Hi
I’ve finally saved enough money for the deposit for a new bike. I’ve had my heart set on a Santa Cruz 5010 witha the upgrade to RS revelations, however I’ve also been looking at the Heckler which doesn’t have the VVP rear linkage but does have the option of RS pikes. Everything I’ve read so far raves about the pikes!
Is the VVP and revelations a better combination than single pivot and pikes?
Thanks in advance,
Michael.

Have you had a word with the shop selling the 5010? Worth asking if they would do the 5010 with pikes and what sort of price. doesnt hurt to ask worst they can do is say no.

I was browsing the SC website yesterday, and got the impression that the Bantam was the single pivot version of the Solo.

The Heckler being the SP version of the Bronson.

I’d take the single pivot & Pike myself, read a review of Heckler which said frame is lighter than the alu VPP bike anyway.

^^^+1

Can the 5010 take a 150 fork?

Oh yeah, that’s a good point too.

😳

Thanks for the replies, I’d considered the Bantam but wanted more travel which the Revelations would give at 140mm which is the maximum the solo can take and the pikes are 150!
Does anyone have any experience of the VVP?

Pikes can be lowered to 140 i think…but cost, time etc. Think LoCo has done it with 26″ forks

Yeah I’ve read about that but not really keen on messing about with new forks!

I’ve got a 5010 solo and it has revs fitted. As someone has already pointed out its a different category bike from the heckler. I tested the bronson before going for the solo because of its more playful nature.
The solo is not designed for a 150 fork and Santa Cruz may not honour warranty a frame fitted with a pike (I did ask when I bought mine from Stif).

How do you rate the VVP and revs?

The VPP is much better now that the old one fitted to the blur etc.
I’m not sure what they have done to it but it accelerates and climbs so much better than my old 2012 Blur LT
the solo is a 125 mm rear end and fitting a 150 may spoil it’s handling.

2014 revs are excellent and pretty light too. Fit set and forget.

If you don’t mind me asking why did you choose the solo over the Bronson?
Alu or carbon?

I had every intention of buying a bronson but the guys at stif advised me to take both on test.
The Bronson requires aggression all of the time to get the most out of it. It felt far less nimble than the solo but chomped through big stuff with ease. 5 seconds on the Solo C and I said to myself “I’m having it”.
As a trail bike it is superior to the bronson

Thanks, I guess the same would apply to the Heckler/Bantam then?

Considering a test ride on them 😉
I love my 26 heckler so I’d be interested to see how the 27.5 wheel changes it.