If you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of a pandemic-infused bike boom. Inventories are thin and new bike releases are postponed left and right. But, Santa Cruz is continuing on with their product releases and the 2022 Santa Cruz Blur represents a departure from the VPP Suspension. The resulting weight reduction (frame is 289 grams lighter) and suspension efficiency has the new Blur in the 23 lb. range.
Fills the modern XC gap
While I do miss the Tallboy of yesteryear, the new Blur XC and TR looks to fill that XC gap and will do it without the VPP Suspension design. No, instead, the 2022 Blur utilizes the Superlight Suspension platform with flex stays that have been specifically optimized by Santa Cruz engineers. Going modified single-pivot design changes things quite a bit, but the pivot-less design allows for XC-tuned squish and simplifies the overall suspension design — freeing up space for two water bottles inside the front triangle (oh yeah!). XC models feature 100mm rear travel with 100mm forks and TR models have 115mm rear travel with 120mm forks.
In addition to the Blur, the Juliana Wilder TR is also hitting the trails for the ladies. As an added bonus, Santa Cruz is including a lifetime warranty on the Blur and Wilder.
Optimized Superlight suspension
For all suspension designs, engineers pour over kinematics and travel charts to determine how to achieve the right performance for the intended terrain and riding style. They had this to say about leverage curve vs. anti-squat achieved with the Superlight Suspension on the Blur/Wilder.
“Rather than using high anti-squat to resist bobbing from a progressive, high leverage shock we looked to leverage curve to provide support and control. This results in a lower and more consistent leverage curve which enabled us to reduce anti-squat, and therefore chain influence on the suspension. Which allows more traction and sensitivity in both climbing and descending scenarios. And produces a much more efficient forward drive because less pedaling input, from anti-squat, is utilized to overcome the rider’s body weight influence on the suspension.”
The 2022 Blur is available in both C and CC frames and completes will be priced from $4,599 to $11,599 in both XC and TR builds.
More Info: Visit Santa Cruz Bikes
