Santa Cruz Bicycles

5010 2.0 R1 Complete Mountain Bike - 2017

Seeing how the mountain bike industry is constantly evolving with new technologies pushing costs into budget-busting realms, it's refreshing that Santa Cruz is offering their flagship trail bike at an attractive price that leaves room for trips to your favorite riding locales. Offering affordability without sacrificing its spirited riding persona, the Santa Cruz 5010 2.0 R1 Complete Mountain Bike provides a responsive pedaling platform with 130 millimeters of VPP suspension paired with a tried-and-true aluminum frame that keeps costs from soaring to stratospheric levels.

The aluminum frame's geometry remains the same as its pricier carbon siblings, giving you a longer reach and short stem combo for 2017, whereas the older models were a bit shorter along the top tube. This lengthened front end not only keeps you comfortable with a roomier cockpit, but it also inspires confidence on steep descents by keeping weight over the back wheel. Another significant geometry figure is the 5010 2.0's 67-degree head tube angle, which drops a full degree from its previous model year to inspire confidence on steeper downhill sections where the previous bike was a bit unnerving. Other notable geometry figures are its snappy-short 16.7-inch chainstays and low-slung 13.1-inch bottom bracket, both of which contribute to its nimble handling and lively persona when you're railing corners and negotiating tight sections of trail.

Looking to the 5010's VPP suspension, you'll find it gets a subtle redesign for 2017, with the lower links neatly tucked above the bottom bracket to prevent damage from flinging rocks and trail debris. The upper links are now connected with a stiffer box-section upper link that's inspired by the Nomad's linkages. Another subtle upgrade, the 5010's rear travel grows to 130 millimeters over the previous version's 125 millimeters of travel. This reconfigured VPP suspension keeps it riding higher than the previous iteration, giving you a bit more small-bump compliance for greater traction over rocks and roots. And despite all these changes, the VPP suspension retains its efficiency under power, meaning you'll be able to climb and pedal briskly without pesky motion sapping your forward momentum.

This R1 build kit is nicely equipped with a 130-millimeter FOX Rhythm fork soaking up jarring sections with rocks and roots. This fork is a step up from lower-end builds, as its 34-millimeter stanchions provide a greater level of stiffness when you're rallying over rugged trails for precise handling. Another stand-out feature is the SRAM NX 1x drivetrain, which simplifies the shifting experience without a pesky front derailleur getting in the way. Additionally, it's hooked up with a 2.3-inch Maxxis DHF tire up front for greater traction, complemented with a fast-rolling 2.25-inch Maxxis Crossmark tire out back for reduced rolling resistance.