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Juliana
Joplin Carbon CC 27.5+ X01 Complete Mountain Bike - 2017

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Mercurial.

The Juliana Joplin Carbon 27.5+ X01 Carbon CC Complete Mountain Bike is the product of two strains of DNA. The most prominent is, of course, the model's immediate predecessors. The first leg of this history is the Joplin line itself, which has become a wagon-wheel staple because of its ability to clean climbs as fast as the goddess of rock for which it's named lived her mercurial life.


The longer story is a bit more complicated. It involves the developmental curve of the genre-defining Tallboy, which culminates today in some modern touches like Boost spacing, enduro-inspired suspension links, and Santa Cruz's protean flip chip. The key difference between the Joplin and the Tallboy is in the shock tune, with the former lightening up a bit for lighter riders. Juliana calculates that typical women cyclists are around 30lb lighter than men, so the Joplin's lighter shock tune allows lighter riders to take full advantage of the bike's 4.5in of VPP travel. In the end, it's a tale of suspension and geometry that's dramatic enough to rival the biography of fast-living young rock stars; however, like any good story, it has an O. Henry twist. In this case, that surprise ending is the flip chip.


The flip chip sits in the upper link and can be rotated to allow the shock mount to migrate. Being able to reposition the shock attachment point effectively accounts for the 9mm difference in radii between 27.5+ and 29in tires, keeping the geometry as static as possible across wheel sizes. The latest Joplin is Juliana's first use of Santa Cruz's flip chip, which originally debuted on the Hightower. If that model was its testing ground, then the flip chip has moved one step closer to perfect with the Joplin. Changing the Hightower results in a slight change in head tube angle; the Joplin's head tube stays the same for 27.5+ and 29in wheels.


Compared to the previous Joplin, the newest model takes just a bit off the top of the head tube, dropping 2.2 degrees to fall from the standard 70.2 to a moderately slack 68 degrees. Courtesy of the Flip Chip's slight geometry alteration, that number stays the same whether you're running a 29in wheels with a 120mm fork or 27.5+ with 130mm. The frame's chainstays and reach also join the modern geometry movement; the stays are shorter by 13.3mm and the reach bumps up dramatically, resulting in a chassis that's far more capable in virtually every trail situation than its predecessor.


The Virtual Pivot Point travel has also taken a turn for the crunchier, gaining an additional 10mm, which aligns the Joplin perfectly with the emerging crop of 4.5in, do-it-all, 27.5+ bikes. That's not to say it's just rolling off the press as one faceless frame in a sea of similar models, as the flip chip means the Joplin is essentially two frames: a race rocket 29er with a long, stable geometry and, as spec'd here, a plus-size barge for floaty traction on surfaces ranging from off-trail snowscapes to rain-slicked root lattices. The beauty is that, instead of shelling out for two separate premium machines, you just need the flip chip, two wheelsets, and two forks.


Despite all the tweaks to geometry, the inclusion of a Flip Chip, and the centimeter of additional travel, the VPP design is a carry-over from Santa Cruz's re-worked frames like the Bronson 2.0 and 5010 2.0. It's inspired by the enduro-minded Nomad, and the result is that the links stay out of the way, which lets the Joplin accommodate a piggyback shock's external can without giving up the bottle cage. The repositioned links also make for more ground clearance, lower standover, and an additional boost in stiffness to the already stiff Boost back end.


The latest VPP's changes aren't limited to wandering links, though; the system's tuning has also been tweaked. Where the old suspension curve described a deep "U," the new VPP's curve resembles a flattened check mark, with less dramatic ramping on either end of the arc and, as mentioned above, a lighter tune to give lighter riders access to the deep end.


The results are that, during the initial and mid stroke, it boasts increased bump compliance to keep the tires glued to the trail for more traction across lumpy trails and root latticed climbs. It also maintains its predecessor's firm feel during accelerations, so it won't dampen the Joplin's spirited kick while jockeying for position in a mass start or a finishing sprint. The shock's ramp-up arc doesn't dramatically alter as the shock compresses, so the pedaling platform stays consistent across travel, with less wallowing, bob, and bottom-outs — even while the Boost axle's path turns rearward to absorb bigger hits deep in its travel.


We're happy to report that Juliana's Carbon CC frame construction also remains unchanged. For the top-tier CC frame designation, the engineers use a higher modulus carbon than the standard Carbon C model, so less material is required to hit the same strength and stiffness numbers. Less material equates to less weight, and, well, you can see where we're going with this. Climbing and pure speed both benefit when there's less mass for your engine to propel and a stiffer chassis makes for more efficient power transfer and cat-on-carpet tracking through techy trail furniture.


The frame's two carbon triangles are built as whole pieces rather than glued together from disparate bits, a method that saves weight and increases structural integrity by allowing Santa Cruz to wrap carbon continuously through and around key junctures. This process reinforces the frame with less material while eliminating the artificial stress points that result from bonded construction methods. Finally, the carbon is also compacted from the inside and the outside for a more even finish that avoids any structural defects, excess material build-up, and resin pooling for — you guessed it — even more weight savings.


The Joplin's reworked linkage means it's one-by only, but it still comes equipped with ISCG 05 tabs. The threaded bottom bracket is another feature that we've come to just expect from the California-based brand, and it's a strong selling point for those who don't like dealing with the tricky tolerances and creaky interface of press-fit models. The Joplin's 27.5+ mode accommodates every manufacturer's 2.8in tires, but some 3in models may have clearance issues depending on how the tire manufacturer takes its measurements. Understandably, the frame's clearance decreases as a 29er, but it still accommodates most 2.35in tires, which we think occupy the sweet spot of plush traction without getting top floppy and muddying trail feel.


Frame Material
Carbon CC
Suspension
VPP
Rear Shock
FOX Float Performance Elite
Rear Travel
110 mm
Fork
FOX 34 Float 29 Performance Elite
Front Travel
130 mm
Headset
Cane Creek 40
Shifters
SRAM X01
Front Derailleur
n/a
Rear Derailleur
SRAM X01
ISCG Tabs
yes, ISCG 05
Crankset
32 t Race Face Turbine
Cassette
10 - 42 t SRAM XG-1180
Chain
SRAM X01 Powerlock
Brakeset
SRAM Level TLM
Brake Type
hydraulic disc
Rotors
180 / 180 mm Avid Centerline
Handlebar
SCB 16 XC carbon flat bar
Handlebar Width
750 mm
Grips
Juliana single-sided lock-on
Stem
Race Face Turbine
Stem Length
50 mm
Saddle
Juliana Pirmiero
Seatpost
RockShox Reverb Stealth
Seatpost Diameter
31.6 mm
Wheelset
[rims] Easton ARC 40 27.5
Hubs
DT Swiss 350
Front Axle
15 x 110mm Boost
Rear Axle
12 x 148mm Boost
Tires
[front] Maxxis Rekon EXO 3C, [rear] Maxxis Rekon EXO
Tire Size
29 x 2.8 in
Pedals
not included
Extras
Stan's NoTubes sealant 2oz
Recommended Use
trail, cross country
Manufacturer Warranty
lifetime on frame

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