Santa Cruz Bronson

This bike needs no introduction, one of the most talked about new releases of the year. The Santa Cruz Bronson is in effect a supercharged Blur LT, based around the bigger 650B wheels and with 150mm of travel (up 10mm from the Blur) and with a slack 67-degree head angle. It’s a bike that has been an instant hit, and has already been pressed into service this year, having become a regular sight at the Enduro World Series between the legs of the Santa Cruz Syndicate team.

At its heart is the fabled VPP suspension platform, comprising a pair of short, stout linkages connecting the main frame to the swingarm, which has been in service now for a good few years. Angular contact bearings on all pivots with handy grease ports on the linkages for easy maintenance. They’ll offer a carbon frame – with a 5.3lb medium frame weight – and alloy versions.

That’s my five 650B picks for 2014. What about you?