Technical Details

What's New?

The Bronson has remained a statement all round trail bike since its 2013 debut. 2018 saw a noticeable change with the low-slung shock, with the bike transitioning to mixed wheelbase in 2022. The new Bronson 5 may look similar to its predecessor, and has certainly inherited the same “do everything” feel that we all know and love, but dive a little deeper and you’ll notice some key differences.

The main visual difference is the shock tunnel. Despite the 4.1 update with the Sag Window, I’m sure we can all agree that getting the shock set up and dialing in your rear suspension felt a bit finicky at times. Gone are the days of awkward allen key angles and wishing you had smaller hands. The new shock tunnel is wide enough to adjust all knobs, making shock set up much easier.

The shock mount point on the downtube has also changed. Instead of the wings sitting on the downtube, the shock is bolted straight through. Santa Cruz confirms that this is one way they managed to change the anti-squat properties of the bike, a key element we'll revisit. It’s hard to feel the difference, and I’m unsure if any testing on this has been done, but removing the wings of the previous shock mount should, in theory, increase stiffness at the shock mount points compared to previous models. 

Some changes that are less obvious to the eye include; an updated Glovebox, longer rear centers, slacker head tube angles, a change in available sizes to S-XXL, and no internal gear cable routing on CC builds. 

Construction and Features 

Like all Santa Cruz bikes, you have the option of C and CC Carbon frames, with the CC version using a higher-grade carbon for a lighter build. In addition, the CC version now has no internal cable routing options for the rear derailleur, which makes it even easier to determine which frame you have, as well as shedding unecessary weight. I think this is a solid way to differentiate between the two models – CC builds are only ever going to come with wireless electronic drivetrains, so there is no need to provide cable routing.  

This Bronson 5 uses the same VPP system that we are used to, but by lowering the shock mount point, Santa Cruz has reduced anti-squat on the new bike. Without getting too far into the weeds, this creates a supple pedaling platform without causing excessive pedal bob, which is most noticeable when descending through fast and rough terrain. The bike feels composed at speed, tracks well, and doesn't mind when things get a little bit rowdy. Santa Cruz worked closely with Fox to tune the suspension for this bike, giving the rider a great baseline for suspension setup. 

Geometry and Sizing

The Bronson 5 doesn’t stray dramatically from the previous model in its geometry, with Santa Cruz taking the time to dial things in and only fine-tune angles where necessary. Notably, the reach grows by 5mm, and the head tube angle slackens to 64.2° / 63.9° in the hi/lo configuration. The seat tube angle seat steepens, and the chain stay length grows across all sizes.  

The relatively conservative geometry updates mean that riders who loved the previous model should feel very comfortable and familiar on this new bike. Santa Cruz have taken an already well-rounded bike and refined it to create an even better overall riding package. 

The sizes of the new Bronson 5 range from S to XXL. This means that riders who loved the 405mm reach on the old XS Bronson are unfortunately out of luck. I ride a size L in most brands and felt right at home on a size L Bronson 5, despite the slight growth in reach number. If you're looking for a bike to be a little bit more nimble and playful, you could downsize. If you wanted your bike to be extra hard charging and really composed on fast, straighter tracks, then upsizing could be an option for you. 

Build Kits 

Ride Impressions

Setup

The bike felt very easy to set up. I ran with 30% sag and found this to be a great midpoint – I didn't blow through the travel at any point despite hitting some heavy compressions, and it didn't feel like I sat too deep into the travel when in my climbing position. If I was riding faster, flowy jump trails, I would consider adding a bit more air compression, but for  Whistler valley riding this setup was ideal. 

Climbing / Uphill

As soon as I jumped on the bike and pedaled out of the parking lot onto the climbing trail, I immediately noticed a more relaxed and comfortable climbing position. The steeper seat tube angle meant that I didn’t feel like I was sat upright as I had done on the previous model, but instead positioned my upper body more over the pedals. Despite this being a mixed wheel (MX) bike, it wasn't noticeable while climbing, which I consider a positive. I like riding 29" wheel bikes for the added grip and pedaling efficiency, but this didn't feel lacking despite the MX wheels. I thought the slack head tube angle may make the climb position feel out of touch and sloppy. However, only on steep, tight switchbacks did I feel the steering to be a little bit slow and sluggish. That said, this is a small price to pay considering how well the bike handles the downhill. 

Descending / Downhill

Descending is where this new Bronson 5 really won me over. Straight away I had the confidence that I could get up to speed and ride through the steep, aggressive trails that Whistler has to offer. The longer chain stay offered a more centered riding position, meaning lots of traction in corners and a feeling of stability through chundery rock gardens. The slack head tube angle gave me confidence in letting off the brakes and committing to steep rock rolls with big compressions. The VPP suspension really drives the bike forward and accelerates through rocks and roots. 

Despite how well this bike handled the steep angled terrain, when I found myself on some flatter, more flowy trails the Bronson 5 still felt alive and excitable. The MX wheels create a playful riding feel – no roller left un-manualed, no berm left un-slashed, and no jump left un-styled.   

How Does It Compare?

I've found myself using and riding “quiver killer” bikes for some time now. My everyday ride is a Specialized Stumpjumper EVO, which I have in a mixed wheel setup. This is similar to the Bronson 5 with 160mm/150mm front and rear travel and geo numbers that don’t differ widely. In addition, I rode the Bronson 4 for a few days earlier this year in similar conditions to the Bronson 5. While I got on well with the Bronson 4, the big takeaway was that it felt like I was riding a mixed wheeled bike. I got the feeling of a higher front end, despite geo numbers and set up being very similar. This translated to feeling more stood up on the bike compared to both my Stumpy and the Bronson 5. While this felt good on steeper trails and gave confidence riding the fall line, it made steering feel sloppy in tighter sections and gave me an upright climbing position, which led to the front wheel trying to wheelie on steeper climbs. On flatter and faster trails with square edge hits, I found the Bronson 4 felt slightly unsettling and imbalanced, almost feeling like I was on a rocking horse at times. 

The new Bronson 5 fixes these issues with a steeper seat tube angle to put you in a better climbing position, longer chain stays to balance the bike, and a slacker head tube angle to make the descent even more fun. 

Overall Impression

I think Santa Cruz have created a really nice package. They've made a bike that handles the down like a Nomad, without feeling like you are slogging a heavy bulldozer to the top of the run. When you descend you will have confidence riding the roughest of trails, but if you want to go for a mellow, cruisy lap, the nimble, lightweight feel of this Bronson 5  accelerates through corners and pops off jumps, leaving you with a smile on your face.