Blur LT
DIRT Magazine Review
First Impressions
The Californian company have done well to get this bike under 30lbs. Now with over five inches of travel, compared to the four and a bit on the standard Blur, the large volume Fox sprung bike has brought in reinforcements in the head tube area and a longer fork to balance. The bike uses a VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) swingarm system that is said to eliminate pedal induced 'bobbing'.
Build Up
The Pace RC 41 fork plays an important role in the lightness of this bike, together with Easton carbon bars and small rotors but with efficient stoppers, Avid Juicy 7 brakes. The frame construction is a little less well finished than say the S-Works, with a couple of slack welds in places. Colour and of course the logo still hold an enormous pull for these bikes. We liked the h3 Mavic 321 wheel build and the overall simplicity of the bike even with VPP linkage.
Climbing
The Blur was held back to an extent with sticky tyres. Harder compound and narrower rubber makes a difference Seat up climbing on flat terrain was about as interesting as it was on other bikes - boring, and for those people who think that the shock on a VPP will not move when climbing then I'm afraid you will be disappointed. Until you get out of the saddle that is a definite kick in firmness can be felt on the bike when you get in front of the pedals.
Bombing Around
Thank God. Riding this bike with the seat up takes away the soul of the Blur. Drop the saddle, get on some singletrack and start hammering and then you will get to know just what this bike is about. Amazing at cornering, rapid out of the block, lightning fast, yet always stable and predictable, well, as predictable as VPP can be, this Santa Cruz was comfortable when questions started to be asked of the suspension.
Descending
When maybe the GT was banging into obstacles with a less than effective rear damping system or when the Prophet was struggling with its "Paddle shifters' the Blur started to take on terrain that it is made for. The geometry allows it to be so. The fork however did get a little panicky when things started getting messy and began fighting the rider. Had the bike benn fitted with a set of Fox 36 and been a little less noisy it would ahave been closer to the S-Works, but nonetheless very good indeed.
Final Impressions
We're still wondering whether the Blur LT fits in between the Specialized and the Cannondale. It has the downhill ability of the former and the snappy trail feel of the latter. I worry about this bike though, that it will spend it's days with its seat up. It may well be 'Extreme XC' or 'Freeride-Lite' even, but , like the Whyte it really needs to be used.