Santa Cruz Bicycles

5010 2.0 Carbon R Complete Mountain Bike - 2016

Redesigned for 2016, the Santa Cruz 5010 2.0 Carbon R Complete Mountain Bike builds off the original bike's well-balanced feel with progressive geometry updates that make the 5010 2.0 more confident on fast downhill sections. Since the release of the initial 5010, trail bikes have moved towards the lower, slacker, and longer end of the spectrum. Not surprisingly, the 5010 2.0 has followed suit with its 67 degree head tube angle and longer front end, which increase downhill composure and create a roomier cockpit.

The revised VPP 3 suspension sports 5mm of extra travel, sitting at 130mm of trail-smoothing supremacy. The link locations have been slightly revised, with the top-tube-mounted upper link increasing stiffness and the lower link cleanly tucked away to improve clearance and prevent rock strikes. And although it's more confident with high-speed descents than before, it still retains short chainstays and a lower bottom bracket for nimble handling and technical climbing prowess. Stiffening up the rear, the addition of a 148mm Boost thru-axle increases confidence on rocky descents.

Laid up with Santa Cruz's C-level carbon frame, the 5010 2.0 Carbon R is every bit as strong and stiff as its CC-level brethren, albeit with a 280 gram penalty. The R build kit gets your foot in the door with reliable components without breaking the bank. It comes with a RockShox Sektor Gold RL fork that's surprisingly capable, thanks to 130mm of travel and TurnKey adjustment for locking out the front end on climbs. WTB STi23 wheels are tubeless-ready out of the box, allowing you to run a lower tire pressure for a smoother overall ride. Rounding out the package, the 2x10 Shimano drivetrain offers a wide range of usable gears, so you're always ready for whatever the trail throws your way.