Details Matter

We sweat the little things so you don’t have to. From shuttle guards to flip chips and everything in between, it’s the compilation of thousands of minute details that make our bikes such high quality.

A rear view of a Santa Cruz carbon bicycle frame

Made To Last

Well-protected full-sized bearings, Zerk-fitting grease port, and heavy-duty pivot axles all make our bikes run without fuss for longer. But we also make our bikes easy to work on because they often endure a harsh life of dirty, dusty, and wet rides. Santa Cruz bikes are mechanic-friendly and we provide spares for a lifetime. We believe a bike should last many lifetimes.

A rear view of a Santa Cruz carbon bicycle frame

Made To Last

Well-protected full-sized bearings, Zerk-fitting grease port, and heavy-duty pivot axles all make our bikes run without fuss for longer. But we also make our bikes easy to work on because they often endure a harsh life of dirty, dusty, and wet rides. Santa Cruz bikes are mechanic-friendly and we provide spares for a lifetime. We believe a bike should last many lifetimes.

Made To Last

Well-protected full-sized bearings, Zerk-fitting grease port, and heavy-duty pivot axles all make our bikes run without fuss for longer. But we also make our bikes easy to work on because they often endure a harsh life of dirty, dusty, and wet rides. Santa Cruz bikes are mechanic-friendly and we provide spares for a lifetime. We believe a bike should last many lifetimes.

Santa Cruz Bicycles Lower Link - an animation of the flip chip chip being switched between low and high

Flip Chip

Flip chips are an adjustment mechanism found in the lower link of many of our VPP™ bikes that changes the bike’s geometry and suspension rate. In the Low position, the BB height is lowered, the shock rate becomes more progressive, particularly at the end of the stroke, and there’s some bottom-out resistance to be gained. In the High setting, BB height is higher, the bike rides a little higher in its travel and supplies the rider with more mid-stroke support. Tweakers and finicky shredders can adapt the suspension feel to their needs and desires.

Santa Cruz Bicycles Lower Link - an animation of the flip chip chip being switched between low and high

Flip Chip

Flip chips are an adjustment mechanism found in the lower link of many of our VPP™ bikes that changes the bike’s geometry and suspension rate. In the Low position, the BB height is lowered, the shock rate becomes more progressive, particularly at the end of the stroke, and there’s some bottom-out resistance to be gained. In the High setting, BB height is higher, the bike rides a little higher in its travel and supplies the rider with more mid-stroke support. Tweakers and finicky shredders can adapt the suspension feel to their needs and desires.

Flip Chip

Flip chips are an adjustment mechanism found in the lower link of many of our VPP™ bikes that changes the bike’s geometry and suspension rate. In the Low position, the BB height is lowered, the shock rate becomes more progressive, particularly at the end of the stroke, and there’s some bottom-out resistance to be gained. In the High setting, BB height is higher, the bike rides a little higher in its travel and supplies the rider with more mid-stroke support. Tweakers and finicky shredders can adapt the suspension feel to their needs and desires.

A rendering of two Santa Cruz Bicycles carbon bike frames with diagrams showcasing Proportional Geometry

Proportional Geo

Proportional Geometry is our way of engineering frame sizes so that certain elements scale as size gets larger—so whatever your stature, there are no compromises with performance, efficiency, or fit. We’ve taken this concept to a new level with proportional rear-center, or chainstay length, and proportional seat tube angle that optimizes your pedaling position and suspension performance. The result? A bike that’s dialed at every size..

A rendering of two Santa Cruz Bicycles carbon bike frames with diagrams showcasing Proportional Geometry

Proportional Geo

Proportional Geometry is our way of engineering frame sizes so that certain elements scale as size gets larger—so whatever your stature, there are no compromises with performance, efficiency, or fit. We’ve taken this concept to a new level with proportional rear-center, or chainstay length, and proportional seat tube angle that optimizes your pedaling position and suspension performance. The result? A bike that’s dialed at every size..

Proportional Geo

Proportional Geometry is our way of engineering frame sizes so that certain elements scale as size gets larger—so whatever your stature, there are no compromises with performance, efficiency, or fit. We’ve taken this concept to a new level with proportional rear-center, or chainstay length, and proportional seat tube angle that optimizes your pedaling position and suspension performance. The result? A bike that’s dialed at every size..

Color

We pick stylish, yet timeless colors for all our bikes and use the most high quality paint available to ensure that you’re just as happy with your bike after years of riding as you are on your first ride. Every Syndicate custom frame is painted in the same factory that your bike comes from. Other people send their bikes to specialist painters who do one-off jobs but we have the capacity to do it all ourselves.

Colored carbon tubes
Colored carbon tubes

Totally Tubular

Things that are regarded as standard these days like in-molded cable routing tunnels, one-piece construction, continuing fibers around key areas, net shape lay-up and total fiber compaction were things we pioneered. See that tube that runs down the inside of the frame? It's something we pioneered a few years back to take the PITA factor out of internal cable routing. It's a little thing, but it results in less workshop frustrations, a quieter bike (no annoying cable rattle) and protects the hoses.

A carbon bicycle frame cut in half to expose the inner carbon cable routing
A carbon bicycle frame cut in half to expose the inner carbon cable routing
A Santa Cruz Bicycles 5010 Carbon CC Frame

Frame protection

Flying rocks, pointy roots, accidental cases, bumping along on a tailgate —you never know when you’re gonna give your frame a knock. That’s why most of our frames come with a rubberized downtube protector, shuttle guard and chainstay protector. A functioning bike is a good bike, a quiet bike is a fast bike.

A Santa Cruz Bicycles 5010 Carbon CC Frame

Frame protection

Flying rocks, pointy roots, accidental cases, bumping along on a tailgate —you never know when you’re gonna give your frame a knock. That’s why most of our frames come with a rubberized downtube protector, shuttle guard and chainstay protector. A functioning bike is a good bike, a quiet bike is a fast bike.

Frame protection

Flying rocks, pointy roots, accidental cases, bumping along on a tailgate —you never know when you’re gonna give your frame a knock. That’s why most of our frames come with a rubberized downtube protector, shuttle guard and chainstay protector. A functioning bike is a good bike, a quiet bike is a fast bike.

A Santa Cruz Bicycles 5010 Carbon CC Front triangle, shock, and upper shock link

No Proprietary Shocks

VPP™ doesn’t require novelty shocks and hardware that performs better as a marketing gimmick than it does out on the trail. VPP™ is designed to work with the best available technology from top-tier suspension manufacturers that will offer long-term product support. That means you won’t be struggling to find parts and people to fix these bits in years to come. It's another way we design our bikes to last a lifetime.

A Santa Cruz Bicycles 5010 Carbon CC Front triangle, shock, and upper shock link

No Proprietary Shocks

VPP™ doesn’t require novelty shocks and hardware that performs better as a marketing gimmick than it does out on the trail. VPP™ is designed to work with the best available technology from top-tier suspension manufacturers that will offer long-term product support. That means you won’t be struggling to find parts and people to fix these bits in years to come. It's another way we design our bikes to last a lifetime.

No Proprietary Shocks

VPP™ doesn’t require novelty shocks and hardware that performs better as a marketing gimmick than it does out on the trail. VPP™ is designed to work with the best available technology from top-tier suspension manufacturers that will offer long-term product support. That means you won’t be struggling to find parts and people to fix these bits in years to come. It's another way we design our bikes to last a lifetime.

Components

All of the components on our bikes are hand-picked so that when you get your sweet new bike you don’t have to worry about swapping a bunch of parts out before you ride. From grips to tires, our component specs are sure to give you the best ride possible at whatever level of bike you choose.

The Santa Cruz carbon handlebars are designed and made exclusively by us, using everything we’ve learned from creating World Championship winning carbon bicycles in our own California Carbon Lab. The bars keep vibration in check and minimize arm fatigue. Discrete markers take the pain out of set-up alignments and stealth branding keeps things class. The carbon bars are bona fide Santa Cruz products that take the quality of our bicycles up yet another notch.

The Santa Cruz Heckler headtube, cockpit, and fork
The Santa Cruz Heckler headtube, cockpit, and fork

Glovebox

The cavernous Glovebox™ internal frame storage allows for the safe stowage of whatever paraphernalia you need to enjoy your ride. Every Glovebox™-equipped bike also comes with a Tool Wallet and Tube Purse. The Tool Wallet has plenty of room for a pump, multi-tool, tire plugs, some beer money, while the Tube Purse easily fits a 29 or 27.5 tube. Roll one up and stuff it into your Glovebox.

The Glovebox™ Door on the Santa Cruz Bicycles Hightower 3 Carbon CC Full Suspension Mountain Bike
The Glovebox™ Door on the Santa Cruz Bicycles Hightower 3 Carbon CC Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Tools resting on a tool bench

Maintenance Information

If you're looking for other maintenance tips and tricks, head over to our Maintenance Information page to learn more about the best practices that will help keep your bike running in tip-top shape.

Tools resting on a tool bench

Maintenance Information

If you're looking for other maintenance tips and tricks, head over to our Maintenance Information page to learn more about the best practices that will help keep your bike running in tip-top shape.

Maintenance Information

If you're looking for other maintenance tips and tricks, head over to our Maintenance Information page to learn more about the best practices that will help keep your bike running in tip-top shape.