They’ve been coyly mum on plans for a 650B bike when we spoke with engineering director Joe Graney recently, but the new Santa Cruz Bronson 650B trail bike is proof that they simply can’t ignore the new wheel size’s potential.
The Bronson takes all the latest standards brought about as rolling updates last May across their line, even the stealth dropper post routing of the new alloy Blur TR, and the direct mount rear derailleur option from the Tallboy LT. What’s new a frame and suspension designed (offiically) around the 650B / 27.5″ wheels that many people where already cramming into their Blur frames. While all of that’s new and up to date, they’re thankfully sticking with a standard threaded bottom bracket.
All that’s built onto a 150mm travel frame sporting what appears to be the new Fox 34 650B fork introduced at Sea Otter last year. Frame specs and more below…
Updated with awesome video and additional photos below!
The carbon version has a new rear triangle design. Compared to the curved wishbone on most of their other (all 26″) carbon bikes, the Bronson has a straight tube that extends in front of the seat tube…closer in appearance to the Tallboy LT than anything else, but still unique.
The yellow build shown is the top of the line XX1/ENVE option, on which you’ll have about 13 different decal color options for the wheels!
A matte black color will also be available in the carbon frame.
They’ll also have an alloy model, shown here in white…and we’re happy to see both carbon and alloy options appear to be available out of the gate. Pricing for the framesets should be $2,699 (carbon) and $1,925 (alloy). Here’s the preliminary spec list for the carbon frames:
- 27.5″ (650b) wheels
- 142 mm rear axle spacing
- New molded rubber swingarm and downtube protectors
- 2 x bottle cage mounts
- Forged upper link
- Forged aluminum lower link with angled grease ports: offset for chainguide clearance
- Collet axle pivots: lock in place without pinch bolts
- Angular contact bearings: all pivots
- Direct mount rear derailleur hanger option: standard hanger comes as stock
- Full carbon dropouts and disk mounts
- Co-molded aluminum hardware on frame pivots: no bonding
- Carbon ISCG-05 tabs
- Routing for Reverb Stealth
- 73mm threaded BB for creak-free riding and easy installation
- Colors:
- Carbon: Tennis Yellow with black/blue decals and Matte Carbon with orange/blue decals
- Aluminum: Gloss Black with blue/yellow decals and Gloss Grey with grey/blue decals.
- 10 decal choices for ENVE kits: Blue, Yellow, Orange, White or Grey in either solid fill or outline
- Shock options:
- Standard: Custom tuned Fox Float CTD Evolution
- Upgrade: custom tuned Float CTD Adjust Boost Valve Kashima
- Weight:
- Frame: from 5.3 lb (for size M, carbon)
- Complete: from 26.2 lbs (for size M, carbon, XX1 ENVE)
- Availability:
- Carbon: April 1, 2013
- Aluminum: May 2013
We learned from our own sources that it’ll have a 67º head angle and shorter chainstays they the Nomad. (Update: Full geometry chart placed below video) It all adds up to an Enduro racing machine, something the Syndicate Team will be proving on the world stage this year.
Santa Cruz Bicycles has a full bike builder up and running, letting you customize the build and paint for your bike. Get ready to waste some time.
We have closeup photos and tech explanations of a lot of the tech for their co-molded alloy hardware and the DM rear derailleur in the links throughout the article. If you’re a SCB geek, they’re good reading!
