The Californian luxury forge has relaunched the "Blur" full suspension model and given the bike significantly more sportiness. Visually, not much has changed and the VPP suspension system remains the same. Thanks to the consistent weight savings, the frame weight is 2060 grams including the shock absorber. This is not a record-breaking value, but it is still considerable in view of the heavier suspension system and its stability.

Weight was saved primarily thanks to the optimized fibre layup, but also by dispensing with the internal cable guides or the optimized rocker arms. The complete Twentyniner with CC frame (the lighter frame version), XX1 Eagle groupset, 32-Step Cast fork from Fox and the in-house 29-inch Reserve wheels, including the Vario seatpost and 300 gram pedals, weighs 10.8 kilograms. However, the bike comes off the shelf without a lowerable throne, but the frame is designed for it. If you want to slim down the bike for racing, you might even be able to get it down to 9.5 kilograms.

The Blur comes with 100 millimeters of travel at the front and rear. For its intended use - cross country and marathon - a handlebar remote for both suspension elements is specified on most versions.
The bike has a relatively long reach (440 millimetres for size M), a medium steering angle of 69 degrees for this category, a seat angle of 74 degrees and a medium wheelbase of 1136 millimetres. To summarize: The geometry seems quite balanced, i.e. neither at one extreme nor the other.

Features

As mentioned, Santa Cruz offers two carbon frames: the lighter CC frame and the slightly heavier but also cheaper C frame. The latter is available in three versions, with Sram NX, Sram GX1 Eagle and Shimano's XT groupset.
The CC version comes as a complete bike with Sram's X01 and XX1 groupsets. According to Santa Cruz, the Blur will be available immediately from specialist dealers.

The first impression

Santa Cruz and the Cross-Country World Cup? The Californians don't go that far after all, even if the Blur would be the perfect bike for it. Despite the VPP system, the frame is very stiff and, thanks to this suspension system, also very drive-neutral. This allows the bike to accelerate with a lot of propulsion even when the shock is open. The riding position is very sporty but not uncomfortable, so that power transmission is easy. The Blur is very easy to maneuver and even difficult climbs are easy to master. The Blur offers plenty of traction.

Downhill, the Blur is probably the coolest cross-country bike yet. It blurs the boundaries between cross-country and trail, and is a lot of fun. The bike is surprisingly composed, and thanks to the linear suspension characteristic of the rear suspension, you often forget that it only has 100 millimetres of travel.

With the Blur, Santa Cruz has created a very versatile bike that has its purpose in cross country, but doesn't have to hide in the trail sector either. For the former use, however, lighter wheels would be needed, which are only stable enough but not "bombproof".

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