Santa Cruz’s New 5010 Trail Bike
A whole new generation of fun
Introducing The All-New 5010 from Santa Cruz
If the point of riding is to have fun, then the 5010 is a mountain biking icon. For years it’s been the go-to bike for riders who love to get a little wild and creative on the trails.
It’s a crazy-playful 27.5” mid-travel trail bike that fills you with the confidence to pop off every obstacle in your path, slice and dice your way through turns, and crush lines you’d never try otherwise.
It’s no secret that the 5010 rips, and the newest generation released for the 2021 model year is now better than ever.
Updates For The New Generation of 5010
Santa Cruz made some awesome adjustments to the 5010 design that are going to help riders take the fun up a notch. Read on to explore what’s new with this already beloved mountain bike.
Transition From Upper-Link to Lower-Link
Way More Than 130mm
Typically found on Santa Cruz bikes catered towards enduro and downhill riding, the Lower-link VPP suspension design has been optimized for the 5010 so you can get a little more sendy when you feel like it.
If you’ve ever felt like your mid-travel bike might not cut it on the big stuff, the new 5010 is here to slap some sense into you.
With a straighter and more prgressive leverage curve, this bike torches terrain more like a true heavy hitter than a 130mm trail bike. You’ll be surprised how capable it is when you put it to the test.
All-Shock Compatibility
The best part about transitioning to the Lower-link system is that now you can run any shock model at any size from any brand.
Air? Of course. Coil? No problem. FOX? Sure. Rockshox? Why the heck not? More than 130mm? Now you’re getting it.
Having all those options at your disposal means you’re able to make your 5010 into the trail slaying, high flying bike of your dreams. Plus, with the shock mounted lower on the frame, tuning is that much easier.
More Travel and More Fun
More Front Travel
You didn’t think Santa Cruz would stop at improving just the rear suspension, did you? The new 5010 gets a boost in the front as well, bringing a 140mm fork to the party that helps you get rowdier.
The R and S models are equipped with a FOX 34 fork, and both the XT and X01 models are rocking a Rockshox Pike.
Updated Geometry
We’ll go further into the geometry details in a minute, but for now, know that Santa Cruz has done some tweaking to make the new 5010 more fun than ever.
They’ve also made some adjustments to each frame size in order to help riders of all heights get a perfect fit.
More Updates And Features
Stronger Carbon Wheels
With a new carbon layup, the Reserve 30 v2 carbon wheels are even stronger so you can keep pushing the limits.
Two New Colors
Santa Cruz has us drooling over Raspberry Sorbet and Loosely Blue, two killer colors that accentuate the beauty of the 5010’s carbon frame.
SRAM G2 / Shimano XT brakes
For truly rowdy rides, you’ll be glad to know the 5010 comes with 180mm rotors and the best in braking technology.
Maxxis 2.4 DHR2 Tires
No need to swap to your favorite tires. They’re already on there. With MaxxGrip on the front and MaxxTerra on the back, you’re ready to rip from day one.
Universal Derailleur Hanger
A bombproof SRAM hanger design that’s compatible with all drivetrain brands. It has the capability to rotate backwards if struck by during a ride, giving you added protection.
40mm Stem
Every size now gets a bigger, stronger stem for maximum stiffness, with some kits getting the new Burgtec stem.
New 5010 Geometry
Great components alone don’t make a bike feel lively and fun. That nimble handling and predictable balance is all down to the agonizing details of the frame design.
The 5010 was already a wild child that whipped around trails and hit big jumps, but for the new generation Santa Cruz turned up the volume.
- Proportionate Chainstays
Each frame, from XS to XL, has a unique chainstay length to help riders of all sizes achieve optimal balance and performance.
- Slightly Slackened Head Angle
Santa Cruz slackened the headtube angle by just 0.8 degrees so the 5010 could retain it’s responsive handling while simultaneously adding stability on bigger terrain and jumps.
- Lower Standover
The 5010 is made to be whipped around, and Santa Cruz has made the standover height even lower so you can be freer on the turns and in the air.
- Slightly Longer Reach
The reach is a little bit longer on the new generation, which is in line with Santa Cruz’s desire to keep it lively while gently increasing stability.
- Short Rear End
The 2021 model is still as snappy as always so you can excel in tight turns and move around with maximum agility.
- Adjusted, Low Bottom Bracket
While the bottom bracket is still low for great balance, Santa Cruz raised it a few millimeters so the bike can get the most benefits from its increased travel.
2021 Santa Cruz 5010 Geometry Table
There are two measurements that correspond to the Hi and the Lo Flip Chip settings
| Frame size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 400 / 397 | 425 / 422 | 450 / 447 | 475 / 472 | 500 / 497 |
| Stack | 572 / 574 | 590 / 593 | 604 / 606 | 618 / 620 | 631 / 634 |
| HT Angle | 65.7 / 65.4 | 65.7 / 65.4 | 65.7 / 65.4 | 65.7 / 65.4 | 65.7 / 65.4 |
| HT Length | 100 / 100 | 120 / 120 | 135 / 135 | 150 / 150 | 165 / 165 |
| ST Length | 370 / 370 | 380 / 380 | 405 / 405 | 430 / 430 | 460 / 460 |
| ST Angle | 77.9 / 77.5 | 77.6 / 77.2 | 77.4 / 77 | 77.2 / 76.8 | 77 / 76.6 |
| BB Height | 338 / 334 | 338 / 334 | 338 / 334 | 338 / 334 | 338 / 334 |
| BB Drop | 16 / 20 | 16 / 20 | 16 / 20 | 16 / 20 | 16 / 20 |
| Wheel Base | 1128 / 1123 | 1162 / 1156 | 1193 / 1191 | 1224 / 1225 | 1255 / 1259 |
| TT | 524 / 524 | 555 / 556 | 585 / 587 | 616 / 617 | 646 / 647 |
| Standover | 690 / 986 | 707 / 702 | 706 / 700 | 704 / 699 | 704 / 699 |
| RC/Chainstay | 423 / 424 | 423 / 424 | 426 / 427 | 429 / 430 | 432 / 433 |
New 2021 Santa Cruz 5010 Models
Now that you’ve got a handle on what makes the new 5010 such a killer trail bike, the only thing left to do is figure out which model is best for you.
But no matter which one you pick, you’re definitely going to have your mind blown. These bikes are awesome, and soon you’ll be taking on new lines, bigger jumps, and extra riding days.
5010 C R Features
- Frame: Carbon C 27.5”
- Rear Shock: FOX Float Performance DPS
- Fork: FOX Rhythm 34, 140mm, 27.5”
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle, 12 spd
- Wheelset: SRAM MTH 716
$4,099
5010 C R
There are no watered-down versions of the new 5010. Every model rips, and the first bike in the lineup sets the pace for what a wildly fun trail bike should be. FOX front and rear suspension with a SRAM Eagle drivetrain make the C R an incredible buy.
5010 C S Features
- Frame: Carbon C 27.5”
- Rear Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
- Fork: FOX 34 Float Performance, 140mm, 27.5”
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle, 12 spd
- Wheelset: DT 370
$4,999
5010 C S
With the C S, Santa Cruz upped the suspension on both ends and took the drivetrain from SRAM NX to GX Eagle.
5010 C XT Features
- Frame: Carbon C 27.5”
- Rear Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
- Fork: RockShox Pike Select+, 140mm, 27.5"
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT M8100, 12spd
- Wheelset: DT 350
$5,999
5010 C XT
The C XT model goes a step further still, sporting full ultra high quality RockShox suspension as well as a Shimano XT M8100 derailleur. This model has the highest quality components without jumping price points for carbon wheels or CC carbon.
5010 C XT RSV Features
- Frame: Carbon C 27.5”
- Rear Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
- Fork: RockShox Pike Select+, 140mm, 27.5"
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT M8100, 12spd
- Wheelset: Carbon Reserve 30 v2
$7,199
5010 C XT RSV
For the C XT RSV, Santa Cruz combined premium RockShox forks and shocks with their newly refined, Reserve 30 v2 carbon wheelset. C carbon is still an incredible frame material, so if you want the highest level components but don’t feel like splurging for CC carbon, this is your model.
5010 CC X01 Features
- Frame: Carbon CC 27.5”
- Rear Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
- Fork: RockShox Pike Ultimate, 140mm, 27.5"
- Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle, 12spd
- Wheelset: DT 350
$6,899
5010 CC X01
If you want the highest quality carbon frame around, you’ve got to go with Santa Cruz’s CC carbon. Paired with RockShox Ultimate front and rear suspension and the best drivetrain on the market, the CC X01 is a dream bike in every sense of the word.
5010 CC X01 RSV Features
- Frame: Carbon CC 27.5”
- Rear Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
- Fork: RockShox Pike Ultimate, 140mm, 27.5"
- Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle, 12spd
- Wheelset: Carbon Reserve 30 v2
$8,099
5010 CC X01 RSV
Santa Cruz’s top-tier 5010 model is the CC X01 RSV. Same premium CC carbon frame, same RockShox Ultimate suspension, same X01 drivetrain as the previous model. But when the new Reserve 30 v2 carbon wheelset is added to the mix, you’re looking at the absolute best trail bike Santa Cruz could make, no questions asked.