Zach just posted the first images of the new Santa Cruz Highball carbon hardtail last night, and now we’ve got photos of their new Blur TR, a “trail” version of their popular Blur XC and LT that comes with 5″ of travel (127mm).
Built on their extremely well-performing VPP platform (we have a Blur XC carbon in our test stable and love it), the Blur TR is a half way point between their XC offerings and their longer travel AM/FR bikes, including the Blur LT with 140mm travel. The top tube is a bit longer than their gravity loving rigs, but the head angle is a bit slacker than their XC ones. The result claims to offer climbing prowess with stable descending. I’ll be on this bike for some solid miles this week.
Jump on in for more pics, specs and notes…
I saw this one in person last night (albeit with a bit o’ mud on it) and it’s sharp looking…but I really thought it was the Blur LT just from looking. That’s what I get for not asking! As shown, they say it’s 24lbs complete.
The frame is completely carbon fiber save for the hardware, putting it at 5lb for the frame and shock. That’s about a full pound lighter than the LT. We’ve got our Blur XC sitting at 23.4lbs (XL) complete without stupid light parts on it (XO, Rockshox SID LT, Easton, Shimano Pro, Ashima brakes), so there’s no doubt you can build up this bike pretty light even without going to full XTR as shown.
Lower link grease ports for the pivot axles are standard fare on their suspension bikes. Links use oversized aluminum axles with angular contact bearings.
Same bearings and axles up top with a full link. The pivots are molded into the frame using a one-piece layup for an overall stiffer, stronger construction.
Tapered headtube, something the XC doesn’t have.
The full carbon frame build extends to the dropouts and brake mounts.
The driveside chainstay has an integrated chain slap guard and metal strike plate to protect the frame from chain suck.
$2699 US MSRP frame with Fox RP23 – Complete bikes from $3799. Available April 15.
The Blur TR comes stock with a 130mm Fox fork. You can remove a spacer inside the fork to bump it to 140mm, which is the maximum recommended travel, or add a spacer to bring it down to 120mm and make it a bit more XC racy.
