Santa Cruz launches downhill rims and two new downhill bikes

Before the 2017 World Cup kick-off in Lourdes, Santa Cruz was the first manufacturer to present a 29er downhill bike. Exclusively for the Syndicate team at the time, the new V10 will soon be rolling into specialist shops. Fans of small wheels can also rejoice, as the new V10 also comes with 27.5-inch wheels. At the same time, Santa Cruz is also presenting the reserve downhill wheels in both sizes.

The fact that Santa Cruz was the first manufacturer to present a twentyniner downhill bike caused quite a stir, and not every downhill fan was happy about this development. Back then, the Californian cult brand managed to provide its "Santa Cruz Syndicate Downhill Team" with a race-ready V10 with 29-inch wheels within just six months. It took a total of two years of development before the prototype became a production bike. The new V10s should be available from specialist dealers from February 2019.

But it's not just the Twentyniner. "While we were developing the 29-inch race version in cooperation with the Syndicate team, it became increasingly obvious that this wheel size doesn't suit every rider and every riding style. That's why the new V10 also comes in 27.5-inch," reveals Sebastian Tegtmeier from Santa Cruz. These are two completely independent development projects with correspondingly individual characteristics. Nevertheless, both variants have received the blessing of professionals such as Greg Minnaar, Loris Vergier and Luca Shaw. The 27.5-inch version will be available from April 2019.

The V10 comes with 215 millimetres of rear suspension travel. The shock now sits flatter in the frame and the leverage ratio is also smaller so that the shock can exploit its potential to the full.
The chainstay length can be virtually adjusted to adapt the balance between front and rear to personal requirements. The adjustment range is ten millimetres and also results in a change in the steering angle from 63.3 to 63.7 degrees from 445 to 455 millimetres of stay length. The angles remain the same on the 27.5, but the strut lengths here vary between 430 and 440 millimetres.

The reserve DH wheelset also comes from the Downhill World Cup. According to Santa Cruz, it is virtually indestructible and, if the worst comes to the worst, is covered by a lifetime guarantee, saving the last tenths of a second on the track. The Reserve Downhill wheels are designed to hit the sweet spot between durability, weight, stiffness and reliable feedback. The wheels feature the company's own carbon rims and Chris King hubs selected by Syndicate. The complete wheelsets and rims will be available exclusively in the aftermarket, also from February 2019.

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