Santa Cruz Blur XX AXS Race FA RSV review: A wolf in sheep’s clothing

Santa Cruz offers the new Blur in two versions. One comes with riser handlebars, a longer dropper post and better tyre grip, whilst the other is a cross-country version. At €12,499, our test bike is the most expensive in the range. In return, it offers everything a racer’s heart desires: from an electronic Flight Attendant suspension system and a high-quality Spider power metre to spare carbon rims and a lifetime guarantee on the frame and bearings, the Santa Cruz Blur XX AXS Race FA RSV leaves nothing to be desired. The Californian brand no longer runs its own Cross-Country World Cup team. Can the premium Blur still hold its own against the world’s latest and best race full-suspension bikes? We found out in a detailed test.

​Conclusion

If I could only ride one bike for the rest of my life, it would be one like this. The Santa Cruz Blur is exceptionally well-built, straightforward to handle, versatile and great fun even off the marked trails. I can see it, for example, in marathon stage racing, where these qualities are particularly in demand. In a starting grid featuring the best cross-country bikes, however, it would have to take a back seat. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

The Santa Cruz Blur XX AXS Race RSV in detail

• Intended use: Cross-country / Marathon
• Price: 12,499 euros
• Frame material: carbon
• Available sizes: S / M / L / XL
• Maximum system weight: 120 kg
• Warranty: lifetime
• Special features: Flex-Pivot, frame storage compartment, tool mount

Unlike the others

Even in the editorial office basement, the Santa Cruz makes it clear: it’s different from other cross-country bikes. The Blur can afford the extra weight and design complexity of a storage compartment recessed into the down tube and cable routing through openings behind the head tube. Mechanics will also be pleased to find a bottom bracket with a BSA thread and a two-piece cockpit. Generous frame protectors safeguard the hardware. This pays off in our assessment of serviceability: it’s been a very long time since we’ve had a race-spec full-suspension bike as easy to maintain as the Santa Cruz.

Ready to go the extra mile

For a race bike, the rider sits in a comfortably balanced position on the Santa Cruz Blur. The bike is long but not excessively so. It’s easy to prevent the front wheel from lifting. You’ll still be sitting comfortably even after many kilometres. Whilst other XC specialist bikes can put a strain on the body over long periods with their sporty, stretched riding position, the Blur remains comfortable and is well-suited to long-distance riding. The stack is low, but the two-piece, comparatively short and wide cockpit – featuring plenty of spacers – allows plenty of scope for adjustment. In open mode, the shock constantly bobs under load – which is actually a no-go for a top-class race bike. Even in the middle ‘Pedal’ mode, the rear end isn’t 100 per cent bob-free. However, the RockShox Flight Attendant system kicks in quickly and stops the bobbing as soon as it really matters. The Blur benefits exceptionally well from this expensive automatic suspension system.

On steep, technical, root-strewn climbs, the Santa Cruz excels in terms of traction. Here, too, however, the suspension stands out due to a great deal of movement in the shock, calling for the electronic platform damping control to kick in. Furthermore, there’s no getting away from its comparatively hefty weight. Other cross-country full-suspension bikes in this price range can weigh as much as one to one and a half kilos less. In fact, in the XC World Cup, the specified Maxxis Rekon Race tyres are already considered heavy. The same applies to the thick 180mm brake discs at the front and rear. Although the wheelset itself is of extremely high quality, its steel spokes do add slightly to the weight. Overall, the Blur lacks the responsiveness needed in a sprint duel against other high-end race bikes. The Santa Cruz is designed to be more suited to long, endurance rides than short, explosive bursts.

Coolness factor

As soon as the route starts heading downhill, the Santa Cruz really comes into its own. In a direct comparison with other race bikes, the Blur stands out for its remarkable comfort. The suspension feels substantial and seems to offer more than the stated 120 millimetres of travel. It sits slightly lower in its travel and operates smoothly throughout the entire range. Once properly set up, the rear suspension glides effortlessly over the terrain, delivering outstanding comfort. The suspension devours root-strewn sections for breakfast and makes for a smooth ride. Combined with stable handling, a fairly generous wheelbase, powerful brakes and wide tyres, this results in a strong sense of security. Few XC bikes encourage you quite so much to keep riding straight through root-strewn sections.

In fact, when riding downhill, you’d always like to go even faster than the tyre grip allows. Yet even in extreme situations, the Blur doesn’t let its rider down. Where high-performance race bikes punish mistakes harshly, the Santa Cruz remains cool and composed. This saves energy, particularly in the latter stages of a race. The flip side of the coin is that the Santa Cruz’s handling isn’t quite as responsive as that of highly specialised race bikes with more progressive kinematics and even more agile wheels. It’s fun to ride, but you have to work at it. Maintaining and building up speed on gentle terrain requires the rider to apply some effort.

The Californians prioritise suspension travel over efficiency. On uphill sections, however, the automatic suspension system intervenes reliably, enhancing the riding enjoyment on varied trails. Overall, even in its race configuration, the new Blur lends itself well to fun-oriented downcountry riding. Compared to other bikes in this hybrid category, the Blur can certainly be described as a fast short-travel model. The bike straddles two worlds. This makes it a joy to ride even off the racecourse and piques curiosity about the Californians’ actual downcountry build.

​Measurements from the BIKE test laboratory

• Total weight: 11.60 kg (BIKE measurement, size XL, excluding pedals)
• Frame weight excluding shock absorber: 2061 g
• Weight of shock absorber: 365 g
• Fork weight: 1646 g
• Weight of wheels: 4059 g (front and rear combined, including tyres, brake discs and cassette)
• Inertia of the wheels: 3250 kg/cm² (the lower the value, the faster the acceleration)
• Frame stiffness (front/rear): 5.5 / 19.77 N/mm
• Customer service rating: 13.5 out of a maximum of 15 points (good)

​Facilities

• Fork / Shock: RockShox SID / SIDluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant
• Drivetrain / Gear ratio: SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS transmission (1 x 12), 34; 10–52 (520 per cent)
• Brakes: SRAM Motive Ultimate, 180 / 180 mm
• Dropper post: SRAM Reverb AXS, 150 mm
• Wheels: Reserve 28 XC SL
• Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race MaxxSpeed Exo TR, 29 x 2.4”

​Strengths and weaknesses

Pro

• balanced riding position
• exceptionally high versatility and ease of maintenance for a race bike
• Driving pleasure even off the racetrack
• ample suspension travel and a solid road-holding feel

Cons

• relatively high frame and complete bike weight
• not a sprinter
• less precise handling than the world’s top XC bikes

The BIKE rating

​​The BIKE rating system is independent of price and is based on the school grading system.

What do you think: as cross-country riders, do you prefer to go for the best lab figures, or do you appreciate a versatile bike like the Santa Cruz Blur? Let us know in the comments!