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There are things that are underestimated. Slovenia as a holiday destination, for example, Popoduschen as a toilet paper substitute or Jack Black as a singer. Trail bikes are also underestimated. After all, they are nimble, easy to handle and easier to accelerate on rather bland up-and-down home laps. So it's no wonder that 50to01 crew frontman and super jibber Josh Lewis prefers to ride trail bikes. In FREERIDE 2/23, we named the Brit from Sheffield one of the four most creative mountain bikers on the planet. Josh reads the terrain like a skateboarder and carves through the British forests with the precision of a downhill skier. At the beginning of the year, the long-time Santa Cruz rider switched to the Swiss label Scor. A good reason for us to take a closer look at "his" two bikes and check out which bike is more fun for us hobby jibbers.
The bikes: Santa Cruz 5010 vs. Scor 4060 ST
The US cult brand Santa Cruz has given its trail bike a makeover for 2023. The fifth generation of the 5010 now rolls as a mullet instead of on small 27.5-inch wheels. The geometry has been refreshed, along with features such as a storage compartment in the down tube and a peephole to check the sag of the shock. The Santa Cruz 5010 has remained true to itself in terms of suspension travel: 140 millimetres at the front, 130 at the rear. With Scor, the whole brand is new. Scor is the radical division of the cross-country giant BMC. With Scor, the Swiss have wanted to offer fun-orientated bikes since 2021. The flagship: the Scor 4060. Smart idea: one frame, two wheels - the model is available as a long-travel version with 170/160 millimetres of travel, or LT for short. And the ST (Short Travel) trail version tested here. Variable headset cups and a flip chip allow the frame to be adapted to the respective model - clever! Visually, the 4060 is an eye-catcher with its slim top tube, the shock hidden deep in the frame and, above all, the colour.
Santa Cruz 5010 C
- Wheel size: 29/27.5 INCH
- Spring travel: 140 / 130 MM
- Price: 6299 Euro
- Weight: 14.2 kilos (without pedals)
Scor 4060 ST GX
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Suspension travel: 150 / 140 mm
- Price: 6899 Euro >> available here
- Weight: 14.2 kilos (without pedals)
Same goals, same data = same bikes?
In terms of geometry, the two trail bikes are very close to each other. Both have super short chainstays for maximum riding fun. Both Scor and Santa Cruz have equipped their bikes with a flip chip to adjust the geometry to your preferences, whereby the geo adjustment on the Scor is, according to the manufacturer, intended more for conversion to the LT Enduro version. But now to the most striking differences: The Scor squeezes 150/140 millimetres of travel out of the frame and is therefore by definition more of a trail enduro bike and thus a category above the trail bike. The Santa Cruz 5010 is clearly a trail bike with 140/130 millimetres of travel. The MTB also rolls on mullet tyres, while the Scor 4060 relies on large wheels at the front and rear.
Questionable transformation
For some years now, manufacturers have been trimming their trail bikes for enduro. Scor and Santa Cruz also specify their trail bikes with downhill tyres and wide 800cc big bike cockpits. Does that make sense? We think: no! Because this bike class is all about propulsion and handling. Park inserts are not the domain of trail bikes and should remain the exception anyway. Both manufacturers also have special models for this purpose. This is particularly surprising in the case of Santa Cruz, as hardly any other brand has such a wide range of models. As a result of the enduro characterisation, both bikes clearly exceed the 14-kilo mark. For comparison: the Santa Cruz 5010 weighed just 12.3 kilos in 2019, albeit in the top configuration. Almost two kilos difference! That makes an impact in this bike class!
Equipment: Santa Cruz 5010 vs. Scor 4060
In terms of components, the Swiss have given their Scor 4060 a more sophisticated specification. This includes the Rockshox Ultimate suspension and the reliable Code RSC brakes from Sram. On the Santa Cruz, you have to make do with cheaper suspension and less powerful Sram G2-R brakes.
On the trail
On up & down trails, both trail bikes would benefit from faster tyres and less overall weight. However, both bikes are fun to ride. The geometries are pleasing. Manuals: easy! Bunny hops: also easy! The Santa Cruz is more direct and lively on the trail than its duel opponent, the Scor. The suspension also provides more counter-pressure and thus develops more pop for bunny hops and jumps. The mullet tyres on the Santa Cruz 5010 look very harmonious here.
On alpine trails
On mountain tours, the Scor 4060 cut the more confident figure. At least on the descents. The enduro genes shine through on steps, steep descents and rough terrain, and the rider benefits from the extra suspension travel. The Santa Cruz 5010 can keep up with the right skills, but needs to be controlled more precisely. On the other hand, the Santa wins on climbs and pedalling sections because it is very drive-neutral, even in open mode. With the compression damping switched on, the Scor rear end also calms down and climbs willingly.
On angry descents
For the suspension check, we took the two trail bikes out of their natural habitat and whipped them over park tracks. The two duelists amazed us with their downhill skills. It's crazy how quickly and safely the bikes sweep over roots. The suspension of the Santa Cruz 5010 harmonises perfectly and can thus conceal the more favourable suspension elements: The fork and shock Select+ model surprised us with a lot of composure and smoothness. The fork only bottomed out on the more blunt drops. The Scor 4060 has a little more travel and filters impacts even more sensitively with its higher quality suspension. Especially when we rode the fork with significantly less air than recommended by the manufacturer. However, the differences between the suspensions are smaller than expected. In short: the Scor 4060 wins on rough terrain, and the Santa Cruz 5010 with its firmer suspension scores better on lively trail bends, the actual habitat of a trail bike.
Our conclusion: Santa Cruz 5010 is the winner
There is a lot of playfulness in both bikes. But the Santa Cruz is more harmonious because it is more playful and manoeuvrable. A real trail bike! The Scor can't quite keep up. On the other hand, the Scor has a wider range of use. The Scor has more enduro genes. That's why the Santa Cruz wins this trail bike duel in our eyes. Irony of fate: When we wrote the test, Scor presented a more thoroughbred trail bike, the 2030.
Duel test winner
What the testers say
The Santa Cruz 5010 is the more consistent trail bike in comparison. I would fit a faster rear tyre and narrower handlebars for more trail bike fun. - Laurin Lehner, tester (1.78 m | 73 kilos)
If I could choose one of the bikes, I would go for the stylish Scor 4060. It is also handy, but faster downhill and has a wider range of use. - Dimitri Lehner, tester, (1.79 m | 75 kilos)
Laurin Lehner
Editor
