When Santa Cruz engineers set out to design a replacement for the existing Blur XC their goal was to create a lighter, better-pedaling bike that did not exhibit frame flex. After testing 13 different prototype designs, they have now unveiled a carbon fiber Blur XC frame that weighs in at 4.2lbs. including a RockShox Monarch 3.3 shock (medium frame). All that refinement resulted in a lightweight frame that Santa Cruz says is stronger than just about every frame they make.

The 105mm-travel carbon Blur XC involves Santa Cruz’s next-generation VPP suspension that we first told you about in July of 2008. Santa Cruz explains the redesigned VPP suspension as follows: “The VPP revision results in a flatter shock rate, meaning a less dramatic falling rate at the beginning of travel, and less of a rising rate near bottom-out. The instant center of the rear suspension now sits lower than before, and the new design has less chain growth than the old one. These elements make the new bike pedal and climb more efficiently than before.”

The new Blur XC suspension design involves some sweet technical features, including: large diameter aluminum pivot axles, angular contact bearings, grease ports in lower link, and a carbon fiber upper link. The Santa Cruz website has more information on the new Blur XC.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at 8:21 pm and is filed under Bike Industry, Fresh Dirt, New! Cool!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.