Santa Cruz 5010
Wheel Size: MX | Front Travel: 140mm | Rear Travel: 130mm
Embrace the playful spirit of trail riding with the Santa Cruz 5010, a bike that invites you to hop, skip, and jump your way through adventurous trails. The 5010 has been upgraded to feature a dynamic 29-inch front wheel paired with a 27.5-inch rear wheel, optimizing traction and control across various terrains. This unique wheel combination enhances stability while maintaining agile handling, making it perfect for technical trails and playful maneuvers. The 5010’s suspension system has also seen significant refinement, with improved kinematics that offer a smoother, more responsive ride. This enhanced suspension ensures that every bump and trail feature is absorbed efficiently, providing a plush ride without sacrificing responsiveness or control. Available in several build kits, including the versatile GX AXS and the higher-end X0 AXS, the 5010 caters to different riding styles and budgets. Each build offers specific components and features tailored to enhance your trail experience, from reliable performance to advanced precision. Whether you’re navigating technical descents or enjoying flowing singletrack, the Santa Cruz 5010 is designed to elevate your trail adventures, making every ride a blend of fun and high performance. Discover a new level of excitement and control with a bike that combines innovative design with the thrill of trail riding.
Highlights and information
Santa Cruz 5010: Playful Precision on the Trails
Wheel Size: MX | Front Travel: 140mm | Rear Travel: 130mm
The Santa Cruz 5010 strikes the perfect balance between playful agility and uncompromising performance, transforming every ride into an exhilarating adventure. With 130mm of rear VPP suspension and 140mm of front travel, this bike absorbs the bumps of technical terrain while delivering responsive handling. The mixed-wheel setup and proportional geometry provide exceptional stability, cornering precision, and unmatched control on challenging trails. Designed with thoughtful features like integrated Glovebox storage, the 5010 is as practical as it is fun, ready to tackle technical singletrack, launch jumps, and navigate tight switchbacks.
Why the Santa Cruz 5010 Stands Out
The Santa Cruz 5010 uniquely combines playfulness with capability. Its mixed-wheel design enhances agility and traction, while proportional geometry ensures a rider-specific fit for balanced performance. The finely-tuned VPP suspension absorbs big impacts and offers smooth bottom-out resistance, making it perfect for riders who seek versatility without compromise.
Who Should Ride the 5010?
The Santa Cruz 5010 is designed for riders who prioritize playful handling alongside technical trail capability. If you love quick, responsive rides through tight corners, flowing singletrack, and demanding descents, this bike is an excellent match. Lightweight, lively, and fun, the 5010 doesn't sacrifice control or durability, making it a fantastic choice for adventurous riders.
WHAT CONTENDER BICYCLES LIKES ABOUT THE SANTA CRUZ 5010
- Agile and Playful: The mixed-wheel setup ensures responsive handling while providing stability.
- Smooth Suspension: The 130mm VPP rear travel offers exceptional support and bottom-out resistance.
- Rider-Specific Geometry: Proportional geometry guarantees every rider enjoys the best fit and handling.
- Integrated Glovebox: Secure storage for tools and essentials enhances practicality, ensuring you're always prepared on the trail.
Frame Material
The Santa Cruz 5010 is available in two carbon options: C Carbon for a strong, lightweight build and CC Carbon for an even lighter, stiffer performance frame.
Suspension System
With 140mm front suspension and 130mm of rear suspension, this setup delivers smooth, controlled performance across a variety of terrains, from rocky descents to flowing singletrack. Refined suspension kinematics ensure predictable support, excellent bottom-out resistance, and a playful demeanor, making the travel highly accessible while keeping bigger hits smoother than you’d expect from a short-travel bike.
Geometry and Handling:
- Climbing Efficiency: The steep seat tube angle (77.1°-77.4°) and short rear center (428-443mm) provide a forward, efficient pedaling position and great traction for tackling climbs.
- Descending Confidence: With a slack head tube angle (64.9°-65.2°) and a long wheelbase (1147-1306mm), this bike offers stability and control on technical descents, while the low bottom bracket (334-338mm) improves cornering.
- Balanced Handling: Reach (406-524mm) and stack (599-664mm) create a comfortable, versatile riding position, with smaller sizes favoring agility and larger sizes enhancing stability and control.
Highlighted Models and Key Components
Santa Cruz 5010 5 CC X0 AXS Reserve
- Frame: Premium CC Carbon for lightweight, responsive performance.
- Drivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle AXS 12-speed electronic drivetrain for precise shifting.
- Suspension: RockShox Pike Ultimate fork (140mm) and RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock.
- Wheels: Reserve 30 Carbon wheels designed for durability on aggressive trails.
Santa Cruz 5010 5 CC X0 AXS
- Frame: CC Carbon frame for a balance of strength and lightweight agility.
- Drivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle AXS 12-speed drivetrain for seamless shifting.
- Suspension: RockShox Pike Ultimate fork and RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock.
- Wheels: Reserve 30 SL AL wheels for performance and reliability.
Santa Cruz 5010 5 C GX AXS
- Frame: C Carbon frame for durability with a light, responsive ride.
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXS 12-speed drivetrain for versatile, smooth performance.
- Suspension: RockShox Pike Select+ fork and RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ shock.
- Wheels: Reserve 30 SL AL wheels designed for rugged trails.
Additional Highlights
- Balanced Geometry: Proportional geometry guarantees a tailored fit for every rider.
- Traction and Control: MX wheels and a low bottom bracket enhance stability and precision.
- Durability: Lifetime bearing replacement ensures long-lasting performance for your bike.
- Convenient Storage: The Glovebox simplifies carrying tools and ride essentials, so you're always ready for the trail.
Not Exactly What You're Looking For?
- Santa Cruz Nomad: The Santa Cruz Nomad is designed for challenging terrain, featuring a strong 170mm rear suspension that enhances performance on steep descents, rugged trails, and technical obstacles.
- Santa Cruz Hightower: The Santa Cruz Hightower is built to dominate the toughest trails. With 160mm of front travel and 150mm of rear travel powered by the 4th generation VPP suspension, it’s your go-to machine for tackling any terrain with confidence and control
- Mondraker Raze: This bike prioritizes ultra-lightweight, trail-focused performance with advanced Zero Suspension and cutting-edge Forward Geometry, catering to riders seeking speed and efficiency.
The Bottom Line
The Santa Cruz 5010 is a playful and versatile trail bike, featuring a dynamic 29-inch front wheel and 27.5-inch rear wheel for optimal traction, control, and agile handling. Its refined suspension system offers a smoother, more responsive ride, efficiently absorbing bumps while maintaining control. Available in several build kits, including GX AXS and X0 AXS, the 5010 caters to different riding styles and budgets. Whether tackling technical descents or flowing singletrack, the 5010 is designed for high performance, fun, and control on any trail.
The Santa Cruz Tallboy is the ultimate mountain bike for riders who want to tackle both challenging climbs and technical descents with confidence. Featuring a refined VPP suspension system, it offers 130mm of front travel and 120mm of rear travel for a perfect balance of efficiency and smooth, bump-absorbing performance. The lightweight yet durable Carbon C and Carbon CC frames are designed to handle long rides and tough terrain with ease. Equipped with 29-inch wheels, the Tallboy provides excellent stability and traction, while the Proportional Geometry ensures an optimal fit for every rider. This combination of advanced design and high-end materials makes the Tallboy a versatile and dependable option for all types of riders. Whether you're racing cross-country or exploring rugged trails, the Tallboy is ready for any adventure, offering a ride that's both responsive and comfortable.
The Santa Cruz Hightower is an adaptable all-terrain trail bike built for riders looking to tackle everything from high-alpine adventures to everyday singletrack. With 160mm of front travel and 150mm of rear travel, it balances agility with capability, making it a top choice for mountain biking enthusiasts who crave both efficiency and confidence. The bike’s 29-inch wheels ensure smooth rolling and superior traction, giving riders the stability they need on varied terrain, from loose gravel to rocky descents. At the core of the Hightower is Santa Cruz’s innovative Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension, which provides a plush, responsive feel that absorbs trail impacts while maintaining efficiency on climbs. Its proportional geometry is carefully calibrated for each frame size, offering an optimal fit that enhances control and comfort for riders of all sizes. Constructed with a durable Carbon C or Carbon CC frame, the Hightower can handle the rigors of aggressive riding and technical terrain. Additional features like the integrated Glovebox storage make it easy to carry essentials, adding convenience to any ride. Designed for consistent performance on demanding trails, the Hightower is an all-rounder that delivers a smooth, confident ride wherever the path leads.
The Santa Cruz Blur is built for riders who crave podiums and thrive on challenging trails, embodying Santa Cruz’s years of expertise in crafting world-class carbon full-suspension bikes. Featuring the revolutionary Superlight Suspension, it’s the lightest, most efficient XC race bike they’ve ever created, designed to convert every watt of energy into forward momentum. Whether you’re tackling steep climbs or technical descents, the Blur’s precision-tuned suspension ensures smooth handling and maximum efficiency, giving riders the confidence and control they need on competitive courses. Built with Santa Cruz’s highest-grade carbon fiber, it’s engineered for peak performance without excess weight, making it the ideal choice for grueling XC races and local circuits alike. With the Blur, riders don’t just cross the finish line—they blur the line between speed and victory.
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