Santa Cruz Bicycles

Bronson 2.1 Carbon CC XX1 Eagle Mountain Bike - 2018

An all-mountain beast, the Santa Cruz Bronson 2.1 Carbon CC XX1 Eagle Complete Mountain Bike pairs 150-millimeters of VPP travel with aggressive geometry for maximum confidence and high-speed stability, while still helping out when you need to pedal back uphill for another grin-inducing descent. This year's Bronson 2.1's new lower-link mounted shock configuration opens up greater possibilities for maximum bump performance, a supportive mid-stroke, and a barely detectable bottom out. It’s like SC's most capable all-around bike just had a set of afterburners bolted on.

Continually riding the line between agility and stability, the Bronson 2.1 is ideal for negotiating tech-gnar one moment and fast flowing terrain the next, what, with the 160mm fork travel and 65-degree head angle to ensure handling remains refined. Meanwhile, the redesigned, one-piece swingarm keeps the rear wheel tracking on point no matter how twisted you get. The bottom bracket is much lower, dropping down to 13.5 inches, which strikes the right balance between stability and confident cornering, all without being rock-strikingly low like much of the competition's bikes. Chainstays shrink down to 17 inches for snappier handling and cornering precision, as well as making it easier to lift the front over trail obstacles standing in your way.

Beyond aggressive geometry updates, the big story with the Bronson 2.1 is the VPP suspension, which features Santa Cruz's upper box-style linkage inspired by the previous generation of Nomad. The upper link connects to the top tube, which creates a stiffer design with greater stand-over clearance for short riders. Additionally, the lower link neatly sits above the bottom bracket, tucked away from damaging strikes when you're rallying over chunder and rock gardens. These changes extend to the suspension's feel and performance, which is easier to initiate at the top of its stroke for a supple feel with better sensitivity to small bumps. Furthermore, it's more linear through the mid-stroke, meaning it's more supportive as you push deeper into the bike's travel. As you'd expect from this VPP suspension lay-out, you'll find it ramps up considerably at the end stroke to prevent you from harshly bottoming out on bigger hits.

Delving into this particular Bronson's frame, you'll reap the benefits of a Carbon CC frame for lightweight efficiency and spirited handling on the trail. This carbon is lighter, stronger, and more expensive than cheaper Carbon C frames, shaving approximately 280 grams without sacrificing one bit of strength or stiffness. As for the build kit, SRAM's XX1 Eagle is the blingiest drivetrain on dirt, and its comically large granny gear means you'll almost always have the means to get up a climb and get onto the next descent. Moreover, it benefits from the stiff 36-millimeter chassis of a Fox 36 Float Factory fork, which tracks precisely across rugged terrain without the excess flex of cheaper forks.