Blister Brand Guide: Santa Cruz / Juliana Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020

Intro

When considering a new mountain bike, there are so many similar-looking bikes on the market being made by so many different companies, it is virtually impossible to (1) know where to begin; (2) quickly figure out which one or two products from a given brand might work well for you; and (3) determine what products from other brands might be the most similar and also worth considering.

So in our new “Blister Brand Guide” series, we provide an overview of the entire product lineup of a brand; highlight how each product stands out from the rest of that brand’s lineup; and help you figure out quickly and easily which bike might work best for you.

In our individual product reviews, we go very deep into the details of particular products. With these Brand Guides, the goal is not Depth, but Breadth. Our Brand Guides and full reviews are designed to complement each other — provide a broad overview of entire company lineups, and then also very detailed reviews of individual products. 

Our mountain bike Brand Guides are presented by CBGTrails. Learn more and start planning your trip today at cbgtrails.com, then download the CBG Trails app for info on the 750+ miles of singletrack and 150+ trails in Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley, Colorado.

See our other MTB Brand Guides

About Santa Cruz

From their beginning in 1994, Santa Cruz has been doing things a bit differently, and their first bike was a “do-it-all” full-suspension rig at a time when that sort of bike was definitely not the norm. They place an emphasis on rider / customer support, and many of their products carry lifetime warranties. They now make everything from entry-level hardtails to carbon World Cup Downhill race rigs, and they only make off-road bikes.

Santa Cruz offers aluminum and carbon frames, with two different carbon frame options: carbon “C” and carbon “CC.” Their carbon “CC” frames are roughly ~280 grams lighter (depending on model and size) than their carbon “C” counterparts, and correspondingly more expensive.

About Juliana

Juliana Bicycles is the “original women’s bike.” Their first bike, made in 1999, was designed for and marketed to women at a time when mountain biking was mostly targeting men. Juliana became integrated with Santa Cruz in 2013, and exists today as Santa Cruz’s sister brand.

Juliana’s bikes all mirror a model in the Santa Cruz lineup, but the Juliana versions differ in terms of frame color, grips, saddle, sizing, and shock tune.

Both Santa Cruz and Juliana are based in Santa Cruz, California.

Current Warranty (for the original, registered owner)

  • Lifetime frame and pivot bearing warranty for models purchased after April 30th, 2015
  • Lifetime warranty on Reserve carbon wheels
  • Replacement frame parts available to the original owner at a minimal charge in the event of a crash or other non-warranty situation for the life of the bike.
  • For more information, visit this website.

Santa Cruz / Juliana’s Suspension design: Virtual Pivot Point (VPP)

(For more on different suspension designs, see our Suspension 101 article)

Before we get into their specific models and build options, here are some things to keep in mind when deciding on which build level to go with, and why.

First, when looking at complete bikes, suspension and wheels are going to make the biggest difference in how a bike really rides. Spend money on those before other things like higher-end drivetrain parts, cockpit parts (e.g., stem, handlebars, etc.), cranks, etc.

Tires make an enormous difference in performance, but are cheaper and easier to upgrade, especially since they tend to wear down quicker than other components. Upgrading a lower-end front tire to something better — and saving the original for rear-tire use — can be a good way to improve a bike while still making use of the originals, since front tires are generally a lot more important than rear tires when it comes to traction.

Drivetrain parts can be upgraded piecemeal as they wear out, or if you just want to upgrade down the line. Higher-end cassettes are mostly just lighter, while higher-end shifters and derailleurs get lighter, smoother, and sometimes last a bit longer as you go up in price.

We’ll outline here the different models in Santa Cruz & Juliana’s MTB lineup, organized from most cross-country-oriented (XC) to downhill-oriented (DH). In other words, the bikes at the top of the list are optimized to pedal and climb uphill very well, while the bikes at the bottom are optimized to handle very rough, steep, and challenging descents very well.

We’ve included some notable information for each model:

Available build kits & their MSRP

  • Best Budget Build: These are the build kits that we think make the most sense for people trying to spend the least amount without ending up with a build that’s going to immediately break or need to be upgraded.
  • Most Performance for the Price: These are the build kits that we think make the most sense for people seeking the best balance of performance and cost. I.e., if you don’t need to get the cheapest bike, but you also don’t need the absolute lightest bike or all the newest bling, this is the build we think makes sense for you.
  • Suspension travel (e.g., 100 mm of travel, 130 mm of travel, etc.)
  • Wheel size (e.g., 27.5”, 27.5+, 29”)
  • Frame material options (e.g., alloy vs. carbon)
  • A brief description of what the bike was designed for and any notable design details.
  • Some of the bike’s most direct competitors from other brands
  • Which Santa Cruz or Juliana bike it’s most similar to
  • Reasons why you should buy it
  • Reasons why you should not buy it

Santa Cruz & Juliana Mountain Bikes

(Most Cross-Country-Oriented to Most Downhill-Oriented)

Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup
Santa Cruz’s dedicated XC race hardtail. Fits three water bottle cages.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • R / Carbon C: $2,899
  • S / Carbon C: $3,499 – Best Budget Build
  • S / Carbon C / Reserve 25 Rims: $4,699 
  • XO1 / Carbon CC: $5,399 – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / Reserve 25 Rims: $6,599
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC: $8,999
  • Carbon CC Frame: $1,899
  • Specialized Epic HT
  • Trek Procaliber
  • Scott Scale
  • Giant XTC
  • Norco Revolver HT
  • Pivot Les
  • Canyon Exceed
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

Santa Cruz’s full-suspension XC bike. 

More like the Blur (TR Builds) than the Highball.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • R / Carbon C: $3,799 – Best Budget Build
  • S / Carbon C: $4,499
  • S / Carbon C / Reserve 25 Rims: $5,699 
  • XO1 / Carbon CC: $6,499 – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / Reserve 25 Rims: $7,699
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC: $9,999
  • Carbon CC Frameset: $2,999
  • Specialized Epic
  • Scott Spark RC
  • Giant Anthem 29
  • Cannondale Scalpel-Si
  • Pivot Mach 4 SL (World Cup Builds)
  • Intense Sniper XC
  • Norco Revolver FS 100
  • Canyon Lux
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

A more downhill-oriented version of the Blur. It is the same as the Blur, but with a burlier and longer-travel fork, larger front brake rotor, and burlier tires — plus a dropper post.

More like the Blur than the Chameleon

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • S TR / Carbon C: $4,799 – Best Budget Build
  • XO1 TR / Carbon CC: $6,799 – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 TR / Carbon CC / Reserve 25 Rims: $7,999
  • XX1 AXS Reserve TR / Carbon CC: $10,299
  • Specialized Epic EVO
  • Trek Top Fuel
  • Yeti SB100
  • Pivot Mach 4 SL
  • Kona Hei Hei
  • Rocky Mountain Element
  • Cannondale Scalpel-Si SE
  • Canyon Lux
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

Santa Cruz’s most downhill-capable, less-racing-oriented hardtail. Complete with plus-size tire options and more aggressive geometry.

More like the Santa Cruz Tallboy / Juliana Joplin V3 than the Blur (TR Builds)

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • D / Aluminum / 29: $1,799
  • D+ / Aluminum / 27.5+: $1,799
  • R / Aluminum / 29: $2,399 – Best Budget Build
  • R+ / Aluminum / 27.5+: $2,399 – Best Budget Build
  • S / Aluminum / 29: $3,199 
  • S+ / Aluminum / 27.5+: $3,199
  • S / Carbon C / 29: $3,799 – Most Performance for the Price
  • S+ / Carbon C / 27.5+: $3,799 – Most Performance for the Price
  • SE / Carbon C / 29: $5,699
  • SE+ / Carbon C / 27.5+: $5,699
  • Aluminum Frame: $749
  • Carbon C Frame: $1,599
  • Trek Stache
  • Specialized Fuse
  • Kona Honzo
  • Transition Vanquish
  • Nukeproof Scout 290
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

In the XC / short-travel Trail category, this bike shows its capability on the descent.

More like the Tallboy / Joplin V4 than the Chameleon.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • D / Aluminum: $2,699*
  • R / Aluminum: $3,399* – Best Budget Build
  • R / Carbon C: $3,899* 
  • S / Carbon C: $4,799*
  • S / Carbon C / Reserve 27 Rims: $5,999 
  • XO1 / Carbon CC: $6,799* – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / Reserve 27 Rims: $7,999*
  • XX1 Reserve / Carbon CC: $9,199
  • XTR Reserve / Carbon CC: $9,499
  • Aluminum Frameset: $1,999*
  • Carbon CC Frameset: $2,999*

* The Juliana Joplin is only available in these build kits.

  • Specialized Epic EVO
  • Trek Top Fuel
  • Yeti SB100
  • Scott Spark
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

Released August 2019, the new Tallboy / Joplin now has lower-link mounted VPP suspension, increased travel, and slack 65.5-degree head tube angle (low setting). Features a High / Low geometry settings via flip chip and +/- 10 mm chainstay length adjustment via rear axle flip chip.

More like the Tallboy / Joplin V3 than the 5010.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • D / Aluminum: $2,699*
  • R / Aluminum: $3,399* – Best Budget Build
  • R / Carbon C: $4,199*
  • S / Carbon C: $4,999*
  • S / Carbon C / Reserve 27 Rims: $6,199 
  • XO1 / Carbon CC: $6,999* – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / Reserve 27 Rims: $8,199*
  • XTR Reserve / Carbon CC: $9,799
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC: $10,399

* The Juliana Joplin is only available in these builds

  • Transition Smuggler
  • Ibis Ripley 
  • Devinci Django 29
  • Giant Trance 29
  • Trek Fuel EX
  • Kona Process 134 29
  • Nukeproof Reactor 290
  • YT Izzo
  • Norco Optic
  • Evil The Following MB
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

The 5010 is Santa Cruz’s playful, jibby, 27.5″ Trail bike. High / low geometry settings courtesy of a flip-chip. Santa Cruz released a brand-new 5010 for the 2021 lineup, which you can learn more about here and that we’ll be including in our upcoming 2021 Brand Guide.

More like the Tallboy / Joplin V4 than the Hightower / Maverick.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • D / Aluminum / 27.5: $2,699*
  • D+ / Aluminum / 27.5+: $2,699*
  • R / Aluminum / 27.5: $3,399* – Best Budget Build
  • R+ / Aluminum / 27.5+: $3,399* – Best Budget Build
  • S / Aluminum / 27.5: $3,999
  • S+ / Aluminum / 27.5+: $3,999 
  • R / Carbon C / 27.5: $3,999*
  • R+ / Carbon C / 27.5+: $3,999*
  • S / Carbon C / 27.5: $4,899* 
  • S+ / Carbon C / 27.5+: $4,899*
  • S / Carbon C / 27.5 / Reserve 27 Rims: $6,099
  • S+ / Carbon C / 27.5+ / Reserve 37 Rims: $6,099
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / 27.5: $6,799* – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1+ / Carbon CC / 27.5+: $6,799* – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / 27.5 / Reserve 27 Rims: $7,999*
  • XO1+ / Carbon CC / 27.5+ / Reserve 37 Rims: $7,999*
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC / 27.5: $10,299
  • XX1 AXS Reserve+ / Carbon CC / 27.5+: $10,299
  • Aluminum Frameset: $1,999*
  • Carbon CC Frameset: $2,999*

* The Juliana Furtado is only available in these build kits.

  • Specialized Stumpjumper ST 27.5
  • Giant Trance Advanced
  • Kona Process 134 27.5
  • Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt
  • Ibis Mojo 3
  • Norco Torrent FS
  • Evil The Calling
  • Cannondale Bad Habit

 

Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

Santa Cruz / Juliana’s best quiver killer. New for 2020, the Hightower / Maverick combines elements from the old Version 1 Hightower and the longer-travel Hightower LT. Redone with longer and more slack geometry, this bike is still more than willing to climb for a worthy descent. Revamped with a lower-link mounted shock. High / low geometry options thanks to a flip-chip on the link where the shock mounts. Can run 27.5”+ wheels and tires. (Check out our full review of the Hightower)

More like the Bronson / Roubion than the 5010 / Furtado.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • D / Aluminum: $2,899
  • R / Aluminum: $3,499 – Best Budget Build (Santa Cruz) 
  • S / Aluminum: $4,199 
  • R / Carbon C: $4,299* – Best Budget Build (Juliana)
  • S / Carbon C: $5,199*
  • S / Carbon C / Reserve 30 Rims: $6,399
  • XO1 / Carbon CC: $7,099* – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / Reserve 30 Rims: $8,299*
  • XTR Reserve / Carbon CC: $9,899
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC: $10,499
  • Aluminum Frameset: $1,999
  • Carbon CC Frameset: $3,299*

* The Juliana Maverick is only available in these build kits.

  • Trek Fuel EX
  • Pivot Switchblade
  • Yeti SB130
  • Specialized Stumpjumper 29
  • Commencal Meta TR 29
  • Rocky Mountain Instinct
  • Intense Primer 29
  • Norco Sight 29
  • Scott Genius
  • Canyon Strive
  • Ibis Ripmo AF & Ripmo
  • Kona Process 134 29
  • YT Jeffsy 29
  • Devinci Troy 29
  • Evil The Offering
  • Cannondale Jekyll 29
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

The Bronson was redone for the 2019 lineup, taking one of Santa Cruz’s most popular bikes and making it longer, more slack, and increasing fork travel. They also redesigned the VPP suspension platform to allow for a lower-link mounted shock. High / Low geometry flip chip.

More like the Hightower LT than the Hightower / Maverick.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • R / Aluminum / 27.5: $3,499* – Best Budget Build
  • R+ / Aluminum / 27.5+: $3,499 – Best Budget Build
  • S / Aluminum / 27.5: $4,199
  • S+ / Aluminum / 27.5+: $4,199 
  • R / Carbon C / 27.5: $4,399*
  • R+ / Carbon C / 27.5+: $4,399
  • S / Carbon C / 27.5: $5,199*
  • S+ / Carbon C / 27.5+: $5,199
  • S / Carbon C / 27.5 / Reserve 30 Rims: $6,399
  • S+ / Carbon C / 27.5+ / Reserve 37 Rims: $6,399
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / 27.5: $7,099* – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1+ / Carbon CC / 27.5+: $7,099 – Most Performance for the Price 
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / 27.5 / Reserve 30 Rims: $8,299*
  • XO1+ / Carbon CC / 27.5+ / Reserve 37 Rims: $8,299
  • XTR Reserve / Carbon CC / 27.5: $9,899
  • XTR Reserve+ / Carbon CC / 27.5+: $9,899
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC / 27.5: $10,499
  • XX1 AXS Reserve+ / Carbon CC / 27.5+: $10,499
  • Aluminum Frameset: $1,999*
  • Carbon CC Frameset: $3,299*

*The Juliana Roubion is only available in these build kits. 

  • Specialized Stumpjumper 27.5 / Stumpjumper EVO 27.5
  • Trek Remedy
  • Pivot Mach 6
  • Yeti SB140  
  • Kona Process 153 27.5
  • Rocky Mountain Altitude
  • Intense Primer 27.5
  • YT Jeffsy 27
  • Norco Sight 27.5”
  • Canyon Spectral
  • Evil The Insurgent LB
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

The Hightower LT was effectively replaced by the Megatower for model year 2020. It was originally a longer-travel iteration of the Version 1 Hightower. (Check out our full review of the Hightower LT)

More like the Megatower than the Bronson / Roubion.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • R / Carbon C: $3,999 – Best Budget Build
  • S / Carbon C: $4,899
  • S / Carbon C / Reserve 30 Rims: $6,099
  • XO1 / Carbon CC: $6,799 – Most Performance for the Price 
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / Reserve 30 Rims: $7,999
  • XX1 Reserve / Carbon CC: $9,299
  • XTR Reserve / Carbon CC: $9,599
  • Carbon CC frame only: $2,999
  • Specialized Stumpjumper 29 & 2018/2019 Enduro 29
  • Trek Slash
  • Kona Process 153 29
  • Scott Genius 
  • Canyon Strive
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

Santa Cruz’s longest-travel 29er Trail bike. Lower-link mounted shock and long, slack geometry designed to take on big, chunky descents. Adjustable chainstay length, high / low geometry settings via a flip-chip, and air or coil shock build kit options. (Check out our full review of the Megatower)

More like the Hightower LT than the Nomad.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • R / Carbon C: $4,499 – Best Budget Build
  • S / Carbon C / RockShox Super Deluxe Select+: $5,399
  • S / Carbon C / RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select+: $5,399
  • S / Carbon C / RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ / Reserve 30 Rims: $6,599
  • S / Carbon C / RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Select+ / Reserve 30 Rims: $6,599
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate: $7,199 – Most Performance for the Price 
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate: $7,199 – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate / Reserve 30 Rims: $8,399
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate / Reserve 30 Rims: $8,399
  • XTR Reserve / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate: $9,999
  • XTR Reserve / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate: $9,999
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate: $10,499
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate: $10,499
  • Carbon CC Frameset with RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate: $3299
  • Carbon CC Frameset with RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate: $3299

 

  • Specialized Enduro (2020)
  • Pivot Firebird 29
  • Yeti SB150
  • Giant Reign Advanced Pro 29
  • Rocky Mountain Instinct BC Edition
  • Intense Carbine
  • Nukeproof Mega 290
  • YT Capra 29
  • Norco Range 29
  • Devinci Spartan 29
  • Evil The Wreckoning LB
  • Scott Ransom
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup

Santa Cruz’s longest-travel 27.5″ Trail bike. Redesigned for the 2018 lineup with updated geometry and lower-link mounted shock. Adjustable high / low geometry via flip chip and air or coil shock build kit options.

More like the Megatower than the V10.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • R / Aluminum: $3,599 – Best Budget Build
  • S / Aluminum: $4,299 
  • R / Carbon C: $4,499
  • S / Carbon C: $5,299
  • S / Carbon C / Reserve 30 Rims: $6,499
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Select Ultimate: $7,199 – Most Performance for the Price 
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate: $7,199 – Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Select Ultimate / Reserve 30 Rims: $8,399
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate / Reserve 30 Rims: $8,399
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Select Ultimate: $10,499
  • XX1 AXS Reserve / Carbon CC / RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate: $10,499
  • Aluminum Frameset: $1,999
  • Carbon CC Frameset with RockShox Super Deluxe RCT: $3,299
  • Carbon CC Frameset with RockShox Super Deluxe Coil RCT: $3,299

 

  • Pivot Firebird
  • Yeti SB165
  • Kona Process 165
  • Giant Reign / Reign SX
  • Commencal Clash
  • Transition Patrol
  • Rocky Mountain Slayer 27.5″
  • Nukeproof Mega 275
  • YT Capra 27
  • Norco Range 27.5”
  • Devinci Spartan 27
  • Cannondale Jekyll
  • Specialized Enduro (2018-2019)
  • Canyon Torque
Blister Brand Guide; Blister breaks down Santa Cruz and Juliana's entire 2020 mountain bike lineup
Santa Cruz’s dedicated Downhill bike. Separate 29” and 27.5” platforms, adjustable chainstay length, and high / low geometry via flip chip.

Consider If:

Don’t Bother If:

  • S / Carbon C / 27.5: $5,999 – Best Budget Build & Most Performance for the Price
  • S / Carbon C / 29: $5,999 – Best Budget Build & Most Performance for the Price
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / 27.5: $8,199
  • XO1 / Carbon CC / 29: $8,199
  • Carbon CC Frameset: $3,699

 

  • Trek Session
  • Specialized Demo 8
  • YT Tues 
  • Giant Glory 
  • Pivot Phoenix
  • Devinci Wilson 
  • Commencal Supreme DH
  • Canyon Sender
  • Scott Gambler

7 comments on “Blister Brand Guide: Santa Cruz / Juliana Mountain Bike Lineup, 2020”

  1. This is a bit of a departure from the normally edifying Blister content. It doesn’t really add to the information available on the Santa Cruz or other bike websites. It also leaves me wondering why the Crested Butte Trail Gunisson Valley Trails (Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association) want to promote Santa Cruz Bicycles? What’s the connection?

    • Hi, Fraser – this is *definitely* a departure from what we normally do — which is precisely why we are doing this. We think it’s a valuable complement to our regularly scheduled programming.

      I think our Intro explains this pretty well — and we added a bit to the intro (thanks to your comments) to try to make things even clearer. But let me state again what we are — and what we are not — trying to accomplish here with these Guides.

      In our individual product reviews, we go into massive depth and detail. (To some, it can be a pretty overwhelming amount of detail.) With these Brand Guides, the goal is not Depth, it is Breadth.

      Our aim with these Brand Guides is to let people (a) quickly and easily get clearer on a massive number of products on the market, and (b) better understand — quickly — where various bikes fit into a single brand’s own lineup. That’s a very specific intention, and we believe that it’s a useful one to help people home in on several bikes that might work well for them. Breadth.

      Now, to those who are already very well versed in all the options out there… these guides will be less useful. But we’d estimate that for about 90-95% of mtn bikers, these Guides / brand overviews will provide lot of value — and perhaps especially in terms of quickly learning which bikes from other companies are most similar to a bike they might be considering. Very few — if any? — bike websites present that comparison information.

      Finally, CBG Trails is the presenting sponsor of *all* of our Bike Brand Guides — there will be, in total, more than 20 of these.

  2. This article was super helpful. I am buying my first mountain bike soon, and I relatively quickly decided to go for a Santa Cruz. I have been reading and watching tons and tons of articles/videos on them. This article is the first one that really showed me the spectrum of how the bikes change from one to the other. It is now absolutely clear to me which bikes I should focus on. Thank you

    • Excellent, Marcus! Thanks for the feedback, and glad we could help clarify things. And… enjoy your new bike!

  3. Hi, you mention going into a lot of depth in your individual reviews… Where do I find those please?

  4. I currently have a Juliana Joplin in AZ where it is more flat and less technical. In Park City, the 27.5″ tires were bottoming out in some area on my Furtado – wondering if the Juliana Maverick is a better choice for Park City but not too clear from this article as I was hoping climbing would be easier with the 29″ wheels on the Maverick. Would love your advice. Thanks!

Leave a Comment