![]() Santa Cruz has a lot of experience in carbon construction and it shows in the Bronson’s impressive frame stiffness. Chainstay length is slightly longer than expected at 17.3in (439mm), though the Bronson is still quite agile and able to navigate low-speed tech with ease. On the flipside, the lack of a really low bottom bracket is an asset when cranking through rocky chunder – the type of terrain all 150mm travel bikes should excel at. The Bronson does lack the carvy, low-slung feel of competitor’s bikes with lower bottom brackets. The 13.6in (346mm) high bottom bracket is neither remarkably low nor noticeably high. The 73-degree seat tube angle puts the rider in pedal-friendly position and 584mm effective top tube on our size medium test bike felt spot-on as well. It’s slack enough to get the wheel out in front of the rider on the way down, without making the front end feel ponderous while climbing. The 67-degree head tube is on par with most other 150mm travel bikes. The 67-degree head tube strikes a nice balance between stability and agility The bronson’s 67-degree head tube angle strikes a nice balance between agility and stability : the bronson’s 67-degree head tube angle strikes a nice balance between agility and stability Josh Patterson/Future Publishing There are certainly bikes that are lower and slacker, with shorter chainstays, but the engineers at Santa Cruz put together a set of numbers that, when taken as a whole, work quite well in all situations. The Bronson has middle-of-the-road geometry by enduro standards, which won’t surprise the rider with any quirks or present much of a learning curve. The Bronson is a true all-mountain bike it’s a surefooted climber and a confident descender. In every case it has proven to be an exceptionally capable machine. Over the course of six months of testing, the Bronson has been our weapon of choice for enduro races in Oregon and Colorado – we’ve ridden it on rough-and-tumble trails in Moab, Utah, and used it to tackle steep Colorado singletrack. Ride and handling: neutral handling, stiff chassis and firm suspension BUY IF… You’re looking for a versatile, high performance trail bike.LOWS: 1×11 drivetrain is not for everyone.HIGHS: Good handling, stiff chassis, top shelf kit backs up the steep price tag. ![]() The light and stiff carbon frame, 150mm of VPP suspension and impeccable trail manners are what make the Bronson a class leader. The wheel size is perhaps the least interesting aspect of this carbon wonder bike though. They were the first two models in a six-bike 650b (27.5in) salvo that was launched by Santa Cruz Bicycles this year. Add to cartįrom flat out on the trail to fully flat over a table, each generation of Bronson rider redefines expectations of what a mountain biker is.The Bronson is offered in both carbon and aluminum versions. But a 27.5-inch tire in the rear means this bike still loves getting up on the back wheel and into the air.įrom flat out on the trail to fully flat over a table, each generation of Bronson rider redefines expectations of what a mountain biker is. The larger front wheel provides more traction and stability that’ll make you feel more confident squaring off the turns and diving for the inside lines. If you value style at speed or want to have fun feeling fast, then mixed wheels (29” up front, 27.5” out back) show that the spectrum is a loop not opposite points on a scale. The 150mm-travel bike can go deep on any landing and the VPP™ suspension design makes sure that there’s no wasted energy when heading back up for another go. Our demo crew have a saying, ‘If in doubt, take a Bronson out’. But what if you don’t want to be pinned down by labels? What if you want to just be a mountain biker in the broadest sense of the word? What if you want to choose how you ride rather than what to ride? If this sounds familiar, then try a Bronson. You know what’s hard about choosing what model of Santa Cruz suits you? It’s having to narrow down what kind of riding you want to do.
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