Santa Cruz 5010 X01

Santa Cruz 5010 X01

Small but efficient! As the only bike to feature small 27.5” wheels front and rear, the Santa Cruz 5010 CC X01 is a bit of an outsider in our 2021 group test. The bike delivers 140 mm of travel at the front and, like its little brother, the Tallboy, features Santa Cruz’s typical twin link suspension which generates 130 mm rear travel. The 5010 promises to handle anything you throw at it, from flowing singletracks to big jump lines. As the name suggests, the discreet and beautifully finished carbon frame of our 5010 CC X01 test bike comes in the top-end CC variant, which designates Santa Cruz’s high-grade carbon fibres. These frames are lighter but also more expensive than the more affordable C version. Our size L Santa Cruz 5010 CC X01 hits the scales at 13.35 kg. The frame features a reasonably sized seat and chainstay protector which reduces chain slap and ensures a quiet ride. A generous TPU plate protects the bottom bracket area against impacts and stray rocks while the chunky shuttle pad on the down tube prevents scratches and paint chips when you throw the bike on the back of a pickup. A small mudguard shields the shock and link from dirt and mud. All cables run internally through guides and ensure a clean look. Unfortunately, this doesn’t stop the cables from rattling on rough descents. Luckily, a few strips of electric tape do the trick to silence them!