Possibly the biggest surprise of the test is that our cost no object bike choice from last year is now available in a version that qualifies for our top 10.
What's really
impressive - and brilliant if you're looking for a bargain bike with serious
kudos - is that you're going to have to be a proper pea bitching princess to
tell any difference. It uses the same front and rear moulds as the flagship 4200$
Carbon CC frame and exactly the same black or orange colour options. However,
underneath the typically bang on trend paintjob is a cheaper carbon fibre
composite, which together with alloy linkages make the frame around 250g
heavier. You still get Santa Cruz's patented VPP twin linkage suspension,
complete with DIY serviceable and grease injectable bearings plus moulded
rubber belly and chainstay protection. It's routed for an internal dropper too
as the 300$ KS Lev Integra upgrade of the basic 4650$ C R AM spec shows and
there are chainguide tabs and a Shimano Direct Mount rear mech hanger option.
What really matters is
that the Carbon C retains all the responsive, downright insolent trail attitude
of the expensive bike. The frame is just as rock-solid stiff as we've come to
expect from Santa Cruz carbon. The VPP suspension also locks into the trail to
drive hard but swings open off the power to swallow big hits much better than
you'd expect for a 125mm stroke. While not everyone will like the obvious
pedal/suspension interaction as the wheel gets pulled backwards by big hits, it
does create a visceral, constant feedback connection that encourages you to
take speed and traction to the edge wherever possible.
Smooth fork feel
Top spec Maxxis
tubeless tyres also flatter the feel and performance of both the basic Fox
Float rear damper and RockShox Sektor fork. Slight structural, negative spring
and damper tune differences mean that while the 130mm Sektor isn't as eerily on
point as a Pike it's actually smoother than the more expensive 140-150mm
Revelation RLs on other bikes. Together with the rigidly agile, riot
encouraging frame that meant we never backed off from attacking the trail even
on super-rocky Ilkley Moor rides or the EWS trails of Spain. Even the relatively
short and uptight geometry didn't matter on the trail like looking at it on
paper suggested it should. Rather than tripping up and getting nervous like a
more neutral, passive bike the 3D effect of the VPP meant it could be snapped
in and out of traction or hopped and popped through trouble, preferably as fast
and loose as possible.
Low weight, fast
rolling Ardent rear tyre and locked down drive feel mean speed is always easy
to come by and you would have no problems hitting a techy cross-country race or
marathon event as hard as it'll launch itself down a trail centre terror run.
Sizing right on the
compact old-school fit (potentially going up a size or two for extra length if
necessary) is vital to get enough space for the 50l0to show its full potential
in any context.
SO GOOD
- Super-stiff yet
lightweight carbon chassis at alloy bike price. VPP suspension maximises power
and big hit performance.
- Serviceable grease
ported bearings and conventional bottom bracket boost longevity.
- Sektor, Shimano, Maxxis
kit performs way beyond price.
NO GOOD
- Interactive
suspension feel won't suit everyone.
- Accurate sizing is
essential to get enough length.
WEIGHT 13.52kg (29.801b)
