Santa Cruz launches Solo 27.5in wheel trail bike

Carbon and aluminum models available

Santa Cruz Bicycles

Published: June 2, 2013 at 5:46 pm

Following the debut of the 27.5in wheeled (650b) Juliana range last week and the Bronson just a few weeks before that, Santa Cruz has now followed up with yet another new frame platform called Solo with the increasingly popular 'tweener wheels and a versatile 125mm of rear wheel travel – although it appears to be identical to the top-end Juliana frames but with a different label and paint job.

Offered in both carbon and aluminum versions, the new Solo looks to essentially be the 27.5in version of the company's ultra-playful Blur TRc. The new Solo's frame geometry indeed closely mimics that of the TRc, including an unusually low 334mm (13.15in) bottom bracket height for agility and cornering stability mated to a slack 68-degree head tube.

Chain stays grow only slightly from 428mm (16.86 inches) to 435mm (17.12in) and – naturally – Santa Cruz has equipped the Solo with its trademark VPP rear suspension geometry so we anticipate the Solo will retain the TRc's ground hugging, slalom bike-like handling and its enviably playful demeanor.

Top tube lengths also remain unchanged across the four-size for a moderately stretched out position well suited for general trail riding and the claimed 2,295g (5.06lb) frame weight is just 168g (0.37lb) heavier for the top-end carbon version. Claimed weight for the alloy frame is 2,599g (5.73lb). Both claimed weights include the Fox Float CTD rear shock.

Internal routing for stealth-type dropper seatposts is included on both frame versions: internal routing for stealth-type dropper seatposts is included on both frame versions - Santa Cruz Bicycles

Internal routing for stealth-type dropper seatposts is included on both frame versions

Additional features include additional routing paths for internal stealth-style dropper seatposts, molded-in ISCG tabs around the conventional 73mm-wide threaded bottom bracket shell, a tapered head tube, 142x12mm rear thru-axle dropouts, dual bottle mounts (although the one underneath the down tube is of questionable usefulness), molded rubber frame protectors, and forged aluminum upper and lower suspension links with Santa Cruz's creak-fighting collet-style hardware and grease ports for the lower link.

Santa Cruz will offer the new Solo in both carbon and alloy versions, both of which will be offered in a glossy orange/blue. The Solo C will also be available in matte black/green and buyers will also be able to purchase the alloy Solo in white/grey.

Prices for a complete alloy Solo range from US$3,299 with Shimano SLX to US$7,661 with Shimano XTR, both with 130mm-travel Fox 32 Float 27.5 CTD forks. The carbon fiber Solo C starts at US$4,199 with Shimano SLX and tops out at US$10,255 with Shimano XTR and Enve Composites carbon fiber wheels.

For more information visit the Santa Cruz website.