2021 Santa Cruz Bullit MX X01 Coil Carbon CC E-Bike

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Last year, when Santa Cruz entered the e-bike market with its Heckler, there was a bit of tongue and cheek in the launch. The Heckler name was a revival of one of Santa Cruz's most beloved bikes, but it also alluded to the inevitable keyboard blowback the brand was anticipating. At the end of Vital's first-ever e-bike test session, the only laughter coming from us were fits of delight. Santa Cruz is resurrecting another name, one from an era of rooftop drops and skinnies: the Bullit.

Strengths E-Tube tuning options Quieter Shimano EP8 motor Endless confidence Consistent cornering with plenty of front wheel grip Tracks incredibly well in rough terrain Stable, planted feel

Weaknesses A bit heavy No coil option on lower builds E7000 motor on entry build

Highlights

• Carbon, CC frame, lifetime warranty
• Lifetime bearing replacement
• 170mm (6.7-inches) VPP rear travel
• Coil shock compatible
• 170mm (6.7-inches) front travel
• 29-inch front wheel // 27.5-inch rear wheel
• 630Wh removable battery
• Shimano EP8 motor (tested)
• Maxxis MaxxGRIP Assegai DoubleDown 2.5-inch front tire
• Maxxis MaxxTerra 3C DHR DoubleDown 2.4-inch rear tire
• 220mm front // 200mm rear rotor (tested)
• 12-speed drivetrain
• Santa Cruz Reserve carbon wheels (tested)
• Weight - 50-pounds
• Prices start at $7,499 - $11,499 (tested)

Geometry and Wheel Size

In a nod to the Bullit/Heckler hierarchy of huck, Santa Cruz's new e-MTB is the larger, more brawling bike but still goes up the hill just fine. The 2021 Heckler just received a host of updates to shed a little weight, making room for the Bullit with its 170mm of travel and 29-inch/27.5inch wheel configuration. We tend to use the term, "mullet" to reference a 29-/27.5-inch wheel combination, but Santa Cruz calls it, "MX."

Longer travel and a larger front wheel aren't the only distinguishing characteristics of the Bullit. A larger battery (630Wh) powering the new Shimano EP8 motor means more range and longer rides. Frame geometry on the Bullit also differs from the Heckler line. To start, there is no size small, only medium through double-extra-large. A size-to-size comparison has the Bullit running longer as well. Our size large test bike has a 475mm reach (Heckler is 465mm), 449mm chainstays (Heckler: 445mm) and a 64-degree head angle (Heckler: 65.5-degrees) for a total wheelbase of 1268mm (Heckler: 1237mm). The 77.1-degree seat angle puts riders more forward than the 76-degree angle of the Heckler.

Builds, Options, and Pricing

When it comes to the parts spec, the Bullit is outfitted for getting rowdy. The 170mm-travel FOX Factory 38 fork lead the charge on our X01-CC RSV model. Our particular test bike came equipped with a RockShox Super Deluxe coil shock (standard builds have air shocks, coil is an option) and Maxxis Double Down tires, front and rear. SRAM's X01 Eagle drivetrain shifts the gears and CODE RSC Brakes stop the Bullit, albeit with help from a massive 220mm front rotor. Santa Cruz's carbon Reserve wheelset, carbon Di2 bar and Burgtec bits round out the $11,499 build.

Those not wanting to drop five figures on an e-bike will quickly be checking out the other three builds in the Bullit line. Every e-bike in the Bullit line starts with the same CC carbon frame, a lifetime warranty and free, lifetime bearing replacement. All builds have the same 630Wh battery. Some universal components in the line are Maxxis Double Down tires (MaxxGRIP front, Maxx Terra rear) and 220 / 200mm brake rotors (except the XT build, with dual 203mm rotors) Beyond those bits, it is a matter of motor and parts to differentiate each model.

The Santa Cruz Bullit CC R kicks things off with a Shimano E7000 motor, RockShox ZEB fork, RockShox Super Deluxe Select shock, and SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain for $7,499. Of note, because Shimano motors are backwards compatible, riders could snag the entry model and upgrade to the EP8 later.

Moving up the line is the CC S build which bumps to the Shimano EP8 motor. A FOX 38 Performance fork handles front suspension duties, but RockShox is present out back with a Super Deluxe Select+. The drivetrain jumps up to SRAM's GX Eagle line. MSRP is $8,899.

Want Shimano? The Bullit CC XT comes with a Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain to activate the EP8 motor. The fork makes a bump to FOX's Performance Elite 38 and the rear shock stays with the RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ but a coil shock is now an option (with no price change) at this build level. The XT build will keep things under the five-figure mark at $9,499.

On the Trail

Our tester, Sean McClendon, spent heaps of time aboard the Santa Cruz Heckler e-MTB outside of our Test Sessions. He chose that particular e-bike as his top pick of the group, but was able to note a few shortcomings. When the opportunity came to test the Bullit, knowing what was in store, Vital knew who the right person for the job was.

During the reveal, Sean was enthusiastic about the mixed-wheel configuration of the Bullit, citing experience aboard his own Specialized Demo 8. With a larger battery and more efficient motor to address some woes from the Heckler, Sean was ready for the trails.

Straight out of the gate, Sean (and anybody riding with him) noticed just how quiet the new Shimano EP8 motor is. Where the prior iteration had a steady whirring sound, the new EP8 motor is considerably quieter and not a nuisance to other riders. When traveling downhill or coasting, the Shimano motor rattle was still present but to a lesser degree than on other e-bikes we've tested.

After a few Vital staffers had taken the Bullit out for test rides, the e-bike was handed over to Sean for proper testing. Those early iterations had the stock motor settings on Profile 2 (the higher-power setting in Shimano's eTube) and performance was not such a stand out. Neither of our early testers were impressed by battery life and the power delivery seemed lack-luster. With knowledge gleaned from tuning other motors, Sean set to work dialing in the Bullit. While the Trail profile performed well, Sean bumped motor engagement and torque delivery in the Eco mode, and took them all the way up in Boost mode. In a case of sometimes-more-is-better, the Bullit came to life with stronger power and much more consistent battery life.

With the powerplant sorted, Sean's attention was solely on handling and trail manners. Sean took an immediate shining to the Bullit but could not give enough praise to the Bullit's cornering ability. Looking back to riding traits of other e-bikes tested, Sean often noted how much earlier a rider must brake on an e-bike to accomplish high-speed turns. Any mid-corner braking (something we shouldn't do anyway) and the typical e-bike will stand right up. Because of the Bullit's larger front wheel and improved control in braking, Sean could brake later and manage speed better. In all, the Bullit gave confidence for days when laying it down. Comparing it specifically to the Heckler, Sean felt like he was driving the Heckler into turns and would have to over-brake to keep it in check. This issue is very much addressed by the Bullit's design and spec.

Getting the Bullit up the hill was a simple affair, even when compared to other e-bikes. As always, a higher cadence is key on an e-bike but Vital is finding more and more this rings true with the Shimano EP8 motor. Sean kept the cranks turning quickly and the Bullit kept pace. With his particular tune, Sean found that on Eco mode, slow cadence at lower speeds delivered plenty of torque but it was easily managed. The joy of Shimano's E-Tube app is the ability to make such changes. In Sean's hands, he got a motor that behaved just how he wanted. Recent storms moved in and another Vital tester took out the Bullit, noting the technical climbing ability, it was "chug, chug all the way to the top."

With 170mm of travel and a spec like this, we were not surprised in the least at how well the Bullit rockets down hills. Rock gardens mean nothing. Technical bits are but visual distractions. The Bullit is an auto-pilot machine. Sean noted the Bullit is so easy to ride, so confident, that he became lazy and lose track of speed. Finding the bottom of the Bullit's suspension was a quiet affair with no harsh bottom-out. When terrain got brutal, Sean heralded the Bullit as the most-planted and stable bike he had ever ridden.

In all, Sean summed up the Bullit in one word: easy. The Bullit is easy to get along with and easy to ride. With a friendly user interface in Shimano's E-Tube app, riders can tap into more of the Bullit's power. The parts spec that Santa Cruz has gone with plays nicely into the overall mission of the bike. With slack angles and big travel comes the need to control it with hearty tires and strong brakes, all are present in the Bullit line.

Sean noted a few areas of improvement for the Bullit. First, is the weight. Despite having a lighter motor and many common parts, the Bullit is a couple of pounds heavier than even the prior iteration of the Heckler. No doubt a larger battery is to blame, as are Double Down tires and a coil shock. Even still, it would be nice if the Bullit could shed some weight. Other areas were more subjective, with a saddle on the small side and grips that felt nice in their pattern but a bit thin. These are small details that many riders choose to customize anyway.

Who is This Bike For?

Sean drew an interesting line on who may be interested in this e-bike. First, the aggressive rider that wants an e-bike to help them get up the hill and then rip down in short order. Fast riders looking for a stable rig to conquer descents need to give the Bullit a serious look. The other side? Sean called out your mom or dad. Well, maybe not YOURS, but Sean did mention his own father among others. Riders that want a confident-feeling bike that will deliver comfortable, easy-riding, and all-day power for adventuring. Riders in-between may find the Bullit's heft and spec a bit much and may be interested in the revised Heckler models.

What's the Bottom Line?

When Santa Cruz entered the e-bike market last year, groans from the internet were audible. The Bullit shows just how seriously and aggressively the brand is taking eMTB, undeterred by naysayers. Bikes like the Bullit push the envelope of speed and confidence on descents, unapologetic in its mission because there's a motor to get riders back up the hill. As we noted in our eMTB Test Session, these bikes are fast and rowdy. We're only left wondering how things would have played out if the Bullit had been present...

Learn more about the all-new Santa Cruz Bullit.

Watch Loris Vergier lay down his soundtrack of send.

About the Tester

Sean McClendon - Age: 35 // Years Riding: 21 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 190-pounds (86.2kg)

"Griz" is a battered veteran of MTB gravity racing. Following a major crash during the 2010 USA National Championship Pro downhill race, he put in the hours and fought his way back to health and the fun that is two wheels. Griz has ridden for a number of the USA's top teams throughout his racing career, testing prototype frames and components along the way. Currently managing US Dealer sales and the Fresh Blood amateur development team at DEITY Components, he remains motivated by the mantra "whips don't lie." You'll often find him perfecting his high-flying sideways aerial maneuvers while living the #pinelife in Idaho.