THE ALL-NEW

BRONSON 5

THE MX WHEEL SWISS ARMY KNIFE

Trail bikes may be evolving on the daily, but the Bronson continues to be the truest form. It features 160mm travel in the front and 150mm of bottomless VPP suspension in the rear, with a long and low geometry that's all about enjoying the ride on any trail.

Whether you're not sure what type of riding you want to do or you're set on hitting every jump, railing every berm, and drifting every corner, the Bronson is the ideal bike for you. It's simply the most versatile platform you can find.


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WHO IS THE RIDER?

The Bronson is the perfect fit for riders looking to hit the widest variety of trails possible but aren't looking for a specific reason to do so. If you're looking for raw speed over any terrain, there are better bikes for that. There is a better bike if you're looking for a bike that climbs and pedals the hills and flats. But if you're interested in the bike that makes riding trails of any style more accessible and fun, you've come to the right place.

The Bronson is focused on giving new riders stability on rough terrain and advanced riders the agility and durability they need to get the most out of their rides.

KEY FEATURES

  • Style: Trail
  • Travel 160mm Front / 150mm Rear
  • Wheels: MX (29" Front / 27.5" Rear)
  • Frame: C & CC Carbon
  • Complete Weight 5.89kg / 35lb
  • Size Range: S - XXL
  • Price Range: $3,900 - $9,000
  • Colors: Kalimotxo & Root Beer

 

WHAT WE LOVE

A versatile bike seems to have everything, but here are some standout items on the Bronson.

VPP SUSPENSION

It offers 150mm VPP™ rear travel and 160mm fork travel, providing a balanced suspension setup with new lower and further forward pivots for a better small bump performance.

MX WHEELS

The Bronson 5 features mixed wheel sizes and a BB drop that differs from front to rear, offering more stability in the front and neutral handling when pointed downhill.

DESIGN DETAILS

The bike includes internal cable routing on C Carbon frames, a plush and open ride feel optimized by the lower VPP™ link placement, longer chainstays matched to frame sizes, and a secure glovebox for ride essentials.

FULL FEATURED

The Bronson bike is packed with features and built to provide a seamless transition between traditional handling and the confidence to tackle any trail. Explore the key features that enhance Bronson's riding experience below.

VPP SUSPENSION

The Bronson's suspension is getting overhauled for Gen5. Santa Cruz has lowered the rear shock placement and rotated it forward inside the frame. The result? a lower center of gravity and more leverage at the beginning of the stroke, which helps improve small bump performance and anti-squat.

Anti-squat refers to how much your pedaling affects the stiffness of the bike's suspension. If there's too little anti-squat, the bike will bounce under power. If there's too much, the bike will be less able to absorb bumps while you're pedaling. The Bronson has some specific features: it has less pedal kickback on rough terrain, it stays active when you're pedaling up and across rough, technical terrain, and it's better at sensing descents because it has reduced pedal kickback.

GEOMETRY

For riders who prioritize agility over rolling speed and spend much time in the steeps, the Bronson incorporates insights from Santa Cruz's recent MX (Mixed wheel) bikes to give balanced handling for an intuitive ride without sacrificing agility in technical corners.

The evolved MX setup features proportional geometry that scales Bronson's chainstay by 10mm across the size range, ensuring stability regardless of the rider's size. With a slacker 63.9-degree (lo) to 64.2-degree (hi) head angle, it instills confidence on steep terrain, while the longer reach provides a roomier cockpit to maintain optimal weight distribution for confident climbing and descending.

DETAILS

The Gen5 Santa Cruz Bronson boasts advanced features designed for performance and durability. It has internal cable routing for the drivetrain on C Carbon frames and only the dropper and rear brake on CC Carbon frames. The Glovebox lets you securely store your ride essentials beneath a high-quality latch and panel in the Bronson's downtube.

Additionally, the bike supports a maximum tire width of 29 x 2.5 or 27.5 x 2.5, features Boost 148mm spacing, post mount brakes with 200mm or 180mm rotors, ISCG05 chain guide mounts, a threaded BB, Santa Cruz UDH, and an IS headset. This makes the Gen5 Santa Cruz Bronson a standout choice for riders wanting to personalize their setup.

GEOMETRY

Look below to see the geo chart for a comparison between sizes.

FLIP CHIP: HI S M L XL XXL

Reach

435mm

460mm

480mm

500mm

525mm

Stack

623mm

632mm

641mm

659mm

668mm

Head Tube Angle

64.2°

64.2°

64.2°

64.2°

64.2°

Head Tube Length

110mm

120mm

130mm

160mm

160mm

Seat tube Angle

77.6°

77.°

78.2°

78.3°

78.4°

Seat Tube Length

380mm

405mm

430mm

460mm

500mm

Rear Center

437mm

439mm

442mm

445mm

448mm

Front Center

742mm

801mm

825mm

854mm

883mm

BB Height

344mm

344mm

344mm

344mm

344mm

BB Drop

29/10mm

29/10mm

29/10mm

29/10mm

29/10mm

Wheelbase

1209mm

1240mm

1267mm

1299mm

1332mm

Top Tube Length

527mm

596mm

614mm

637mm

663mm

Standover

722mm

723mm

726mm

727mm

731mm

FRAME SIZING

If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with.

A larger size frame will be more stable, and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.

If riding the bike is not an option, our Customer Service can help you identify a size more specific to your body type. Call us at (866) 600-BIKE.

The Santa Cruz Bronson 5 is available in sizes S - XXL.

BODY DIMENSIONS

Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.

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