Bike Review:
Santa Cruz 5010
Ultimate lightweight trail ripper.
I’ve ridden the last 2 generations of 5010 and a part of me wanted to own both. I’ve long tried to be a one bike person, and that generally meant an enduro bike. So when the opportunity came, the 5010 was at the top of my list for a short travel trail bike. The 5th version of the 5010 is special. The headlines are that Santa Cruz further refined the suspension and introduced a mixed wheel platform.
This all new 5010 further expands what the bike is capable of and maybe the riders that are going to swing a leg over it.
Geometry:
With a 476 reach and 633 stack the 5010 is smack dab in the middle of what I am comfortable with. The 64.9 degree head Angle and 76.8 seat tube angle offer great climbing and descending manners. Lastly the 437 rear center and the 1240 wheelbase make for a maneuverable yet stable bike.
Climbing:
The body position of the 5010 is spot on for what I’m looking for in a trail bike. The steep seat tube keeps wait on the front wheel and its not overly tight for those big climbs. I have a feeling dual 29er bikes climb better, but the more I ride the 5010 the more I’m not sure of that. When comparing this to other 120 to 130 bikes it climbs with the best of them. It’s comfortable and still efficient. Even with a goofy crash on the switchbacks, I’d give it and A. Traction probably an A+ as the balance with efficiency better than most. And for efficiency and body position it gets an A an A+. The climb is more akin to the Evil Following and I think that a pretty good high water mark.
Descending:
It was much more composed and stable than I would have thought. The frame stiffness is great for chunky stuff and I probably made the wrong decision with the Fox 34 on the front. You won’t mistake this bike for an enduro rig but I would put it up again many bikes one step up in travel. On the steeps the 27.5 rear wheel once again helps to keep the front end high and balanced and the rear wheel does a great job of tracking the ground. That’s not to say you can’t overwhelm the rear travel but it did a better job of recovering and staying active when braking. It needs more attention on the descents than some bikes, but I wasn’t afraid to push it. I just needed to remember what bike I was riding.
Cornering and Jumps:
What’s to say this bike rips corners, mixed wheels and 130mm of travel should. But it is better than many of its peers and I’d venture to say than its predecessor. So what about the jumps? This is harder to quantify. Yes it’s more stable in the air, but that wasn’t the nature of the old 5010. It was the maneuverability and playfulness, yes it’s still a supremely playful bike but you do notice that big front wheel when flying through the air.
Who’s this bike for?:
I have held the opinion that the 5010 isn’t for everyone everywhere. It’s great for jibbing around if you have the skills of the 50 to 01 crew or I’ve seen a lot of lycra clad speedsters on mellower hardback trails, think Buff Creek if you know Colorado. It’s long been a quick and nimble bike but in the wrong hands or on the wrong terrain that can be recipe for disaster.
This is a bike that requires a pilot and if you’re getting tired don’t expect the 5010 save you. It’s still not a bike I’d recommend to a newer rider in my area or anyone daily riding more technical trails. It is by far the most forgiving and capable 5010 to date and handled everything I threw at it. If you want a fast and capable bike that trends more cross country the 5010 is more fun than most dual 29 inch bikes I’ve ridden. It also has better descending characteristics that don’t sacrifice efficiency.
If you find yourself generally on jump trails but want a bike that can tag along for some steep tech, you’re not going to want to just point and shoot but the 5010 loves getting air and can handle the tech too.The updated VPP suspension is the best SC has done to date as far as descending traction, it’s efficient without be uncomfortable or sacrificing traction on the climbs, and it maintains the 5010’s playful nature without completely hanging you out to dry when things get spicy.
Final Thoughts:
For me This bike can be summed up in two rides.
My first ride on the 5010 was in the wet and on one of the more technical trails in my area. This included a number of slimy rock rolls some very steep bench cut, and a move I’ve avoided due to fear. In these conditions it was easy to stay engaged as one wrong move would certainly result in a pretty heavy crash. I came through with a smile and even conquered that move I was scared of.
The second ride was a different story. Conditions were prime! We had rain the day before so the dirt was tacky, but in the open, the rock was nearly dry. I rode a much mellower trail that had a few high consequence features but it wasn’t all white knuckles. After a small bobble on the first rock face I wanted a better shot so I did it again, second try was smooth but the angle could be better, so I did it again. This is a move I’ve done many times and, it ends with a pretty chunky runout but its after the crux. Unfortunately third time was not the charm, I bobbled slightly on the face but when I hit the runout, I ran out of talent. After a few stiches in my nose I’m all good but it reminded me that as apposed to an enduro bike that will correct sloppy technic the 5010 demands your engagement.
I am torn about the mixed wheel platform for the 5010. The more mixed wheel bikes I ride the more I enjoy them but previously the 5010 was an anomaly. In a world of bikes made for everyone the 5010 held out as a true enthusiast bike that didn’t care to correct your mistakes and much like a super stiff ski or snowboard was happy to toss its rider if you lost focus. The old 5010 could nearly play double duty as a trail bike and dirt jumper. This 5010 retains much of what I loved about the old bike but especially for my area it’s just a better trail bike.