Santa Cruz Bronson in XX1 AXS Spec - £9,899
The new Santa Cruz Bronson for 2022 has landed!
For those of you who are Santa Cruz fans, you will be fully aware of the launch of the new Bronson for 2022. For those that hadn’t heard, here are some details on the new Bronson, which Santa Cruz are dubbing “the all-rounder” in their line-up.
Eight years after debuting as Santa Cruz's first bike to roll on 27.5” wheels, the newest iteration of the Bronson has joined the party and it’s now sporting a mullet (mixed wheel – 29er up front and 27.5” at the back).
What Santa Cruz realised is that it can be hard to choose what model of bike you want and that many riders don’t want to narrow down their choice by the kind of riding they want to do. This is where the latest version of the Bronson comes into play. If you want to choose how you ride, rather than what you ride, and be a mountain biker in the broadest sense of the world, then the Bronson is for you!
Each generation of Bronson rider redefines expectations of what a mountain biker is and, just like the Santa Cruz team says, “If in doubt, take a Bronson out”, because you definitely can’t go wrong with this one.
We already have stock of the new Bronson, so for those that don’t want or need to read any more, you can view and purchase the bikes here, which come with free delivery.
Main Specification
Frame: Carbon (no alloy options)
Wheel Size: MX – 29” front / 27.5” rear
Front Travel: 160mm
Rear Travel: 150mm
Colours: Paydirt Gold / Gloss Moss
Price: £4,999 - £9,899
Frame: £3,499 (with RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock)
What do Santa Cruz have to say about the new 2022 Bronson?
As we couldn’t have put it better ourselves, here is what Santa Cruz has to say about the latest version of the Bronson:
“The 150mm-travel bike can go deep on any landing and the VPP™ suspension design makes sure that there’s no wasted energy when heading back up for another go.
If you value style at speed, or want to have fun feeling fast, then mixed wheels (29” up front, 27.5” out back) show that the spectrum is a loop not opposite points on a scale. The larger front wheel provides more traction and stability that’ll make you feel more confident squaring off the turns and diving for the inside lines. But a 27.5-inch tyre in the rear means this bike still loves getting up on the back wheel and into the air.”
Frame Details
The legendary Santa Cruz fit, finish and quality construction put the new Bronson into a league of its own. The carbon fibre frame doesn’t just mean lighter, it also means tough as hell. A 230x60mm shock is situated low in the frame, where it's driven by an aluminium link that connects to the swingarm. The beauty of the 2022 Bronson is that there's enough room to run any coil or air shock and the frame's kinematics make it possible to run either type of shock without issues.
The bike also features clearance for up to a 2.6” rear tyre, along with a threaded bottom bracket, ISCG 05 tabs for running a chain guide and plenty of room for a water bottle inside the front triangle. The details are completed by a neat mud flap to protect the rear shock, plus tidy cable routing within the frame and swingarm. Rubberised chainstay protectors shrug off strikes.
As ever, the new Santa Cruz Bronson frame comes with a lifetime warranty, as well as the bearings, to the first owner!
Mixed Wheels – The ‘Mullet’
The new Bronson features mixed wheels, with the 29" front wheel providing stability and traction, and the rear 27.5" wheel there for agility. The smaller rear wheel and its comparatively lower axle height allows the rider to more easily unweight the front wheel. This makes for confident, yet agile handling on the steepest of descents.
*The XS Bronson has 27.5” front and rear wheels.
Business in Front
Party in the back!
Geometry
With the goal for the new Bronson to retain the quick and easy handling of the previous versions, and to create a sibling to the Nomad, the Bronson features a larger front wheel and has undergone the longer and slacker treatment.
The head angle now sits at 64.5-degrees in the low setting, a number that's paired with a 76.5-degree seat tube angle and 439mm chainstays. However, the seat tube angle and chainstay number will vary slightly depending on the size of the bike. Reach numbers range from 427mm for the small to 500mm for the extra large. Chainstay lengths range from 432mm for the small to 443mm for the extra large.
Ride
The Bronson comfortably retains its place in the longer travel, all-rounder category. It has a compact feel, meaning you can throw it into corners or get it up a chunky climb without too much effort, all while having plenty of travel to make rough descents easier.
The new 2022 Bronson has reduced amounts of anti-squat, but this hasn’t hampered its climbing abilities, and it also has increased traction, providing the rider with an overall smoother ride. With the shorter back end, it makes it easier to get the bike airborne; with an even and nice ramp up, it keeps the Bronson from using its travel up too quickly.
Tempted to get a mullet yourself?!
The new Bronson is now available and we have good stock!
Feel free to email or call us if you have any questions or would like further information of the Santa Cruz Bronson.
Big fan of the Bronson, but want more travel? Check out the Nomad.
