Santa Cruz Bicycles

Bronson 27.5 R Mountain Bike

The Bronson is a mountain biker's mountain bike. The quintessential all-mountain machine. A bike that specializes in nothing, but excels at pretty much everything. We've been fans ever since the first generation that came out in 2013, but the newest generation is the best one yet thanks to the new lower-link VPP suspension, updated geometry, and a host of other refinements that altogether make up an impressive package. Tackling everything from epic backcountry missions to fast laps at the bike park, the Bronson is just plain fun. And with this aluminum version, you can get all that Bronson goodness without breaking the bank.

Changes to the third-gen Bronson start with a longer, slacker geometry that pushes it deeper into the gravity end of the riding spectrum. However, this redesign doesn't significantly alter its all-around versatility, meaning it's still great for the rider that desires the monster truck plushness of a slack, long-travel rig while having fun on trail systems with big climbs and high-speed descents. To be specific, Santa Cruz lengthened the reach by approximately 15 millimeters per size for a more confident, comfortable feel at higher speeds, plus a one centimeter lower standover height for a better fit with shorter riders. The head tube angle drops from the previous generation's already slack 66 degrees to an even slacker 65.4 degrees in its highest setting, complete with a flip-chip that slackens it out even further to a bike park-friendly 65.1 degrees. These were numbers that you'd only see on a freeride or mini-DH bike just a few years ago, meaning you'll have tons of confidence bombing those technical descents littered with steep drop-offs and nasty rock sections.

Another significant change to the latest Bronson lies in a reconfigured VPP suspension platform. Instead of relying on upper-link driven design, the third generation Bronson enjoys the increased bump compliance and glued-to-the-trail traction you'll experience with a VPP suspension driven by a lower-link mounted shock that's inspired by the latest Nomad. This lower-link driven VPP suspension platform is something that's reserved exclusively for the Bronson, Nomad, and V10, seeing the need for increased bump compliance, better support, and higher levels of traction for all-mountain, freeride, and downhill disciplines. To best match the increased performance capabilities of this lower-link driven VPP, Santa Cruz spec'd a Super Deluxe shock for a more supple feel that tracks to the ground noticeably better and resists heating up on those scintillating descents over thousands of vertical feet.

This particular Bronson is offered with an aluminum frame for those aggressive riders seeking something that's a bit more economical, but without significantly altering its riding characteristics. The alloy frame is practically identical to carbon models in geometry and specs, meaning you'll reap the benefits of trickle-down technology in terms of dialed handling and high levels of overall strength. It's even backed by Santa Cruz's lifetime warranty, so you'll have added peace of mind while mobbing down rock gardens and dropping into aggressive terrain suited to a bike of this style.