Santa Cruz Blur

Richard Wilkins
Reviewed: 25 March 2004

ALMOST AS FAST UP HILLS AS DOWN THEM

Strong frame - good gussets and attention to detail (dropouts and line guides)
Lightweight
Fully active suspension without bob or waste of energy capable of soaking up the small stuff and swallowing big stuff too.
Good handling
Quality finish in anodised version

May be lacks some mud clearance, but I haven't experienced any problems in the winter months

Fully active suspension gives beautiful smooth ride and excellent traction, soaking up trail bumps yet still giving good feel of what's beneath you. The Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) really does work with minimal bob (using the lockout makes very little difference to power transfer). The smooth feel inspires confidence up or down hill it revels in point and shoot downhill's and just makes you go faster every time. I have climbed hills on this frame that my supple steel hartail could never manage - clambering up loose pebbles and rock steps at stupid angles - it just seems to laugh at them.
Well worth the investment, so much fun and satisfaction and well made in a design that will last

Doggy Cam
Reviewed: 21 October 2003

CAN IT GET BETTER THAN THIS ?

Traction,Acceleration,Suspension and
minimum bob

Bottom Bracket is too low. I'm having to completely re-assess every rock or track as I keep smacking the pedals off them.
The stickers are a bit poor as they are not laquered.
It is expensive,but the VPP works.

The VPP system allows you to ride this like it's a hardtail,push big gears in or out of the saddle with virtually zero bob,but with much more traction, and, still absorbing bumps !
Downhill,its just as good,stable and confidence inspiring.
This is the bike I have been looking for, it combines full suspension handling with hardtail power transfer.

Paul Truckel
Reviewed: 09 October 2003

BLUR BY NAME, BLUR BY NATURE

Plush over all terrain
No bob
more willing climber than me
frame stiffness
encourages speed

paint finish is shocking.
decals look like they'll last 2 washes.
shock rebound damping seems to be set-up for a 10 stone rider (not my 13 stone), I need 13 out of 16 clicks on the rebound to stop being pitched over bars.

I've always wanted a Santa Cruz and when the Blur came out I couldn't resist. My first impression when I got the frame home was what a crap paint finish! I don't mean for a £1350 frame, I mean full stop. Still, I didn't buy the frame to look at, I bought it to ride and I wasn't dissapointed on that front...

What immediatly struck me was the acceleration. The clever linkages combined with the stiff structure means the thing accelerates considerably better than my old single pivot Marin. Hit the rough stuff and it still keeps going. The way the suspension just soaks up everything, maintaining traction all the time means that you are encouraged to go faster and faster, something my fitness can't always cope with. All this happens with sofa-like comfort too.

Handling is great with the 105mm Marzocchi forks I've fitted, it goes where I want it to without having to think about it. What more do you need? As for climbing, I'll admit I don't like climbing but at least the Blur makes it a bit more bearable and I don't have to resort to the granny ring as often.

I've had my Blur for 4 months over the summer. Time will tell how it copes with a British winter.

Paul Aldridge
Reviewed: 25 June 2003

Comfy, fast, light expensive

Bob - a thing of the past. Works much better in my view than a single pivot even with a 5th Element. Plush but efficient and makes technical climbing a sat down pedal, rather than a clumsy attepmt at trials.

Also very very shiny in polished.

Cost. Limited tyre clearance 2.1s are fine 2.25 might squeak through, 2.5 no chance.

Lovely. Does it all, assuming you're prepared to pay for it and accept that it's an enduro/long XC toll that won't wear massive DH tyres.

Paul Aldridge
Reviewed: 25 June 2003

Comfy, fast, light expensive

Bob - a thing of the past. Works much better in my view than a single pivot even with a 5th Element. Plush but efficient and makes technical climbing a sat down pedal, rather than a clumsy attepmt at trials.

Also very very shiny in polished.

Cost. Limited tyre clearance 2.1s are fine 2.25 might squeak through, 2.5 no chance.

Lovely. Does it all, assuming you're prepared to pay for it and accept that it's an enduro/long XC toll that won't wear massive DH tyres.