Santa Cruz have introduced two new full-suspension mountain bikes to their range – the Butcher all-mountain rig and Nickel trail bike. Both feature an all-new suspension system called Actual Pivot Point (APP).
Santa Cruz say this name “came about as a spoof on Virtual Pivot Point, and was used in joking reference to our single pivot bikes when we first began working with VPP a decade ago".
It’s a single pivot setup that uses two links to create a variable shock rate, thus blending the single pivot simplicity of bikes like the Santa Cruz Bullit and Heckler with the shock rate characteristics of VPP designs like the Nomad and Blur. A VPP ride feel without the expense of a VPP bike, if you will. To watch a video charting the story of the new APP system, head to Santa Cruz’s Vimeo page.
Butcher
Hot on the heels of the new carbon Nomad, the Butcher – named after the Butcher Ranch trail in California – joins the all-mountain Nomad and Bullit. It has 6in (150mm) of rear travel, a tapered head tube and is built to be run with 140-160mm forks. Angles on the large frame size are:
- Top tube: 23.5”
- Head tube: 67.5”
- Seat tube: 72”
- Static bottom bracket height: 13.8in
RRP for a frame with Fox Float R shock is £1,299 (US$1,350). To watch the Butcher being ridden, head to this Vimeo page: http://www.vimeo.com/10791221.
Nickel
The Nickel joins the Blur LT and Heckler in the company’s trail bike weapons store, and Santa Cruz say the five-incher is a “climb-happy, nimble bike ... with all the ability of longer-travel bikes". Apparently "it does a mighty fine job of whipping the descents into shape as well". The frame will cost £1,299 ($1,350) with a Float R shock.
We'll bring you more details on the new bikes, including full reviews, on BikeRadar as soon as we can.