Bronson
- Overview
- Bike Builder
- Geometry and Sizing
- Technical Support
- Warranty
If in doubt, take a Bronson out
You know what’s hard about choosing what model of Santa Cruz suits you? It’s having to narrow down what kind of riding you want to do. But what if you don’t want to be pinned down by labels? What if you want to just be a mountain biker in the broadest sense of the word? What if you want to choose how you ride rather than what to ride? If this sounds familiar, then try a Bronson.
Our demo crew have a saying, ‘If in doubt, take a Bronson out’. The 150mm-travel bike can go deep on any landing and the VPP™ suspension design makes sure that there’s no wasted energy when heading back up for another go.
If you value style at speed or want to have fun feeling fast, then mixed wheels (29” up front, 27.5” out back) show that the spectrum is a loop not opposite points on a scale. The larger front wheel provides more traction and stability that’ll make you feel more confident squaring off the turns and diving for the inside lines. But a 27.5-inch tire in the rear means this bike still loves getting up on the back wheel and into the air.
From flat out on the trail to fully flat over a table, each generation of Bronson rider redefines expectations of what a mountain biker is.
- Thrasher in need of a micro-machine? Check out the 5010
- Big fan of the Bronson but want pedal-assist? Check out the Heckler eMTB
- Love the Bronson and want to see what Juliana has to offer? Check out the Roubion
- Proud owner of a Bronson? Find all the Rider Support info you need to keep enjoying it
Key Features:
| Available in: | Carbon C and Carbon CC |
| Wheel Size: | MX |
| Front Travel: | 160mm |
| Rear Travel: | 150mm |
R 5990 € EUR 33.02 lbs / 14.98 kg | S 6990 € EUR 32.53 lbs / 14.76 kg | GX AXS 8490 € EUR 32.36 lbs / 14.68 kg | GX AXS RSV 9690 € EUR 32.28 lbs / 14.64 kg | X01 9190 € EUR 31.1 lbs / 14.12 kg | X01 AXS RSV 11.290 € EUR 30.9 lbs / 14.02 kg | Frame 4090 € EUR 6.84 lbs / 3.1 kg |
|---|
Material Our C Carbon frames use the same proprietary processes of the highest spec CC Carbon frames to match the same legendary strength and stiffness standards. But the use of a different grade of carbon material results in a minimal weight gain. Learn More | Material Our C Carbon frames use the same proprietary processes of the highest spec CC Carbon frames to match the same legendary strength and stiffness standards. But the use of a different grade of carbon material results in a minimal weight gain. Learn More | Material Our C Carbon frames use the same proprietary processes of the highest spec CC Carbon frames to match the same legendary strength and stiffness standards. But the use of a different grade of carbon material results in a minimal weight gain. Learn More | Material Our C Carbon frames use the same proprietary processes of the highest spec CC Carbon frames to match the same legendary strength and stiffness standards. But the use of a different grade of carbon material results in a minimal weight gain. Learn More | Material CC denotes our highest grade carbon fiber frames. Use of the very best materials in the composite results in the lightest, best handling bikes. CC level bikes are also specced with the best wheels, drivetrains and suspension on these models. Learn More | Material CC denotes our highest grade carbon fiber frames. Use of the very best materials in the composite results in the lightest, best handling bikes. CC level bikes are also specced with the best wheels, drivetrains and suspension on these models. Learn More | Material CC denotes our highest grade carbon fiber frames. Use of the very best materials in the composite results in the lightest, best handling bikes. CC level bikes are also specced with the best wheels, drivetrains and suspension on these models. Learn More | ||
Rear Shock | Rear Shock | Rear Shock | Rear Shock | Rear Shock | Rear Shock | Rear Shock | ||
Fork | Fork | Fork | Fork | Fork | Fork | Fork | ||
Rear Derailleur | Rear Derailleur | Rear Derailleur | Rear Derailleur | Rear Derailleur | Rear Derailleur | Rear Derailleur | ||
Shifters | Shifters | Shifters | Shifters | Shifters | Shifters | Shifters | ||
Cassette | Cassette | Cassette | Cassette | Cassette | Cassette | Cassette | ||
Chain | Chain | Chain | Chain | Chain | Chain | Chain | ||
Bottom Bracket | Bottom Bracket | Bottom Bracket | Bottom Bracket | Bottom Bracket | Bottom Bracket | Bottom Bracket | ||
Headset | Headset | Headset | Headset | Headset | Headset | Headset | ||
Rear Tire | Rear Tire | Rear Tire | Rear Tire | Rear Tire | Rear Tire | Rear Tire | ||
Front Tire | Front Tire | Front Tire | Front Tire | Front Tire | Front Tire | Front Tire | ||
Sealant | Sealant | Sealant | Sealant | Sealant | Sealant | Sealant | ||
Front Hub | Front Hub | Front Hub | Front Hub | Front Hub | Front Hub | Front Hub | ||
Front Rim | Front Rim | Front Rim | Front Rim | Front Rim | Front Rim | Front Rim | ||
Rear Hub | Rear Hub | Rear Hub | Rear Hub | Rear Hub | Rear Hub | Rear Hub | ||
Rear Rim | Rear Rim | Rear Rim | Rear Rim | Rear Rim | Rear Rim | Rear Rim | ||
Front Rotor | Front Rotor | Front Rotor | Front Rotor | Front Rotor | Front Rotor | Front Rotor | ||
Rear Rotor | Rear Rotor | Rear Rotor | Rear Rotor | Rear Rotor | Rear Rotor | Rear Rotor | ||
Brakes | Brakes | Brakes | Brakes | Brakes | Brakes | Brakes | ||
Crankset | Crankset | Crankset | Crankset | Crankset | Crankset | Crankset | ||
Handlebars | Handlebars | Handlebars | Handlebars | Handlebars | Handlebars | Handlebars | ||
Stem | Stem | Stem | Stem | Stem | Stem | Stem | ||
Saddle | Saddle | Saddle | Saddle | Saddle | Saddle | Saddle | ||
Seatpost | Seatpost | Seatpost | Seatpost | Seatpost | Seatpost | Seatpost | ||
Grips Our House Grips have an aggressive knurl pattern for all-weather grip, finger ridges for added control and soft, yet durable rubber compound. They come in either 30 or 32mm width and have an inboard snap-on lock ring to keep them tight but no ring on the outboard side so they’re super comfortable. And they’ll do your taxes* *not true. But they are really good. Learn More | Grips Our House Grips have an aggressive knurl pattern for all-weather grip, finger ridges for added control and soft, yet durable rubber compound. They come in either 30 or 32mm width and have an inboard snap-on lock ring to keep them tight but no ring on the outboard side so they’re super comfortable. And they’ll do your taxes* *not true. But they are really good. Learn More | Grips Our House Grips have an aggressive knurl pattern for all-weather grip, finger ridges for added control and soft, yet durable rubber compound. They come in either 30 or 32mm width and have an inboard snap-on lock ring to keep them tight but no ring on the outboard side so they’re super comfortable. And they’ll do your taxes* *not true. But they are really good. Learn More | Grips Our House Grips have an aggressive knurl pattern for all-weather grip, finger ridges for added control and soft, yet durable rubber compound. They come in either 30 or 32mm width and have an inboard snap-on lock ring to keep them tight but no ring on the outboard side so they’re super comfortable. And they’ll do your taxes* *not true. But they are really good. Learn More | Grips Our House Grips have an aggressive knurl pattern for all-weather grip, finger ridges for added control and soft, yet durable rubber compound. They come in either 30 or 32mm width and have an inboard snap-on lock ring to keep them tight but no ring on the outboard side so they’re super comfortable. And they’ll do your taxes* *not true. But they are really good. Learn More | Grips Our House Grips have an aggressive knurl pattern for all-weather grip, finger ridges for added control and soft, yet durable rubber compound. They come in either 30 or 32mm width and have an inboard snap-on lock ring to keep them tight but no ring on the outboard side so they’re super comfortable. And they’ll do your taxes* *not true. But they are really good. Learn More | Grips | ||
Travel | Travel | Travel | Travel | Travel | Travel | Travel | ||
Wheel Size | Wheel Size | Wheel Size | Wheel Size | Wheel Size | Wheel Size | Wheel Size |
Geometry
| XS | S | M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 405 | 430 | 455 | 475 | 500 |
| Stack | 594 | 617 | 626 | 635 | 649 |
| Head Tube Angle | 64.7° | 64.7° | 64.7° | 64.7° | 64.7° |
| Seat Tube Length | 370 | 380 | 405 | 430 | 460 |
| Front Center | 722 | 757 | 786 | 811 | 842 |
| BB Height | 344 | 344 | 344 | 344 | 344 |
| BB Drop | 10 | 29/10 | 29/10 | 29/10 | 29/10 |
| Wheelbase | 1149 | 1188 | 1221 | 1249 | 1284 |
| Rear Center | 427 | 431 | 435 | 438 | 442 |
| Head Tube Length | 110 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 135 |
| Top Tube Length | 536 | 570 | 599 | 623 | 653 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 77.6° | 77.2° | 77.1° | 76.9° | 76.7° |
| Standover Height | 701 | 709 | 731 | 729 | 728 |
Units
cm
Frame Sizing
If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, consider the following.
Personal Preference
A larger size frame will be more stable, and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.
Body Dimension
Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.
Units
cm
XS
S
M
L
XL
Design Details
Design Details
1 / 6
150mm VPP™ travel
The 150mm-travel bike has enough travel to go deep on any landing and the VPP™ suspension design makes sure that there’s no wasted energy when heading back up for another go.
Mix of both worlds
The mixed wheel configuration of a 29-inch wheel up front provides traction and stability, while the 27.5" rear wheel allows for quick back wheel steering and lifting.
Geo to match
The Bronson's chainstay length is matched to frame size so every rider, no matter their height, gets the same balanced geometry and bike fit.
Coil or air
The Bronson frame fits all sizes and types of rear shocks.
Made to last many lifetimes
The legendary Santa Cruz fit, finish and quality construction put this into a league of its own. The frame, bearings and optional Reserve wheels come with a lifetime warranty and any service is easy to do with our Rider Support pledge.
Tough Carbon Frame
Why scrap a frame when a simple bearing service can make one last a lifetime? That's our stance on sustainability at least, and it's why our carbon fiber doesn’t just mean lighter, it means tough as hell, lifetime warranty and crash replacement support.
Maintenance Information
Reserve Wheels
How to find your serial number
Something not right? Use our warranty claim form to file a claim. We'll do everything we can to get you back to riding as fast as possible.
File a claim for a Santa Cruz product
If you have any other questions or would like to follow up on a warranty claim, contact our Warranty Department.
Bronson Tech Support
| Suspension System | VPP |
| Front Derailleur | No compatibility |
| Headset/Headtube | Integrated (IS41/52) |
| Seat Post | 31.6mm |
| Seat Clamp | 36.4mm |
| Eye to Eye length | 230mm |
| Stroke | 60mm |
| Fork Compatibility | 160mm |
| BB Shell | 73mm Threaded |
| Max Tire Size | 2.6" |
| Max Chainring Size | 36t |
| Water Bottle Mounts | 1 |
| Shock Mounting Bushing Front | 30x8 (standard bushing) |
| Shock Mounting Bushing Rear | 30x8 (roller bearing) |
| Brake Mount | 180 PM |
| Fork Offset | 37mm (XS) | 44mm (S-XL) |
| Fork Offset (Rockshox Lyrik) | 42mm (S-XL) |
Download the shock setup PDF for this bike and get even more detailed sag, high/low rebound, and high/low compression recommendations for shocks below and get recommendations for the fork in each build.
Fox Float Performance
| Rider Weight | Air Pressure | Shock Sag |
|---|---|---|
| 100lbs (45.5kg) | 105 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 120lbs (54.4kg) | 125 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 140lbs (63.5kg) | 145 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 160lbs (72.6kg) | 165 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 180lbs (81.8kg) | 185 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 200lbs (90.7kg) | 205 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 220lbs (99.8kg) | 225 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 240lbs (108.8kg) | 245 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 260lbs (117.9kg) | 265 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
| Rider Weight | Air Pressure | Shock Sag |
|---|---|---|
| 100lbs (45.5kg) | 85 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 120lbs (54.4kg) | 105 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 140lbs (63.5kg) | 130 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 160lbs (72.6kg) | 150 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 180lbs (81.8kg) | 175 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 200lbs (90.7kg) | 195 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 220lbs (99.8kg) | 220 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 240lbs (108.8kg) | 240 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
| 260lbs (117.9kg) | 265 psi | 16.5-19 mm |
Can I put a 27.5 front wheel on the Bronson?
These bikes are designed specifically to use mixed wheels. We do not recommend a 27.5 front wheel for geometry reasons. The XS size is the exception as it's designed for 27.5".
Do all sizes use MX wheels?
The XS size Bronson uses 27.5" wheels front and rear. All other sizes are MX
I see there are different chainstay lengths for each size bike. Can I buy a different swingarm to customize the length on my bike?
The chainstay length change occurs in the front triangles- we vary the pivot locations fore and aft to achieve the different lengths while using a single size swingarm. So no- you cannot get the chainstay length of the small on your size large, for instance.
I'm coming from a 27.5 bike- what will feel different with MX? Any setup tips?
An MX bike will definitely handle differently than a full 27.5 bike. The main difference you'll feel is a more stable and confident front end. The turning will be a bit slower than a 27.5, but the payoff is a more secure feeling in corners and more traction. Due to the taller front axle height and improved roll-over of the large wheel, your chances of stuffing the front wheel or going over the bars is vastly diminished. Use this security to ride challenging terrain with a more aggressive and dynamic body position.
I've been riding 29ers for a while- what will feel different with MX? Any setup tips?
29" bikes provide a ton of front wheel grip- this is partially due to the front wheel itself, but also due to the axle height of the rear wheel which works to keep the front end weighted. This creates a natural position on lower-angle terrain but requires body position and/or setup adjustments to achieve any sort of rearward bias.
On an MX bike, the bias is more rearward. This gives a very natural feeling on steep descents, but requires some body position and setup consideration for a balanced feel on flatter terrain. Compared to a 29er, a slightly lower handlebar and a more forward-biased suspension setup will make an MX bike feel more like what you're used to. Additionally, using the Hi BB setting will lend itself to a more front biased feel. Using these tuning parameters will help you find the sweet spot for your terrain and preference.
You'll know you have it dialed when it feels like you're never making large bodyweight shifts to either lift the front end or keep it stuck to the ground.
What fork offset is the recommended?
The Bronson comes with 42-44mm offset forks, and this is what we recommend for optimal handling. The size XS come with a 37mm offset 27.5" fork
What's the largest rear rotor that will fit on the Bronson?
The minimum is 180mm (direct mount) and the largest is 223mm
Why are there two different measurements listed for BB Drop?
BB drop is the measurement between the center of the bottom bracket and the front and rear axles. Because the Bronson (S-XL) comes with two different wheel sizes the BB drop is greater up front.
Why MX (Mixed Wheels)?
Mixed wheels provide the stability and traction of a 29" front wheel with the agility of a 27.5" rear wheel. The smaller rear wheel and its comparatively lower axle height allows the rider to more easily unweight the front wheel- this makes for confident yet agile handling on the steepest of descents.
We design our bikes to last, to be easy to work on and we make sure to provide the parts and information so you can make your bike last for many lifetimes.
