The Santa Cruz Blur is the brand's cross-country race bike, and for 2027 it has been redrawn from the ground up. Where the old Blur was a narrowly focused whippet built for smooth World Cup circuits, the new one is a genuinely modern XC bike: 120mm of travel at both ends, geometry that finally matches the way cross-country courses have evolved, and a frame that carries everything you need for a long day out without a pack on your back. It is still built to win races, but it is far more capable now when the course, or the ride, turns rowdy.

The headline change is the geometry. The head angle has been slackened to 66° for more composure when you are pointing downhill and carrying speed, while the seat tube has been steepened to 75° to put you in a stronger, more efficient position for the long climbs that so often decide XC races. Reach has grown right across the range, from 425mm on a Small up to 500mm on an Extra Large, and is paired with a short 50mm stem, so the bike feels roomy and planted without ever turning sluggish through tight, technical singletrack.

Underneath sits a new suspension platform running 120mm front and rear. A redesigned, lighter rocker link gives the VPP system an improved leverage curve over its predecessor, so the Blur pedals with the firm, efficient support you want when you are putting the power down, yet stays supple and controlled over roots, rocks and braking bumps. It is a noticeably more settled bike than the one it replaces, without giving up the razor-sharp acceleration the Blur has always been known for.

Every UK Blur now uses Santa Cruz's top-tier CC carbon frame, so there is no lesser layup to worry about anywhere in the range. Tube-in-tube internal routing makes cable swaps far less of a chore and keeps things quiet out on the trail, and the frame has lost weight while gaining practicality. There is a V2 Glovebox in the down tube for stashing tools, spares and snacks out of the wind, a top-tube accessory mount for a tube or multi-tool, and room for two bottle cages inside the front triangle - a rare treat on a bike this focused.

The 90 build lands at £5,299 and is a properly race-ready spec. A Fox 34 SL Float Performance fork and Fox Float SL Performance shock look after the suspension, SRAM's 90 Eagle T-Type 12-speed transmission handles shifting with a wide 10-52t range, and SRAM DB8 brakes on 180mm HS2 rotors keep everything in check. Fast-rolling Maxxis Aspen tyres, DT Swiss 370 hubs laced to RaceFace AR rims and a OneUp dropper post round out a bike that is ready to race straight out of the box.

Sizing - 

• S: 5'0 - 5'4
• M: 5'5 - 5'9
• L: 5'9 - 6'1
• XL: 6'1 - 6'4

Features

• 120mm front and rear travel - a modern short-travel platform that climbs like a pure XC bike but descends with real confidence
• All-new modern XC geometry - a slacker 66° head angle, steeper 75° seat angle and longer reach for stability at speed and efficiency on the climbs
• Top-tier CC carbon frame across the range - Santa Cruz's highest-grade layup on every UK build, with no entry-level frame to compromise the ride
• Lighter rocker with revised leverage curve - retuned VPP suspension that pedals efficiently yet stays composed over rough ground
• V2 Glovebox in-frame storage - keeps tools, spares and snacks stashed in the down tube and off your back
• Tube-in-tube internal routing - quieter cables and far simpler servicing than traditional internal routing
• Top-tube accessory mount - a tidy home for a spare tube or multi-tool
• Twin bottle cage mounts - room for two bottles inside the front triangle, a real advantage on long marathon efforts
• 29" wheels - fast-rolling and efficient, with excellent momentum and rollover on rough, technical terrain
• Sizes Small to Extra Large - suiting riders from around 5'1" up to 6'1" and above
• Colours: Gloss Tart Cherry or Matte Charcoal