2018 Santa Cruz Blur CC XX1 Reserve 29

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"What the hell do I pack for XC camp?" I wondered to myself the night before my flight to Santa Cruz, California, to check out the all-new Blur.

"It's all perhaps a little shorter travel than the typical Vital faire," hinted Santa Cruz's Don Palermini in an email leading up to the event, "but I still I think are some angles of interest to your readers."

It's no secret that the focus is on the aggressive end of the mountain bike spectrum here at Vital, and the last time I threw a leg over a proper cross-country whip was several years ago.

"XC" flats? Haha. Check.
Knee pads? Why not. I never ride without them.
Shorts? Baggy is all I've got.

Needless to say, my collection of riding gear is far from what most would call XC.

Arriving at Santa Cruz headquarters, the new Blur was front and center to gawk over. Apprehensive comments ensued. After adding a bonus volume spacer to the fork, cranking up the tire pressure so I wouldn't pinch flat on the first rock I came across, and bedding in the brakes, I quickly texted a photo of the cockpit, fork, and front tire to my colleagues: "If you don't hear from me again, blame these tires and little baby XC fork. [Insert crying smiley face here]"

With that, the group was off...

Santa Cruz Blur Highlights

• Designed for endurance, XC and marathon use
• 29-inch wheels with Reserve carbon wheel option
• 100mm (3.9-inches) of front and rear wheel travel (up to 120mm fork compatibility)
• VPP suspension design with 170x35mm shock
• Full carbon C and CC frames
• Dual remote lockouts (most kits)
• Internal dropper compatibility
• Two bottle cage mounts
• Bolt-on downtube protector
• 1x drivetrain-specific design
• Internal cable routing
• Threaded bottom bracket
• Boost axle spacing
• 2.4-inch max tire size
• Sunset or Matte Carbon colors
• Sizes: S, M, L, and XL
• Complete Weight: 9.94kg / 21.92lbs (claimed, XX1 Reserve build)
• Lifetime frame, bearing, and Reserve wheel warranty

Light enough to scorch hot laps and tough enough to endure a long-distance beating, the Blur bowls into the Cross Country Club like Rodney Dangerfield at Bushwood.

On The Trail

Going from a world filled with long-travel trail, enduro, and DH bikes to a full-on XC ripper would be quite the transition. Or so I thought. My worries quickly faded as I watched Allan Cooke and Seb Kemp, shredders on all things with two-wheels, rip a pair of massive manuals out of the trailhead and then bunnyhop over an awkward gate to start off the ride. "What are we in for?" I wondered. At least I'd be in good company. We blasted up a fireroad and the fun began.

For riders like Kemp, and indeed all of us, the moment when you find the edge of a bike's limits is a big part of what makes riding really enjoyable. The thing is, you have to push harder and harder on today's bigger bikes to find that shining example of two-wheeled bliss. Thanks to a conscious effort to keep the new Blur very much XC, it's easier to flitter with the limits of the bike and the edge of traction. As a result, trails we'd previously deem as being "chill" turn into playgrounds.

That's not to say the bike doesn't handle incredibly well. In fact, the opposite is true. "The one-piece carbon VPP rear triangle shares a similar twin upright architecture to our World Cup-winning downhill bikes," says Santa Cruz. "Paired with a one-piece carbon front end it delivers a lateral stiffness and tracking ability you just don’t see on featherweight bikes of this genre." As I hurled my way down multiple descents while chasing Cooke's back wheel, the Blur's ability to slice and dice its way through corners, roots, and rocks proved this statement time and time again. The bike handles so well that Cooke is considering racing it in the upcoming Sea Otter dual slalom with only minor component modifications – a wild idea Vital fully endorses.

At just 22 pounds the bike is an absolute rocket, and its pump and jump-ability comes through in the same millisecond you push into the terrain. Bunnyhops are also a breeze, opening up new lines and fun of a different sort. The micro shock out back has great bottom-out control, and the quick addition of a volume spacer up front balances the bike out well. What the fast-rolling tires lack in outright traction, the suspension almost makes up for with its smooth feel.

Never before have I viewed uphills as pumptracks. Efforts both up and downhill result in a LOT of speed, and that's absolutely fantastic from a guy-who-likes-to-go-fast standpoint.

Granted, you're not going to hop on the new Blur and have the same level of control through chundery sections that the latest Nomad brings, but by pairing the Blur with trails it's suited to you'll have a comparably fun ride. What was once mundane becomes more fun thanks to a greater number of those oh-my-god-that-was-awesome moments and saves. There's no denying that bombing fire roads at 30+ miles per hour and hucking water bars is a very good time. The Blur provides the ability to do that and more.

Of course, this wouldn't be an XC feature without a discussion about efficiency and how the bike pedals. I won't pretend to compare it to other new-school XC rigs as I don't have the experience yet. What I will say is that this bike redefined what the word "efficient" means for me. Provided you're putting some power down and working the bike through transitions, it's amazing how quickly you can cover some serious ground. Never before have I viewed uphills as pumptracks. Efforts both up and downhill result in a LOT of speed, and that's absolutely fantastic from a guy-who-likes-to-go-fast standpoint.

The Blur gives mountain bikers the ability to go further or crush more miles in less time. As a result, the average speed of our large group of riders was far quicker with less waiting around.

On techy, steep climbs you're able to pause, still standing on the pedals, and set up for the next move while hopping around a bit or giving some quarter cranks – motions that are often lost on longer-travel steeds.

Geometry

Build Kits, Pricing & Weights

CC frame only - $2,999 USD - 2.06kg // 4.54lbs (claimed, size medium with shock)

What's The Bottom Line?

Preconceptions be damned. By combining excellent carbon frame design, a touch of modern trail bike influence, and suspension that works really well, the new Santa Cruz Blur proves that XC bikes can be a blast. In a time when many riders have lost sight of what it truly means to be efficient in favor of having improved control in testing trail situations, the Blur will change your perception of XC rigs by achieving a magic balance of both efficiency and control. Throw a dropper post on this bad boy and go explore some new types of trails. Regardless of your riding background, you're sure to have a blast.

Visit www.santacruzbicycles.com for more details.

Vital MTB First Ride Rating: 4.5 Stars - Outstanding

About The Reviewer

Brandon Turman - Age: 31 // Years Riding: 16 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 175-pounds (79.4kg)

"I like to have fun, pop off the bonus lines on the sides of the trail, get aggressive when I feel in tune with a bike, and really mash on the pedals and open it up when pointed downhill." Formerly a mechanical engineer and Pro downhill racer, Brandon brings a unique perspective to the testing game as Vital MTB's resident product guy. He has on-trail familiarity with nearly every new innovation in our sport from the past several years and a really good feel for what’s what.

Photos by Forrest Arakawa and Gary Perkin