Santa Cruz

Founded in 1994 in a small California garage, Santa Cruz Bicycles has grown into one of the most respected mountain-bike brands in the world. Their focus has always been on making bikes that ride hard and last. The brand is known for their VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) suspension and their lifetime frame and bearing warranties.

Size Guide

Sizes may vary by model, but as a general rule Santa Cruz bikes use the following sizing:

• S: 5'1" - 5'5" / 154-165cm
• M: 5'5" - 5'9" / 165-175cm
• L: 5'9" - 6'1" / 175-185cm
• XL: 6'1" - 6'4" / 185-193cm
• XXL (where available): 6'4" - 6'7" / 193-200cm

Test riding is always the best way to find the best size. You can go on trail demos at Airpark with our large rental fleet, so if you're on the fence, welcome to Phoenix to test out all the different sizes!

Naming Conventions

Santa Cruz uses a variety of letter combinations and other words to indicate different build levels within their bike models. Some common terms used in build level names include:

• C – Indicates a carbon frame made with Santa Cruz’s standard carbon layup. Slightly heavier than the CC version but just as strong and durable.
• CC – Indicates a premium carbon frame that uses a higher-grade layup for lower weight (about 250–300 g lighter than C).
• AL – Indicates an aluminum frame. Heavier than carbon but equally rugged and built to the same geometry.
• R – One of the more affordable complete build kits. Uses solid, mid-range components.
• S – A step up from R, typically equipped with higher-end suspension and drivetrain parts.
• GX – Indicates a build using SRAM GX drivetrain components. A popular balance of performance and value.
• X0 – Indicates a build using SRAM X0 Transmission components. Lighter and crisper shifting than GX.
• XX – Indicates a build using SRAM XX Transmission components. High-end, race-level performance.
• XT – Indicates a build using Shimano XT components. Reliable high-performance setup for trail and enduro.
• XTR – Indicates a build using Shimano XTR components. Shimano’s top-level race spec.
• MX – Indicates a “mullet” or mixed-wheel setup (29" front wheel and 27.5" rear wheel). Offers a balance of rollover speed and playful handling.
• 29 – Indicates both wheels are 29". Optimized for speed, traction, and rollover ability.
• 27.5 – Indicates both wheels are 27.5". More agile and playful for technical terrain.

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