Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz mountain bikes

Probably the most recognisable frame silhouette in mountain biking, on VPP suspension that has been refined for two decades. Expensive and superbly finished, but the reason people stay is the lifetime frame and bearing warranty. The Hightower and Bronson are the volume bikes.

Is a Santa Cruz the right bike for you?

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Every Santa Cruz model we rank

Santa Cruz Chameleon

Hardtail · 130mm fork · Mullet · Trail · aluminum

Do-anything hardtail with premium frame quality.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
D$2,099Shimano Deore 1x12Shimano MT420 4-piston
R$2,599SRAM NX Eagle 1x12SRAM DB8
S$2,999SRAM GX Eagle 1x12SRAM DB8

Santa Cruz Tallboy

130mm / 140mm · 29in · Trail · carbon

Short-travel troublemaker that rides above its numbers.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
Deore$4,999Shimano Deore 1x12Shimano 4-piston hydraulic
90$5,899SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM DB8
GX AXS$6,999SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
X0 AXS RSV$9,299SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Silver

Santa Cruz Hightower

150mm / 160mm · 29in · All-mountain · carbon

The quiver-killer of the Santa Cruz range.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
Deore$4,799Shimano Deore 1x12Shimano 4-piston hydraulic
90$6,099SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
GX AXS$7,249SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
X0 AXS$8,299SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Silver

Santa Cruz 5010

130mm / 140mm · Mullet · Trail · carbon

The corner-slashing party bike of the lineup.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
R$4,799SRAM NX Eagle 1x12SRAM DB8
S$5,799SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
GX AXS$7,149SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
X0 AXS$8,299SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Silver

Santa Cruz Bronson

150mm / 160mm · Mullet · All-mountain · carbon

Mixed wheels, big grins, handles everything rowdy.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
Deore$4,799Shimano Deore 1x12Shimano 4-piston hydraulic
90$6,099SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
GX AXS$7,249SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
X0 AXS$8,299SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Silver

Santa Cruz Megatower

165mm / 170mm · 29in · Enduro · carbon

Full-size enduro race rig for serious terrain.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
90$6,099SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM Code Silver
GX AXS$7,249SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Silver
X0 AXS$8,699SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Ultimate
X0 AXS RSV$9,749SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Ultimate

Santa Cruz V10

208mm / 200mm · Mullet · Park / DH · carbon

The most decorated downhill bike in World Cup history.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
S$7,049SRAM GX DH 7-speedSRAM Code RSC
X01 DH$8,899SRAM X01 DH 7-speedSRAM Code RSC

Santa Cruz Vala

150mm / 150mm · Mullet · All-mountain · aluminum · e-MTB

Santa Cruz’s Bosch-powered full-fat e-MTB.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
AL Deore$6,199Shimano Deore 1x12SRAM DB8
AL 70$7,049SRAM Eagle 70 TransmissionSRAM DB8
70$7,849SRAM Eagle 70 TransmissionSRAM Maven Bronze
90$9,099SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM Maven Bronze
GX AXS$9,849SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Maven Bronze

Santa Cruz Blur

120mm / 120mm · 29in · Cross-country · carbon

Race-bred speed that still likes singletrack mischief.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
Deore$4,899Shimano Deore 1x12Shimano 4-piston hydraulic
90$5,799SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM Level Silver
GX AXS$6,999SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Level Silver

Santa Cruz Highball

Hardtail · 100mm fork · 29in · Cross-country · carbon

Carbon XC hardtail with race-day manners.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
R$3,299SRAM NX Eagle 1x12SRAM Level TL
90$4,149SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM Level Silver
GX AXS$5,049SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Level Silver

Santa Cruz Nomad

170mm / 170mm · Mullet · Enduro · carbon

Big-mountain bruiser reborn - lighter and angrier.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
Deore$5,199Shimano Deore 1x12Shimano 4-piston hydraulic
90$6,099SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
GX AXS$7,299SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Silver
X0 AXS RSV Coil$9,499SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Ultimate

Santa Cruz Bullit

170mm / 170mm · Mullet · Enduro · carbon · e-MTB

Bosch-powered freight train for the gnarliest lines.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
70$7,849SRAM Eagle 70 TransmissionSRAM Maven Bronze
90$9,099SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM Maven Bronze
GX AXS$10,149SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Maven Bronze
X0 AXS RSV$12,549SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Maven Silver

Santa Cruz Heckler SL

150mm / 160mm · Mullet · All-mountain · carbon · e-MTB

Light-assist Fazua e-MTB that rides like a real bike.

BuildPriceDrivetrainBrakes
70$7,299SRAM Eagle 70 TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
90$8,699SRAM Eagle 90 TransmissionSRAM Code Bronze
GX AXS$9,699SRAM GX Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Silver
X0 AXS RSV$11,699SRAM X0 Eagle AXS TransmissionSRAM Code Ultimate

How this page works

Prices are US MSRP from a 2026 snapshot of the database that powers our quiz, maintained by hand. The takes on this page are mine, sharpened by the riders I trust. Santa Cruz pays nothing to appear here and cannot pay to rank higher - here is how we make money. Confirm current pricing on the brand's own site before you buy, and see every bike we rank for the full database.

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