The one mountain bike category Santa Cruz has left vacant for some time, is now filled. The California-based brand today announced the launch of the all-new Blur, a light-weight XC-race 29er with 100mm of VPP travel.
We’ve known about the arrival of the Blur for some time, but have dutifully respected the embargo. We first got a look at it in the flesh on Sunday when Oli Munnik started the 2018 Absa Cape Epic on a different looking Santa Cruz with the model name taped over.
That tape comes off today as the new Blur makes its way through Stage 2 of its Cape Epic initiation… What better way to get a feel for a new full-suspension 29er race bike than over eight days in some of the toughest conditions, with a good bike rider? Keep an eye on Race No: 102-1.
The Blur has a full carbon frame (two levels of carbon: C and CC, the latter being lighter) and is available down to a size Small, which isn’t too common with 29-inch full-sus bikes.
It comes in two colours – Sunset and Matte Carbon – and six models (essentially the same frame but with different build kits). The highest-specced XX1, which comes with Santa Cruz’s Reserve wheelset, is claimed to weigh under just under 10kg (for a Large), which makes it one of the lighter full-suss 29er XCO bikes available. It has two bottle cage mounts, but only one inside the frame, on the downtube, and one beneath the downtube. Really – beneath the downtube? In 2018?
Obviously there are Medium, Large and Extra-Large sizes too. For really big riders, well, there’s the Santa Cruz Tallboy https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-ZA/tallboy, a firm favourite among bigger riders. For newcomers to mountain biking, the Blur model isn’t new (we test rode one in 2009 when 26-inch wheels were the thing). But it’s now been revived in what really is a very different era of XC mountain bike design.
VPP – Virtual Pivot Point, is probably a newish term for most XC/Marathon folk. It’s Santa Cruz’s patented suspension design which is essentially a simple, strong, effective one-piece rear triangle mated to the front triangle and shock by two short links that rotate in opposite directions. More VPP info here: https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-ZA/node/404
As with most current XC bikes, the Blur has a relaxed headtube (69 degrees), Boost width axle spacing and single chainring-specific design.
We didn’t get any pricing yet, but have heard the new Blur will cost more than most of the top-end full-carbon, full-sus XCO race bikes. We’re looking forward to test-riding one soon to see if it’s all its anticipated to be…
The new Santa Cruz Blur should be available in South Africa from 1 April 2018.
Santa Cruz Blur Highlights:
- Full carbon frame, engineered in Santa Cruz, USA
- 29-inch wheels with Santa Cruz Reserve carbon option
- 100mm VPP® travel
- 69-degree head tube angle
- Dual remote lockouts (most kits)
- Internal dropper compatibility
- Two bottle cage mounts
- Bolt-on downtube protector
- 1x drivetrain-specific design
- Internal cables, threaded bottom bracket
- Boost axle spacing
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Weight: 9.94 kg (Complete XX1 Reserve build, size L)
For more, head here: www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-ZA/blur
Also launched today is the redesigned Santa Cruz Highball, full carbon 29-inch hardtail.
Santa Cruz Highball Highlights:
- 29-inch wheels w/ Santa Cruz Reserve carbon option
- 100mm fork
- 69.5-degree head tube angle
- Internal dropper compatibility
- Three bottle cage mounts
- Bolt-on downtube protector
- 1x drivetrain-specific design
- Internal cables, threaded bottom bracket
- Boost axle spacing
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Weight: 8.84 kg (Complete XX1 Reserve build, size L)
For more, head here: www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-ZA/highball-29
