Bullit 2026
How current the bike is — newer chassis, motor and battery score higher. 10 = brand-new, 0 = legacy.
Lightweight no-compromise enduro shredder
The Santa Cruz Bullit 2026 is the carbon mullet enduro flagship from Santa Cruz, built around the Bosch CX motor in 2026 trim. Headline numbers: 170mm fork, 170mm rear, 23.8kg claimed on the base, 64.0 degree head angle and reach 445 to 520mm across S, M, L and XL. Trim ladder: MX C S at GBP 8,499, MX C XT at GBP 10,499 (23.5kg) and XO AXS RSV at EUR 11,699 (22.2kg). The Bullit is one of the most established enduro eMTB platforms on sale: @Jbone5000, a 230lb rider on a Bullit C70 XL with the 600Wh internal battery, reports 1,000ft of climbing per 25% battery and finishes 3,500ft rides at ~20% remaining.
Drive system and range. The 2026 Bullit uses the Bosch CX motor system with a 600Wh internal battery as the gold-listed configuration. Riders should note: @chasmoftheclam, a 6'3" 200lb rider, finds the 600Wh limiting for 1.5 to 2 hour rides in EMTB+ and Tour modes. @chasmoftheclam also notes the Bullit can receive a 100Nm software upgrade via custom tuning. @Jbone5000's real-world AUTO/TURBO/EMTB+ mode usage discipline is the key to making the 600Wh stretch: AUTO at 70Nm/600W for climbs, TURBO for flat sections.
Geometry and handling. 64.0 degrees up front is bang on the modern enduro norm. Reach steps cleanly: 445 (S), 470 (M), 495 (L), 520 (XL). Chainstays are a uniform 455mm and wheelbase tops out at 1350mm on XL. The Bullit runs an MX mullet wheel layout (29 front, 27.5 rear) as standard, with independent geometry and shock-rate flip chips for setup tunability. The carbon C frame uses one-piece linkage with moulded chainstay, seatstay and shuttle guard plus lower down-tube protection: a serious finishing-kit story for serious shred use.
Build and value. Three trims. MX C S (GBP 8,499, 23.8kg) gets a RockShox ZEB Base 170mm fork, FOX Float X Performance 205/65mm shock, SRAM DB8 four-piston brakes and SRAM Eagle 70 mechanical T-Type. MX C XT (GBP 10,499, 23.5kg) steps up to FOX 38 Float Factory GRIP X2, FOX Float X Factory or DHX2 coil (Podium variant), SRAM Maven Silver brakes and Shimano XT Di2 M8200 electronic. XO AXS RSV (EUR 11,699, 22.2kg) is the top-tier RSV carbon build with SRAM XO AXS. Standout: SRAM Maven Silver and XT Di2 at GBP 10,499 is a flagship-grade combination. Questionable: 600Wh battery on a 170/170mm enduro is conservative: Avinox rivals offer 800Wh as standard.
Community-verified strengths.
- Real-world range with discipline. @Jbone5000's 230lb rider weight + 3,500ft rides at ~20% battery remaining is impressive for 600Wh.
- Bosch motor tuning headroom. @chasmoftheclam notes a 100Nm software upgrade is available via custom tuning, meaningful for riders chasing more shove.
- E-bike specific Fox 38 crown. @bergl confirms the Bullit ships with the Fox 38 HT68 e-bike crown: small detail but important for durability under eMTB loads.
Caveats and known gripes.
- 600Wh limits big-day range. @chasmoftheclam reports 600Wh "limiting for 1.5-2hr rides" in higher modes; switching to a Norco Range VLT for 800Wh capacity was the rider's chosen path.
- Speed limiter quirk. @Dave238 reports the 2025 Bullit Gen 5 Bosch firmware speed limiter slider maxes at 19mph despite a 120Nm firmware update.
- Rear hub bearing issue. @warracer reports SRAM MTH 746 rear hubs on the Bullit R base build are "notorious for bearing failure" due to a preload design flaw, with a machined aluminium spacer fix.
- Mullet only. Wheel layout is fixed at 29 front, 27.5 rear; no full 29in option.
- Premium pricing. Top trim XO AXS RSV at EUR 11,699 is competitive with Specialized Kenevo SL and Trek Rail Plus carbon flagships.
Verdict. The 2026 Bullit remains one of the most polished carbon mullet enduro eMTBs on sale, with proper 170/170mm travel, three serious trims, Bosch CX power and Santa Cruz's superb finishing-kit detailing. It suits riders who value Santa Cruz heritage, who fit within S to XL (445 to 520mm reach), and who can live with the 600Wh range envelope plus mode discipline. Buyers needing 800Wh-plus battery, full 29in wheel options, or a less limited speed limiter setup should look at the Norco Range, Specialized Kenevo or Orbea Wild. Production status: current.
Frame
Santa Cruz Carbon C front and rear triangles with one-piece linkage; moulded chainstay, seatstay and shuttle guard with lower down-tube protection; four-bar Horst-link suspension with independent geometry and shock-rate flip chips; MX wheel layout; 170mm front and rear travel.
Geometry · hover a row to highlight the measurement on the bike
| S | M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 445 mm | 470 mm | 495 mm | 520 mm |
| Stack | 625 mm | 635 mm | 645 mm | 655 mm |
| Chainstay | 455 mm | 455 mm | 455 mm | 455 mm |
| Headtube Angle | 64° | 64° | 64° | 64° |
| Seattube Angle (eff) | 76° | 76° | 76° | 76° |
| BB Drop | 18 mm | 18 mm | 18 mm | 18 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1275 mm | 1300 mm | 1325 mm | 1350 mm |
| Front Centre | 820 mm | 845 mm | 870 mm | 895 mm |
Trims · 4
70 £6,804 | MX C S £8,499 | MX C XT £10,499 | XO AXS RSV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor | — | Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 | Bosch Performance Line CX Race | — |
| Battery | — | Bosch PowerTube 600 · 600 Wh | Bosch PowerTube 600 · 600 Wh | — |
| Travel F/R | 170/170 mm · all trims | |||
| Frame | Carbon · all trims | |||
| Fork | RockShox Zeb Base | RockShox ZEB Base, 38mm stanchions, 170mm travel | FOX 38 Float Factory GRIP X2, 170mm travel (or FOX Podium Inverted Factory on XT Di2 Podium RSV trim) | FOX 38 Float Factory, GRIP X2, 170mm |
| Shock | Fox Float X Performance | FOX Float X Performance, 205mm length x 65mm stroke | FOX DHX2 Factory coil shock (XT Di2 Podium RSV) or FOX Float X Factory air shock | FOX Float X2 Factory, 205x65 |
| Headset | FSA IS-2/47/42 ACB | FSA IS-2/47/42 ACB | Cane Creek 50 IS Integrated | Cane Creek 50 IS Integrated |
| Stem | OneUp, 42mm, 35mm clamp | OneUp, 42mm length, 35mm bar clamp | OneUp, 42mm length | OneUp, 42mm, 35mm clamp |
| Handlebar | Burgtec Aluminium, 800mm, 35mm clamp | Burgtec Aluminum, 800mm width, 35mm rise, 35mm clamp diameter | Santa Cruz 35 Carbon Bar, 800mm, 35mm rise (size S 20mm) | Santa Cruz 35 Carbon, 800mm, 35mm clamp |
| Grips | Santa Cruz House | Santa Cruz Bicycles House Grips | Santa Cruz House Grips | Santa Cruz House |
| Saddle | SDG Bel-Air V3 Max | SDG Bel-Air V3 Max | WTB Silverado Medium Fusion CroMo SL | WTB Silverado Medium Fusion, CroMo SL rails |
| Seatpost | SDG Tellis dropper | SDG Tellis dropper post, 31.6mm diameter | OneUp V3 Dropper Post, 31.6mm, size-specific 120-240mm travel | OneUp dropper |
| Brakes | SRAM DB8, 4-piston | SRAM DB8, 4-piston hydraulic disc with mineral-oil fluid | SRAM Maven Silver Stealth, 4-piston hydraulic disc | SRAM Maven Silver, 4-piston |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission, 12-speed mechanical T-Type | Shimano XT Di2 RD-M8200, 12-speed electronic, hardwired to bike battery | SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, AXS electronic wireless |
| Crank | — | e*thirteen Helix e*spec Alloy, 155mm | e*thirteen Helix e*spec Alloy, 155mm (or Shimano XT) crank | SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission Alloy, 155mm |
| Shifters | SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission, 12-speed, Single Click | SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission Single Click trigger, 12-speed | Shimano XT Di2 SW-M8150 electronic shifter, single click | SRAM Eagle Pod Rocker Controller, 12-speed, AXS electronic wireless |
| Cassette | SRAM Eagle Transmission XS-1270, 10-52T, 12-speed | SRAM XS-1270 Eagle T-Type, 12-speed, 10-52t | Shimano XT CS-M8100, 12-speed, 10-51t | SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission XS-1295, 10-52T, 12-speed |
| Chain | SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission Flattop, 12-speed | SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission Flattop, 12-speed | Shimano XT CN-M8100, 12-speed | SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission Flattop, 12-speed |
| Drivetrain | SRAM 70 Eagle T-Type | 1x12 mechanical T-Type Transmission | 1x12 wired electronic Di2 | SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, AXS electronic wireless; SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission Alloy, 155mm; SRAM Eagle Pod Rocker Controller, 12-speed, AXS electronic wireless; SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission XS-1295, 10-52T, 12-speed; SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission Flattop, 12-speed |
| Wheels | Reserve 30 HD AL rims (29 front / 27.5 rear) | Reserve 30 HD AL MX wheelset (29F/27.5R) on e*thirteen SL hubs | Reserve 30|DH Carbon MX wheelset on DT Swiss 350 hubs | Reserve 30 HD Carbon (29 front) / Reserve 30 DH Carbon (27.5 rear), DT Swiss 350 hubs |
| Tyres | Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 3C MaxxGrip Double Down front / Maxxis Minion DHR II 27.5x2.5 3C MaxxTerra Double Down rear | Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 front; Maxxis Minion DHR II 27.5x2.5 rear | Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 3C MaxxGrip DoubleDown front; Maxxis Minion DHR II 27.5x2.5 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown rear | Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 3C MaxxGrip Double Down front / Maxxis Minion DHR II 27.5x2.5 3C MaxxTerra Double Down rear |
| Weight | 22.48 kg | 23.8 kg | 23.5 kg | 22.2 kg |
| Price | £6,804 | £8,499 | £10,499 | — |
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