Spy shots release on Pinkbike show a proposed Tallboy proto sporting a horst link and not VPP. Akin to the swap they made on the Vala e-bike, whereas the other ebikes still used VPP.
The updates to the long travel bikes have drawn a collective shrug from the community, though that's much better than a collective pitchforking. Which almost happened with the wireless only CC bronson which I believe was not reproduced for the Nomad? Not sure if they're completely abandoning that silly concept.
Along with the concept of just adding 10mm travel to models and calling it a day. Currently being rumored to occur to the Tallboy as well. A part of me wonders if they even intend to bring the 5010 back and if it will get similar treatments. Not to mention what might happen to the Blur in the future.
Does this bother you? Is it a big ol nothing burger? Is the brand's quality mostly held in it's quality, warranty, and service? Do you think they're getting a similar ride feel out of horst or are you planning to look elsewhere for other short link bikes with superior pedaling platforms?
It's been interesting to see brands smack against this wall of diminishing returns and seem almost unsure where to go. It's clear the previous generation was STELLAR and the updates we've seen are… 'Good'. But likely not reason enough to upgrade, if you have the previous gen.
And while the updates don't quite have a reason to be seen as 'bad'… It's easy to see how long time SC fans see abandoning VPP as a step backwards.
by GundoSkimmer
14 Comments
The new Bullit is non VPP as well
So it’s like a smuggler? I like the smuggler better.
Not surprise SC is probably trying to make their base level 120 bike less than 32-33 lbs. the VPP design is burly and extra material.
My 2017 Norco Sight says”hi”.
No more Chameleon or High Ball. Only CC frames. I don’t know what they are thinking! As long as the prices stay relatively the same the CC is a better value.
Any brand owned by big money inevitably goes to shit. Vote with your dollars fam.
Horst was always better.
Come at me bro
Horst link is definitely a funner ride. The Bullit jumps so well with it.
VPP is great for climbing, I found it super efficient. I didn’t like it as much going down, initial hits felt harsher, horst link feels good going down, it’s super plush, but not as efficient climbing up, wouldn’t say it’s horrible.
There’s other forms of VPP that is tuned differently, Mondraker uses Zero suspension, dual counter rotating linkage VPP, and that feels phenomenal, I got the Mondraker neat and I feel they got it just right, it feels plush, yet very supportive, poppy fun, it’s got the right balance, doesn’t monster truck everything, it just feels great on my trails.
My 2c is that it probably has to do with weight. The tallboy is within ounces of the frame of the Hightower. The frame of the tb4/5 is a porker compared to the tb3. I could pull all my parts off the tb3 which is 26lb and put them on a tb5 and it would be close to 30lb. Weight wise they can’t compete with a spur, epic, revel rascal even if those are slightly more xc. I also don’t think they can go back to the old vpp non tunnel layout with modern geo and maintain the ride characteristics they want. Lastly VPP mattered more when every other bike needed lockout to climb without bobbing, but air shocks have gotten so good since float x and sds came out, it’s no longer an issue.
It’s gonna help people see that they don’t need the newest bike to have a great ride.
With flight attendant puctured, a horst link makes more sense. You can have the best of both worlds. Plush decents and efficient pedaling.
They are not bringing out a new 5010. I wonder if that spy shot is the new blur rather than the tallboy, but given the tire choice it could definitely be a tallboy.
The previous gen nomad was indeed stellar so the updated one is pretty similar, but the previous hightower and bronson both were pretty mediocre bikes imo, the updates to those bikes increased their performance reasonably. The hightower 3 in particular was this awkward long-legged trail bike that felt sort of neutered, and the v4 is basically a megatower replacement.
I think being ‘bothered’ by continually updated bikes is a bit ridiculous. People will continue to buy them, cause theyre outright good bikes. On the other end of the spectrum, the specialized enduro hasnt been updated in nearly 7 years, and people still buy them, new off the rack. the whole ‘long time SC fans being disappointed in SC’ thing is a bit absurd.
Gave up on Santa Cruz. Love my Ibis.
Vpp looks so much better it’s a joke. And better performance or not, Id never buy a four bar SC bike. They look boring.