Santa Cruz Bicycles

Bronson 2.1 Carbon C Mountain Bike Frame - 2018

The Bronson 2.1 Carbon C Mountain Bike Frame is an incredibly capable all-rounder that will encourage you to seek out more difficult terrain than ever before. With 27.5in wheels, a generous 6-inches of VPP rear travel, and geometry that's ready to get rowdy but not too sluggish to be pedaled on all-day epics, this Bronson frame is ready for both tech filled adventures and high-mileage days.

From its inception, the Bronson has been a bike that defies convention. And just like its predecessor, this Bronson packs a wallop courtesy of its plush but well-controlled suspension travel, as well as its nimble geometry and playful 27.5in wheels. Equally capable as an enduro racer or an extremely versatile trail bike, there's very little that the Bronson doesn't do exceptionally well.

A large part of the formula is, of course, the Bronson's 6in of VPP suspension. As with all VPP bikes, the counter-rotating links are carefully arranged to resist activation by pedaling forces, all but eliminating unwanted bobbing under power. This being the latest upper-link iteration of VPP, it's tuned to provide more midstroke support than previous generations, giving the rider a better feel for the terrain, and a livelier overall ride quality. It's a balance that Santa Cruz has mastered, allowing for the requisite efficiency for all-day rides while still taking advantage of sufficient travel to tackle the hardest trails you could possibly hope to find.

When comparing the Bronson's geometry to those of some of its noteworthy competitors, one could be forgiven for thinking that the Bronson appears conservative on paper. As is the case with much of Santa Cruz's lineup, the goal with the Bronson is excellence, not extremity. The 66-degree head angle provides the necessary stability for charging full-bore into enduro race stages, while remaining quick enough to change direction to be forgiving should you find yourself on a poorly chosen line. At 17-inches, the chainstays strike a nice balance between being short enough to turn quickly, and long enough to maintain weight on the front wheel, especially when hanging off the back in steep chutes. The 13.4 bottom bracket height is plenty low to remain planted in huge berms and off camber corners, but it's just high enough to minimize the risk of pedal strikes. While there are other bikes that are longer, slacker, and lower, the Bronson is all about balance, a trait that it has by the truckload. Many of SC's bikes are designed for specific purposes, but the Bronson delivers just about anywhere you take it.

The Bronson is built using Santa Cruz's C carbon fiber construction. Although it's not quite as lightweight as Santa Cruz's premium CC carbon fiber construction, the C level carbon fiber frames offer exactly the same amount of strength and stiffness as their CC counterparts, at a weight penalty of roughly 250g. The upshot is that you get the legendary durability and ride quality of Santa Cruz carbon frames at a much more palatable price.