Santa Cruz and Juliana overhaul 5010/Furtado and Bronson/Roubion
Frame and spec updates for the Bronson and 5010, and the Juliana Roubion and Furtado
Santa Cruz and sister brand Juliana Bicycles has released new, updated and overhauled versions of two of their most popular bikes, the 5010/Furtado and the Bronson/Roubion.
Headline updates
- Significant updates to the 5010/Furtado and Bronson/Roubion geometry
- Both frames are plus-compatible
- Bronson/Roubion get a similar rear suspension setup as the Nomad/Strega
- 15mm longer reach on both frames
- New carbon Reserve 37 wheels on certain models
- New branding and logo for Juliana Bicycles
- All bikes come in A (alloy), C and CC frame options
Santa Cruz 5010 / Juliana Furtado
The trail-focussed 5010 / Furtado has had a geometry update, with reach increasing by 15mm and head angles dropping by 0.5 or 0.8 degrees, depending on the frame geometry setting.
The bottom bracket area has been beefed up and the rear now features dual upright swingarms for greater stiffness. Seat angle is slightly steeper now at 75 degrees.
The frames will take up to a 2.8in tyre, and builds will come with either 2.4in/2.3in or 2.6in tyres. To accommodate the differing tyre outer diameters there’s a geometry chip to keep the ride height consistent between them.
Cable routing is fully internal and Santa Cruz has done away with rubber grommets on entry points because feedback suggested they tended to split. Also good news for bottom bracket enthusiasts: the 5010/Furtado now comes with a threaded bottom bracket.
Riders who like to ride light will be pleased to hear that there are now bottle cage mounts both in the frame and on the underside of the down tube. There’s also good news for riders looking for a more accessible way into the range since the 5010/ Furtado is now available in an aluminium frame model.
Suspension is 130mm travel on the front and the rear, in keeping with the playful but capable nature of this bike, aided by wider 800mm bars. Piggyback shocks are found on higher priced ‘S’ models throughout the range.
The Furtado is the most popular bike in the Juliana range, so while it doesn’t come in quite as many build options as the 5010, it does come in more than other Juliana bikes — a not insignificant 16 build options, in fact.
The 5010 is available in sizes XS to XL, and the Furtado from XS to M.
For lots more detail, read our first ride impressions of the new 5010 / Furtado.
Santa Cruz 5010 range overview
The 5010 range stretches to 20 models: 10 27.5 options and 10 equivalent plus-wheeled options. All are available in two colourways: matte carbon black or gloss purple.
Santa Cruz 5010 A D 27.5
- Alloy frame with 130mm VPP
- Fox Float performance DPS shock
- RockShox Recon RL 130mm fork
- SRAM NX groupset with PG1130 cassette and Race Face Ride crankset
- Race Face Ride handlebars, stem and seatpost
- SRAM Level brakes
- WTB ST i25 rims on SRAM MTB hubs with DT Swiss Competition spokes
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres in 27.5 x 2.3, tubeless
- £2,699 / $2,699
- Entry level model
Santa Cruz 5010 C S 27.5 Reserve
- Carbon C frame with 130mm VPP
- Fox DPX2 Float Performance shock
- Fox 34 Float Performance 130mm forks
- SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 groupset with SRAM Stylo 7K crankset
- SRAM Guide R brakes with Avid Centreline 180mm rotors
- Race Face Ride handlebars with Race Face Aeffect stem
- RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost
- Santa Cruz Reserve 27 wheels on DT Swiss 370 hubs
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres in 27.5 x 2.3, tubeless
- £5,999 / $6,099
- Mid-range model
Santa Cruz 5010 CC XX1 27.5 Reserve
- Carbon CC frame with 130mm VPP
- Fox DPX2 Float Factory Kashima shock
- Fox 34 Float Factory 130mm fork
- SRAM XX1 Eagle 1×12 groupset
- SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes with Avid Centreline 180mm rotors
- SCB AM Carbon handlebars
- Race Face Turbine stem
- RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost
- Santa Cruz reserve 27 wheelset on 19 hubs
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres in 27.5 x 2.3, tubeless
- £7,999 / $9,199
- Penultimate range-topper
Juliana Furtado range overview
The popular Furtado comes in 18 different models and one colourway; the rich red shade pictured called ‘Pinot’.
As with the 5010, nine of these builds come with 27.5-inch tyres, and the second half have equivalent builds but in the fatter 27.5+ option with 2.6-inch tyres.
Juliana Furtado A D 27.5
- Aluminium frame with 130mm VPP
- Fox Float Performance DPS shock
- RockShox Recon RL 130mm fork
- SRAM NX 1×11 groupset with Race Face Ride crankset and SRAM PG1130 cassette and chain
- SRAM Level brakes with Avid Centreline 180mm rotors
- Race Face Ride handlebar, stem and seatpost
- WTB ST i25 rims with SRAM MTB hubs and ST Swiss Competition spokes
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres, tubeless
- £2,699 / $2,699
- Entry level model
Juliana Furtado C S Reserve
- Carbon C frame with 130mm VPP
- Fox DPX2 Float Performance shock
- Fox 34 Float Performance 130mm forks
- SRAM GX Eagle groupset with SRAM Stylo 7K crankset
- SRAM Guide R brakes with Avid Centreline 180mm rotors
- RaceFace Ride handlebars with Aeffect R stem
- RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost
- Santa Cruz Reserve 27 rims with DT Swiss 370 hubs and Competition Race spokes
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres, tubeless
- £5,999 / $6,099
- Mid-range model with Reserve upgrade
Juliana Furtado CC XTR 27.5 Reserve
- Carbon CC frame with 130mm VPP
- Fox DPX2 Float Factory Kashima shock
- Fox 34 Float Factory 130mm fork
- Shimano XTR 1×12 groupset
- Shimano XTR M9120 brakes with Ice Tech centrelock 180mm rotors
- SCB AM Carbon handlebars with Race Face Turbin R stem
- RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost with discrete lever
- Santa Cruz Reserve 27 rims with DT Swiss hubs and Competition Race spokes
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres, tubeless
- £8,099
- Top-of-the-range model
Santa Cruz Bronson / Juliana Roubion
Santa Cruz regards the 27.5 Bronson as its flagship bike and it’s had a serious overhaul for 2019.
The major change, which is obvious as soon as you see it, is the shift in shock position. This developed from the latest Nomad/Strega design, which saw it moved to a low position on the bike to give it a similar action to the V10 downhill bike, using the VPP Lower Link suspension linkage.
All the Bronson/Roubion models get a piggyback shock for consistent damping on long descents, with bearing eyelets across the range.
Frame-wise, Santa Cruz has improved the carbon technology and altered the geometry adding 15mm length and lowering the standover by 10m, plus there’s the same geometry flip-chip as the 5010/Furtado too, to accommodate different tyre options.
Seat angle has been slightly steepened to 75 degrees, and also shortened by 1-inch, which is thanks to new, longer dropper seatposts.
As well as a threaded bottom bracket, the Bronson and Roubion now get a bolt-on shuttle guard and rear shock cover to protect the frame and componentry, and there’s room for a bottle cage in the front triangle.
An alloy frame option has been added to the lineup, with frame-only available on alloy and CC models. As with the 5010/Furtado, cable routing is internal and there’s a threaded bottom bracket too.
There’s a down tube protector and shock fender tucked in the linkage, as well as a bottle cage mount inside the front triangle.
Both the 5010/Furtado and Bronson/Roubion have the same plus tyre compatibility in the frame, taking 27.5 as standard but with room for up to 2.8-inch tyres, which give the benefits of fatter tyres but with the protection of smaller-volume tyres, according to Santa Cruz.
With a 150mm front travel and 160mm rear, it’s designed to be a capable trail or enduro bike for all-mountain conditions, though less beefy and better at climbing than the Strega/Nomad.
The Bronson is available in sizes XS to XL, and the Roubion in XS to M.
For lots more detail, rear our first ride impressions of the new Bronson and Roubion.
Santa Cruz Bronson range overview
The Bronson comes in 18 build options; 9 in 27.5, and 9 with the same build but with trail-plus tyres, 2.6inchs wide. The Bronson comes in 2 colour options: the vibrant Industry Blue or subtler Primer Grey.
Santa Cruz Bronson A R 27.5
- Aluminium frame with 150mm VPP
- RockShox Super Deluxe R shock
- RockShox Yari MotionControl RC 160mm fork
- SRAM NX Eagle 1×12 groupset with PG1230 cassette
- SRAM Guide T brakes with Avid Centreline 200/180mm rotors
- Race Face Aeffect R handlebars, Ride stem and Aeffect seatpost
- WTB ST i29 rims with SRAM MTB hubs and DT Swiss Competition spokes
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres, tubeless
- £3,499 / $3,499
- Entry level model
Santa Cruz Bronson C S 27.5 Reserve
- Carbon C frame with 150mm VPP
- RockShox Super Deluxe R shock
- Fox 36 Float Performance 160mm fork
- SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 groupset
- SRAM Code R brakes with Avid Centreline 200/180mm rotors
- Race Face Aeffect R handlebar and stem
- RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost
- Santa Cruz Reserve 30 wheelset with DT Swiss 370 hubs and Competition spokes
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres, tubeless
- £6,299 / $6,399
- Mid-range model
Santa Cruz Bronson CC XX1 27.5 Reserve
- Carbon CC frame with 150mm VPP
- RockShox Super Deluxe RCT
- Fox 36 Float Factory 160mm
- SRAM XX1 Eagle 1×12 groupset
- SRAM Code RSC brakes with Avid Centreline 200/180mm rotors
- SCB AM Carbon handlebars
- RaceFace Turbine R stem
- RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost
- Santa Cruz Reserve 30 wheels with 19 hub and DT Swiss Competition Race spokes
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres, tubeless
- £8,299 / $9,499
- Top-of-the-range model
Juliana Roubion range overview
The Roubion comes in six build options, all of which are 27.5in. There is no 27.5+ option for the Roubion, but the frame can still accommodate up to 2.8-inch tyres should you want to get that set up yourself.
Juliana Roubion A R 27.5
- Aluminium frame with 150mm VPP
- RockShox Super Deluxe R
- RockShox Yari MotionControl RC 160mm forks
- SRAM NX Eagle 1×12 groupset with PG1230 cassette
- SRAM Guide T brakes with Avid Centreline 200/180mm rotors
- Race Face Aeffect R handlebars with Ride stem and Aeffect seatpost
- WTB ST i29 rims with SRAM MTB hubs and DT Swiss Competition spokes
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres, tubeless
- £3,499 / $3,499
- Entry-level model
Juliana Roubion C S 27.5
- Carbon C frame with 150mm VPP
- RoxkShox Super Deluxe R shock
- Fox 36 Float Performance 160mm fork
- SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 groupset with SRAM Stylo 7K crankset
- SRAM Code R brakes with Avid Centreline 200/180mm rotors
- Race Face Aeffect R handlebar and stem
- RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost
- RaceFace AR Offset rims with DT Swiss hubs and DT Swiss Competition spokes
- Maxxis Minion DH EXO TR tyres, tubeless
- £5,199 /$5,199
- Mid-range model
Juliana Roubion CC XTR 27.5 Reserve
- Carbon C frame with 150mm VPP
- RockShox Super Deluxe RCT
- Fox 36 Float Factory 160mm fork
- Shimano XTR 1×12 groupset
- Shimano XTR brakes with IceTech rotors 203mm
- SCB Am Carbon handlebars with RaceFace Turbine R stem
- RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost with discrete lever
- Santa Cruz Reserve 30 rims with DT Swiss 240 Hubs and Competition Race spokes
- Maxxis Minnion DH EXO TR tyres, tubeless
- £8,399 / $9,899
- Top-of-the-range model
Santa Cruz Reserve 37 wheels
To complement the new Plus-compatible frames, Santa Cruz has also released a new version of its carbon Reserve wheels with a wider 37mm internal rim width.
The brand says they are aimed at the ‘plus curious’, taking tyres between 2.5 and 2.8 inches for optimal fit, though Santa Cruz does say it can fit up to a 3-inch tyre.
Since the profile is shallower, Santa Cruz claims they weigh less than the current Reserve 30 wheels: 450g versus 470g for single rim weight.
As with earlier models, the Reserve wheels have only subtle Santa Cruz branding, which will be a plus-point for riders who don’t like to cross brands on their bikes.
Interestingly, Santa Cruz and Juliana are offering a Reserve upgrade on the C S builds, which boosts the overall build cost by around £1,000, but given the wheelset alone costs in the region of £1,599 / $1,599 it’s technically a saving on the cost of buying the wheels separately.
Branding shift for Juliana
Juliana produces women’s specific bikes based around the unisex Santa Cruz frames, which means they get the same guarantees such as lifetime frame warranty and bearing replacement programme, plus equivalent build kits at the same price.
They differ in the colour scheme and the fact they have women’s specific finishing kit, such as saddles and grips. They also have shock tunes that are lighter than the medium tune on Santa Cruz equivalents and have been tweaked using the athletes and riders the brand supports, such as the Juliana-SRAM Pro Team and the Juliana Free Agents.
The eagle-eyed rider will notice that Juliana has shifted the look of the brand, with a change in logo and font for the brand name on the down tube.
The original script-style logo had been in use since the brand launched a separate sister-brand to Santa Cruz, and the company felt it was time for a refresh. The new font is designed to be easier to read, more purposeful and modern.
Other than the branding change, and new colourways for the 2019 model year, the ethos of Juliana continues as was.
Authors
Aoife is an experienced journalist, editor and product tester. With 6 years’ experience of reviewing bikes and kit, she’s ridden and rated nearly every women’s road and mountain bike available on the market. She enjoys putting the latest products through their paces, helping riders find the right kit for them and sharing the best advice, hints and tips to help them get the most out of riding.
