Santa Cruz VP Free Review

[Scott]

Ryan checks out Santa Cruz's VP Free bike. It's big, it's VP, it would be nice if it were Free. Read on to check out what the fuss is about.

Check it out here (http://www.farkin.net/page.php?p=383d94).

[tnankie]

Interesting. Gotta say I like what i hear from you. I have placed a deposit on a Nomad which I am picking up in December, been a bit stressed about getting such a horibly expensive bike without riding it. Still haven't seen a bad review of a santa Cruz, but i always put it down to bribes. Hence it was nice to read what i think should be a very neutral un-biased review that gave a really positive take on the bike/company.


Cheers.


P.S does anyone else think that MBA is a crock of dodgey shite?

[Refreshinglygood]

Congrats on the new ride. I love my Blur (cn you say, refined?). Make sure you take care of the bearings around the botom bracket, they are expensive to replace. After each ride I wipe them over with a dry rag, this keeps them clean, stops build up.

They are a great bike to ride, but like all equipment that is high end, you need to take extra special care with them (maintenance wise) otherwise they will bite your wallet.

I used to buy a new $2500 bike every year and a half, now that i have the Blur, I can see myself riding it for a very long time.

Got nothing bad to say about my bike, and they haven't paid me a cent.

[sonikdan]

I picked up my V10 while in Hong Kong. Its an awsome bike...the best I have rideen so far. I used to have an 05 Giant DH Comp. The Santa Cruz is quite different to ride and seems to be better over the big bumps/hits and in the tight corners. It corners like its on rails. :p

The pedaling efficiency is better with the V10 (less pedal-bob), although I still think the 1st 2 pedals on the Giant get the bike up to speed quicker than the V10 (it seems to take 2-3 pedals for the VPP to actuate) from a standing start. The Giant seemed a little lighter...maybe the reason for the first 2 pedals getting the bike going faster.

In saying that it is a minimal difference and the V10 really works a lot better in other circumstances which I think outweigh the small acceleration difference.

I have only raced the bike once and won on a bumpy course with slow speed tight and twisty turns and lots of exposed roots. It ripped! :D I have also ridden some faster flowing tracks and hitting big bumps and corners at speed on the V10...one word describes it....PLUSH :)

Maintainence wise...well if your serious about purchasing such a bike then you should be able to take a little extra time to maintain it...tough luck if you have a mechanical problem due to lack of maintainence.

Overall....Santa Cruz builds high caliber bikes...definately worth considering!

[Reubs]

I must agree with pretty much everything in the review. I am lucky enough to own a vp free. I bought it as a frame last july in canada. built up with 888's, e13 guide, saint cranks and hope 6 pots. All in stealth black. Funny thing is that most people dont know what the hell it is until you tell them!

I am yet to fault this bike in any way- i didnt buy it to ride technical climbs and i dont believe Rob Roskopp designed it to climb like a mtn goat, so i am basing my opinion on the sort of riding that i do (and that the bike was intended for...) Yes, i ride it down steep hills, not-so-steep hills, off drops of varying size, on built obstacles and even up the hills to get to the top of the trail before all this. Standard practice for most people????

The 'Free nails it in the handling stakes for me as you can actually bunny hop this bike (tried doing that on a v10??) and it doesnt have the brake jack of a bullit (i dont believe it does suffer from any at all- my opinion...). I disagree that the bike suffers in slower (and tighter) sections- the only problems i have encountered here are due to running full width bars. Every bike i have owned has taken some time to get used to and to be riding faster/smoother than the bike it has replaced. I bought this frame and built it up with the components off my old Big Hit DH (as an interim) as i had 1 week left in whistler. Even with the shock not dialled in i was clearing jumps by more and was faster on every trail than previously. This bike likes to be in the air.

I am going to own this bike for a long time. I dont know too many people that rate their current bikes that highly. 'Nuff said.

[IGUANA]

I have a vp free with 888s single front ring 38T. I ride a lot of x country & these days a bit less down hill. The low rider bottom crown is well worth the $300 or so you pay to get it from go-ride.com [or check out aerial]. I haven't bothered with the top crown, it would actually require the bottom crown to be raised slightly to get proper grab on the top of fork legs anyway. The bike rides better downhill, up hill & x country with the low rider crown, its a must have.
As far as pedalabilty goes- no one will even get close to you up a hill, unless they have turbo boost as well. My riding buddies just see my rear tire disappear into the distance, no joke. You can easily put 50 or 60 meters on someone up a 150m hill. This is on a 19.3kg build [888s, saint cranks, Da bomb bash ring, Hadley rear hub, 321 rims, raceface diabolos stem & bars]. Could definately save some weight in the rear wheel, put on a Ti spring & start cutting ends of bars etc & maybe get it down to just under 19kgs, but who cares when your already smoking everyone up the hill, it just makes you stronger for the downhill!

[GuRhInDiZzLe]

just got one and could not be happier. i heart my bike. congrats to santacruz for such a brilliant peice of ass... i mean machinery