Santa Cruz Bicycles 5010 2.0 R2 Complete Mountain Bike 2017

When confronted with the necessity of renaming its new trail bike, Santa Cruz Bicycles opted for the NumLock equivalent of the name it had originally chosen, converting Solo to 5010. But given the 5010 2. 0 R2 Complete Mountain Bike's virtually limitless capabilities, SC could just as easily have named it the all mountain enduro trail machine bot XC. Of death. We're glad they didn't, though, because that would be... well, it'd be silly. And with a build kit comprising Shimano's newly reworked SLX M7000 drivetrain and SRAM brakes, the only room for silliness here is the comical abandon with which the 5010 2. 0 can clean climbs and drop in. Despite the shared model name, the 5010 2. 0 represents a marked departure from the original 5010, which SC first rolled out in 2013 and which was itself a marked departure from the Blur DNA from whence it sprang. The redesign is so pervasive that it touches on virtually every important frame dimension, with the biggest change coming in the head tube angle. The front end slacks out a full degree, dropping from 68 to 67 in a move that brings it in line with the previous Bronson model. The frame's reach and bottom bracket follow suit, with the former stretching out and the latter dropping slightly. Capping the whole thing off with a short stem helps preserve steering while taking advantage of that slack aggression. The rear triangle enjoyed similarly thorough tweaks that tightened it up for more pedaling efficiency and cockpit versatility. The seat tube is steeper, longer, and wider, which benefits both the ups and downs of all mountain riding. While grunting over the crux of a climb or grinding speed on singletrack, the steeper angle nets a more efficient pedaling posture, making it easier to stay on top of the pedal stroke. The new seat tube also accommodates a longer dropper post, giving more freedom for saddle height on descents. While climbing, stubbier chainstays contribute to transferring power more efficiently, and Boo...