[Chris_PA]

So I have never ridden the 5010 V3, after having a look at my bank account and seeing the sales for the V2 I went with a V2 C frame in XL (the V3 is not available as C frame only). Please see this as only somewhat educated rant.

I read many reviews for the v2 and v3 and they read nearly exactly the same and basically echo what SC says about the bike "so much fun" with somewhat less travel. For me the 5010 seems to just fit the trails around here in PA with lots of up and downs, rocky but only smaller drops.

When looking at the specs the seat tube is a bit shorter for the V3 and the seat angle a bit steeper, everything else is nearly exactly the same, just half a size bigger (see table below). So if you feel that the XL V3 is just a bit large and the L a bit small the XL V2 might be a great deal!

	Chain stay	reach	seat tube	head angle	seat angle	bb height	wheel base
5010 v2 L	426	445	450	67	73.8	334	1164
5010 v3 L	425	460	430	66.5	75.2	334	1190
5010 v2 XL	426	475	495	67	73.8	334	1198
5010 v3 XL	425	490	460	66.5	75.2	334	1232

 

[voghan]

I sat and waited for the V3 because I wanted a slacker HTA and steeper STA and a longer reach. Sure I could have gotten a longer reach if I sized up but then I'd also have more trouble getting behind that seat on steep spots. I'm a guy that used to get his shorts stuck on the seat often. That shorter seat tube is a god sent to me.

I'm in Minneapolis, MN so this bike is perfect for the trails I enjoy to riding. Lots of action on quick twisty singletrack with short climbs and short descents. This bike checks the boxes for me and I'm happy I waited.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

[Flying4Pandas]

I sat and waited for the V3 because I wanted a slacker HTA and steeper STA and a longer reach. Sure I could have gotten a longer reach if I sized up but then I'd also have more trouble getting behind that seat on steep spots. I'm a guy that used to get his shorts stuck on the seat often. That shorter seat tube is a god sent to me.

I'm in Minneapolis, MN so this bike is perfect for the trails I enjoy to riding. Lots of action on quick twisty singletrack with short climbs and short descents. This bike checks the boxes for me and I'm happy I waited.

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Did you go with a custom build, or did you use one of Santa Cruz premade build kits?

In the past I've always jumped on the build kits... but I feel that the latest builds have just been way to overpriced for what you are getting.

 

[voghan]

Did you go with a custom build, or did you use one of Santa Cruz premade build kits?

In the past I've always jumped on the build kits... but I feel that the latest builds have just been way to overpriced for what you are getting.

I've got the S build. So far I've replaced the wheels and the dropper. The S build is competitive in my opinion unless you compare it to a factory direct dealer. The DT Swiss 370 hub is garbage and the Reverb only works when it's warm outside. I was originally concerned with the Guide R brakes but have been pleased with their performance.

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[Chris_PA]

I sat and waited for the V3 because I wanted a slacker HTA and steeper STA and a longer reach. Sure I could have gotten a longer reach if I sized up but then I'd also have more trouble getting behind that seat on steep spots.
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

The v3 certainly has a few improvements and the shorter seat post is one of them. I think, though, that the v2 and v3 are not as different as SC marketing wants us to believe. There is quite a step from the v3 L to XL and the V2 XL sits nicely in the middle. I am 6'3" and run my 150mm dropper about 1" out on the v2 XL. The fully dropped position feels a bit to low for me since I like the seat just above my knees when down.

Something strange I noticed about the V3 is the really long head tubes, the v3 L is 140mm and the v3 XL 170mm the v2 XL only 130mm. That should negatively affect climbing if you upsize, it also seems that the v2 can accept a longer fork better.

Updated table with head tube length.

	Chain stay	reach	seat tube	head angle	seat angle	bb height	wheel base	Head tube
5010 v2 L	426	445	450	67	73.8	334	1164	120
5010 v3 L	425	460	430	66.5	75.2	334	1190	140
5010 v2 XL	426	475	495	67	73.8	334	1198	130
5010 v3 XL	425	490	460	66.5	75.2	334	1232	170

 

[voghan]

The v3 certainly has a few improvements and the shorter seat post is one of them. I think, though, that the v2 and v3 are not as different as SC marketing wants us to believe. There is quite a step from the v3 L to XL and the V2 XL sits nicely in the middle. I am 6'3" and run my 150mm dropper about 1" out on the v2 XL. The fully dropped position feels a bit to low for me since I like the seat just above my knees when down.

Something strange I noticed about the V3 is the really long head tubes, the v3 L is 140mm and the v3 XL 170mm the v2 XL only 130mm. That should negatively affect climbing if you upsize, it also seems that the v2 can accept a longer fork better.

Updated table with head tube length.

	Chain stay	reach	seat tube	head angle	seat angle	bb height	wheel base	Head tube
5010 v2 L	426	445	450	67	73.8	334	1164	120
5010 v3 L	425	460	430	66.5	75.2	334	1190	140
5010 v2 XL	426	475	495	67	73.8	334	1198	130
5010 v3 XL	425	490	460	66.5	75.2	334	1232	170

At 6'1", I chose a large because of the long that top tube on an XL. You are firmly in the XL range and shouldn't even consider a large. The XL also comes with a 170 dropper.

 

[rob214]

" The DT Swiss 370 hub is garbage "

just curious as I run DT 370 hubs on my road bike, is there a big difference between road hubs and Mtb hubs? please forgive the newbie question I'm trying to learn. I've been road biking for 3 years and just got my first Mtb this past summer. I'm considering a new bike and was looking at the SC 5010 but still have time to make decisions.
thanks for the help

 

[mnpikey]

Also note the headtube length on the V3 vs V2. V3 is much longer.

 

[Chris_PA]

Also note the headtube length on the V3 vs V2. V3 is much longer.

Yes I noticed this, too and updated the table a few posts down. I am a bit surprised about this, the v3 XL has a 170mm headtube up from 130mm v2, this is huge (youdonthavetocutyourforktubekindahuge) if one goes a size larger to get longer reach the handle bar will be really high. A shorter tube would have given more flexibility and one could use spacers and riser bars if needed. This also would allow to have a longer fork without raising the bar.

" The DT Swiss 370 hub is garbage "
just curious as I run DT 370 hubs on my road bike
thanks for the help

I have these hubs and for me they do just what a hub is supposed to do, no need to "garbage" anything... if you really want to you can update the ratcheting mechanism to star ratchets (see youtube).

 

[David R]

The ridiculous long HT on the XL was a deal-breaker for me, not sure what they were thinking really, stack height is higher than some of their 29ers!

IIRC the suspension layout and kinematics were a significant part of the changes between the V2 and V3.