[Closed] Santa Cruz Blur TR - opinions or alternatives

I got one back in Jan to replace my old Spesh FSR-XC. It's bloody brilliant!

Way more capable downhill but perfectly happy to climb and run through the tight twisty paths in the local woods. I've taken it on long moorland rides in the Pennines and it was a lovely bike to be on but it begs to be hammered downhill as quick as you can go. Grins a plenty. I've got it with 150mm Pikes (SC only recommend 140 forks max but I spoke to Stif/Jungle and they recommended putting 150 forks on) gives about a 67 degree head angle for hooning DH and having fun. The front is really easy to lift even with my 70mm stem.

Pedals really easily with no hint of bob even with the shock open, first bit of rear travel feels really fluid but then ramps up to give a larger than 125mm travel feel. I'm really happy I got it.

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Cheers Andy. What size did you go for and how tall are you?

I was dead set and about to pull the trigger until I spotted the LTc was slightly lighter at the time and there was a no brainer deal.

I'm 6'4" with a 33" inside leg (I've got a long back). I got the XL.

I was dead set and about to pull the trigger until I spotted the LTc was slightly lighter at the time and there was a no brainer deal.

Cheers for the sizing info Andy. At 6' I'd be looking at a large I think.

Edit - dammit SC! Was looking at the wrong geo chart and have seen that the large has a 19.5" seat tube - now some people may say that doesn't matter but to me it does, anything over 18.5" just looks wrong for my height.

Yeah I was looking at the shorter travel but as I said the deal was too good. As for the other measurements, can't fault the LTc at all and nothing about the bike slows me down. Unless you are bringing wheels and forks with you take a look at the Solo for the 650b option and futureproofing.

Unless you are bringing wheels and forks with you take a look at the Solo for the 650b option and futureproofing.

should keep the choices limited then 😉

I've got a large TRc and I'm 6". It's my first full sus but out of the 6/7 I demoed it was easily the most fun, it seems to encourage speed and being popped off everything. I also rode an alloy version and was all set to buy one until I got a really good price on the carbon. The only difference was the weight, which wasn't noticeable other than on the climbs.

If your local to Leicester you're quite welcome to come and have a go for size.

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I had a TRc for well over a year, brilliant bike, probably the most fun I've had on 2 wheels. It's very capable but won't flatter you like a 160mm 'Enduro' bike, it's a great all rounder. I rode mine all around the peaks, most welsh & scottish trail centres, Snowdon a couiple of times, it handled everything and rewarded smooth line choice.

I've replaced it with a Solo C under warranty due to the TRc's well documented bonding issues, the TR alloy will be fine, I'd still be riding the TRc today if it hadn't been warrantied.

The obvious alternative is a Yeti ASR -5. They came out at much the same time, very similar geometry (the yeti arguably more progressive / modern with a longer top tube) and same travel, angles etc. The yeti is obviously single pivot vs vpp on the santa clause. There is no video of Miami Bryce ragging a Yeti.

I had a Yeti but secretly lusted after a TRc, until I rose one which felt a bit short to me and not especially game changing. I loved the Yeti, great fun.

Great trail/xc bike with shite bearings. I got through 3 sets in a year. (no wonder they are free)
IMO Santa Cruz bikes are only good if they are given to you. In other words your sponsored;)

interesting point on the bearings as my Ltc is still perfect 2 years in on original bearings. The ex had one and hasn't changed her's in longer and over 12 months on the Tallboy on original ones. Most of the local riders seem to be going fine.

Superficial - Member
The obvious alternative is a Yeti ASR -5.

The ASR5 is the obvious choice. I had my heart set on one but just didn't feel right, hence the TRc. Different horses for different courses.

SOAP - Member
Great trail/xc bike with shite bearings. I got through 3 sets in a year. (no wonder they are free)
IMO Santa Cruz bikes are only good if they are given to you. In other words your sponsored;)

I changed mine in April after about 20months of use through all sorts of crappy conditions.

My large is in the classifieds, I should have got an XL.

6' 2" rode a large heckler for years. Now ride an extra large Blur Lt2.

Both sizes were fine very little in it.

How much is the trc? Vs an lt or ltc?

LT2 is a peach, all day epic outing bike, approx 28.5 lbs, 140/150 rear front travel. Bearings doing well, climbs amazing and floats downhill. Real high grin factor handling.

I went through 1 bearing in 12 months on my TRc. User error 🙂

125mm feels bang on for the riding I do which is one of the reasons I like the look of the TR.

Take a look at the Transition Bandit too if you've not already. Another shorter travel bike that's designed to take some rough.

I didn't think TRs were available any more. I've got an XL TRc. I've had one since they came out as it is the nearest thing I could find to an original blur (still my favorite bike ever).

I did have to get the frame replaced under warranty due to the issue with the bearing bonding. I had hoped to get a Solo as a replacement (it doesn't have the same issues) but there were still TRcs available, so that didn't happen.

I've had the new frame for about 3 years now and have had no issues with the bearings or bonding. Fantastic bike. Incredibly light, fast and fun but still able to take punishment.

Can't recommend one enough as long as you are getting it direct from Santa Cruz and can take advantage of the frame warranty. I wouldn't buy one second hand though for that very reason.

Okay I've been down the rabbit hole a little bit and seem some lovely looking alu TR's, but they're all mediums. The 19.5" seat tube on the large would really annoy me! But I found this geo chart which shows a seat tube length of 18.5" for a large so was there a model year with a shorter seat tube or is this chart wrong?
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Why would the extra inch annoy you?

now some people may say that doesn't matter but to me it does, anything over 18.5" just looks wrong for my height.

A new large TRc on Alltricks for £1200 or so... (if you can get over the concerns with how that extra inch will ruin your street cred :0)
Builds into a lovely trail bike with 5lb frame weight.

Why would the extra inch annoy you?

... (if you can get over the concerns with how that extra inch will ruin your street cred :0)

😀 Nah, we all have our little quirks..

fair enough but locking in 26" wheels and a maximum seat tube length (all will actually look different depending on the frame) you are crossing a lot from a short list.

You may be right.
All I want is an 18" seat tube, 24" top tube, 67 head angle, 72 seat angle, 26" wheels, 44mm head tube, threaded BB, 5" rear travel, dropper post compatible full sus frame that can handle xc rides in the lakes, jump trails, 20ft + gap jumps, 8 ft + drops and weigh under 30lbs fully built.

Is that a lot to ask?...

67 head angle, 72 seat angle,

As said no longer in the main range so you will be looking at used or sale ends, have you found one?

Static. I could move a bit on the angles if I felt the ride wasn't compromised. And no, I haven't found owt yet. Came close with the Banshee spitfire.

I love mine, i'm 5.9 and i have a medium, we share a bed;-)

Not sure about how well the tr would stand up to the gap jumps and drops you've stated.

Not really sure what the seat tube lengths all about?

Heres the Blur LT specs for reference
http://www.santacruzbikes.co.uk/blur_lt

I have a TR A, 6ft 2 and 32" and ride a large with a 70mm stem. It is superb. Big fan of Santacruz after owning a Heckler for years. When this one wears out I'll get another short travel SC.

Not sure about how well the tr would stand up to the gap jumps and drops you've stated.

Anyone actually snapped a SC carbon bike?

- not the bonding issue

Not sure about how well the tr would stand up to the gap jumps and drops you've stated.

Have you seen the video of ratboy thrashing it?

Ratboy is a wee bit different from most folk. Also, he's a sponsored rider. If he knackers it, there's a new one.

8 ft drops seem a bit much for the TR to me. Yeah, it is a pretty solid bike but it wouldn't be the first choice for that sort of action. It really is more a get in dem dare hills bike than a jump bike (20 ft gap jumps and 8 ft drops sit in the jump bike category for me but I'm an old wuss).

It's one thing saying that the frame can withstand 8' drops (maybe it can, I don't know) but to build it with other components that would also take that sort of abuse, the full bike is going to need to be a fair bit heavier (and therefore compromised) than what I would call a sensible build. My ASR-5 would handle being ridden fast downhill in an XC style including in the alps but I wouldn't take it off big hucks intentionally. It's much better as an all day ride it like you stole it fast up and fast down bike.

TLDR; they work better as zippy trail bikes than huck machines.

My Turner has survived those kind of drops for 14 years and is still in one piece. An 8' drop to even a fairly mellow transition is not that hard on parts. Build would be Lyriks / DT EX1750 wheels / Renthal etc. Current build in 31 lbs.

<sigh> Maybe I should jus keep the Turner going for another 14 years. Trouble is with a 50mm stem it is quite short, and ideally I'd like to run a 40mm like I have on my hardtail.

I was about to suggest the Spitfire but I see you've already considered it.

8' drops can be very hard on a bike or almost insignificant - I'm not great at drops, I'll go off ones that seem a few feet high depending on my mood but I measured a local drop to downslope from tyre landing mark to lip vertically and it's 6' - and feels a much softer landing than a slow 2' to flat. That 6' vertical drop is rollable if you go slow enough, the vertical edge of it is only about 18" high at most.

Am umming and ahhing over the spitty, But I'm not sure on the long reach (see my other thread...) or the steep seat angle (seems to put me in a weird position off the back of my saddle). Think I'm more leg than upper body which influences me in this respect.
Agree that drops taken at a reasonable speed and with even a hint of downslope can feel smooth even on a hardtail.

I Had a large TrA and now have a medium Spity both fit really well.
If you ride hard/uplift/Whip/land sideways then get a spitfire otherwise you will be wobbling the back wheel of the blur before and after every ride to check for play.

How tall are you SOAP?

5.10

Steve, if you're interested I am about to list my large unused Blur TR (Alu) frame on eBay. I bought the frame from Stif earlier this year as it was the last Alu large I could find. Have been struggling with a shoulder injury, so I've never got round to building it up, so it has just been sat in its box since I got it. I am also under pressure from the missus to sell some bikes, so the frame has got to go. (My regular ride is a Tallboy LTc, so Ive decided to live with that, as 29ers fit my old f*rt status quite well)

My email is in my profile if you want more info etc.

I've been on my Spitfire exclusively for quite a few months now but I rode the Soul today and it's pretty odd getting back on a bike that I was so tuned into and it feeling too short when standing up and long when sitting down. They're both 590mm ETT but because the stack height is lower and seat tube slacker on the Soul the saddle is further horizontally from the bars whilst the reach is quite a lot longer on the Spitfire (which is running a shorter stem and wider bars too).

What I'd say is that although I can quickly adapt back to the Soul it's never going to have quite as stable and powerful body position for shredding as the Spitfire.

Bowglie - I'll email you.

You may be right.
All I want is an 18" seat tube, 24" top tube, 67 head angle, 72 seat angle, 26" wheels, 44mm head tube, threaded BB, 5" rear travel, dropper post compatible full sus frame that can handle xc rides in the lakes, jump trails, 20ft + gap jumps, 8 ft + drops and weigh under 30lbs fully built.

Is that a lot to ask?...

You are describing a medium Yeti SB66(c) then. 66.7HA, 71.7SA, 24.2"TT, 18"ST, threaded BB, 44mm head tube. Extra inch of rear travel for free. Seems strong too, here is a friend testing the strength of his:

[img] [/img]

Funnily enough I did have the SB66 on my radar for a while. Not sure why it dropped off, possibly I wasn't convinced by the suspension action (yeah I know Jared Graves blah blah).
Your pic doesn't work for me BTW.