2002 Santa Cruz Bullit Reviewed
(with new 5th Element Shock)
Mike Wallace
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So it turns out I bought a USR and I didn't even know it. My previous ride, a Kona Stinky 5, was a good 'all-around' free ride bike with 5 inches front and rear. When I went shopping for a new bike I was looking for a few particular characteristics. I wanted something which would provide a more stable platform for landing those 6 foot + launches with those less than perfect trannies. You know, the ones you find everywhere around here, except maybe the Whistler Bike Park. I was tired of feeling like my bike was barely hanging in there every time I came back to earth from more than 5 feet in the air. |
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I was also looking for a machine that I could still pedal up to the trail head, meaning I didn't want the full 8"+ downhill rig. Most of all I wanted a bike which had enough travel so I could have the top end of the suspension supple enough to soak up the little nasties but with plenty of room at the bottom end for taking the bigger hits. Basically I wanted the beauty of a BoXXer front and rear. As far as I am concerned once you have ridden a 7" BoXXer mated with a 2.7"+ tire on the North Shore you have arrived. |
| I finally decided on the 2002 Santa Cruz Bullit. When I considered the changes Santa Cruz had made to the Bullit it made a lot of sense; a 6066 tube set, a Fifth Element Shock providing 7' inches of travel, the ability to run a 8" disc in the rear and Santa Cruz's blessing to attach a 7" fork. It also didn't hurt that the new blue looked ultra cool with the dark red BoXXer that I of course bought for the front. |
 The Bullit now accepts an 8" disc in the rear |
 Mike Wallace on the Boundary Teeter |
Actually the first few rides I had were with a regular FOX Vanilla RC on the rear as my Fifth Element was not quite ready. My first impression was good but not amazing. The extra couple inches on the front of course meant that I could approach the steeper rolls with much more confidence and speed. It gave me the feeling that going over the bars was not permitted by the laws of physics.I also noticed that my balance on the skinnies had improved. At first I thought the bottom bracket must be lower but a quick check with the tape showed that it was actually half an inch higher. Maybe the slightly longer wheelbase made a difference, but other than that I don't know why the Bullit felt so damn stable. |
Where I wasn't blown away was the back end. I was coming from a 5" four bar linkage to a 6" single pivot and, to be honest, I didn't feel a whole lot of difference. I was desperately looking for ways to justify my new expenditure, so I didn't want to admit it at first, but I couldn't deny it; a 6-foot drop still felt like 6 feet.
| After about a month of riding the Fifth Element Shock arrived. After reading several different articles on setting up the shock ('5th element' because of the 5 adjustments) and ending up only slightly wiser, I was happy when the boys at Steed Cycles took the lead and dialed it in for me. They set it up in the middle of the spectrum with 150-psi air pressure. I ride fairly hard but only weigh about 160 lbs so that made sense. The initial testing ground was the Coiler/Wild Cherry/Roach trails circuit on Cypress. Where I first noticed that something was very different was on a steep rocky roll about two thirds of the way down Coiler. |
 The new 5th element shock - 7" buttery inches |
When I rode down it felt like I was actually still riding under complete control rather than the usual plunge and hang-on method. I felt like I could have turned halfway down and ridden another line. The first launch I tried was only about 4 feet but it felt unbelievable. There was so little feeling of impact that I made everybody else in the group give it a go on the new machine. One buddy who has been riding a Bullit (with several different rear shocks) for two years already was also blown away.
Since that first ride I have continued to be impressed. The bike reminds me of my old motocross days where the wheels seem to stick to the ground no matter what the terrain. Full Suspension free ride bikes have been approaching the 'motocross' feel but my new Bullit has closed the gap.
 Rider Chris Cameron Stumped |
After I grew more comfortable with the bike and starting launching and jumping bigger I found that I had to increase the air-volume adjuster. I decreased the volume of the air chamber making the shock more progressive and less likely to bottom on harsh landings. I also increased the ending stroke compression clicker, which increases the ride firmness during "big hit conditions" as the shock manual puts it. I left the air pressure at 150 psi because I didn't want to change the compression throughout the rest of the stroke. |
| Unless I miraculously grew bigger lungs that same week I installed the Fifth Element, the bike climbs much well with the new shock. Heading up the Mt. Fromme service road had become a more daunting task since the new bike purchase but the addition of the Fifth Element shock made climbing the same road, even in the snow, a substantially less arduous task. |
 Rider Mike Wallace Groovula Creek Gap |
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So I got what I wished for. A relatively easy climbing 7 " front and rear bike with incredibly plush suspension on the top end and the progressiveness to easily consume the big hits that I manage to throw at it. Yeah, so it turns out I bought a USR and didn't even know it. I bought the ULTIMATE SHORE RIG. |
Ratings:
| Part Spec |  |
| Ride |  |
| Price |  |
| Overall | |
Pros:
1. Sweet downhill ride with Fifth Element rear shock
2. Simple frame design. The raised chain stay is great for reducing chain hassles.
3. Relatively low weight for 7" front and rear bike.
4. Climbs very well while seated.
5. Ability to run 8" disks front and rear.
Cons:
1. Fifth Element requires air. Concerns about leakage and using air pump
are negatives.
2. Original part spec is OK for shore riding but requires a few upgrades to
be ideal. Biggest negatives were the two-bolt stem and WTB tires.
3. Weekends are still only 2 days long even after purchasing the Bullit.
| Article by Mike
Wallace Photos cm |
Rating Guide: 5.0 Outstanding 4.0 Very Good 3.0 Above Average 2.0 Fair  1.0 Poor  |
