Home Brands Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

by Dr. Watts'on
Santa Cruz electric bikes brand information

Santa Cruz Bikes

  • Founded: 1993
  • Country: United States
  • Range: High-performance mountain bikes
  • Price Segment: High-end
  • Reputation: Premium brand known for innovative designs and high-quality materials. Especially valued for VPP suspension and carbon frames.
  • Aesthetics: Performance-oriented, durable, and reliable, with a strong emphasis on quality and innovation.
  • Overall Quality: Very high, with a focus on craftsmanship and advanced technologies like VPP suspension and carbon fiber construction.
  • Longevity: High, with robust constructions and a lifetime warranty on frames and bearings.
  • Customer Service: Excellent, with hand-assembly of bikes in the US and a strong focus on customer satisfaction.
  • After-Sales Service: Excellent, with comprehensive warranties and support.

Who or What is Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz Bicycles is a prestigious bike brand founded in 1993 in Santa Cruz, California, by Rich Novak, Mike Marquez, and former professional skateboarder Rob Roskopp. The company started small but quickly made a name for itself by producing innovative and high-quality mountain bikes.

Santa Cruz is known for its commitment to quality and performance, earning a reputation as one of the most respected and sought-after brands in the mountain bike industry. The bikes are hand-assembled at their facility in Santa Cruz.

What Makes Santa Cruz Good or Unique?

What makes Santa Cruz Bicycles particularly noteworthy is their use of advanced technologies and high-quality materials. One of the key technologies that sets them apart is the Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension system. This system offers more design flexibility and provides a more efficient and comfortable ride, even on the roughest terrain.

Additionally, Santa Cruz is known for their advanced carbon fiber constructions, which are both lightweight and strong, and their handmade frames that offer high durability. A potential downside of Santa Cruz bikes is their price. They fall into the high-end price segment.

The target audience of Santa Cruz Bicycles primarily consists of serious mountain bike enthusiasts and professional riders looking for the best performance and durability in their bikes. This includes both competitive racers and recreational riders willing to invest in a high-quality bike that will serve them well for years to come.

Santa Cruz Electric Bikes 2024

Categories of Bikes and Models:

  • Trail Bikes: 5010, Tallboy
  • Enduro Bikes: Megatower, Hightower
  • Cross Country Bikes: Blur, Highball
  • Electric Bikes: Heckler, Bullit, Skitch

Our articles about Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz History

Santa Cruz Bicycles was founded in 1993 in Santa Cruz, California, by Rich Novak, Mike Marquez, and former professional skateboarder Rob Roskopp. It started as a small company in a garage but quickly grew into a leading brand in the mountain bike industry.

The first model, the Tazmon, was an innovative full-suspension mountain bike that made an immediate impact on the market. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Santa Cruz developed a series of groundbreaking bikes, including the Blur, which introduced their patented Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension system.

In 2015, Santa Cruz was acquired by Pon Holdings, which provided them with more resources and a broader distribution network​​.

Santa Cruz Timeline

  • 1993: Founding of Santa Cruz Bicycles.
  • 1994: Introduction of the first full-suspension mountain bike, the Tazmon.
  • 1999: Launch of the Chameleon hardtail model.
  • 2002: Introduction of the Blur with the VPP suspension system.
  • 2006: Expansion of the lineup with the Nomad, an all-mountain bike.
  • 2013: Launch of the Bronson, a very popular enduro model.
  • 2015: Acquisition by Pon Holdings.
  • 2020: Introduction of the first e-bikes, the Heckler and Bullit.
  • 2023: Celebration of 30 years of innovation and excellence in the mountain bike industry.

Santa Cruz News in 2024

In 2024, Santa Cruz announced several significant changes and new product introductions. Joe Graney, the CEO of Santa Cruz Bicycles, has announced that he will step down to spend more time with his family. He will be succeeded by Folkert Lamsvelt, an experienced member of Pon Bike. This transition marks a new chapter for the company​.

Additionally, Santa Cruz has introduced the latest version of their famous downhill bike, the V10.8. This new version offers improved geometry settings and customization options, allowing riders to better tailor the bike to their riding style and terrain.

Santa Cruz Contact and Warranty

Santa Cruz Bicycles offers an extensive warranty that contributes to their reputation for quality and reliability. For frames and rigid forks, Santa Cruz provides a lifetime warranty to the original registered owner. This warranty covers manufacturing and material defects and offers the possibility of repair or replacement of the defective frame or fork. It is important to note that frames purchased before May 1, 2015, are covered under an earlier five-year warranty​.

Additionally, Santa Cruz offers a lifetime warranty on their pivot bearings for the original owner of the bike. This warranty covers the replacement of bearings, though labor costs for replacement are not covered. Another unique aspect of their warranty is the “No-Fault Replacement” program, where replacement frame parts are available at minimal cost in the event of an accident or other non-warranty situations during the bike’s lifetime​.

Santa Cruz Contact Information

For customer service and support, customers can contact Santa Cruz through various channels. The main contact information is as follows: