Santa Cruz Bronson 2025 – Santa Cruz’s new all-round weapon for the trail?

Santa Cruz market the Bronson as a trail bike with a wild side, which combines 160/150 mm of travel and a mullet wheel setup for agile handling. Despite a radical facelift, the new Bronson is distinctly recognisable as a Santa Cruz. So, what else has changed, and how does it ride? We took it for a spin to find out!

Santa Cruz is one of the names that needs no introduction in the mountain biking world. Established in 1994, the Californian manufacturer has been synonymous with core mountain bikes with a unique identity, deeply rooted in the brand’s idyllic hometown of Santa Cruz, California. Although based in the same city, Santa Cruz Skateboards and Santa Cruz Bikes aren’t related. In 2015, Santa Cruz Bikes was acquired by PON Holdings, a Dutch conglomerate in the transportation sector that also owns other big names like Cervélo and Focus.

The Bronson is the “do-it-all” bike in Santa Cruz’s extensive portfolio and now enters its fifth generation. Not much has changed in the core specs: 160 mm of travel at the front and 150 mm at the rear – numbers that suggest a potent trail bike that should be able to handle tough trails and even the bike park tracks without breaking a sweat. Just like its predecessor, it relies on a mullet wheel setup with a big 29” wheel at the front and smaller 27.5” wheel at the rear. This is meant to ensure stability at the front and nimbleness at the rear. The flagship model of the new Bronson sets you back a hefty € 9,999, tipping the scales at a very reasonable 14.9 kg. We tested the bike in its intended environment: singletracks, bike parks, and of course, on our beloved home trails. How did it fare?

The new 2025 Santa Cruz Bronson trail bike in detail – Familiar yet different

When thinking of Santa Cruz bikes, there’s one thing that immediately springs to mind: the unique frame silhouette with the unmistakable VPP rear suspension, deeply integrated shock, and the one-piece swingarm, which all make it distinctly recognisable as a Santa Cruz. A bold paint finish and striking branding round off the overall classy picture. All in all, the new Bronson carries on Santa Cruz’s brand identity with great pride. But as they say, the devil’s in the details.

At first glance, the Bronson features all the classic design elements you’d expect to find on a Santa Cruz. Upon closer inspection, however, you’ll notice that the design language has evolved significantly. With the previous Bronson generation, the shock was snugly enclosed in the frame. Now, the frame opens up into an inverted Y shape around the shock area, and the shock itself now sits lower in the downtube, which tapers towards the front shock mount. The Y-shape doesn’t just look cool but also makes it easier to set up the shock.

However, the new design comes at the expense of the storage space. You’ll notice the difference especially when filling up the storage compartment in the downtube. The compartment comes standard with two zippered pouches, which are cleverly divided into sections: an elongated pocket, ideal for a spare tube, and a second pocket split into smaller sections, which is perfect for spares and a puncture repair kit. The compartment’s closure is high-quality and easy to operate, and the bottle cage fits neatly onto the lid. There’s no tool mount on the frame, but the practical storage compartment is more than enough to carry all your trail essentials.

Santa Cruz offers the Bronson in two versions with different carbon frames, which are built using different layups: the cheaper C and the high-modulus CC. The cables are routed internally and disappear into the frame through the steerer tube, ensuring a clean look and quiet ride. Only the rear brake line is routed externally, with a rather long cable section running parallel to the shock just above the downtube. The pricier CC frame doesn’t have ports on the frame for cable-operated drivetrains, which could be a drawback for some riders and home mechanics, as this forces you to use a wireless drivetrain like SRAM’s AXS groupset.

Another highlight is the chainstay protector: it’s soft and finely ribbed, effectively preventing chain slap on the trail. The Bronson is as quiet as a mouse — unless something falls out of the frame pockets! ;-)

The specs of the new 2025 Santa Cruz Bronson CC X0 AXS RSV

Our test bike, the Santa Cruz Bronson CC X0 AXS RSV, is the flagship model in the new Bronson lineup. As mentioned earlier, the CC suffix stands for the higher-grade carbon frame, while X0 AXS refers to the drivetrain, specifically SRAM’s electronic X0 AXS Transmission, which relies on a direct-mount rear derailleur and delivers butter-smooth shifting even under load. RSV stands for the Reserve 30 HD wheelset, which, like the frame, is made of carbon and produced in-house by the Californian manufacturer. The best part: just like the frame, the carbon wheels come with a lifetime warranty for the original owner. But don’t worry, the spec breakdown doesn’t end here.

FOX supply the top-tier Factory suspension with fancy Kashima coating. At the front, a FOX 36 Factory fork generates 160 mm of travel and relies on the new Grip X2 damper, which offers the same countless adjustment options as its GRIP2 predecessor but sits higher in its travel. At the rear, a FOX FLOAT X Factory shock controls 150 mm of travel and delivers the same sensitive response as the fork.

Tuning Tip: Heavy, aggressive riders and park rats should upgrade to a more robust rear tire with the tough DoubleDown casing once the original tire is worn out.

Braking is taken care of by SRAM’s latest Maven stoppers, which rely on mineral oil and ensure powerful, reliable deceleration. The Silver Edition brakes of our test bike are just like the top-tier Ultimate variant only without the carbon and titanium parts. Despite the smaller 180 mm rotor at the rear (200 mm front), we can’t complain in terms of braking power. However, heavy riders might want to consider upgrading to a bigger 200 mm rotor at the rear to prevent the brakes from overheating on long descents, especially if you spend plenty of time on steep descents. For the new Bronson, Santa Cruz relies on MAXXIS tires, combining an Assegai in the soft MaxxGripp compound at the front and a Minion DHR II in the MaxxTerra compound at the rear, both in the EXO+ casing. This combo ensures plenty of traction even in wet conditions and offers solid puncture protection for a trail bike. Bike park enthusiasts or heavy, aggressive riders might want to upgrade to the tougher DoubleDown (DD) casing, at least at the rear. While the 180 mm OneUp V3 dropper post ensures good freedom of movement on the trail, the longer-travel 210 mm variant would fit nicely on our test bike in size L. However, all the bling comes at a price: the Bronson flagship model retails at an eye-watering € 9,999, tipping the scales at a very reasonable 14.9 kg.

More spec options for the 2025 New Santa Cruz Bronson

The new Santa Cruz Bronson is available in five different versions, including the top-spec model we tested. But don’t worry, the other four variants have plenty to offer too. All four come with the same MAXXIS tire combo and in-house Reserve aluminium wheelset (available later this year), which differ in specifications and hubs. Two models also feature the wireless AXS Transmission groupset: the C GX AXS model and the Bronson CC X0 AXS. The main difference between the two? The GX model comes with the C-Carbon frame, while the X0 AXS is based on the high-modulus CC frame. But let’s break it down:

The Santa Cruz Bronson CC X0 AXS is the second most expensive model and, aside from the aluminium Reserve wheels, is identical to the top-spec bike we tested. It costs €8,799.

The Santa Cruz Bronson C GX AXS mid-range model retails at € 7,399 and relies on the slightly heavier C frame. The suspension is different too: instead of FOX’s top-tier Factory suspension you’ll get a Performance Elite setup, which offers the same adjustment options and delivers the same tremendous performance on the trail. The GX AXS Transmission drivetrain is wireless too and relies on the same direct-mount rear derailleur. The SRAM Maven Bronze brakes are just as powerful as the Silver version, but lack the bite point adjustment. This model weighs XX kg and is our top pick for value at € 7,399!

For the two entry-level models, the Bronson C R and C S, Santa Cruz rely on more basic components. The suspension, for example, offers less adjustment options. The R spec variant comes equipped with a RockShox Lyrik Base fork and FOX Rhythm shock, while the pricier S model employs a FOX 36 Performance fork and matching FLOAT X Performance shock. Both models feature SRAM DB8 Stealth brakes, which are less detailed, but the master cylinder is close to the handlebar.

The R model comes with an SDG Tellis dropper post rather than the OneUp V3 dropper you get with the other models. The S model weighs XX kg and costs € 6,399, while the R model weighs XX kg and retails at € 5,499.

The geometry of the new 2025 Santa Cruz Bronson

For the new model year, Santa Cruz only tweaked the geometry of the Bronson slightly. However, the changes are more evident for smaller riders, as size XS is no longer available. Like all other sizes, size S now has a slightly longer 432 mm reach. The Bronson is now available in five sizes, S to XXL, all of which rely on a mullet wheel setup with a: 29” wheel at the front and smaller 27.5” wheel at the rear. The chainstays grow with the frame size, from 437 mm in S to 448 mm in XXL. In the low setting, our test bike in size L combines a moderate 478 mm reach and relatively high front end with 643 mm stack height. The head angle is now slacker than with the predecessor: to be exact 0.6° slacker in the low flip chip setting and 0.5° in the high setting. This results in an aggressive 63.9° in low and 64.2° in high. The seat tube angle is significantly steeper (over 1°), measuring 77.9° in the low setting and 78.2° in the high setting. The anti-squat values – how much the rear suspension stiffens up under chain tension – have also been reduced, ensuring a more comfortable ride even when climbing.

Size	SM	MD	LG	XL	XXL
Top Tube	573 mm	598 mm	623 mm	647 mm	671 mm
Seat Tube	380 mm	405 mm	430 mm	460 mm	500 mm
Head Tube	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm	150 mm	160 mm
Head Angle	63.9°	63.9°	63.9°	63.9°	63.9°
Seat Angle	77.3°	77.6°	77.9°	78.0°	78.1°
Chainstay	438 mm	440 mm	443 mm	446 mm	449 mm
BB Drop	32 mm	32 mm	32 mm	32 mm	32 mm
Wheelbase	1209 mm	1240 mm	1268 mm	1299 mm	1332 mm
Reach	432 mm	457 mm	478 mm	498 mm	523 mm
Stack	625 mm	634 mm	643 mm	661 mm	670 mm

The Santa Cruz Bronson CC X0 AXS RSV on the trail

Before hitting the trail, our test crew always sets up their bikes with painstaking attention. The new Bronson makes this step significantly easier, because the shock isn’t encased in the frame anymore. After quickly loading up the storage compartment – a mini pump fits easily through the opening – we were ready to rock!

Riding uphill, the first thing you’ll notice is the upright, relaxed pedalling position. The Bronson positions you slightly behind the pedals, which might prevent you from squeezing out the last tiny watt of efficiency but ensures a more relaxed ride over the course of a day. The suspension works accordingly: the reduced anti-squat values result in a plusher rear end, which translates in good traction on climbs but also generates a slight bob. On moderate climbs, you might want to consider locking out the suspension to save energy. The high front end takes pressure off your hands, ensuring a comfortable ride on fire road climbs. However, on steep, technical climbs, the front end tends to lift off the ground, requiring you to actively weight the front wheel.

The moment you start descending on the Bronson, you feel connected to the bike from the get-go. The low bottom bracket and high front end inspire huge amounts of confidence, and everything feels like it’s right where it should be. The upright riding position and small rear wheel ensure agile handling, especially in fast, twisty sections. The wide handlebars encourage you to push the Bronson through corners, though you’ll need to exert a bit more pressure on dusty surfaces to generate traction. The suspension is well-balanced, absorbing small roots, rocks, and bumps with great composure and keeping the bike planted on the ground.

“The powerful MAVEN brakes of the Bronson aren’t afraid of long, tortuous descents. That said, they require careful modulation.”

When pumping through berms and rollers, the plush suspension doesn’t swallow up your energy like a sandbag, and instead provides good support, encouraging an active riding style. This is especially fun on flowing trails, where the small rear wheel invites you to slide into corners sideways and to play with the trail. On steep descents, the high front end inspires confidence, and the ever-reliable Maven brakes show what they’re capable of – though you should modulate them carefully in slippery conditions to avoid “overbraking” and losing grip.

In extremely rough, technical terrain, the 160/150 mm travel bike starts to reach its limits. While some skill and quick reactions will compensate for a lot, the Bronson is still more tiring than a more capable, long-travel enduro bike.

Who should take a closer look at the new 2025 Santa Cruz Bronson?

Is the Bronson the wild do-it-all bike that Santa Cruz claims it to be? Yes, within certain limits! On home trails and occasional bike park trips – at least if you know the trails or feel confident – the Bronson handles its tasks extremely well. Overall, the Bronson strikes a good balance between uphill comfort and downhill fun. It’s ideal for all-round riders looking for a bike that can (nearly) do it all. However, if you prioritize ultra-efficient climbing, you’ll want to lock out that suspension – or perhaps look for a more efficient bike! At nearly € 10,000 for the flagship model and a weight of just under 15 kg, Santa Cruz are still charging a premium fee for the Bronson.

“The Bronson strikes an excellent balance between comfort and fun!”

Our conclusions about the new 2025 Santa Cruz Bronson

Bronson remains Bronson remains Bronson – Santa Cruz stay true to themselves. The new Bronson retains the character it’s known for: a fun, do-it-all bike, and now with a fresh look. It’s comfortable on the climbs and confident on the descents, inviting you to play with the trail. Overall, the Bronson is a well-rounded package with a wide range of capabilities and a high fun factor.

More info at santacruzbikes.com.

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Words: Julian Schwede Photos: Mike Hunger