Santa Cruz is it just a So Cal thing or worth the $

[Swag Off Road]

I'm in the market to update my 8 year old Specialized FSR bike. I loved my bike until I rode a buddys 2010 Giant Rein 2 and all of a sudden my bike is not so cool to me anymore . With that said are the Santa Cruz Nomad, Heckler, Blur........really that much better than the rest of the competition or is it just the cool thing to have?

I'm looking for a multi purpose dual suspension bike with 5"-6" travel, ~30 lbs around 2K used.

Thanks Troy

[Kali_Jude]

SC bikes are sweet, but they do hold there value. With a 2k budget you might be finding something a bit better then what you already have. Local bike shops in the bay area have the 2010 enduros and stumpy's going cheap with the new 2011 product rolling in. I would suggest to buy new, try to stay in your budget and get the new tech rather then old.

[chumpmann]

I just got a Santa Cruz Heckler, and it is a beast.

Although I upgraded from a Trek 3700...So it is a big Jump!

Got mine New, for $2200.

Money well spent for the latest components and great Full suspension.

[ramv]

I really like my '10 Reign 2. Price is very good although mine was a frame replacement from Giant on a broken '03 AC-2.

No idea on the SC, most of my friends ride Yetis, or Gary Fisher. Personally, I think the big companies (trek, Giant, etc) are better bang for the buck.

[mobil1syn]

transition dirt bag or blindside

[The Joker]

A guy I ride with has a Blur LT http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/blurlt_carbon/ it is as nice or nicer than my Ibis Mojo. It will suck up any trail condition you can throw at it and handle like a sports car while doing it.

[Rat~Man]

I ride a Blur LTB and that thing is one of the best frames I've ridden. In a couple years of beating it no issues other than the lower pivot bearings.

Honestly the SC line is competitive with the other US made frames.

The US made part is what turned me to looking for a SC when I went squishy shopping. I paid 500.00 for mine, a year old frame in a odd color that retails for 2K a year earlier. Hell of a deal.

go looking for a frame and build what you really want on it.

[fuggy]

Originally Posted by rat~man

i ride a blur ltb and that thing is one of the best frames i've ridden. In a couple years of beating it no issues other than the lower pivot bearings.

Honestly the sc line is competitive with the other us made frames.

x2

[Roc Doc]

I have several thousand miles on my 1996 Heckler, and it's been flawless. I've only replaced the seat, grips, and tires.

Cry once, smile long time.

[frstycndian]

rented a bullit all summer and i am sold!! i am 275lbs, and soaked everything i could throw at it, now its finding the money to build my jeep and buy a bullit :P

[1wd B-series]

One thing to remember is that santa cruz'es "lifetime warranty" on their frames only applies if you are the first owner of the bike

i had an 03 superlight ... eventually that didnt suit my needs anymore

so i built up an 05 blur ... FIVE FUCKING MONTHS LATER frames cracked ... santa cruz didnt even offer me a discount on buying a new frame

i now ride an 06 specialized enduro expert and wouldnt trade it for anything, bought it used for $1700 in may 07 ... my fork is an 09 fox talas 36 cause i blew up the original 36 in kellog idaho at silver mtn resort.

anyways best of luck, and dont let my experiences scare you, ive ridden the newer nomads and they kick ass.

[Andy351]

Originally Posted by 1wd B-series

One thing to remember is that santa cruz'es "lifetime warranty" on their frames only applies if you are the first owner of the bike

getting anything in the bike industry warrantied when you aren't the original owner can be very tricky. most companies will not warranty something you didn't buy originally, its written clearly in most warranty paperwork. but you can usually buy a replacement or similar part at a decent price. with the amount of monkeys on bikes and the abuse that can be dished out, it would not be practical to replace every single bike that cracked or failed. remember, a hack mechanic can setup something a little off and ruin a frame, a brake cable can wear through a frame if unprotected etc.

it also depends on who and how you ask...

santa cruz is cool, but they aren't manufactured in the USA. they are made overseas and assembled stateside down the street from my house. if you are looking for good performance, excellent customer service, and american made check out the ibis mojo.

as far as i'm concerned, there are better bikes out there than santa cruz, but it is also an entirely subjective opinion with bikes. its not what you ride, but how you ride it. no bike can truly make you a better rider. you can only find geometry that you feel more comfortable on.

[1wd B-series]

still pisses me off that they wouldnt warranty a bike that was less than a year old, me being the second owner shouldnt have mattered in that case, specially since i had the orig owners reciept and paperwork

[Loopie]

Originally Posted by Swag Off Road

I'm in the market to update my 8 year old Specialized FSR bike. I loved my bike until I rode a buddys 2010 Giant Rein 2 and all of a sudden my bike is not so cool to me anymore . With that said are the Santa Cruz Nomad, Heckler, Blur........really that much better than the rest of the competition or is it just the cool thing to have?

I'm looking for a multi purpose dual suspension bike with 5"-6" travel, ~30 lbs around 2K used.

Thanks Troy

Bikes are so much lighter now than they were in '04...plus the shock and fork improvements. So ya, hopping on a newer bike is going to feel great.
But differences between a multi pivot chain stay and a single pivot have nothing to do with age. Rider preference.

I've had two Santa Cruz bikes...a V10 and a VP-Free...I bought the V10 used and needed some warranty...I think it just depended on the smooth talk of "my" shop, no problems.
VP-Free?.....LOVED it.

The Nomad pricing does seem high...but I haven't looked that far into it.