Tech

Santa Cruz unveil all-new Blur and Highball cross-country race bikes

· By Bike Hub Features · 0 comments

Today Santa Cruz has announced two new mountain bikes. The Blur, a dual-suspension race focussed cross-country bike as well as an updated Highball hardtail race bike.

The Blur is built around a full carbon frame featuring Santa Cruz’s tried and tested VPP suspension design with 100mm of rear travel. A 69-degree head angle promises confident handling on technical terrain while internal cable routing (including dropper post) keep things neat. The top specification builds roll on Santa Cruz’s Reserve carbon wheels and tips the scale just under the 10 kg mark in a size large.

The Highball is designed to ride on a 100 mm fork for a 69.5-degree head angle. Like the Blur, the Highball is one-by drivetrain specific with cable routing for internal dropper seat posts.

There is a new Blur out on course at the Absa Cape Epic which we will be doing a detailed bike check on. But for now, read the Santa Cruz press release below for more information on the Blur and Highball.

Santa Cruz Blur

The Blur is the ride fast, ride far, ride harder than your heart can take kind of XC race bike that only we would make. Light enough to scorch hot laps and tough enough to endure a long-distance beating, the Blur bowls into the Cross Country Club like Rodney Danger eld at Bushwood.

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The one-piece carbon VPP rear triangle shares a similar twin upright architecture to our World Cup-winning downhill bikes.

Paired with a one-piece carbon front end it delivers a lateral stiffness and tracking ability you just don’t see on featherweight bikes of this genre.

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The Blur doesn’t just race, it rips race courses a new A-line. Inspiring geometry built around a 69-degree head tube angle drives you to take those sketchy rough lines past the wobblers who stand between you and the podium.

Make no mistake, at just 2060 grams, this is our lightest ever 100mm VPP suspension bike. VPP is already one of the most pedal efficient engineering principles in the history of mountain bike design. Throw our dual lockout build kits into the mix and you’ve got more thrust on demand than SpaceX.

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All without trade-off. The Blur carries the same lifetime frame and pivot bearing warranty as all other Santa Cruz Bicycles.
Even the optional lightweight 29-inch Reserve carbon wheels are covered for life too.

No matter how arduous your next XC endeavour, the Blur is ready to go full gas, 24/7.

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Pricing and availability:

Shipping to Santa Cruz dealers 22 March 2018.

Blur C R1 29 FOX FLOAT Performance – R64,495.00
Blur C S 29 FOX FLOAT Performance – R77,495.00
Blur C XE 29 FOX FLOAT Performance Elite – R85,495.00
Blur CC X01 29 FOX FLOAT Performance Elite – R109,495.00
Blur CC X01 29 Reserve FOX FLOAT Performance Elite – R126,995.00
Blur CC XX1 29 Reserve FOX FLOAT Factory – R150,995.00

More information available on the Rush Sports website here.

Blur Features:

  • Full carbon frame, engineered in Santa Cruz, USA
  • 29-inch wheels with Santa Cruz Reserve carbon option
  • 100mm VPP travel
  • 69-degree head tube angle
  • Dual remote lockouts (most kits)
  • Internal dropper compatibility
  • Two bottle cage mounts
  • Bolt-on downtube protector
  • 1x drivetrain-specific design
  • Internal cables, threaded bottom bracket Boost axle spacing
  • Sizes: S, M, L, XL
  • Weight: 9.94 kg (Complete XX1 Reserve build, size L)

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Santa Cruz Highball

The Highball is our flagship carbon hardtail, a race thoroughbred and dark horse in XC versatility.

ccs-62657-0-58817400-1521456173.jpgSanta Cruz Highball with eggplant colourway.

On paper it’s a whip-cracking alternative to the Blur; the racer’s hardtail for high-intensity assaults. But settle down for a long haul and it’s immediately clear the Highball’s at home in a range of cross country environments — from XC sprints to 24-hour sufferfests.

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Low-angle seat stays join the seat tube below the top tube junction. This new placement works in tandem with a bridgeless seat stay design to curb trail chatter. Built around a 27.2mm seat post diameter the whole package combines to take the “hard” out of hardtail riding.

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The composite development team behind our MacAskill-proof carbon Reserve wheels were the same folks responsible for the Highball’s superior ride feel. Meticulous application of carbon in only the most needed areas allows us to tune a really light frame that retains bags of torsional stiffness for the high-torque pedalers and strength for those braving the sketchy lines. This is what compliance without compromise looks like.

The all-new Highball is a half-pound lighter than before, yet manages to maintain all the rider favourites of threaded BB reliability, internally routed cables and 3 water bottle mounts. All backed up with a genuine lifetime frame and carbon wheel warranty. Complemented by a multitude of build options to suit your aspiration level, the Highball’s got everything you need to go forth and conquer.

ccs-62657-0-21142000-1521456175.jpgSanta Cruz Highball in Fog colourway.

Pricing and availability:

Shipping to Santa Cruz dealers 22 March 2018.

Highball C R1 29 – R48,495.00
Highball C S 29 – R58,495.00
Highball C XE 29 – R65,995.00
Highball CC X01 29 – R86,995.00
Highball CC X01 29 Reserve – R104,495.00
Highball CC XX1 29 Reserve – R126,995.00

More information available on the Rush Sports website here.

Highball Features:

  • 29-inch wheels w/ Santa Cruz Reserve carbon option
  • 100mm fork
  • 69.5-degree head tube angle
  • Internal dropper compatibility
  • Three bottle cage mounts
  • Bolt-on downtube protector
  • 1x drivetrain-specific design
  • Internal cables, threaded bottom bracket
  • Boost axle spacing
  • Sizes: S, M, L, XL
  • Weight: 8.84 kg (Complete XX1 Reserve build, size L)

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