[Closed] Santa Cruz or Yeti?

Santa Cruz is less of a "boutique" brand than Yeti and you'll see a lot more of them around if that sort of thing bothers you. I've never ridden Yeti so can't really comment on their performance but I've got a Heckler and it's great fun. By that it means it rides well, is simple to maintain and looks cool imho. It does bob a bit but nothing too distracting. I live around Cwmcarn and Afan so that's the sort of terrain I ride, and it'll take everything I can dish out and more.

Comparable Yeti's would be the ASR-5 and the 575. You'll struggle to get a new complete Yeti for close to 2k unless it's an old one. Have a look at Canyon bikes or Rose bikes for value for money.

Santa Cruz & Yeti are comparable manufacturers and neither is more or less boutique than the other, after all they're almost certainly made in the same factory in Taiwan.
Buy the bike you like and suits the riding you do. You have listed quite different frames so you might want to narrow it down a bit.
But to be honest you're going to struggle to get a complete bike from either brand for £2K.

Heckler D AM is £2099 and would be a good starter bike which could be upgraded as and when you like. Very capable bike as well.

Nickel and Butcher are £2399 for full builds.

Yeti frames are £1500+ so £2k wouldn't go far.

Hi there number18, I don't have any personal experience of a Yeti, but can sing the praises of the Heckler. I built mine up for 2K 5 years ago and have recently upgraded many parts and it still feels plush, fast and solid....and light (although if you prefer a hefty coil sprung set up it seems equally at home with this). The pivot bearings have somehow not required to be replaced either so it is incredible value for money. I have always ridden with an rp23 and use propedal on xc sections, which means bob really isn't much of a problem. Go for one, you wont be disappointed 🙂

Hi number18,
I have owned both 575 (3 of) and currently blur lt2, all with 36s. 575 is much more flexible but a little bit lighter. Both bikes are great fun to ride but very different in character. I have raced on the blur in the kielder mass start, and the mega this year and it is a fantastic all mountain/enduro bike.
CRC are Selling 575 cheap. Blurs are expensive. SC butcher is cheaper and a great bike, heckler is a bit cheaper again.
For me, I wouldn't go back to a yeti again, but at crc prices you could build a pretty good bike for a couple of grand if you shop carefully.
T

http://www.freeborn.co.uk/devinci-2010-hectik-3

Perhaps worth considering if you are a medium. Comes in under budget.

I have a Hectik and love it.

Santa Cruz & Yeti are comparable manufacturers and neither is more or less boutique than the other, after all they're almost certainly made in the same factory in Taiwan.

#facepalm

See which one fits you. I've always found Santa Cruz very short in the top tube.

If you've tried an Orange 5 and liked it, why not get one of them?

Just over 2k you could build a killer Heckler

Heckler! Heckler! Heckler!

Free bearings for life with a Santa cruz too
[IMG] [/IMG]

Not a yeti though! Save up and get a 575, biggest mistake I ever made selling mine

Not a yeti though!

True, it's far superior. 😉

oooh is that kashima coating rear shox

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The Heckler bob must be an air shock thing as there is none on mine, coil DHX5. Based on my experience get a Heckler but to be honest the best advice I can give is to get a demo ride of each. Until *you* have ridden it you will not know what works best for you.

I demo'd a yeti 575 and a SC Butcher, i preferred the Butcher so I bought one !

[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6119/6351229068_d4a2f9411a_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6119/6351229068_d4a2f9411a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/60827263@N02/6351229068/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/60827263@N02/ ]brockelsby2011[/url], on Flickr

No bob on mine, depends if you mash the pedals I suppose. I have a Van RC on it now 🙂

Brant - I own 2 SC frames and my SO has a Yeti and a SC. like almost all manufacturers they produce models that fit into various sectors, some of which overlap. Whilst each manufacturer achieves the end result in a different way they are comparable in quality and function at least from our experiences. My previous remark was mostly as a foil to the poster who has decided that yeti frames are more 'boutique' than SC frames - come on, that's like saying that a BMW is more boutique than an Audi.

aP, I would agree with that analogy, the 575 and Butcher are both great bikes, I just preferred the Butcher, as fars as I'm concerned both are Boutique bikes!!!

For me, the lighter frame weight and longer top tube length of Yeti ASR5 makes it preferable on paper to anything from SC.

Heckler. Everybody lived happily ever after. The end.

Butcher was heavier than a 575, but in all honesty the weight makes no difference to me, it's how we'll it pedals and i run Flows tubeless, the geometry of the Butcher was better for me.

Looking to sell my mint, large, Heckler Frame - email if your interested. Based near Leeds.

Looked at a Yeti ASR 5 & with a 2.25 tyre in the mud clearance was very poor.

Yeti ASR5, heli tape, clearance not an issue

Get a deal on a Yeti 575 from Rutland Cycles or CRC, different class to a Heckler at the same price. Absolute no brainer with your budget, a true thoroughbred.

Without wishing to hijack a thread, how is "boutique" defined? I've been riding for 17 years and have seen more Santa Cruz than Yeti. Ergo they are rarer. Ergo more boutique? Either way, they're both great bike brands.

I agree with one of the poster above, the top tube seems a little on the short side so I had to go a size up in for my Heckler. Stand over height's good though so it's not a drama. And when I say it bobs, it does but only the smallest amount and is only really noticeable when stomping on the pedals.

EDIT: Just checked out that CRC offer...wow!

I have both a Yeti and a SC... They're both boutique bikes 😉

Just buy whichever you fancy within budget, you're not going to get a bad bike from either brand.

2007 Heckler [img] [/img]

I went from a SC Chameleon to a 575 to a Blur LTc and will be replacing the Blur with a SB66 Carbon at some point next year (possibly along side a Big Top). Both brands make excellent bikes, and i will no doubt keep alternating between the two. My dream garage would include both Santa Cruz and Yeti and one Jones. If i had to split hairs i'd say the Santa Cruz is a little more "polished" and dare i say better made, but Yeti as a brand feel a little more special.
You can't really lose as far as i'm concerned 🙂

You can pick up a Blur LT for a good price these days in the classifieds.

[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6494718475_398b51c9bb.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6494718475_398b51c9bb.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alekschris/6494718475/ ]santa cruz 003[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alekschris/ ]Aleks & Chris[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Heckler all the way 😉

2008 575

[IMG] [/IMG]

I love my Yeti but only slightly more than the SCs I've had. There's 3 Blur LTs in my group which perhaps says a lot. I chose the Yeti in the end because (at least where I ride) there aren't any others like mine. And (with Jedi egging me on) I can do stuff like this on it 🙂

[IMG] [/IMG]

I've been riding a Blur LT for 5 years or so, it does everything very, very well from XC to the Alps.

The Yeti 575 has a carbon rear end, I'd steer clear of that myself, just my opinion.

As said above, you can get a used Blur for good money in the classifieds. I will unfortunately be letting mine go soon, sad day, but if you are in the market for a large BLT in anodised Orange, give me a shout. It's been well loved!

Just come back to the site and read all the comments!

I'm still looking anyway, just don't have the cash at the minute.

I'll update when I've taken the plunge!

Best thing is to take yourself on a couple of test rides and decide for yourself. Both brands have a good reputation. Boutique? Well yeti are rarer and a guess slightly more boutique but I think that's splitting hairs. Both have bikes that will do the job and do the job very well. Go demo and decide.

I built this for quite a bit less than 2k. The frame is 2nd hand but everything else is (was) new...

[IMG] [/IMG]

It was either going to be a Heckler, an Orange 5 or a 575 but ultimately the decision was dictated by what I could get for a reasonable price on eBay (that ruled out the 5). I narrowly missed out on an '08 575 and then ended up with this.

For the record, I love it 😀

What demographic do you fit into?

Solicitor = Yeti
Searching for lost youth = SC

Personally, I'd buy a Giant. Lots more for your £2k.

Good to see that Orange Heckler in its proper environment, not a pesky manicured trail centre!

What demographic do you fit into?

Solicitor = Yeti
Searching for lost youth = SC

I like that, very witty.

What demographic do Nicolai owners fall into?

Even at £3k an alu Blur LT still has Deore parts which is pretty diabolical. Sure, if you're spending £4/5/6k then why not get something 'boutique' (whatever the hell that means) but at £2k? For £2000 I wouldn't buy either. You'll get a lot more for your money from Giant / Trek / Specialized et al.

I don't see many Yetis or Santa Cruzes up here. I've got a Yeti and I always feel a bit self-conscious on it, like I'm expected to beast every climb and hammer every descent - otherwise people will think I'm a total banker with more money than sense. Perhaps people aren't as judgmental in real life as they are on forums, though. Still, it's much better to be a boss on a Taiwanese bike than be rubbish on a good one!

What demographic do Nicolai owners fall into?

Engineers?

[img] [/img]

FWIW, I think Yetis are lovely bikes. So much so, I'd feel terrible about parking one in a bush and scratching it if I owned one.
All the people I know that own SC Blurs seem to get through bearings at an unreasonable rate, so I'd tend towards a single pivot from them.

I had an 07 575 for 4 years. Testament to the bike is that I kept it that long despite loving shiny new things. It's light, handles well and copes with all sorts from day long rides to light DH. I found the frame sizing comes up larger than other brands, found the rear a little flexy and felt a little perched on the bike when riding, rather than in the bike. The last may seem an odd comment but that's how it felt to me. In short, a good bike but I'd thoroughly recommend a test ride first. I replaced mine with a Nicolai AM as I wanted something a bit beefier. And I'm not an engineer.....!

Both brilliant machines. I love the Heckler. Simple design, and it just works. You are spoilt for choice with the two.

All the people I know that own SC Blurs seem to get through bearings at an unreasonable rate, so I'd tend towards a single pivot from them.

Dunno why people bang on about bearing life on SC bikes, FFS they off free replacements for life!

I thought I was set wanting a 2012 Stumpy Evo, but this thread makes me want one of those cheapo 2009 575 frames from CRC 🙁

The high BB is the one thing that puts me off, I quite like sliding along the ground bumping on the rocks.

The bearings are free, but they don't cover labour. With all the jiggery required to square up the bearings in them it's quite a time consuming job.

After 18 months in a workshop the most common bikes in for bearing replacements were prob specialized or Scott ransom. My own 2010 blur which I have ridden 2 to 3 times a week has required 1 bearing. It is BTW for sale cos I just got a nomad. I have also owned 4 575's which all required bearing replacements.
In short bearing can and do fail... its a small cost. Buy what you like not what you think has the best bearings.
At 2k best value all round, my vote would prob be a specialized.
T

Solicitor = Yeti
Searching for lost youth = SC

Personally, I'd buy a Giant. Lots more for your £2k

Ha, I have it the other way around. I've wanted a Yeti since Missy Giove, John Tomac and Myles Rockwell were in the mags on them. Santa cruz has no meaning to me at all, and they are too short for me anyway. I have the Giant and its good, but doesn't have that specialness a Yeti does...

Thanks for all your comments. When the crunch time finally came I evetually came out of my denial and realised £2k was out of my budget. I've decided on a 2011 Ghost ASX 5500 for £1300 (I could have got one for £1050 if I had the cash now). I think this will be a great introduction for me and should last me some time.

After reading the responses on here I checked out Canyon bikes. They look great and all reviews I found were positive. Maybe next time that's what I'll get!

I hated the Blur LT when I tried one.

The only bike I would be tempted to swap my Five for would be a Santacruz Nomad. Awesome bike, you could probably pick up a low spec second hand one for £2k.

The bearing warranty is only for the original owner.

There is a santa cruz demo day at Llandegla next saturday by the way. Perhaps try the nomad next to the Blur.

Alpha1653 - Member

Santa Cruz is less of a "boutique" brand than Yeti

Not sure that's true - you won't see job lots of Santa Cruz being flogged cheap on CRC, for one.

I dunno, by the sounds of it neither Yeti's US HQ or Silverfish were particularly impressed about CRC circumventing the usual procedures and grey importing a load of Russian-bound Yetis. I heard murmurs about the generous 5 year warranty not being honoured etc.

I'm sure the same thing would happen if CRC could get their hands on a container of Santa Cruzezezeses.