The Bronson is the original all-mountain bike and still the benchmark others are measured against. It's one of the first models that come to mind when riders think of Santa Cruz, a true classic known for its Swiss Army knife approach to the trail. The Bronson 90 pairs the fifth-generation carbon frame with Fox Performance suspension, SRAM's Eagle 90 Transmission and SRAM Maven brakes.

This fifth generation moves the lower VPP link even lower and further forward to optimise anti-squat. The result is a plush, open feel with lots of traction and a very composed ride on the descents, and Santa Cruz rates it as the best VPP it has made. MTB Mag in Italy went as far as calling it "the best trail bike we have ever tested".

The Bronson runs a mixed-wheel setup, with a grippy, fast-rolling 29" front wheel and an agile, responsive 27.5" rear, for a playful yet composed ride on any trail you point it down. The Bronson 90's wheels come set up tubeless as standard, so you can run lower, grippier pressures with far fewer punctures. The C-spec carbon frame is identical in shape to the pricier CC frame but uses a different lay-up, so it weighs a little more and costs less, and it's still covered by Santa Cruz's lifetime frame warranty and lifetime linkage bearing replacement.

Features

• Fifth-generation Carbon C frame with lower-link VPP suspension
• 160mm front and 150mm rear travel
• Mixed-wheel setup: 29" front, 27.5" rear
• Fox 36 Float Performance fork and Fox Float X Performance shock
• SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission 12-speed drivetrain
• SRAM Maven Base brakes with 200mm front rotor
• Reserve 30|TR rims on DT Swiss 370 hubs, set up tubeless
• Lifetime frame warranty and lifetime linkage bearing replacement

Sizing

• XS: 4'8" and over
• S: 5'1" and over
• M: 5'5" and over
• L: 5'9" and over
• XL: 6'1" and over