By Vernon Felton
Santa Cruz Bantam from santa cruz bikes on Vimeo.
Sharing the same geometry as the recently-released Solo, Santa Cruz Bicycles’s new Bantam model also rocks 27.5-inch wheels and five inches of travel, albeit in a single-pivot design.
The Bantam’s single-pivot design brings the price tag down (relative to Santa Cruz’s VPP-based bikes).
Think of it as a 650b/27.5 version of the Superlight, with some added niceties. Such as? ISCG-05 mounts, 142×12-millimeter rear through axle and, of course, an extra inch of travel. Other details we like? Santa Cruz’s very durable (there’s a lifetime warranty on the bearings), simple-to-service pivot hardware and a 73-millimeter threaded bottom bracket, which may not sound sexy, but won’t creak all the time and is dead simple to work on.
The Bantam is equipped with several nice (albeit subtle) details including ISCG-05 tabs, a threaded bottom bracket shall and 142×12-millimeter rear through axle.
And did we mention the price?
Bantam frames will sell for the very reasonable price of $1,300 (U.S. dollars) and that includes a Fox Float CTD rear shock. Complete bikes will start at $2,600.
Not digging the glossy, green paint job? The Bantam also comes in a satin black finish.
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