Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Santa Cruz has updated its premier suspension-corrected XC race bike, the Blur, for 2026. Featuring geometry changes that make it longer, lower, and more slack, it’s also seen some quality-of-life upgrades that benefit the non-racer. Find details on the Gen 5 Blur below…
The Santa Cruz Blur Gen 5 is the latest version of the brand’s fastest XC bike and comes with a few changes. Now equipped with 120mm of suspension both front and rear, the bike still uses the brand’s flex-stay single-pivot suspension design while incorporating some geometry tweaks. Santa Cruz says they made the leverage curve more progressive, so the bike sits higher in its travel while riders are pedaling, resulting in much less bobbing. The change in geometry is also said to improve sensitivity at the top of the travel and add mid-stroke support. The Gen 5 also has fully guided internal routing, can run two full-size bottles, has an integrated chain guide and downtube protector from OneUp, and uses the same carbon layup across all its build kits.
One quality-of-life update that everyone will be glad to see is the addition of in-frame storage. Each bike can fit a complete flat kit and an extra layer or two, and ships with its Tool Wallet and Tube Purse. There’s also an accessory mount beneath the top tube, just in front of the rear suspension. The bolt spacing is the same as a standard water bottle mount, so riders can get creative with modern aftermarket products for CO2s, bolt-on bags, or whatever will fit.
Santa Cruz Gen 5 Geometry
| Size | SM | MD | LG | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 425 | 450 | 475 | 500 |
| Rear Center (mm) | 433 | 435 | 437 | 439 |
| ST Angle | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| ST Length | 405 | 405 | 440 | 490 |
| HT Angle | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 |
| BB Height | 334 | 334 | 334 | 334 |
| Stack | 588 | 588 | 597 | 611 |
| Standover | 735 | 744 | 744 | 744 |
Weight-wise, the new Blur is slimmer and more refined than prior iterations. The frame itself boasts a claimed weight of 4.36 pounds, while the build kits range from 29.12 pounds for the Shimano DEORE kit down to 25.23 pounds for the SRAM XX AXS FA RACE RSV version. Irrespective of the chosen build, there is no rider weight limit. Spec options run the gamut, ranging from $4,900 to an eye-watering $13,400. Each varies in drivetrain and suspension choices, with the Fox Float Rhythm shock present on all models.
For more on the new Santa Cruz Blur Gen 5, visit SantaCruzBicycles.com.
Further Reading
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