Riding the 2026 Santa Cruz Bullit in Powell River

The text arrived out of the blue. "What if I hop on a ferry, pick you up, and we go ride the new Bullit in Powell River for a few days?"

Seb holds down marketing duties at Santa Cruz, but prior to that, he wrote for NSMB (and bike), built sick secret trails, and was the architect of several adventures of excellence. For one winter he even lived on the Shore and occasionally joined Cam and me on midday rides in weather so bad that we might have wondered if we wouldn't have been happier in an office.

A lot of work goes into reviewing a bike, and sometimes eBikes are even trickier. In the case of the new Santa Cruz Bullit, we have a lot of ground to cover. It's a four-bar! Bosch motor, size specific chain stays, slacker and steeper...a lot of the same key themes from the Vala that Santa Cruz launched late last year, but as the one standing guard on the big travel end of the spectrum, the Bullit feels like the one they were building up to.

Because he's the kind of guy that doesn't like to sit still for too long, Seb Kemp decided to turn this exercise into a challenge. Rather than leave a bike with us for months, we cut the test period down to a week and a half. And since we were both feeling squirrelly after a cold, wet start to Spring, I let him 'pressure me' into that 2-day trip to Powell River. Why test a bike for a few months on trails I know when there's a chance to compress it into less than two weeks, including some trails I don't? I eventually just gave in to the best kind of peer pressure, confirmed Deniz's attendance - which took about three seconds - and we got to work.

2025 Santa Cruz Bullit Key Details (bullit point form, naturally)

• 170mm travel front and rear
• Four-bar suspension layout
• Slackest HTA (63.3º) and steepest STA (77.4º true or 78.7º effective) ever on a SC bike made to be pedaled
• Mx wheels on all sizes - Bullit comes in S to XXL
• Size specific chainstay lengths
• CC and C carbon frames - all models under 50lbs or 22.7kgs
• Flip chips allow independent tuning to Geo & Progression
• Seatstay bridge and one-piece bridged link to prevent side loading on shock
• Typical SC attention to bearing/frame detail:
  • Oversized bearings are pressed into hardware instead of the frame
  • Captive axles = easier replacements, no dropping pieces everywhere
  • Main pivots use preloading collet axle & expanding wedge
  • Replaceable threads; no special tools to service/replace bearings
  • Free bearing replacements for life (like all Santa Cruz frames)
• Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 Motor
• 600 Wh battery, optional 250 Wh range extender
• Starting at 9,649 CAD / 7,399 USD

Powell River & Area Key Facts

• Also known as the Upper or Northern Sunshine Coast, Powell River sits near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait.
• From Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, take the 40-minute ferry to Langdale. Drive for about 70 minutes to Earls Cove, passing through Roberts Creek, Wilson Creek, and Sechelt (all have good riding but the extra push is worth it). Take another (very beautiful) ferry to Saltery Bay. Drive a final 25 minutes and you'll be in Powell River.
• Powell River has 400+ kms of trails and they are actively adding more.
• The QRCA (Qathet Regional Cycling Association) has 575 members, who put in 5,500+ hours of volunteer work on the trails last year.
• The QRCA - who seem very good at grant writing - are in the middle of a multi-phase project, adding trails on Mount Mahony that are being built by Whistler-based Howler Contracting.
• qathet means "working together". It was gifted by Tla'amin Elders as a new name for the qathet Regional District in British Columbia, formerly known as the Powell River Regional District. The word is intentionally lowercase, as Tla'amin Nation traditional orthography does not use capital letters.
• The population of Powell River and surrounding area is about 20,000, making it the largest town on the Sunshine Coast.

Frame Details

At 170mm front and back, the Bullit is a big 'un. Santa Cruz is calling it a downhill bike with a chairlift, and minus the dual crown fork, it's an apt description. As with the Vala, the first thing most will notice is that the Bullit is a four-bar layout, not VPP. As with the Vala, Santa Cruz was careful to remind us they're not abandoning VPP, but these two were developed concurrently, when four-bar was decided upon for a variety of reasons, including space constraints dictated by using Bosch motors.

All Bullits come in Mx wheel configurations, sizing now starts at S instead of M and goes up to XXL, and every size gets its own chain stay length. Seat post insertion depth is excellent, with the size L I tested coming with a 210mm post but happy to take a longer one if you wanted.

Not only is the Bullit a full carbon frame, but it's offered in C or CC options, depending on trim level. Many other Santa Cruz hallmarks are also part of the package, including very well thought out frame hardware that is easy to work on, oversized bearings (free replacements for life), and a one-piece bridged link that, in conjunction with a seatstay bridge, keeps things laterally stiff. That stiffness means the shock isn't subjected to side-loading which lets it focus on being awesome instead of twisting and binding.

Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 Motor

Bosch's grip on the motor world remains solid. The Gen 5 Performance Line CX is quieter, more efficient, and has a more natural pedal feel. Zero rattle from anywhere, less motor whine than before, same great Bosch feel. The top tube-mounted screen remains more minimal than I'd like but that's being addressed shortly. Time after time, we get 10-12% more range from a Bosch-equipped bike with the same battery size than one from Shimano or Dyname, and the pedal dynamics are better, with reliability and durability on another planet. We'll have thoughts on DJI in a few months but for now, Bosch is an easy recommend.

Finally, the Bosch app is simple to use and offers robust amounts of control and customization. Firmware updates happen over the air via the phone app (no dealer visits and annoying dongles) and the ride modes offer tweaks and tricks like Auto mode which detects your style of riding you're doing and how much power you're asking for, and adapts automatically on a rolling 5km basis to make sure you use your juice efficiently. Clever Germans.

Geometry

Two flip chips allow you to control geo (deltas of 4mm BB height and 0.3º of head tube angle) and progression (26 or 29%) independently of each other. The Bullit is the slackest and steepest bike Santa Cruz has made (non-DH bike category) with 63.3º HTA and 78.7º effective STA numbers.

I normally ride an XL but my tester's size Large reach and stack - at 480 and 640mm, respectively - did a pretty good job of bridging me up into L+ territory, so I wasn't out of room to negotiate with my riding position, although I think I'd stick with XL. I only rode the Bullit in the Hi position, but having spent a day on the Vala (which offers identical flip chip adjustment numbers) in Lo before switching over, I can confirm that the difference is noticeable. For trail riding on the Sunshine Coast as well as Squamish and Chilliwack, I preferred the Hi setting. I'd likely switch to Lo for a day in the bike park but otherwise appreciated the added margin for pedal strikes and slightly quicker feel.

I'll add here that all Bullits are spec'd with 155mm cranks, which felt great and kept pedal strikes to a minimum, and I did touch rock and dirt several times, but never unexpectedly.

Mount Mahony - Trail Riding Paradise

I'd been to Powell River before, and ridden a very limited amount on Mount Mahony. Seb's ridden through PR, but usually on a gravel bike in endurance-ride induced semi-consciousness, and Deniz had never been. To make the most of our 2 days in town, Seb reached out to a couple of locals for a little help. Johanna Jackson and Andrew Roddan are Powell River residents and more importantly, Mahony Mobsters which, like all good posses, sounds menacing but really just means 'builders and riders on Mount Mahony'. They're young and hungry - Andrew was born in PR and has come back to put down roots in his hometown. Johanna decided to join him in that adventure and together, they're getting after it: he's a realtor (and very busy trail builder), she's got various marketing irons in the fire; together, they're launching a shuttling business.

While there are other spots to ride in Powell River, we had (and you should have) sights set on Mount Mahony. The QRCA's strategic plan is well underway, and there are multiple climb trails and at least 5 descents covered by the current state of work. But that's just the new trails; there are plenty of pre-existing classics and everything is being built and planned in a cohesive way, creating tons of fun loops and options. There is tech, there are steeps, and flow abounds. There are jumps of varying size and shape, from mellow and tabled to slightly sketchy and unpredictable, but as a whole the building and trail layouts are terrific and endlessly entertaining, the dirt sublime. From Mach Loonie's famous slab with a view to descents like Quik-E, Loam Digger, Quaver and Bounty Hunter, and of course, Fairies Wear Boots, we found tons of repeatable classics, and that's not a complete list.

Johanna and Andrew toured us around for a full day, showing us as many of their favourites as possible (and a few stealthy ones as well) and we couldn't have asked for a better introduction to Mahony's trail network.

Riding the Bullit

I loved my two days aboard the Vala this fall, but when it's had enough and goes home to get a good night's sleep, the Bullit starts looking around shiftily in search of ways to get rowdy. Before we even got to Powell River, I'd had a chance to set the Bullit up and ride it a few times. There are plenty of places to get up to speed here on the coast, and the Bullit is very comfy smashing into things without making you worry about hitting the limits of traction. It arrived just as my shoulder started feeling better, so we got to know each other a bit slowly but with increasing trust. I'd have loved another few weeks with the bike, especially now that our weather is looking like actual spring, because I gave it back just as I was able to finish a few rides without having trouble taking a jersey off. Still, it helped overcome some early season/return from injury unease and as I learned to push it and myself a bit, there was a lot of margin left.

Setup

Fox 38 Factory: 102 psi / LSC 5 / HSC 3 / LSR 5 / HSR 4
Fox Float X2: 201 psi / LSC 6 / HSC 3 / LSR 9 / HSR 3

With a bit more time to fiddle, I would have worked on eking a bit more initial suppleness out of the fork, and a slightly more linear path to the end stroke in order to match what I was getting out of the new Factory X2 with the flip chip in the less progressive setting in the back. I was regularly getting full travel out of the shock without bottoming hard, despite some flat landings. I didn't get my setup into a window that felt 'nailed' in the way I did with the Vala, however I was usually either comfortable riding something or I wasn't, and when I was, the Bullit handled very well, indeed.

The Bullit is a bruiser of a bike, but it doesn't ride that way. That's partly attributable to the fact that it has a motor to help lighten the load, but as bike brands have learned how to make ebikes, they've gotten a lot better in the handling department. So, while the Bullit is as capable as its 170mm of travel front and back would suggest, I never felt like I was aboard a massive, unwieldy machine. The sub-50lb weight and low centre of gravity contribute, but I'd give plenty of credit to the balance of the front and rear centres and the way that some of that weight disappears into the bike in motion. For such a big bike, the Bullit handles sharply enough to feel really alive when you get it rolling and use a little English, but it's still a 63º front end with a long wheelbase (1,280mm for Large), so you're never going to run out of stability. That mulleted rear end helps get the back end swung around when it's twisty and gives you some clearance in the steeps. For long travel bikes, I now have a strong preference for the mixed wheel.

Powell River

Once the site of the world's largest pulp mill that fed 1 in 25 newspapers around the world, Powell River has transitioned to other industries: tourism, mining, fishing, and forestry. It is now a vibrant community of 14,000 (20 including the surrounding district) with a historic old town and several quaint neighbourhoods. Like other towns that require a bit of effort to get to, the locals are friendly and have never seemed resentful or overwhelmed by tourists, and are proud to talk about or show off their town.

Powell River sits on traditional territory of the Tla'amin First Nation, but it was named after Israel Powell, who was chief of Indian Affairs in the 1870s and 80s and did many things we'd all like to go back in time to undo. Thanks to a request made by the Tla'amin in 2021, the town is likely to have its name changed in the near future.

Townsite Brewing is located in the historic old town with Belgian-inspired brews, 0% options and kombucha, a comfy tasting room and incredible kid and pet-friendly outdoor area complete with sitting chairs. Also, two resident cats who specialize in napping on sunny window ledges.

Our best coffee, pastries, and sandwiches came from 32 Lakes Cafe and Bakery. Possibly best breakfast sandwich I've ever had (I don't say that lightly), and there are other great options for caffeine but I think that's the baker of choice. Our Monday/Tuesday timing didn't work out for Supercharger Pizza's opening hours, but it came recommended from anyone we asked and it'll be stop #1 the next time we go.

Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 on the Trail

When pedaling and climbing, the Bullit again didn't make you feel like you were on a huge bike. Credit to Bosch for smooth power pickup and a natural progression into more assist as your cadence heads toward the sweet spot, which is wider than most. I vastly prefer Bosch's purple or 'eMTB' mode to the red 'Boost' for most situations. Boost feels like you're being carried and I feel disassociated from pedaling, whereas eMTB feels more controlled. For something particularly steep, Boost is great as long as you can prevent losing traction. The steep seat tube worked well for me and I liked where I was positioned when seated, whether on flats or climbing.

Bosch's controller is nicely designed and easy to find, although I think the pressure required to switch modes is too light - occasionally I would cycle into a mode without meaning to, or cycle twice instead of once. I don't think ergonomics would suffer if it was stiffened slightly. The top tube-mounted readout is clear and simple, but even a small screen that allowed you to cycle through basic metrics like speed, battery % remaining, distance traveled, etc. would be nice. Most e-bike head units connect automatically to the Garmin on my wrist, however, so if I wanted that info, it didn't require a bar-mounted computer or a glance at my phone. Still, TQ's solution to this is elegant and discrete and I'll be curious to see what Bosch is coming out with to address it.

600 vs 850 kWh

I like Santa Cruz's decision to go with a 600 kWh battery on the Bullit. Like with the Vala, the ability to add a range extender is a decent compromise, although I don't like the hanging cable - here again TQ's solution is cleaner - however it's not unforgivable. But the lighter weight of the smaller battery is something all riders will feel on every ride, whereas the added range is something only some riders will use some of the time. Save the cost and the weight for the benefit of most. The weight of the battery and motor do make for great handling but as more weight comes out of ebikes, they'll get even better.

I did multiple rides of a bout 25kms and 1,000m of climbing and had plenty of battery left - somewhere in the 30-40% region, usually. So I think 1,500m of climbing without using Boost is easily in reach with a bit of margin for someone at my 195lbs (beer tasted so good all winter). Lighter and/or fitter riders may be able to approach 1,800 or 2,000 metres of climbing on the 600 kWh battery.

At a hair over 63 degrees, the extra slack head angle was welcome in all situations. Of course, at slower speeds, you won't get all that excited, and the same goes with the suspension, but the Bullit isn't made to be ridden slowly, so just as an idling sports car will make you feel like you're being pulled along in the parking lot in 1st, you're in 'deal with it' mode until you get up to speed. But we giggled our way along the green-rated ʔiʔajusθot (having a good time), a machine-built flow trail (helmet tip to Curtis Robinson who designed and built it) and even in sedate territory, the Bullit was fun as all hell as speeds ramped up.

When things got more serious, the Bullit's capability shone - with ease. I pointed it down some slabs on a trail nearby on the lower coast, and despite the slick conditions and my less than 100% confidence, I felt very comfortable despite being in a few unforgiving situations with real consequences. From abrupt transitions out of chutes - including one slick one where the back end wandered - to prolonged steeps that asked for precise line choices or a healthy dose of #fuckit, the Bullit more than held its own.

Between the two, I could make an argument for either the Vala or the Bullit as a personal bike. I loved the Vala and we rode some steep, rough terrain on it in Squamish and Chilliwack. If those were the limits of my uses for it, I would be happy. However, for roughly the same weight and no sacrifice in handling, there's no reason I wouldn't choose the Bullit as a perfect tool for exploring trails in the most rugged and far-flung corners of BC and beyond. It'd be better suited for occasional days in a bike park, and when I think back on so many adventures spent exploring big terrain in BC, it's the bike I would choose between the two to have my back when it gets steep and loose, without running out of fun on more sedate trails. I don't always choose the bigger bike but in this case, I think the Bullit - the downhill bike with a chairlift built in - is the one I'd select.

Spec Notes

I'd be reticent to say too much about the new Fox Float X2 without more time to play with it, other than it nicely complemented the Bullit's four-bar layout and bottom outs were neither harsh nor noticeable. It felt lively and the small adjustments I put into it felt meaningful, so there seems to be a good tuning range. Other than that, we'll have to get deeper into the new shock after some more time on it - and when I can push a bike harder.

The other notable item from the spec sheet were the SRAM Maven brakes. This is the third bike I've ridden with them, and each time they've been fantastic. The added power is incredible, though you have to get used to it or suffer from over-braking and feel like a total hack. Modulation is a solid B; not perfect, but manageable once you find the range.

Otherwise, the Fox 38, SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission, Reserve 30HD front and 30DH rear Carbon wheels, Maxxis Assegai front and DHRII rubber - both in DoubleDown and SuperTacky - and OneUp V3 post all performed exactly as they usually do, which is to say, pretty much best in class.

2025 Santa Cruz Bullit Weight and Pricing

Santa Cruz Bullit X0 AXS RSV: 21.85kg // 15,549 CAD / 11,899 USD

Santa Cruz Bullit GX AXS: 22.35kg // 12,549 CAD / 9,599 USD

Santa Cruz Bullit 90: 22.3kg // 11,249 CAD / 8,599 USD

Santa Cruz Bullit 70: 22.4kg // 9,649 CAD / 7,399 USD

Santa Cruz Bicycles

In less than 48 hours, Seb, Deniz and I eked about as much as you could hope for out of a short trip. We made new friends, discovered new trails, learned more about a historic BC town, and were left wanting more. We'll be back very soon to revisit old favourites and discover some that we missed.

Road tripping up the Sunshine Coast is a special thing; the drives aren't long, the ferry rides are beautiful, there are gems tucked into lots of little corners. The terrain and riding is world class, but the people are modest and friendly. Paradoxically, Powell River sits on the Salish Sea but is known as the land of 32 Lakes. You can connect by ferry, as we did, from the lower Sunshine Coast, but you can also arrive by ferry directly from Comox on Vancouver Island or fly in via float plane.

However you choose to get there, Powell River belongs up high on your list.