[matsf]

I chatted with Craig about getting one for my old Bronson. I didn't ask about fit specifically, but Craig didn't recommend getting the shorter reservoir in addition to the standard upgrade.

Thanks, good to know.

 

[hodgkijay]

I should be taking delivery of a V4.1 Bronson frame in the next few days. I'm considering getting a Marzocchi Bomber CR and having it tuned by Avalanche. Can anyone tell me if the Bomber CR will fit? I've seen pictures with an 11.6 and a Cane Creek coil but I'm not sure if the Bomber CR has significantly different dimensions.

If the demensions are similar to the RS Ultimate coil it will be fine.

 

[matsf]

Does anyone know how many volume reducers come stock in the Super Deluxe? If it matters, mine is a Select+. Taking the shock off is kind of a pain so I'd like to avoid that if possible.

 

[mikkoniila]

Ordered 2024’ gloss chalk white bronson s-kit. It came straight from santa cruz with float x performance shock that should be specced on r-kit. S-kit should come with super deluxe select+ according to site. Asked about it and got this response:
" According to the production plan, this bike was built with a Fox shock. So this is not a production error."
" I can't do anything else. It also says on the website:
Please note: Price, Weight, and Parts Spec information is subject to change."
Im huge sc fanboy and this guts me deeply. How come you can anymore buy the spec you want when after you choose your spec you get somerhing completely different?

 

[ugadawg]

Ordered 2024’ gloss chalk white bronson s-kit. It came straight from santa cruz with float x performance shock that should be specced on r-kit. S-kit should come with super deluxe select+ according to site. Asked about it and got this response:
" According to the production plan, this bike was built with a Fox shock. So this is not a production error."
" I can't do anything else. It also says on the website:
Please note: Price, Weight, and Parts Spec information is subject to change."
Im huge sc fanboy and this guts me deeply. How come you can anymore buy the spec you want when after you choose your spec you get somerhing completely different?

I would turn the bike down. You should get what the spec says.

 

[muddydunc2]

Up to you obviously what you do, but they do always cover themselves by saying 'spec may change.'
I have the SD Select + on my Bronson V4, and it's pretty good, but I do wish it had the adjustable compression the Ultimate has. With the Float X on yours, you can add the compression knob for a cheap price, (there's a kit from fox) and then you have a very good shock indeed. It's the same as Factory version once you've done that (minus the Kashima pimp of course). To add compression toe the SD Select + is far more expensive to do....

Just a thought; Float X is a great shock.....maybe this could work out in your favour?

 

[SilentMTB]

Ordered 2024’ gloss chalk white bronson s-kit. It came straight from santa cruz with float x performance shock that should be specced on r-kit. S-kit should come with super deluxe select+ according to site. Asked about it and got this response:
" According to the production plan, this bike was built with a Fox shock. So this is not a production error."
" I can't do anything else. It also says on the website:
Please note: Price, Weight, and Parts Spec information is subject to change."
Im huge sc fanboy and this guts me deeply. How come you can anymore buy the spec you want when after you choose your spec you get somerhing completely different?

I would be happy if I got Float X instead of Super Deluxe Select+…

Unfortunately they use whatever they have in stock... was thinking to upgrade my bike but at the prices they charge I don't want to play their lottory parts game and get a fork/shock (or seatpost) I'm not interested in, and on top of that they also cutting corners with their “XO1” builds using GX cassette and chain. So instead was thinking to get a frame, but still no guarantee which shock it will come with…

 

[p0is0n0ak]

Ordered 2024’ gloss chalk white bronson s-kit. It came straight from santa cruz with float x performance shock that should be specced on r-kit. S-kit should come with super deluxe select+ according to site. Asked about it and got this response:
" According to the production plan, this bike was built with a Fox shock. So this is not a production error."
" I can't do anything else. It also says on the website:
Please note: Price, Weight, and Parts Spec information is subject to change."
Im huge sc fanboy and this guts me deeply. How come you can anymore buy the spec you want when after you choose your spec you get somerhing completely different?

I went with the Bronson 4.1 frame only, which came with a RS SDU, and honestly I am not a fan of that shock. I really tried to like it, but the SDU always felt supportive but dead. It was great with big hits but struggled staying active through small bumps and maintaining traction on the loose climbs. I put a Topaz on and that instantly improved the bike's small bump and traction performance, but I still felt the bike was missing something. And around the same time, I got coil curious. I ended up splurging on an 11/6, and damn son, that was the golden ticket!

All of this to say that 1) I don't think you are missing out on anything & 2) get a coil.

I know it sucks to expect something and then not get what you thought you were going to get. I'd be twerked too, but the disclaimer was there, soooo...

Just ride the bike and have a blast. It's such a fun bike. If you happen to be in the SF Bay area, I have an SDU take off that I'm trying to sell.

 

[mikkoniila]

I went with the Bronson 4.1 frame only, which came with a RS SDU, and honestly I am not a fan of that shock. I really tried to like it, but the SDU always felt supportive but dead. It was great with big hits but struggled staying active through small bumps and maintaining traction on the loose climbs. I put a Topaz on and that instantly improved the bike's small bump and traction performance, but I still felt the bike was missing something. And around the same time, I got coil curious. I ended up splurging on an 11/6, and damn son, that was the golden ticket!

All of this to say that 1) I don't think you are missing out on anything & 2) get a coil.

I know it sucks to expect something and then not get what you thought you were going to get. I'd be twerked too, but the disclaimer was there, soooo...

Just ride the bike and have a blast. It's such a fun bike. If you happen to be in the SF Bay area, I have an SDU take off that I'm trying to sell.

I built custom hightower v3 around frameset for last season and sdu was so impressive. Hightower was almost perfect bike, but wasnt happy enough to take the kind of beating Bronson begs for. I had purchased the ultimate reservoir upgrade for select+ so I was pretty shocked about seeing float x there hehe. Yeah slow speed compression upgrade costs around 40 euros and makes it basicly performance elite. Fox 36 performance elite is decent but I feel it either lacks small bump sensitivity or it loses midstroke support if I run it with less pressure. Was thinking about luftkappe or just getting zeb ultimate.

 

[mikkoniila]

Not quite happy with performance of fox float x on bronson. Has good amount of support but when things get gnarly rear feels like it doesnt give up enough travel on big square edged hits and loses a lot of momentum. Tuning tips/shock recommendations? Im running 180psi with rebound open 6 clicks for around 30-31% sag with cascade link, 0.1 token inside.

 

[p0is0n0ak]

I futzed around with a couple different shocks and tunes, but was never quite happy. This bike was screaming for a coil shock and I listened. Bit the bullet on an 11.6 and wow did that open this bike up. If you are determined to stick with air, the Topaz was the best of the air shocks I tried; though to be fair, I didn't try the float.

 

[SchralphMacchio]

I'm looking for feedback on the RS SD stock compression tunes. I saw one complaint here from a heavy rider saying it didn't have enough compression damping, and no complaints from lighter riders saying there is too much compression damping.

I'm looking to get a new bike for my wife and am waffling back and forth over the Roubion, which comes with an L1 compression tune, and the Bronson, which comes with the L compression tune.* My wife is a moderately skilled but not aggressive rider - she doesn't send big or have big impacts, however her riding weight is also more typical for males at her height and the frame size we are looking to get (Medium). She does not like suspensions that transmit too much ground texture feedback (especially on rubble and small roots), but she does like jumping on flow trails so I don't want to compromise midstroke support. I'm not sure if there is enough practical difference between the two tunes to matter, but I just want to pick a good starting point that will make her say "wow!" on her first test ride. We are also considering a CC build with the SDU and compression adjustment dial, but I don't know if adjustment of the dial is fully equivalent to the difference in washers/compression tunes. It seems like Bronson with Cascade Link is probably the correct solution, but we won't be putting that link on right away.

Anyone else tested Roubion vs Bronson? I have some open inquiries to SC and Cascade Link but wondering if anyone else has gone through this situation. My LBS dealer is super rad and very helpful, but he doesn't sell many Julianas and he wasn't initially aware that the bikes had different compression tunes so he didn't want to provide an opinion.

Thanks for any insight anyone can offer!

* I looked at the RS tuning manual and the difference between these tunes is the 2 upper (out of 3) washers in the shim stack each have 2mm less OD in the L1 tune than in the L tune.

 

[SchralphMacchio]

I'm looking for feedback on the RS SD stock compression tunes. I saw one complaint here from a heavy rider saying it didn't have enough compression damping, and no complaints from lighter riders saying there is too much compression damping.

I'm looking to get a new bike for my wife and am waffling back and forth over the Roubion, which comes with an L1 compression tune, and the Bronson, which comes with the L compression tune.

Heard back from SC:
-Roubion L1 compression tune is slightly lighter in the initial part of the stroke which helps with movement over rubble and roots.
-Bronson L compression tune is slightly stiffer off the top but the difference is supposedly subtle
-It’s reportedly less of a rider weight issue - larger riders can use the L1 tune - and more a rider feel preference; my assumption is the L1 tune probably allows for a tiny bit more pedal bob when grinding a climb than the L tune
-In the CC builds with SDU, the compression adjustment dial will allow for a Roubion to feel like a Bronson or vice versa ... I did not ask if there was range to go past that (i.e., are the Bronson and Roubion only one click apart, or two clicks apart, since the SDU can only go 2 clicks away from the base tune in either direction)

Knowing this I wanted to order a Roubion, but of course SC is sold out of the Roubion kit that I wanted so what’s out there is just dealer inventory … and my dealer has none (and I really wanted them to get the business) so I ordered the white Bronson and will just start at full open and go from there!

Also confirmed with Cascade Components that their link does well with both tunes … that is probably the ultimate solution for getting my wife as much plushness off the top as possible. Should help with climbing too due to chainstay growth.

 

[jgusa]

Hey all - new V4 Bronson owner here, just purchased a frame (Loam Gold FTW!) I'm currently working on building up (mostly swapping parts over from my V3 Bronson). I'm curious how many headset spacers are typically used on a large factory build?

 

[mikkoniila]

Hey all - new V4 Bronson owner here, just purchased a frame (Loam Gold FTW!) I'm currently working on building up (mostly swapping parts over from my V3 Bronson). I'm curious how many headset spacers are typically used on a large factory build?

Santa Cruz usually leaves space for 30mm of spacers. Im running my medium with 20mm spacers under stem. Hope this helps and good luck for the new frame, it really shreds!

 

[jgusa]

Santa Cruz usually leaves space for 30mm of spacers. Im running my medium with 20mm spacers under stem. Hope this helps and good luck for the new frame, it really shreds!

Thanks - this definitely gives me a decent starting point. Kind of bittersweet building the V4 because I absolutely LOVE how I've built up my V3, but I definitely feel the limitations of the smaller front end on a lot of the techy stuff I ride here in the PNW.

 

[mikkoniila]

Thanks - this definitely gives me a decent starting point. Kind of bittersweet building the V4 because I absolutely LOVE how I've built up my V3, but I definitely feel the limitations of the smaller front end on a lot of the techy stuff I ride here in the PNW.

It will be awesome bike for PNW I think! Also stack height correlates body and frame size. Im 175cm and riding size m. I had v3 hightower with 160mm fork and front end still felt low so I had like 10-15mm of spacers with 38mm riser bar and it felt good. Bronson is geometry wise pretty identical, but front end feels miles better even that I have worse fork on this build. 20mm spacers and stock 30mm rise burgtec bar on my set up. Front feels more ”sure” and it wont even try to wash away.

 

[matsf]

Hey all - new V4 Bronson owner here, just purchased a frame (Loam Gold FTW!) I'm currently working on building up (mostly swapping parts over from my V3 Bronson). I'm curious how many headset spacers are typically used on a large factory build?

I’m on a M Bronson and I have 15mm spacers under the stem (though I’m only 5’6”). I’m also in the PNW and it’s been such a great do it all bike for this area.

 

[p0is0n0ak]

I am a between L and XL guy and on the large, I run 30mm. Fits just fine.

 

[jgusa]

What's the consensus on the Cascade link for the V4? I had one on my V3 and it completely changed the bike, but it looks like the stock progression on the V4 stock link is roughly the same as the V3 with Cascade - so really is it needed (if I don't need longer travel)? Or is the longer chainstay worth the price of admission?

I do plan on running a coil (the frame I bought came with a coil) and I do the occasional bike park day so the longer travel would be nice, so I am leaning toward getting the link. Just curious everyone's thoughts are.