Santa Cruz Bronson 5, mid travel MX player gets serious about gravity

Santa Cruz's Bronson has always been the joker in their pack, but for gen 5 this mid travel MX bike has put on some chunk and seen a raft of evolutions to make it way more controlled when things get steep and sketchy. Jump on board with me to see how it rides live on exactly those kinds of trails.
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[@chris__maltby]

If they only offer the CC frame as the frame only purchase option as with other models, that locks custom builds into having to use wireless tech. Unless you zip tie a cable along the frame of course.

[@DarrenSmith-x6h]

They offer c frameset

[@duncanhogben5275]

@@DarrenSmith-x6h For the UK, Jungle/Stif only bring in the CC as a bare frameset. C is only listed as available in complete bike builds.

[@Jump-n-smash]

I'm thinking of going the external route way. ffs SC.

[@mkrj2576]

A few problem solver sticky cable guides along the down tube has been my preferred routing.

[@ireddie]

Be a good patient wish you a speedy recovery. My best friend just did an Endo and it’s recovering from a broken collarbone as well.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@ireddie hope he recovers fast

[@grantwilliams2912]

It looks and sounds like a great bike.. Shame about wireless only, but it’s getting more common in the road too.. Druid V2 or Bron v5?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@grantwilliams2912 for really big stuff, Bron, for going crazy at the local (or anywhere janky and off piste) Druid

[@grantwilliams2912]

Thank you.. Went on a demo to ride the Druid V2.. Really liked it 🙂👍

[@MasterChronometer]

I thought Santa Cruz was above wireless only, looks like the brand peaked a few years ago and will probably push more into the super high end category. It’ll be a shame if they move away from VPP also, it’s such a user friendly linkage. Considering swapping my TB4 frame for a 5010 V5, looking like that will be my last SC.

[@TubbyMTB]

My favourite place to ride 👌🏽

[@deanf2259]

Where is that ?

[@jamesgrabowski6871]

It'd be nice if you posted where you sre riding including a gpx if it's somewhere that's unlikely to cause access issues. As Killhurn is on trailforks it's hardly secret or hidden

[@pauk9638]

Great video! I am currently debating if I should get a Stump Jumper 15 Pro or the new Bronson in the X0 AXS RSV configuration. My goal is to ride flow trails and single trails and maybe even some bike park. Can you give me a pointer which bike would potentially be the better option?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@pauk9638 the Stumpjumper is naturally the lighter and livelier of the two, but can be set up ‘sticky’ and grounded if you want with the Genie shock. If you’re thinking about park though I’d probably say Bronson is the more gravity biased in its default set up

[@Andy-co6pn]

Wireless only for the CC will allow an easy obvious weight reduction for the spec sheet studyers to justify paying the extra

[@Jump-n-smash]

I want a CC don't I don't want wireless. Why can't SC get it right?

[@JC-dd5dq]

Can anyone tell me where Guy is riding please? PS liking the look of that new Bronson!

[@traildaddi]

Yeah trails look sweet, would like to know where as I didn't recognize it, definitely not his usual Stainburn.

[@glynnbrewster2801]

Maybe kilburn

[@danielray1558]

So did you like the v4 better than the v5? As an all rounder but still hitting the bike parks 5-10x/year?

[@GuyKesTV]

For me yes. I like attacking the climbs and hustling the singletrack I'm used to working with more anti squat on the rough stuff. That makes the B4 a more rewarding ride to me but the B5 is definitely the easier ride on rougher / steeper / gnarlier stuff

[@xLOWDESERTPUNK]

I assume Kalimotxo looks the same as Magenta on the Heckler SL, right?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@xLOWDESERTPUNK very close

[@titiand]

Probably, just like my Switchblade, the secret to getting the front and rear in balance is getting rid of the fox fork and getting a Rockshox Lyric

[@GuyKesTV]

@@titiand quite possibly, but I’ve really liked how RS Super Deluxe shocks have felt in the recent Santa Cruz bikes too. I’ll keep playing around for as long as I’ve got it and see what works best

[@titiand]

@@GuyKesTV I could never get that fox 36 to work with the bike, for two seasons. tried every conceivable setting. I even had the fork retuned. I grabbed the new lyric this year and never looked back. The bike rides fantastic! There’s a chance the same switch would solve all the Bronsons issues.

[@OscarHernandez-xx2je]

Grab an e tuned Fox fork while you can. They’re a good deal and very smooth off the top while still having that great mid stroke support

[@duncanhogben5275]

Hi Guy, I have a V4.1 built up with my parts kit of choice (fox/shimano/hope/Zipp Moto based) and really love it. I was keen to hear how the V5 compared, as I do understand the comments re 'repeated square edge hits' coming through a tad, but maybe if I'm hearing you right from this review, I'd miss the awesome 'pop' and 'flippin-ek she's fun' too much compared to mine? The one thing I'm curious to try on my V4.1 though is a Cascade link; more from the added 4mm chainstay length rather than getting more travel, as I think a smidge more rear length might be nice. ( did this on my HT2 and liked to added length/stability at speed). I'd be really be interested in your thoughts? Ever tried a V4 with Cascade on? . Cheers, muddydunc.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@duncanhogben5275 I think you’d miss the pop TBH. I’ve not used the Cascade but it sounds like it would give similar geo to V5 while keeping a lot of the pop. Be very keen to hear what you think if you do try it

[@jpg6482]

any problems with new t-type chains snapping? I have been through a couple on my Yeti 160 already - never had this issue before!

[@GuyKesTV]

@@jpg6482 no, none at all. Had an occasionally jump on my first set up but nothing since

[@didzy9349]

Hey guy what was the constant klunkign noise every compression on the descents? Sounded pretty loud even on the tv?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@didzy9349 sorry, had the fender too close to the front tire 😵‍💫 Bike is really quiet without it

[@didzy9349]

@@GuyKesTV ahh right thought It was odd as it should be fairly quiet as the last gen was too - can’t be doing with noises like thuds etc so it’s good to hear it wasn’t anything bike related

[@slayerofmadnesss]

How do you feel this bike compares to the SC Nomad?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@slayerofmadnesss it’s feels very similar to the Nomad as the extra suspension smoothness at the rear and less kick back feels like more travel.

[@mkrj2576]

Can it fit a heavy casing 2.6 out back? That’s the ticket for an mx.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@mkrj2576 it’s officially 2.5 but most 2.6 are actually 2.4 anyway. Rock Razor would be my next move if I kept it

[@mkrj2576]

@@GuyKesTV oh, and thanks for the great review. Dig your style.

[@danfsims]

Santa Cruz rumoured to be ditching VPP?! Find it hard to see how they could make the current 5010 better with a 4-bar link - maybe they could make it safer, so people who can’t ride as well can enjoy it, but those riders tend to buy specialized bikes or over travelled enduro barges 🤷🏼‍♂️ Save VPP Guy FFS 😂

[@GuyKesTV]

@@danfsims Glad someone spotted that little nugget 😜 It’s not great news for punchy bike fans is it? Unfortunately that whole ‘easy riding for dumb people’ vibe seems like the trend now. See T-Type etc. for details

[@danfsims]

@@GuyKesTV It would be a massive shame for Santa Cruz, especially after the improvements they’ve made to VPP. As long as I can keep my v5 5010 running I’m happy. You were right when you said it gives riders the maximum reward for their technical riding - it’s a fast engaging bike sounds like the new Bronny is fast but less engaging.

[@kappaman2030]

Hope they do. VPP is has always been an extremely hard platform to dial in for all around riding. Either you dial it in for flow and it’s shite on chunk, or you tune it for chunk and it’s wallowy on flow. No in between.

[@danfsims]

@@kappaman2030 the newer iteration of VPP is much better than the platform they were using a few years ago. Some people like to feel what’s going on, some people even choose to ride hardtails 🤷🏼‍♂️ it’d be a shame if SC ditched VPP to cater for people who’d rather point and shoot, there are plenty of bikes for them and precious few for those who prefer an engaging ride.

[@Cartsp70]

Vpp is shite ! As for the Bronson it’s a bike that’s never ever made sense to me. It’s crap or climbing and it’s not very good at sending. I’d rather have a NOMAD the NOMAD is crap at climbing but amazing that descending!

[@ferencvarju651]

I always LOL over the thousand ways that journalists have to tell that a fork is harsh. This time it’s “Sitting on its shims”. 😁😂😂 It can also be “sporty”. “Taut”. “Not giving up its travel easily”. “Has strong compression damping”. OMG guys just tell us not to buy this particular model. Easier for everyone 😀

[@GuyKesTV]

@@ferencvarju651 haha, totally busted. Just trying to keep it interesting after spouting several million words about bikes over the years. But yeah, great bike, but maybe not with this fork unless you’re all about the steep stuff

[@dergore8954]

That bike is VERY heavy.

[@Justin-ny6un]

Why are you annoyed with Pinkbike commenters and your own viewers not being able to spec their £4k frame the way they want with a cabled drivetrain? But you also can’t buy the C version on its own, so have no choice. Im sure as you get to test bikes for free it’s not an issue for you. By the way it’s UDH not UDH Hanger. The H in UDH stands for Hanger. After more than 25 years of being a professional bike tester you could get that right. How’s that for some rage 😂

[@GuyKesTV]

@@Justin-ny6un ha, I feel completely and justifiably raged at. Did I really say that about UDH? That is truly dumb. And you’re right about the wireless thing. I’m not bothered by it much as Shimano top and mid range at least will be wireless very soon too. But yeah I’m totally banged to rights here and will go and stand in the corner and think about what I’ve done. Sorry.

[@michaelmicallef668]

@@GuyKesTVyou’re a class act mate. Honestly love your vibe!

[@GuyKesTV]

@@michaelmicallef668 I’m not going to pretend I’m never a dick when I get called out. There’s too much evidence that I clearly am 🤣