Santa Cruz 5010 V5: Is it really the best handling MTB ever?

There's a lot to unwrap about why Santa Cruz's short travel MX trail bike rides so well. Where better to try and explain that live than the horrible janky awkwardness Stainburn trail centre where handling trumps travel and wheel size every time.
Any questions as always get busy in the comments. But if you're wondering why I'm staring at the floor some of the time that's because I forgot the chest mount for the second filming session so had to zip tie the camera to my helmet and then edit the peak out. Sorry for being an idiot.
But if that's not put you off and you really want to support the channel then please think about becoming a supporter on Patreon. It really does make a massive difference to how much time I can sneak away from writing to get the GoPro out. It means you'll get all my edits early and ad free too.
Cheers
GuyKes

[@SuperJontyB]

Building mine next week, really can’t wait for that visceral feeling you get from a scalpel of a trail bike that pops of everything which inevitably results in hooliganism type affairs⚡️

[@GuyKesTV]

That’s exactly what you’re going to get too 👌🏻

[@davemurphy8953]

This is on my very short list of next bike, this video confirms my suspicions about the rad machine this thing is. Thanks for the video Guy

[@tomc0240]

This review helped me decide on and order a 5010 v5 S as my first full sus mtb. Esp. since it was nearly 50% off.. Can't wait!

[@GuyKesTV]

Fantastic, enjoy 🤘🏻

[@tomc0240]

​@@GuyKesTV what should I buy for an upgraded rear shock on this nimble beast? Any recommended upgrades?

[@casey3970]

I just got the 23’ 5010c in black. Never ridden anything like it. I truly love it and I will pour into this frame and build until it breaks

[@GuyKesTV]

@@casey3970 awesome to hear

[@jonwilcock4200]

“Get the most sense of achievement out of your most aggressive riding” Mr Kesteven at his absolute best!

[@GuyKesTV]

It's the bikes that really do the talking, I just listen to them. Or some sort of BS like that 🤣

[@braddersfire13]

Bought a reduced 5010 v4 Golden Yellow. That’s a fantastic bike. But it came with maxx grip tyres, I thought I’d bought the wrong bike, changed those slug slow tyres, and WOW I’d got a rocket between my legs 😮😅

[@scottrobinson9396]

I've got the same V4 what did you change your tyres too??

[@braddersfire13]

Hi Scott I went Exo Highroller Il on the front and a EXO Ardent on the back. Bloody awesome.I never really went in for all the tyre compound bullshit but after removing the Maxx grip ones , Good god I do now. Those stock tyres might be top flight but they have no place on a 5010 .It will transform yours if you haven’t already done it.

[@davelotts3250]

Just picked this up(slightly different spec) and cannot wait to ride it! been itching for a SC since I got rid of my Orange Four which I reckon was a similar guise to this, can't wait!!

[@GuyKesTV]

If you liked the Four this should be right up your street 🤘🏻

[@LeviWood-bi9qb]

Just built up my 5010 as a mini enduro build w/ fox 36 140mm and Assegai/Aggressor tire setup and this thing absolutely rips both up and downhill. Coming from my 38lb spire this thing feels light as a feather for getting sideways. Dig it.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@LeviWood-bi9qb nice build 🙌🏻

[@peteh7147]

Great live ride review as ever especially with a broken rib after a Bob Vylan concert. 🤘🤘🤘

[@GuyKesTV]

Cheers Pete, it was literally a cracking circle pit 🤣🤣🤘🏻

[@petedog9581]

The Pike Select is a better fork than the Fox 34. It has the RC2 charger damper/air spring, That is the same internals as the Ultimate line but not the H & L speed adjustments. The Pike also has 35 mm stanchions. I upforked from a Fox 34 140 mm to a Pike Select 150 mm on my Stumpjumper. It was a great move. It is stiffer laterally and buttery smooth.

[@OLTYB]

Hi! Awesome review. I own a 2022 Orbea Occam h30 with 4 piston SLX breakes, and dt rims + 350 hubs. I'm looking for a carbon bike. Does teh 5010 C S will be as good, as fun "do it all" bike as orbea? What I'm riding is flowy blues, tecchy red trails, and XC trails as well. Cheers.

[@brynliz]

Hi Guy great review as always, I’ve got a stage 5 I bought in 2019 from your review, was toying with the idea of buying the current 5010 frame and a rear wheel. Love my stage 5, worth doing you reckon?. Love your shades and helmet combo what are the glasses please?. Cheers 👍

[@GuyKesTV]

They’re a new brand called Viris. Seem really good value so far. Full review coming soon

[@MW-ud8zp]

Really creative camera angles!

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks man, I was trying on this one. The really 'staring down at the front wheel' stuff was an emergency coping strategy. I forgot the chest mount for the second session so had to zip tie the GoPro to my helmet and then crop out the peak so lost the 'forward' section of the view.

[@federicomarmolejo1952]

Superb review ❤‍🔥

[@GuyKesTV]

Cheers Federico

[@uberamd]

I was wondering what became of your Spectral 125 mullet experiment. That explains it!

[@GuyKesTV]

Yup, the good folk of Koblenz were not big on the mullet and coil Spectral. The funniest thing was the UK guys were like "so was it as good as we think it would be?" 🤣

[@danfsims]

Bought a V3 5010, then a status 160, then a stumpy Evo all after watching/reading your reviews and they were all fantastic bikes. Just put a deposit on. 5010 V5 and I can’t wait tbh - the Druid comparison was interesting, maybe a less flattering view of the 5010 than this review? Do you think it’ll be ok for classic Peak off piste like Goyt, Winhill and Wildbank and the odd Welsh enduro race?

[@sddmag9345]

HI ! please help me with choosing a bike please ! I would like a unique option, for example: I like to ride around the city on stairs, jump in the park , I would also like to be able to ride on forest roads and hight mountains both downhill and uphiil, so what should i choose ? 5010, Bronson or HightTower ?! Pleas help me Thank you !

[@MrPiowpiow]

Thoughts on 5010 vs Forbidden Druid? Or maybe more so Druid vs Bronson

[@GuyKesTV]

Shot a 5010 V Druid video yesterday, hopefully edited by the weekend

[@SuzeM_C_GravityRider]

Realize MX wheels on the 5010, but how does it compare to the Yeti SB135, loved your review of that bike

[@mathewmccabe2658]

Trying to decide between those two and the sb140

[@Ogle457]

I built that freshish track 🎉

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks so much for that, it's such a sick run. I like it's friend too 🙏

[@thatprcrawlerguy187]

I don’t have large rocks or holders where I ride. An Ikon 2.8 fits perfectly in the 5010. Though I haven’t measured it. I’m pretty sure these Ikons 2.8 don’t measure 2.8. Either way. Plusher feeling with decent Corning grip for my needs

[@DarrenSmith-x6h]

Hi guy what do u think of putting a 36 150mm on it

[@grantwilliams2912]

I love my 5010 v5 🙂👍

[@lagwall]

Santa Cruz FTW!

[@marksandoval5361]

Some thoughts on the 5010. ---Ideal trail bike geo, 65* HTA, 77* STA, thumbs up. ---Some lighter faster rubber would up the fun factor. ---Expensive for what you get. ---G2 brakes should be discontinued. Spec the Codes ---Not convinced about the benefits of mullets. ---If the Tallboy came with a 140mm fork and the 5010 geo, I think it would be better than the 5010.

[@GuyKesTV]

I've switched to a Schwalbe Hans Dampf on the front and a Rock Razor on the back and it's a totally different bike. I had a few moments where I forgot the Hans wasn't a Mary though so I might need to swap to something a bit chunkier up front. RRP is definitely high, but there are some real bargains on the 5010 now, esp in this 'old' spec. G2 to Code - absolutely. Mullets, I hear you. Always feel draggy with chunky tyres and I like the 'free speed' of a 29er. Since I started sticking a semi slick in the back to up the speed I've been loving the MX handling vibe this year. Makes me feel like a teenager schralping for the 'gram even if I still probably look like an old man on a Zimmer frame 🤣 TBH I wanted to love the V4 and V5 Tallboy so much but V3 is still peak Tallboy for me, and that's basically the current long travel Blur

[@grantwilliams2912]

I have Hope Tech 4’s on my 5010 and one up dropper. I prefer chunky tyres as they suit the trails I ride. The MX really works for me, the bikes really good thro’ the curves, and on the steep drops I still get buzzed by the rear tyre when hanging off the back.. SC seem to make some great bikes, my friend had the v4 TB and really likes it

[@Andy-co6pn]

When Guy talks in the non shouty voice, reminds me of the late great John Noakes

[@GuyKesTV]

@@Andy-co6pn I’ll take that for sure “Come on Shep!”

[@Bonky-wonky]

@@GuyKesTVdhf 2.5/rekon 2.4, both maxxterra exo version works great for me on anything that’s not crazy steep and slippery. Slap a dissector or dhr2 at the back when it’s really greasy and you’re set. I run this combo on my v4, works perfectly.

[@grantwilliams2912]

I run my 5010 V5 on the current Lyric at 140mm.. It seems to work well

[@livefreeandshred9818]

Hard to beat the druid v2 for a trail bike in my eyes

[@GuyKesTV]

You’ll be interested to watch the 5010 V Druid video I just shot then. Hopefully edited and up by this weekend

[@cliffordrichardc]

Is it really the best handling MTB

[@docmccoy9813]

I'm happy with my 26" full suspension enduro KTM. I bet it handles better than that SC

[@suspendedmofo]

is this a joke?

[@docmccoy9813]

@@suspendedmofo As serious as a heart attack

[@suspendedmofo]

@@docmccoy9813 alrighty.. never rode both, but let me tell you: it does not handle better than the actual geometry bikes..

[@likeris2]

trek slash 5 gen is mutch better in any way.

[@Steve-nu9op]

wat! cant understand half of what youre saying lol

[@GuyKesTV]

Sorry mate, I get excited! If you want my written review check out Bikeperfect.com. I'll be doing a tech talk round review as well which should hopefully be easier to understand 🤞🏻