Santa Cruz Bicycles

Bronson Carbon CC XT AM Float 36 Mountain Bike - 2015

You've heard the call of Santa Cruz's Bronson from all directions. Industry publications, bike shop wrenches, and the hype-machine of your local scene — they're all virtually unanimous in assessing it as the bike everyone wants to ride. With the Bronson Carbon CC XT AM Float 36 Complete Mountain Bike, those whispers of anticipation materialize. While there are more expensive Bronson builds available, the XT drivetrain featured here directs the focus to the bike's heart and soul: the 6-inch travel, Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension, and inimitable Carbon CC construction of the Bronson's frame.

If we were pressed to locate the source of the hype that surrounds the Bronson, we might start with the two counter-rotating links at the heart of its VPP suspension platform. The upper link provides most of the rotation as the bike compresses into the sag point for a vertical wheel path that manifests as a firm platform for acceleration and eager small-bump compliance. As the bike compresses deeper, the lower link activates, moving the axle path rearward to lengthen the wheelbase and increase stability. The result is snappy responsiveness throughout the suspension's travel that makes the ride up almost as much fun as the trip down.

Of course, no frame — VPP or otherwise — can transcend shoddy construction. Santa Cruz avoids this pitfall in the Bronson Carbon CC with a higher modulus carbon fiber laid-up in a proprietary process to achieve the same strength and stiffness characteristics of the heavier Carbon C frames but with much less weight — about 250-280 claimed grams per frame. Both the front and rear triangles are constructed as a whole, rather than from separate sub-assemblies bonded together.

In addition to saving weight, this ensures that the Bronson is as strong as possible by allowing for continuously wrapped fibers through seams and around junctures for improved structural integrity that actually requires less material. The frame is also compacted to eliminate excess carbon and internal resin build-ups, making for yet more weight loss and further increasing structural integrity.

The rear shock is FOX's Float CTD unit, which features the durable Kashima coating. While the distinctive gold color is eye-catching, the Kashima coating's true benefit is that it's both harder and smoother than standard slider coatings. This equates to a longer wear life, as well as smoother suspension action. It's paired with a FOX 36 Float RC2 fork up front, for a combined menu of five suspension settings in order to address the dynamic demands of enduro riding.

Fast accelerations, solid climbing, confident tracking through corners — the Bronson lives up to its own hype by checking every box, and these qualities are made all the more noticeable rolling on the solid platform of WTB rims laced to DT Swiss hubs. This version of the Bronson CC is kitted with a double Shimano XT Drivetrain that incorporates a carbon SRAM crankset, and Shimano's redoubtable XT M785 hydraulic disc brakes finish the bike so you can finish your rides safely.