me. So that my riding isn't about the bike- it's about me, the bike and the terrain interfacing seamlessly. Know what I mean? From the first ride, the Blur has given me all of that. We're still in the honeymoon phase, but this has all the makings of a serious long-term love affair. Within my capability, I can do anything I want on this bike, and I tear single-track pretty hard. But again, like the Santa Cruz blurb says, I am the skinny, fast, heart-rate monitor type of rider. Those seeking a plush, big-travel bike for going downhill should look elsewhere. But for those of us who are built to climb, the Blur XC rules.
By the way, the guys at Fairhaven Bike in Bellingham are great. They did me right with this bike.
As for the flaming chilis, it's going to be hard to be generous on the value rating. This bike knocked me back a major amount of coin. Probably you could have a "comparable" ride for half to two-thirds the money. This time, I decided not to compromise, and paid dearly. I have not a shred of regret, either. I'm figuring: life is short and tenuous, and mountain biking is my passion... why not have my dream machine? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | I just upgraded to Blur XC after riding a Blur classic for almost 4 years. Took it out for a 2 hour plus ride yesterday and was honestly only expecting it to feel a little better and mainly because it's about 1 1/2 lbs. lighter due to the lighter frame and parts. Well I was wrong, it was huge difference the new geometry keeps the front end planted much better than the classic on steep climbs. I cleared a steep technical climb that I usually only make about 10 percent of the time with no problems and I'm not in nearly as good of shape as in the middle of the season. The best part though is that the better climbing did not seem to come at the expense of descending capabilities, I felt just as comfortable as on my Classic though this trail did not have any really gnarly downhills. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Bike Setup: | F32 100 RLC Fork, XTR Drivetrain, XT Brakes, AM Classic Wheelset. | | Bottom Line: | I loved my Classic but for XC oriented riding with a lot of climbing the XC is awesome. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from New Hampshire
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Fort Rock | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Rhino Bike Works | | Strengths: | looks great. standover. handling, climbing and descending. | | Weaknesses: | pivots. Frame warranty (no lifetime warranty to original owner). Can fit a water bottle cage on the small frame. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | size small. XT set up w/ crane creek headset, easton stem, handle bars and seatpost | | Bottom Line: | Overall a very fun bike to ride. It makes me a better rider than what I really am. The rear suspension preforms as well as advertised, however, it creaks over time, which is very annoying and you must check the pivots every couple of rides to make sure they haven't loosen up. The shaft that connects the rear shock to the rear triangle has sheered and been replaced twice which really sucks if you are a great distance from the trail head. I don't want to sound all negative because it really is a fun bike to ride I just wish for the price you pay it had a life time warranty on the frame and the rear suspension didn't require so much TLC. I guess that is why I bought a singlespeed. Based on performance alone I would recommend this bike and would give it 5 chili's. But not for the consumer that doesn't like to deal with fixing things. Find a really good hardtail or single pivot bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Lenox, MA
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3800.00 | | Strengths: | Super light, extra rigid, Great climber | | Weaknesses: | None yet... maybe the price... | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel EX8 (2005) | | Bottom Line: | Just got this bike this weekend. 2008 model with XT Shadow setup. This thing is wicked fun... Light, nimble, shifts on a dime. Threw on some tubeless rims... Seems like Santa Cruz got the Virtual Pivot System right, minimal bob when climbing and great response when needed. I'll update once I'm able to get some more miles in... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DUDE
a
from Fort Collins
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | mill creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$14510.00 | | Purchased At: | full cycle | | Strengths: | Light, climbs well, RP23 is a great rear shock. Bobs a little but doesn't suck the energy out of you on the climbs. | | Weaknesses: | ??? | | Bottom Line: | Love my blur XC. Has great trail riding characteristics. Climbs well. You can see the pivots moving a little bit when you look down when your climbing but you can't really feel it in your legs (thank you VPP). Handles descents absolutely superbly.
So I am going to brag a little bit here, but Oh well I love this bike:
Was racing two weekends ago and was about 50 yards behind a fellow on an IBIS Mojo as we left the last hill and started the final descent. I have a Gravity Dropper and dropped it an inch. I also flipped the Rp23 to wide open and started to rail the descent. I caught the guy on a roller within a mile, and proceeded to hammer the descent for a while to make a point. I ended up beating him by about a minute. That was the most fun I have ever had on a bike. The thing about the Mojo is its a 140 mm of travel compared to my 115 on back and 105 up front. For all extensive purposes the other racer should have dusted me on the descent. Granted the other racer probably didn't have as big of cojone's as me but the fact is I wouldn't have beat him if the blur xc wasn't up to the task. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sasa thegame
a Cross Country Rider
from chainça,leiria,portugal
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | charneca | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3700.00 | | Purchased At: | btterra | | Strengths: | Handling
Quality of workmanship
climbs great
Descends like cat | | Weaknesses: | Hummm...can't think of any | | Similar Products Used: | trek fuel, scoot genius, yeti 575 , specialized fsr , specialized stumpjumper | | Bike Setup: | full xt,fox rp3, fox 100 rl, race face deus , mavic crossride , irc mibro | | Bottom Line: | This is an amazing bike , maybe the santa cruz blur xc is a little heavy but it makes up for it for the great climbing and descending . the others bikes are great but the santa cruz blur xc is unbelieveable | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glenn Shaikun
a Weekend Warrior
from Orchard Park, NY USA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | All of the great trails near Buffalo NY | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | Shifting Gears Lockport NY | | Strengths: | Bike does all it is claimed to do. The VPP plus platform Fox, moves you up the hill like a hardtail, excellent climber. Handling is great, and plenty plush enough too over rocks and logs. | | Weaknesses: | Chain rub underneath in upper half of first ring. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Superlight, Jamis XLT | | Bike Setup: | XT crank, Sram x-9 rear der. and triggers, Avid juicy 7's, thompson seatpost, | | Bottom Line: | If you want your all purpose bike to lean towards fast yet plush, its hard to imagine any bike doing it better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jake
a Racer
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Palo Duro Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$4500.00 | | Purchased At: | Kirkland Bike shop | | Strengths: | Fast and light, really fast. Hella fun. Free bearings was a great wa for SCB to sweeten the deal too. | | Weaknesses: | I'm 6'3" so it was a pain in the ass getting the biggest XC to fit properly. Be ready to run a lot of stack and long stem ot get a decent fit. | | Similar Products Used: | Intense spyder (if you can keep it together its fun too) Salsa Caballero | | Bike Setup: | XTR from the wheels up. Reba team fork. | | Bottom Line: | So the Blur classic was the gold standard for fun to ride XC bikes. Of course the down side to it was the 6+ lbs of frame you're lugging around. The new XC is killer. Fast and light as hell, I'll be keeping this one for a while. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shawne camp
a Racer
from Redwood city, CA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Dakota Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4200.00 | | Purchased At: | summit bikes | | Strengths: | Climbs like a banshee, nice set up can get it sub 25lbs, very responsive | | Weaknesses: | Frame colors??? What frame colors!!! Ano blue must be the flavor of the year. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Liquid 55, Cannodale F700 | | Bike Setup: | Fox F100 RLC, Fox R23, XTR drivetrain, Mavic SL, Juicy 7s, Thomson post and stem, WTB Laser V saddle, Easton carbon monkey lites, King headset | | Bottom Line: | I built this for XC racing/riding only. If you're looking to punish a bike off some drops or launch off your local jumps....review some bikes built for that. If your looking to climb the hills you normally push your bike up, speed down single track or have an epic day of riding the XC might be for you. I haven't experienced the pivot issues some reviewers write about on my Nomad or XC. I also haven't had to deal with SC customer service on either bike....fingers are crossed.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Norine Nadeau
a Cross Country Rider
from Wethersfield. CT
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | West Hartford Resevoir | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | light, VPP suspension system, great climber, comfortable | | Weaknesses: | Price, back tire clearance | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized stumpjumper, Cannondale Rush | | Bike Setup: | XT components, Fox RP3 (rear), Moinitou R7 (front) | | Bottom Line: | First of all I paid $1500 for the frame and fork. I am on the trails about 3-4 times a week from April - Jan., so I have put a lot of miles on the bike in the past year. It has been great for xc racing and adventure racing. It is also great for just weekend rides. I am a light rider and the bike is easy for me to maneuver. The suspension system is a really efficient design. That's the reason I choose this over the Cannondale Rush. I haven't noticed any squeaking, which seems to be the biggest complaint. However, I have avoided washing my bike with water on a consistent basis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Luis Saldana
a Cross Country Rider
from Salinas
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | sea otter 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$4900.00 | | Purchased At: | another bike shopt | | Strengths: | climbs like a mountain goat, very easy to ride off the seat, absorbs the technical climbs like they were not there, very fast rolling bike!! I went fully XTR components. | | Weaknesses: | on 2 occasions, I've been getting squicking at the pivots. they have tried to fix it, but it came back a 2nd time recently. I've heard that the bushings/bearings are life time warranty? not sure about this one though. | | Similar Products Used: | n/a | | Bike Setup: | awesome, can ask for anything better than full XTR. | | Bottom Line: | I'm very happy with the bike. My only concern is pivots squicking already and bike is only 1-year old. The color is anodized silver, so it looks very cool without scratches and stuff. On the downhills, it also performs very well. I use the pro-pedal adjustments on the frame shock, and it does make a difference on the climbing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jay thornton
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | mine | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | web | | Strengths: | light weight, VPP system, overall balance. | | Weaknesses: | back tire clearance | | Similar Products Used: | norco 4x4, cannondale prophet | | Bike Setup: | XTR | | Bottom Line: | if you have been around this sport for 10 + years as I have, put your leg over this version as well as the LT......as trails have changed for the better and my body has changed for the worse, I needed a bike to replace my rocky mountain blizzard..this bike is as light, but dual suspension.....
as for the XC setup....yes, this is not a freeride bike, but nor is it an old school XC hardtail set up despite what SC marketing states (and this is a good thing)....I would reccomend putting your leg over both versions before making a purchase. Also putting a thicker tire on front can make the bike more upright...hey I remember people putting on smaller tires on the front when front suspension came out, along with a negative rise stem....yes, I am that old! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joseph Han
a Cross Country Rider
from S/Korea
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | ILSAN, Republic of Korea | | Strengths: | everything | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Epic comp | | Bike Setup: | Fork: Fox F100 X
Shock: Fox RP3
Front derailer: Shimano XT
Rear derailer: Shimano XTR
Shifters: Shimano XTR
Brakes: Shimano XTR
Cassette: Shimano XT
Chain: Shimano XTR
Crankset: Race Face Deus 175mm
Bottom bracket: Race Face x-type
Headset: Chris King
Seat post: Thomson Masterpiece
Bars: Controltec carbon riserbar
Stem: Thomson
Wheels: DT XR 4.1d rims laced to DT 240S hubs | | Bottom Line: | This bike makes me want to ride every day.
This bike is for the beginning rider all the way up to the expert rider. Each will benefit from the technology, and the expert rider will take it to the limit.
It is defiantly the best XC Trail bike in the universe.
^^ | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Djaka Dwiputra
a Weekend Warrior
from Indonesia
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Optimum clearance, amazing geometry, exceptional anodizes paintwork and breathe taking XC FS design. | | Weaknesses: | Optimistically Non | | Bottom Line: | This bike is total the best and most beautiful Full suspension cross country on the market to date. The craftsmanship is amazing and the frame rides dexterously, it feels very steadfast and natural on the vpp suspension. The climbs and descend are just plain and pure fun. Any one out there who are still searching and researching for the ultimate light xc full suspension, I would highly recommend Santa Cruz Blur XC. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Burton
a Cross Country Rider
from Tahoe
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | That Smooth Tacky Single Track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | Friend of a Ffriend | | Strengths: | Light, turns well in high speed single track, eats up bumps. With Pro-Pedal on firm & Fork Locked out Climbs very well. | | Weaknesses: | The Kenda Tires. Hard to get chain off front derauiller in large number of gears. | | Similar Products Used: | Kestrel CSX Hardtail for last 12 years. XT updated every 2 years or so, Manitou Skareb Super. | | Bike Setup: | RP23 frame shock, RLC100 fork, XT all around, integrated shift/brake lever. Med Frame w/flat 110mm stem. | | Bottom Line: | So far Very Good. If you are thinking of changing from Hard Tail to a XC Full Suspension this should at least be a candidate. Frame Shock Makes a big difference b/t Firm Setting and Open setting. Can hammer where trail is just off flat in the saddle with fork in fulltravel mode or out with Fork Locked (RLC 100 can be set at have an easy blow off when Locked). So far I have not felt a lot of pedal bob, unless the RP23 is "open". Was skeptical about the brake lever shifting & the rapid rise rear derauliier but have come to really like both.
Have about 300 miles on it so far, took first 3 or 4 rides to get properly set up, just getting really comfortable on technical climbing & getting back up to speed on descents and big ring stuff. So far this is a great bike for a large range of riding.
4 on the value rating only b/c it's a lot of bucks at retail price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason G
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Downieville & Tahoe Area | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Warranty Replacement | | Strengths: | Best climbing bike I've ridden, period. Solid descender. Did I mention WARRANTY - SANTA CRUZ CUSTOMER SERVICE ROCKS! | | Weaknesses: | Looks like a real Blur on a diet - black is slimming. 2.1 tires RUB ON THE FRAME - poor clearance. Get anodized finish, powdercoat looks sloppy after a while. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR XC, Original Santa Cruz Blur, Fisher hardtail, Bianchi SISS Single Speed | | Bike Setup: | Black powdercoat frame - Fox Float RLC 100, SRAM XO, WTB hubs & 717 rims, Hayes 9 hydraulic brakes | | Bottom Line: | Got this as a warranty frame for original Blur that cracked right above the front derailleur. THANK YOU SANTA CRUZ FOR STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT!
I was a little skeptical about the XC version because I had a hard-on for my original Blur - the bike lived to go down hills - an incredible trail bike. That trait made the Blur 1 a sloppy ascender - it would wander and was a little inefficient up hills. Not the XC, though. This bike eats up technical climbs and allows me to sit on the tightest lines. It eats up climbs that Blur 1 would leave me frustrated.
Down hills and over jumps, the XC is solid, but not as perfect as Blur 1. Overall, the XC is a better bike for me and I would recommend to anyone coming from a hard tail. This bike leans a little more towards the cross country than trail bike and is a great all-around bike. One more thing - get anodized finish over powder coat - I ended up with powder on both Blurs and it ends up looking sloppy/scratched after a while. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sean
a Cross Country Rider
from DE
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Fair Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Fantastic climber and descender, very plush yet quick, no bob, light weight, good power transfer to pedals. | | Weaknesses: | Poor tire clearance and mud shedding ability, chain rub on bottom of chainstay in two lowest gears, frequent bearing replacement makes for high maintenance. | | Similar Products Used: | Turner Flux | | Bike Setup: | Fox RP3 shock in rear, Maintou R7 fork, Speeddream wheels, XT cranset, shifters, and derailleurs, Thomson stem and seatpost, WTB Pure V saddle, Magura Marta brakes, Answer Pro Taper carbon handlebar, Ritchey foam grips.
25 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | I really like the way this bike rides - it's allowed me to gain confidence bombing down gnarlier trails and climbs better than my steel hardtail. The rear wheel hooks up on loose terrain and the RP3 shock felt like a big pillow under my a$$. It's a nimble bike and a very good racer.
Now you're probably wondering why I sold the bike. Although the bike has some minor weaknesses, my biggest complaint is that the frequent maintenance on the bearings seemed sketchy. I replaced the bearings once after 6 months and they are vulnerable to water and grit getting in them. The frame was a bit noisy and the rear triangle is also a bit flexy. The thought of frequent bearing replacement and chasing down creaks made me yearn for something more dependable.
I ended up getting a Turner Flux - less maintenance (bushings instead of bearings), stiffer rear end, snappier feel (although less cushy).
Overall, I think the Blur XC is a top-notch bike but one that will require more maintenance given its suspension design.
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Submitted by
mtn kitten
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Whidbey Island trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3800.00 | | Strengths: | Solid over rocky ground
Climbs smooth and strong
Envious looks from other riders | | Weaknesses: | Everyone has the same color!! | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Juliana
Old beater Specalized Rockhopper | | Bike Setup: | Medium frame- Ano steel blue
Fork: Fox F100 RLT
Shock: Fox RP3
Front derailer: Shimano M760 (XT)
Rear derailer: SRAM XO alloy
Shifters: SRAM XO trigger
Brakes: Avid Juicy 7
Cassette: SRAM PG-990 11/34
Chain: SRAM PC-971
Crankset: Race Face Deus 175mm
Bottom bracket: Race Face x-type
Headset: Chris King
Seat post: Thomson Masterpiece
Bars: FSA OS XC 190
Stem: FSA OS 150
| | Bottom Line: | Can't help but want to go riding with this beauty! I just started racing xc, and this bike has lived up to all my expectations. Sharp handling, excellent climbing... I rarely notice any bob while seated. XO shifters and Avid brakes work like a dream. Great bike for multi-hour epic trailrides too!
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Submitted by
jimmy
a Cross Country Rider
from boulder, CO USA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | deer creek, CB | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | climbing and descending | | Weaknesses: | lower bb, weight (yes I know it is pretty light) | | Similar Products Used: | Truth, Racer X, came from a Moots YBB | | Bike Setup: | mix of XT, XTR, SRAM, Fox RLT, Hope Pro 2 with DT rims, Marta SL, | | Bottom Line: | WOW, I cannot believe what a great climber & descender this bike is. I rode the Racer X and the Truth, and had been riding a YBB for 3 years. I got a good deal on the frame and was influenced by the MTBR reviews and the lighter weight of this frame compared to the Truth & RX. I am just amazed by this bike. I've done a couple of XC races in CO so far and plan several more this season. I can climb stuff I had to walk on the YBB and of course can go down lines I would never do on the YBB. It is 2 lbs heavier and I do plan to get some lighter cranks & h-bars. But so far I am wy faster than on the YBB. The other thing that I can do is steer with body shifting at high speed--I could not do that nearly as well with my older bikes. Overall it is an amazing upgrade. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JackSprat
a Cross Country Rider
from Saratoga, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Saratoga Gap/Longridge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun Bike Shop, Milpitas | | Strengths: | What a climber! Superb craftmanship. Damned fine components, light weight package. The anodized steel blue finish is first-class yet won't chip. It simply screams up and down them thar hills. | | Weaknesses: | Rear tire clearance. The 2.35 inch Nevagals are a little overkill; could use 1.8 or 2.1 to save weight and maybe get better clearance. Santa Cruz really sucks on delivery (10+ weeks after promising 4-6) | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Truth and Epiphany, StumpJumper XC, Epic, Enduro | | Bike Setup: | Complete XT package, DT Swiss wheels, Fox F100RLT and RP3, Kenda Nevegal 2.35 tires, Thomson seatpost, WTB Stealth seat, Raceface stem and carbon handlebars, Frog pedals. | | Bottom Line: | After riding an S-Works hardtail for years at about the same weight, the Blur XC climbs so much faster while offering a lot more comfort and traction. The 4+ inch suspension seems more like 6+ inches. Stay seated and there's no need to lock out the suspension (front or rear). Just point and shoot and off you'll go. All the hardware is blended so well, even the combo shifters/brakes are better than anticipated. One helluva package. Well worth the wait. This baby is absolutely fun! Wow! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Racer
from Oakland
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Efficient climber and smooth descender. | | Weaknesses: | BB clearance a little high rel. to FS comps, affecting cornering. | | Similar Products Used: | Blur | </
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