I'm thinking of building a carbon bronson but wondering how good they actually are?
They seem to have been missed completely by Dirt in the enduro bike test recently and no mention on the dirt 100. Mbuk test wasn't great but not sure if that was all about the ctd shock.
All seems odd as looks like a great uk trail/enduro bike? Anyone got any feedback or experience buying/owning/testing one?
http://www.santacruzbicycles.co.uk/demo-dates/
Probably easy to try, have a search there are a few multi page threads on it already.
UltraRadCore Mag* tested it, and it gave 9.823/10 on their Gnarometer.
Comments included:
-[I]"Better than a Judo chop to the plumbs"[/I]
-[I]"I shall be selling my first born child to fund this purchase"[/I]
-[I]"This bike has made me HATE 26" wheels more than the Nazis"[/I]
And
-[I]"This bike is Soooo awesome! I've actually had an Erection the whole time I've been riding it"[/I]
(*may be a fictional publication)
Definitely a good bike. Have you ridden a VPP / 27.5 before? If not I'd definitely suggest a demo ride. Especially 'cos I think the SC sizing is a bit odd compared to other brands!
I'll go ahead and post a link to my demo experience 🙂 http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/leisure-lakes-demo-day-26-vs-275-vs-29-non-flaming-content
Thanks SamB, great reviews, I like the sound of that carbine 29er!
Thanks for the demo day link Mike, I think I've just missed the afan demo this weekend! Planning to get one tested soon, will contact skyline cycles see if they have a demo Bronson anyway.
Anyone else got one or tried one?
I got one a few weeks ago. I'm not really au fait with the intricacies of bike details or designs, but based on the experience of having Turners for the last 10 years, the Bronson is a staggeringly good bike.
Its stiff and accelerates like no other bike I've ever been on. Climbing traction is breathtaking and going downhill it flatters my meager skills.
So far I;ve done a 46 mile all day off road ride, a High level Lakes epic, Gisburn and a few local (rivi) rides and it hasnt missed a beat. Feels "right" as soon as I sit on it. Its the best bike I have ever thrown a leg over by a massive margin.
Demo one though. You would be barking mad to buy something so valuable without actually trying one.
Also the sizing is a bit odd. I'm 5'9 and on SC sizing chart I would be on a medium bike. But I rode a Medium and a Large back to back and the medium was way to small for me. Even the large feels a bit more upright tham the Turners before it.
The SC demo's were great when I did them, made my mind up on the Blur LT. A good service and really helps with the decision making. I'd not spend serious money without throwing a leg over something these days.
I've got a blur LT Carbon that I love but I did test drive an aluminium Bronson last summer.
I thought that the Bronson was a refined version of the Blur and it's left me wanting the carbon version.
If only I had the funds (or credit card balance availability and a pass from my beloved) for the frame, forks and wheel set!
Test rode a Bronson C, Solo C and Nomad C last weekend at afan. The Bronson was the pick of the bunch for me, climbed great and felt superbly composed descending. The solo wasn't far behind, it would have been fairer test if it had a Pike as the Bronson did instead of the Fox 34.
The Nomad left me cold; long and lumbering uphill with plenty of pedal strikes, uninspiring downhill although it ploughed through everything very easily.
All eye wateringly expensive!
A company looking to build carbonfibre mtb frames cut up a Bronson,a Yeti and a Specialized frame to see what the standard of composite construction was. The Yeti was pretty shoddy followed by the Specalized, but the Bronson was built to a much higher standard.
Chopchop did you ride them all on the same trails?
Chopchop did you ride them all on the same trails?
This. Trails that suit a solo aren't going yo be as much fun on a nomad and vice versa, probably why the middle one swung it for you.
For another view, I test rode the Bronson and the Nomad and the Nomad was by far my favorite.
I've got a blur LTc. It's superb and I can't see how anything could be that much better. Some superb deals out there. 26" ain't dead.
Bronson C did the demo bought the bike. Impressed. 27.5 improves traction. Pikes and XT brakes are great. Fox shock fine, no issues. The large was same size as my medium zesty. Bought a medium and not regretted it it's more low slung and better in corners
Don't bother if your over 6ft 2.
Santa have got there sizing totally wrong.
jacob, what end of the sizing is wrong? Height is only 1 of 3 numbers that I'm bothered about on bikes - reach and leg length as important. The letter added to name a size means very little to.
Don't bother if your over 6ft 2.
Santa have got there sizing totally wrong.
Horse shit. I'm 6'1" and ride a perfect fitting large solo, and soon to be riding a large nomad. XLs are available too.
If I had to choose one of the 27.5 vpp range, it'd be a Bronson C. Luckily I don't, so it's a solo for trail riding where I have to pedal up, and a nomad for gravity riding where I don't.
It's a great bike for a heavy rider who mashes a gear and likes regressive suspension.
JCL - Member
It's a great bike for a heavy rider who mashes a gear and likes regressive suspension.
Which one did you demo JCL?
I'm not really au fait with the intricacies of bike details or designs, but based on the experience of having Turners for the last 10 years, the Bronson is a staggeringly good bike.
Its stiff and accelerates like no other bike I've ever been on. Climbing traction is breathtaking and going downhill it flatters my meager skills.
I found the DW Turner 5-spot to accelerate like not other bike. It must be the big wheels that bring the trail alive.
Which one did you demo JCL?
Carbon, medium with the XT build and High Roller 2's.
Had it for two days and rode it for about 5 hours total I guess. For a 200lb beginner it's bang on.
They are a typical SC, being a bit short in the TT/reach department. A test ride will be important.
I did't overly like it. The new Nomad was better, but then they have acknowledged the sizing oddities and have brought them a bit closer in line with current crop of bikes about.
I test rode them all on an identical loop at glyncorrwg, half of whytes climb and the new blade descent.
I'm 6'4 and rode the xl's on all bikes, all felt very comfortable.
I'd love an alu Bronson. When these are secondhand or the TR Blur- I'm buying 😀
Please guys - splash your money away. Mince the trail centres then sell to me after a year 
I test rode a carbon one round Lee quarry on a Leisure lakes demo day. It was the most enjoyable to ride of the bikes I demoed (I also tested a Orange 5 and a Whyte T-129s) but I wasn't any quicker on it and as tested it cost ~£6k. Riding my Canyon Am after didn't exactly feel like a step down either.
Can't see me going back to Alu after carbon. Just rides better
I found the DW Turner 5-spot to accelerate like not other bike.
Had a dw for 3 years. The Bronny is a different league for the riding I do.
I rode a Heckler for 9 years and demo'd a load of bikes over the years. I did a Santa Cruz demo day at Afan last year and rode Tallboy, Solo, Nomad and fell in love with the Bronson. Did another demo day at Swinley on a Bronson just be sure and placed the order day after. Its a great bike. So much traction when climbing and confidence inspiring on the downs. I'm 6ft 1 and ride a large with a 70mm stem.
. I'm 6ft 1 and ride a large with a 70mm stem.
im sure they are great bikes, but according to chris porter they could be better
http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/size-matters-why-were-all-riding-bikes-that-are-too-small/
hora - Member
I'd love an alu Bronson. When these are secondhand or the TR Blur- I'm buying
Please guys - splash your money away. Mince the trail centres then sell to me after a year
Yep me too, love my Blur LT2 I feel it suits me perfectly...and bucking the trend of SC by having a small frame for a 5'8 rider. yes its a little cramped(30+ milers cause no niggles so not too bad) but my god can I chuck it about.
i'd still love a bronson, when i do come to swap im now in a position that i have decent set of wheels and forks (27.5) all ready to bang straight on to a bronson, all my running kit is the same as a bronson (reverb stealth/BB etc) so i would literally just need the frame
shame its not ever likely to be possible, but if it is ill be getting a matte black bronson carbon
a small frame for a 5'8 rider. yes its a little cramped(30+ milers cause no niggles so not too bad) but my god can I chuck it about.
thats silly, while I appreciate that everyones different, Im the same height with a mediun Process and the reach is nearly 10cm longer and I have no problems chucking it about,
[img] 
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shorter chainstays are more important in making the bike easier to move about and a longer reach lets you adjust your weight to the terrain better ime
.and bucking the trend of SC by having a small frame for a 5'8 rider
I had a medium Blur 4X. I loved it. Forum experts would say even the large was too small for a 6ft1 rider.
Kimbers - I go with what feels right for me, not by what someone says I should ride in a mag!
I did 43 miles at the weekend and no problems. Interestingly on my Heckler (which was a large with 90mm stem) I had a lot of back problems. Not so on new bike. Not saying its right for everyone, but the setup is spot on for me.
No offence meant but the pic ^ just strikes me as abit gay(?) 😀
yeah we were holding hands just before the pic was taken