Singletracks Mountain Bike News, Reviews, MTB Trails and Community › Protected: Forums › Mountain Bike Forum › Santa Cruz Butcher: Help!!!
Tagged: full suspension, RockShox, Santa Cruz, suspension, Trek
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May 16, 2011 at 21:50 #98567
Hi everyone!
I am looking to make a purchase in a little over a month. Since I am still in high school, I don’t want to spend more than $2400 on a new bike. I test rode the Santa Cruz Nomad and I really loved it, but it is a bit pricey. I want something with 6 inches of travel, front and back, that feels smooth and eats up bumps just as the Nomad does. I also want my new bike to climb well and be ready for the technical stuff. I saw that I could buy a new 2011 Santa Cruz Butcher (the description sounds like the bike fits my needs perfectly!) with the D AM kit for $2100, and I was very excited because I read in a few places that the suspension on the Butcher feels very similar to the suspension on the Nomad. I have heard so many great things about Santa Cruz (I have never owned one before) and I am pretty sure I want to get one.
So here’s what I’m trying to ask. What can you tell me about the Butcher? Does it climb well? What exactly is a "single-pivot" and will I be happy with it? Does the suspension feel as "plush" as the Nomad? I know that Santa Cruz just rolled this bike out this year, but why is it so hard to find in stores? This bike will be my first full suspension bike, so it will be a huge upgrade for me (I currently have a Trek 4500 with v-brakes!) because I want to take my riding to the next level and really push myself on the trail.
Last thing. The D AM kit (the only one I can afford) comes with the RockShox Sektor, a fork that I heard is not to great. I talked to a guy at my local Santa Cruz Dealer, and he said I should buy a RockShox Domain RC Coil U-Turn fork for $500 now, then pull off the Sektor when I get the new Butcher and sell it for $300 or so. Is this a good plan? Should I just order a Butcher frame, and then order the Domain and all the parts, then have the bike store guy assemble it? Can I order the complete bike without the Sektor?
Thank you so much to anyone who gets back to me. I really appreciate any feedback about this bike or any suggestions.
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May 17, 2011 at 10:24 #98568
If you like the Nomad, check out the Giant Reign:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bik … 323/44549/The Reign 2 is in your price range.
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June 23, 2011 at 22:16 #98569
Hey,
I’m in high school too, but i’m a bit more Trail / Cross Country orientated than you. I recently got a Blur TRc, and LOVE it. Im a big fan of the Santa Cruz Bikes and have ridden numerous over the past 3 years.
The Butcher is a heavy bike, and dont forget that. I by no means want to put you off it but it’s something to keep in mind. With the D AM kit you are talking about a bike that will come in around 30lbs – 35lbs which is a lot for a 6 inch travel bike these days. The Butcher is a very downhill orientated bike, it is not designed for technical singletrack and will almost certainly be sluggish on the hills, but once you get it pointing down the trail you’ll have a blast. It’s geometry and weight prevent it from doing well on the hills, but if you are doing a lot of downhill it’s the correct bike for you.
Unless you are doing some pretty hardcore downhill I would look at the Nickel. It’s got an inch less travel but it’s a very versatile bike and will reward any riding style. The Nickel can go uphills very well, and is designed as a Trail bike rather than an All Mountain like the butcher. It has steeper angles and is a bit lighter than the butcher (27lbs – 30lbs). I would also look into other more mainstream brands such as Giant, Specialized, or Trek. With those companies you will get a lot more for your money because they buy all the components in bulk so you almost get the frame for free. On average you will have one step better components on a mainstream bike than on a bike from a company like Santa Cruz for the same price.
You mentioned the fork. Im not sure how it works where you live but when I was buying my TRc they gave me the option of what fork I wanted. I could have any build kit and fork combination I wanted. You could go for the D AM build kit and then a high end fork if you wanted to. In general I would never "plan" on selling bike components because the minute you take the bike how with you it is worth HALF the price you paid for it. It’s not how much the component is worth it’s how much someone is willing to buy it for. If the fork is worth $300 expect $150 from the average buyer. To summarize, never buy a fork and plan on selling it for what it is worth, buy the one you want first, and so what if it means you have to earn another $300, you will be a lot happier in the long run.
In regards to your question about suspension design. The Nomad has a VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) suspension design, as does most of the higher end Santa Cruz bikes. This [in my opinion (opinions vary a lot)] is one of the best suspension designs on the market, it has a very buttery ride and can be very racy when you want it to be, it’s small bump sensitivity is amazing but it still retains it’s big knock capabilities. The Nickel and the Butcher are both APP (Actual Pivot Point) suspension designs. This is basically a glorified single pivot (which is about as basic as suspension design gets). Dont get me wrong it is still a very good solution though. It has a similar feel to the VPP bikes (ill be it not quite as good) but it keeps the cost down so it is affordable to the everyday consumer. Think of it as VPP bike at 75%. APP is "good" rather than "great" for a VPP bike. But then again you dont pay nearly as much for APP as you do VPP.
When I am buying a bike I am very down to earth about it. I was initially thinking of getting the LTc but when I stepped back to look at the big picture I found I just didn’t need the 140mm (5.5") of travel it offers despite doing some fairly serious downhill. I eventually settled on the TRc (even though it only has an inch more travel than my old bike) because I JUST DIDNT NEED THE EXTRA TRAVEL OF THE LTc. Before buying the bike think about what type of terrain you ride and weather it is necessary to own a 6" travel bike. The 5" of the Nickel will more than handle 99.9% of trails out there. And unlike the Butcher it can go back up the trail for another run.
Good Luck and happy bike shopping. Despite all i’ve said GO FOR THE OPTION YOU LIKE, because at the end of the day your riding it down an excellent trail.
Reviews:
Santa Cruz Butcher:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ … m-11-41989
Santa Cruz Nickel:
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June 23, 2011 at 23:50 #98570
hey it’s great bike and the according to your way of biking Butcher can be an all-day adventure bike or an all-mountain menace.
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