Santa Cruz VPP
Design VS Travel
When choosing a new bike many factors come into play. Suspension travel, wheel size and geometry specifications are just a few to name. Many consider suspension travel the dictator of how to categorize a bike. While this is may be the case a majority of the time, sometimes it comes down to the overall suspension design. Santa Cruz’s Virtual Pivot Point design is an example of just how important suspension linkage is to the ride quality and style of a bike.
What Is Virtual Pivot Point
Santa Cruz has had many iterations of the VPP as it is their primary suspension platform aside from their Superlight design used on the Blur. But what makes VPP design different? Many brands use a single pivot design that optimizes weight while still providing efficiency on the climbs. Santa Cruz uses an approach that optimizes both climbing performance and downhill performance, using what they call Virtual Pivot Point. VPP uses two pivots that rotate in opposite directions. This maximizes anti-squat when climbing while reducing the amount of anti-squat while the bike moves through its travel. The bike reduces the use of the suspension when pedaling, but will activate travel as it hits compressions or is faced with an obstacle. Along with anti-squat, VPP balances anti-rise to make sure the bike stays planted when braking force is enacted. Another very important part of suspension is the leverage rate, essentially, when the bike is in the lower part of its travel it should be more plush to allow for more small bump compression. Once it moves into bigger hits and compression it becomes more stiff to allow for more support and prevents the bike from bottoming out prematurely. All of these together make for a very supportive platform for a trail rider that wants to make the most of their suspension at any part of their ride.
Hightower VS Non-VPP
The Santa Cruz Hightower sits on the cusp of two different categories of trail bikes. Built around 150mm of suspension travel in the front and 145mm of travel in the rear, it is not a lightweight down country bike. At the same time, it is not a full on All-Mountain enduro bike. However it shares a lot of similarities with both of these genres in the way that it performs, most of that comes down to the suspension. The trail category has moved towards higher travel numbers compared to the previously lower 100’s to a higher travel standard. The Hightower showcases this and takes the cake as one of the best all-around trail bikes by having an efficient climbing platform as well as downhill capable geometry and travel. A lot of bikes exist in this new longer travel trail standard. One of them being the Orbea Occam SL that has 140mm of travel front and rear. But what makes this different from Santa Cruz’s design? The Orbea Occam SL puts a little more value towards climbing performance by using a single pivot suspension design with the rear pivot at the axle. This design provides significant weight savings and favors a more efficient climbing performance. The Occam SL also offers a more predictable travel path and less linkage service due to a simpler design. This design is favored for more mellow terrain as it still can take bigger hits if needed. The Hightower offers increased downhill performance at the expense of some additional weight. This bike is fantastic for anyone wanting to ride flow, chunky downhill trails but also efficient enough for a long day on the saddle.
For anyone wanting a bike that is responsive to any terrain, holds traction like no other, and climbs fantastically, a bike featuring a VPP Platform could be the one. We have several VPP bikes such as Santa Cruz's Hightower and Bronson models that are on factory sale, just in time for the fall cycling season!