The Juliana brand slumbers in the shadow of its big brother Santa Cruz. Some may wonder whether it makes sense to have "one" bike under two brands. Yes, why not? There are plenty of women who want their "own" products and don't want to fall back on men's goods.

"The geometry of the Maverick is identical to that of the Santa Cruz Hightower, but the suspension strut and fork have been adjusted for lighter body weights. The grips and saddle come from the in-house Juliana line. Compared to the old Hightower, the shock absorber has been moved downwards on the new edition and the kinematics have been fundamentally improved. The result is a more sensitive response and less pedal kickback. The steeper seat angle has also improved the climbing characteristics, especially on steep, technical climbs!"

Rudy Hauser, Managing Director of Trailworks AG

Equipment

Juliana offers various basic equipment options for its bikes, which can be individually configured for individual parts. The tested model comes with the Rock Shox Lyrik Ultimate RC2 suspension fork and a "Super Deluxe Select+" suspension strut from the same brand. The drivetrain is Sram's X01 Eagle and the brakes are a Code RSC. As an upgrade, the Juliana is fitted with the Reserve 30 carbon wheelset from Santa Cruz.

Processing & details

As you would expect from the Californians, everything is impeccably finished. The high-gloss finish is impressive, as is the color scheme of the Juliana. Efficient protectors are installed where necessary and all details are neatly resolved. With the last revision of the well-known Santa Cruz Nomad, the low-positioned rear shock was introduced. All newer Juliana models are now equipped with this suspension design. The frame looks solid, which is reflected in its high weight.

On the flat

The central seating position is pleasing, the steering behavior is unobtrusive and pleasant. One of the reasons for this is the low center of gravity. Despite 40 percent SAG, the rear feels firm. At walking pace, the handling is slightly "tippy", but the more speed you give it, the better it rides. This also applies when riding over root fields. The Maverick likes it fast.

Up the mountain

The bike is made for tours with intensive climbing. The front climbs late, the rear provides good traction and even at very slow speeds it is easy to ride. Unlike on the flat.

Downhill

"Gimme more, more, more" - Britney Spears once sang. Okay, the song is a disaster and the singer has nothing to do with a bike like this, but the lyrics fit this bullet perfectly. The Juliana quickly releases a lot of suspension travel and encourages you to ride fast. It likes rough and rough terrain. Tight corners require some physical effort, but the bike is generally easy to control. It is worth tuning the rebound well, as it is very important for the riding comfort of this rear end. Just one click makes a big difference.

Conclusion

The Juliana is pleasing through and through. For the price of almost 10,000 Swiss francs, however, you would wish for a lighter bike. The only drawback of the Juliana Maverick. In return, you get a "state of the art" bike that can handle everything from an after-work tour to an orgy of Elevation loss.

Recommendation

If a woman wants to do her "own thing" and have fun on single trails from flowy to rough, the Juliana Maverick C is a suitable companion.

Specifications

Manufacturer/distributor

www.santacruzbikes.ch

Test report published in issue 02/2020 of Ride Magazine
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