AM Santa Cruz 5010 Carbon CC

[jda]

After quitting DH racing I punted around on a hardtail for about 4 years, did a lot of trail riding and entered the odd enduro XC then gave up riding all together for almost a year. I had a lot going on but started to really miss riding bikes, I've been a MTB rider for almost 20 years now. Come 2015 I decided it was time to splash out and purchase a new bike, things had changed a lot, bigger wheels, dropper posts, none of which existed the last time I bought a bike, in fact I have not had the funds to purchase a complete bike since around 1998, only ever enough cash for upgraded parts or a new frame.

So this is what I decided to buy, its all custom built through Summit Cycles in Sydney, the guys there know me well enough to recommend something I would like. The first ride on this thing I was just chuckling to myself, its like a magic carpet ride, it just silently glides over everything, there ain't much worth slowing down for. I could not be more happy with the bike and besides setting up the sag I have not even played with the damper settings yet.

Here she is in all her orangeness!

Frame - Santa Cruz 5010 cc
Rear shock - Fox Float X2 Factory Kashima
Front shock/fork - RS Pike RCT3 140mm
Handlebars - Easton Carbon Haven
Stem - Thomson 70mm
Headset - Cane Creek Forty
Grips - Deity lock-on
Saddle - WTB Volt Pro
Seatpost - BikeYoke Revive Dropper
Brakes - Shimano XT
Cranks - Sram XO1 Carbon 34t 1x11
Chain - Sram XX1
Pedals - Nukeproof Electron Evo
Rear derailleur - Sram GX
Rear shifter - Sram XO1
Cassette - Sram X01 10 - 42
Hubs - DT Swiss 350
Front rim - Nextie AM 35mm Carbon (Custom Decals)
Rear rim - Nextie AM 40mm Carbon (Custom Decals)
Front tyre - Maxxis Ardent 2.4 Tubeless
Rear tyre - Maxxis Ikon 3C 2.3 Tubeless
Total weight - 12.4kg

 

[shanno89]

Top bike. Nice choice mate :rockon:

 

[kwikee]

That is a bloody sensational looking bicycle! I, for one, am certainly jealous.

 

[Ky1e]

Fucking sensational bike!

 

[EMF]

Mind Blowing

The only bike to buy = Ace build

 

[oriion]

I just scorched my retinas reading this thread !!

 

[quin66]

Very very nice.

 

[sane]

Loud, but I like it loud.

Let us know how you get on with the Ikon & 35mm rim. I was assured they would not play nicely together.

 

[Honzo15]

Gosh this is awesome.

 

[jda]

Let us know how you get on with the Ikon & 35mm rim. I was assured they would not play nicely together.

I'm not having any issues with it and I've clocked up almost 200km on the bike now. What issues should I be expecting?

 

[jda]

Just hit 300km's on the bike and loving it. My mate invited up to the northern beaches to ride some of his local trails 2 weeks ago, I think it was called bunnings, Bernies and Ya Mum. Anyway I had no trouble with any of it and then crashed on the very last drop on Ya Mum, not a big drop but as it turns out I had zero rebound damping on the rear shock which is pretty stupid as I used to be one of those guys who obsessed over their suspension settings

 

[EMF]

High end

Just hit 300km's on the bike and loving it. My mate invited up to the northern beaches to ride some of his local trails 2 weeks ago, I think it was called bunnings, Bernies and Ya Mum. Anyway I had no trouble with any of it and then crashed on the very last drop on Ya Mum, not a big drop but as it turns out I had zero rebound damping on the rear shock which is pretty stupid as I used to be one of those guys who obsessed over their suspension settings

No damage to the mind blowing high end frame I hope

 

[jda]

No damage to the mind blowing high end frame I hope

The bike is fine but my forearm hit a big rock, it hit the bone hard enough that it swelled up instantly like a golf ball and made me so dizzy I had to lie down for about 15 minutes. Good to ride again this weekend though.

 

[jda]

I've been getting way too many pinch flats with the Ikon rear tyre, I think it may be the tyre profile created with the wide rim and skinny tyre. I'm going to put a 2.3 rear on, probably Ardent and see how it goes, I know it will hurt the rolling speed but pinch flats really ruin your day.

 

[shanno89]

I've been getting way too many pinch flats with the Ikon rear tyre, I think it may be the tyre profile created with the wide rim and skinny tyre. I'm going to put a 2.3 rear on, probably Ardent and see how it goes, I know it will hurt the rolling speed but pinch flats really ruin your day.

I thought you were running tubeless?

 

[jda]

I thought you were running tubeless?

I am running tubeless yes. It seems they can be pinch flatted too and it usually involves a 1cm slice in the sidewall where the tyre meets the rim but my feeling is the tyre is too narrow for this wide rim. I've had 3 pinch flats now on the back tyre, 2 of them when tubeless and one today with a tube in, the front has not been a problem at all.

 

[jda]

I ended up with another Ardent 2.4 on the rear, so far it has been good as the extra volume gives a bit of protection.

I made this little video riding out at Menai, its not the best quality but i did try to remove some of the shake in post.

https://youtu.be/Bq_lSv2dlSo

I've also entered my first gravity enduro at Kempsey.

 

[jda]

Ended up 1st in class at the state gravity enduro yesterday, 9th position outright. My first time racing one of these and I was pretty surprised to do so well, the bike was perfect for this kind of event, a little sketchy on some of the steep sections and bigger gaps but still capable.

 

[Ky1e]

Ended up 1st in class at the state gravity enduro yesterday, 9th position outright. My first time racing one of these and I was pretty surprised to do so well, the bike was perfect for this kind of event, a little sketchy on some of the steep sections and bigger gaps but still capable.

Thought I recognized the bike. Well done on the Cat win mate!

 

[stinkytodamax]

Ended up 1st in class at the state gravity enduro yesterday, 9th position outright. My first time racing one of these and I was pretty surprised to do so well, the bike was perfect for this kind of event, a little sketchy on some of the steep sections and bigger gaps but still capable.

Well done jda. Purchase has now been justified!

I ride a carbon blur xc 100mm travel woth 650b wheels and am continually surprised at how stiff and capable short travel Santa Cruz bikes are.