My new Santa Cruz 5010 C

Santa Cruz’s mid-2016 revamp of its much-loved 5010 saw it come back longer, lower, and slacker than its 1.0 predecessor for confident handling on bigger lines than you thought possible. The 2017 Santa Cruz 5010 2.0 Carbon S Complete Mountain Bike sees those updates extended into this model year with an outfit of SRAM GX componentry, hydraulic brakes, and 130mm of smooth front and rear travel to carry big speed through gnarly terrain.

The redesign that unveiled the 5010 2.0 is so pervasive that it touches on virtually every important frame dimension, with the biggest change coming in the head tube angle. The front end slacks out a full degree, dropping from 68 to 67 in a move that brings it in line with the previous Bronson model. The frame’s reach and bottom bracket follow suit, with the former stretching out and the latter dropping slightly. Capping things off with a short stem helps preserve steering while taking advantage of that slack aggression.

The rear triangle tightens up for more pedaling efficiency and cockpit versatility with a steeper, longer, and wider seat tube, which benefits both the ups and downs of all-mountain riding. While grinding over the crux of a climb or crushing speed on singletrack, the steeper angle nets a more efficient pedaling posture, making it easier to stay on top of the pedal stroke. The new seat tube also accommodates a longer dropper post, giving more freedom for saddle height on descents. While climbing, stubbier chainstays contribute to transferring power more efficiently, and Boost axle spacing maintains a stiffer wheelset.

The Virtual Pivot Point 3 (VPP3) also got hit by the redesign hammer. Where the old suspension curve described a deep “U,” VPP3’s curve resembles a flattened check mark, with less dramatic ramping at either end of the travel arc. The results are that, during the initial stroke, VPP3 boasts increased small bump compliance to keep the tires glued to the trail for more traction across lumpy trail and root lattices. It also maintains its predecessor’s firm feel during accelerations while jockeying for position in a mass start or a finishing sprint. When paired with FOX’s Evol air can, the ramp-up arc doesn’t dramatically alter as the shock compresses. The pedaling platform stays consistent across travel, with less wallowing, bob, and bottom-outs, even while the axle’s path turns rearward as travel increases to absorb big hits. Santa Cruz’s Carbon C frame construction remains unchanged, so the 5010 2.0 enjoys the same durability and stiffness of previous generations. Santa Cruz uses a single layup for both triangles instead of a jigsaw puzzle of individually-cured carbon tubes, allowing engineers to wrap the bracket. The continuous wrapping strengthens the frame and dissipates the force from impacts. Compared to building with individual tubes, the advantages of Santa Cruz’s construction methods go some way toward mitigating the differences between Carbon C and the more expensive Carbon CC models.Despite that extensive list of changes, most of the obsessive details that we’ve come to associate with the clean lines and understated aesthetics of Santa Cruz frames carry over. These include down tube and chainstay protectors, ISCG-05 tabs, and the 73mm threaded bottom bracket shell. It’s impossible for us to overstate how much we love threaded bottom brackets. As advanced as Santa Cruz’s Carbon CC construction has become, even it can’t produce molded bottom bracket PressFit cups that rival the precision of CNC-machined threads. A threaded bottom bracket adds a touch of weight and the extra labor is reflected in the price, but we think the reduced creaking and greater durability are worth it.