All New 2026 Santa Cruz Bullit launched

[RSG]

Has anyone taken delivery of an X0 model yet? LBS rang last week to say would probably be a couple of weeks until it arrives.

Can’t tell if the black has a certain sort of sparkle / shade to it in certain lights, almost a bit of a liquorice colour?

Would be good to get some real life stats from rides too when using it in eco/trail to see how much elevation you can get out of the 600w battery or the 600w + 250w RE

 

[MTB-WALES]

Has anyone taken delivery of an X0 model yet? LBS rang last week to say would probably be a couple of weeks until it arrives.

Can’t tell if the black has a certain sort of sparkle / shade to it in certain lights, almost a bit of a liquorice colour?

Would be good to get some real life stats from rides too when using it in eco/trail to see how much elevation you can get out of the 600w battery or the 600w + 250w RE

Yes apparently sparkle and liquorice colour so v dark brown/black. This is how it was described to me

 

[Snoggin]

I just looked at both on an overcast day though. To me the teal is much nicer . Black kinda boring. Didn’t look licorice or brown at all at least in that lighting. Couldn’t see sparkle on the teal either.

 

[Q9000]

Has anyone taken delivery of an X0 model yet? LBS rang last week to say would probably be a couple of weeks until it arrives.

Can’t tell if the black has a certain sort of sparkle / shade to it in certain lights, almost a bit of a liquorice colour?

Would be good to get some real life stats from rides too when using it in eco/trail to see how much elevation you can get out of the 600w battery or the 600w + 250w RE

I went in to my LBS to order one. They told me it was a 5 month wait. September!! Why release a bike if you can’t supply it?? So frustrating. I rang around other shops and they all said the same thing. Not many Santa Cruz coming to Australia.

 

[OZ-E]

I went in to my LBS to order one. They told me it was a 5 month wait. September!! Why release a bike if you can’t supply it?? So frustrating. I rang around other shops and they all said the same thing. Not many Santa Cruz coming to Australia.

Oz is low volume and not a priority.
Also the distributor is being very conservative with orders.
Nobody here is buying. You could walk into a store today and buy a Vala now in Australia. Other countries have a wait list.

 

[Lightme]

Oz is low volume and not a priority.
Also the distributor is being very conservative with orders.
Nobody here is buying. You could walk into a store today and buy a Vala now in Australia. Other countries have a wait list.

I called my LBS in Sydney and they said mid-late June for the model and size I was after.

 

[Q9000]

I called my LBS in Sydney and they said mid-late June for the model and size I was after.

Yeah I think my problem is I want a small in the XO spec. It’s a long time till September!!

 

[Lightme]

Yeah I think my problem is I want a small in the XO spec. It’s a long time till September!!

Ah right. I was XO too, but XL and black. They said black will be the easiest colour to get.

 

[Q9000]

Ah right. I was XO too, but XL and black. They said black will be the easiest colour to get.

Yeah they said August for black but I want the teal. It’s only another month extra!

 

[The undecided]

Greeting from Scotland

I’m absolutely not defending Santa Cruz or other brands for that matter but from what I can make out from
E-bike forums especially is some people will NEVER be satisfied by anything no matter how good it actually might be.
How many of us are really able to ride anywhere near the parameters that a modern EMTB is capable of-the end products of the result of countless months of highly skilled intelligent designers and supreme athletic riders honing things to perfection only for keyboard trolls and weekend warriors to bitch about the slightest thing.
It must be a total headache designing a new model knowing you’ll never please everyone.
And now the new complaints are it’s going to be months before the eagerly awaited “boutique brand” bike becomes available ‍what did you expect? Is that not simply a part of the boutique experience?

 

[MTB-WALES]

Greeting from Scotland

I’m absolutely not defending Santa Cruz or other brands for that matter but from what I can make out from
E-bike forums especially is some people will NEVER be satisfied by anything no matter how good it actually might be.
How many of us are really able to ride anywhere near the parameters that a modern EMTB is capable of-the end products of the result of countless months of highly skilled intelligent designers and supreme athletic riders honing things to perfection only for keyboard trolls and weekend warriors to bitch about the slightest thing.
It must be a total headache designing a new model knowing you’ll never please everyone.
And now the new complaints are it’s going to be months before the eagerly awaited “boutique brand” bike becomes available ‍what did you expect? Is that not simply a part of the boutique experience?

I think more people need to demo bikes before putting thousands into something that you have no idea about how it rides for you.

 

[The undecided]

That is exactly my way of thinking too,after all you wouldn’t just buy a car without getting a test drive.
I worked in the motor trade for over 40 years and it never failed to amaze me how bad allegedly “great” cars drove compared to ones I would never have gave a passing glance.
Irrespective of whether it’s affordable a proper demo will always make the decision if it’s for you.
Always focus on the good reasons why you bought your bike for YOUR enjoyment and needs and stop getting hung up on what could have been.Life’s too short.

 

[ckkone]

Guess we are lucky in the USA easy to find the Bullit and Vala in stock.

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Zach Chatelain

The new @santacruzbicycles Bullit in stock and ready to go at @thebikersedge Both colors are so good. Come check them out. #santacruzbullit

www.facebook.com

 

[jbrown15]

That is exactly my way of thinking too,after all you wouldn’t just buy a car without getting a test drive.
I worked in the motor trade for over 40 years and it never failed to amaze me how bad allegedly “great” cars drove compared to ones I would never have gave a passing glance.
Irrespective of whether it’s affordable a proper demo will always make the decision if it’s for you.
Always focus on the good reasons why you bought your bike for YOUR enjoyment and needs and stop getting hung up on what could have been.Life’s too short.

Problem is, not a lot of places have bikes to demo. Can't fault your local LBS for not lending out $10,000 plus ebikes for people to just try.

 

[Q9000]

I think more people need to demo bikes before putting thousands into something that you have no idea about how it rides for you.

Absolutely agree. However demos don’t seem to happen around here!

 

[jgusta]

I wonder how much lighter the frame can really be. There is only a 1lb difference between the GX and X0 builds, and the X0 build has carbon bars and wheels (Vs Aluminum on the GX) as well as the obvious difference of X0 vs GX drivetrain. Those 3 changes alone must account for a good chunk of the 1lb difference between the 2.

Edit: Just went and tried to find some of the weight differences.
Reserve AL vs Carbon 30HD Wheels: 172g
GX vs X0 Groupset: ~85g? (Had to go through each component, the cranks are oddly actually a few grams heavier on the X0)
Carbon vs Aluminum bars: 112g (I just compared a OneUp set of bars in identical sizes to estimate, not sure if SC lists their exact bar weights)
Total there is 369g, leaving not much of a possible weight savings from the CC vs C frame if it really is only a 1lb (454g) difference between the two

I can't decide how I feel about the color... I really like it in a few pics where the lighting made it look more like a slate blue, but when it sparkles like teal I'm not so sure I'm as much of a fan...

Teal color looks great in person. Saw one complete yesterday amidst the Vala and Levo 4 (glacial blue, cherry red, black). I thought the Bullit teal frame looked the best. Looks fairly scratch resistant to paint as well, since not matte or gloss finish. Looks like teal metallic alloy color in person that sparkles and shines a bit. Definitely a looker. Levo4 an eyesore in comparison with gargantuan downtube when looking at it from the side or sitting on bike and looking down. The bike I will likely get to replace my damaged G3, only cause is one of only emtbs I like in frameset only, along with Timp Peak 2.0. Wish SC did framesets

 

[Old Codger]

I think more people need to demo bikes before putting thousands into something that you have no idea about how it rides for you.

Sometimes your budget is king.

 

[The undecided]

Sometimes your budget is king.

 

[ebsocalmtb]

The black is almost a dark cacao color and not a true black. It looks black in the shade and deep, blackish brown in the sun. I don't typically love all black bikes and I really like the black/silver combo on the bullit. I would happily own one of those, add some silver/anodized elements and maybe a custom wheel build with silver spokes. It would look amazing.

 

[mehukatti]

Anyone here who owned the outgoing Bullit and could comment on the sizing of the new bike?

 

[ebsocalmtb]

Anyone here who owned the outgoing Bullit and could comment on the sizing of the new bike?

I didn't own the outgoing bullit but I did borrow the shop demo enough times to be comfortable with it. I am 188cm, I rode an XL on the previous generation and I am on an XL yet again. I am generally pretty comfortable on a 490-500mm reach for my height.

 

[ckkone]

 

[xtraman122]

Pretty good comparison, would be interested to see what they thought if the Bullit had the same tires and was on the less slack head angle setting. I think keeping the HA a little less slack would give it a little bit of that liveliness back they seemed to find lacking.

 

[jgusta]

Yeah, for 90% of riders out there and terrain frequented most, think Vala would be the better bike. I love high speed, sendy Enduro DH runs myself, but not even 20% of my terrain I ride most locally in PacNw. Lots of fast turning pitchy, DH flow in my neck of the woods that think Vala likely best. Bullit looks amazing, but just seem so much longer in stature visually to Vala. If Bike Parking it frequently, Bullit likely the way to go, but then ebike not needed

 

[Plummet]

Absolutely agree. However demos don’t seem to happen around here!

No chance of me demo'ing my latest e-bike unless i jumped on a place and literally flew half way around the world.

Sometimes you just have to do the research and call it based on the data you have and the experience your've got....

 

[Svarun]

Started watching that, but couldn't finish. I don't understand comparing a 150/160 and 170/170 bike on a smooth flowy jumpy trail. Feed them some janky rocks and roots and see if your thoughts change.

 

[Q9000]

Started watching that, but couldn't finish. I don't understand comparing a 150/160 and 170/170 bike on a smooth flowy jumpy trail. Feed them some janky rocks and roots and see if your thoughts change.

Agreed. Also pint them down something really steep and see where you feel more comfortable.

 

[MTB-WALES]

I need a demo day with the Vala, bullit and Druid core…

If the bullit really does feel like a nomad then that can only be a good thing, don’t like the wallowy muted comments though.

 

[Q9000]

I need a demo day with the Vala, bullit and Druid core…

If the bullit really does feel like a nomad then that can only be a good thing, don’t like the wallowy muted comments though.

Yea I’d like to go to the same demo day. Peaty seems to be loving his Bullit on embn. But of course he’d say that I guess. Everything just looks so right on paper for the Bullit for me. The 5 month wait just seems insane.

 

[mehukatti]

Just listened to a Santa Cruz "Roller Door" podcast episode where the product manager and designer of Bullit talk about the bike. Couple of interesting bits:

- The PM thinks that Vala feels similar to the old Bullit, whereas the new Bullit is in a class of its own (closer to a DH bike)
- The PM says that despite reach numbers being pretty close compared to the old Bullit on paper, in real world the new bike actually feels longer.