Why It RulesThe Blur gets its boing from a new system that keeps the shock from being activated by the up-and-down motion of pedaling. Released last year, the so-called virtual pivot-point design still tops anything new for 2004. 禄 The suspension point between this bike’s rear swingarms isn’t fixed to the frame, as with other rigs; instead, it floats freely. What this means: While many dualies get mushy and squirrelly on climbs, the Blur is solid, biting in and offering extra traction. I cleaned a pine-needle-covered ridge that my cohorts had to hoof up. Yet when I snaked through fast, flat singletrack or pointed the Blur downhill, it danced over just about anything. 禄 Santa Cruz is a boutique shop, which means buyers get 脿 la carte component options. My test bike came with a Shimano LX/XT mix, along with Avid SD5 brakes and a RockShox Duke XC fork. For a few more Benjamins, you can upgrade to, say, disc brakes.
Hmmm . . .As with all dualies, expect some regular maintenance—fixes that require special tools and a degree of mechanical savvy.