Blur (XC)
Origin
The Blur is one of Santa Cruz's most storied models. The name first appeared in 2002 on a 115mm-travel aluminium trail bike built around the brand's then-new VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) linkage and hand-made in California — a landmark early full-suspension bike that pedalled uphill as willingly as it descended. Over two decades the Blur split into families (Blur XC, Blur LT, Blur TR, Blur TRc) and migrated to carbon and 29-inch wheels, always anchored as Santa Cruz's lightweight cross-country platform. The current generation, launched for 2022, marked the biggest philosophical shift: Santa Cruz abandoned VPP on this bike for a superlight single-pivot flex-stay design to chase grams and pedalling efficiency, aimed squarely at the modern World Cup XC course and marathon racing, with its women's-specific sibling sold as the Juliana Wilder.
Specifications
- Frame
- Carbon fibre — two grades: CC (top-tier lightest lay-up) and C (same shape/stiffness, slightly heavier, cheaper). Frame w/shock ~1,933 g (L, CC).
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- SRAM Eagle 1x12 across the range — from GX Eagle AXS T-Type up to X0 / XX SL AXS T-Type (electronic) on premium builds; cable T-Type on lower kits.
- Brakes
- SRAM 2-piston on XC builds (Level TLM / Level Bronze Stealth), 160mm rotors. TR builds move to 4-piston + 180mm rotors.
- Wheels
- Santa Cruz Reserve 28|XC carbon wheels on RSV builds; alloy wheels on lower-tier builds.
The verdict
- Exceptionally light for a full-suspension bike (~10.4 kg premium builds)
- Modern geometry gives fast but dependable, confident descending for an XC bike
- Versatile — genuine race weapon that's still fun on trail rides
- Rear suspension is quite active and bobs when pedalling — you lean on the lockout a lot
- TwistLoc / remote lockout is fiddly and not the most intuitive
- Fast XC tyre spec (Maxxis Aspen) is limited to dry, hardpack conditions
Generations
Blur (2002-2005, 1st gen)
- Original hand-made-in-USA Blur; landmark early do-it-all full-sus.
- Travel
- 115mm, 26in wheels
- Frame
- 6069 aluminium
Blur XC / LT / TRc (carbon era, ~2010-2019)
- Carbon + 29er migration; split into XC race and longer-travel trail versions.
- Travel
- 100mm XC up to ~125mm LT/TR
- Frame
- Carbon
Blur (2022+ current gen)
- Biggest change in the model's history — dropped VPP for weight; one frame, two travel configs.
- Travel
- 100mm XC (40mm shock) or 115mm TR (45mm shock), 120mm fork, 29in
- Frame
- Carbon CC/C
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | Blur XC C R (100mm) | Blur XC C GX AXS (100mm) | CurrentBlur XC CC X0 AXS RSV (100mm) | CurrentBlur CC XX AXS FA RSV (115mm TR, top build) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 |
| Frame | Carbon C | Carbon C | Carbon CC | Carbon CC |
| Drivetrain | SRAM GX Eagle / entry 12-spd | SRAM GX Eagle AXS T-Type | SRAM X0 Eagle AXS T-Type | SRAM XX SL AXS T-Type electronic |
| Brakes | SRAM 2-piston, 160mm | SRAM Level 2-piston, 160mm | SRAM Level 2-piston, 160mm | SRAM 4-piston, 180mm |
| MSRP | €4,600 | €6,500 | €9,000 | €13,000 |
| Purpose | Value | Balanced | Flagship | Flagship |
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