First, these are both fantastic bikes! I'm not going to pour over every detail but just my impressions. I have no dog in the fight. Both frames are large.
SIZING: The Turner has a bigger head tube (5.3) than the Santa Cruz (4.7). This creates some challenges in sizing as I am trying to get my bars lower on the Turner. I'm going to go flat bar to do the trick. Advantage Santa Cruz for me. Second, Santa Cruz has a shorter down tube (18") than the 19" one on the Turner. The Turner and Santa Cruz have very similar top tube lengths but the Turner feels bigger. Advantage Santa Cruz for me.
Handling: Santa Cruz is legendary for their handling. I found this to be true as I could throw the bike around and it was incredibly fun. The Turner feels like it has a longer wheelbase and is a point and shoot rocket. I find myself going super fast on the Turner with an awesome feeling of stability. However, the downside is the Turner is not as quick in tight stuff as the Santa Cruz. Tough call but probably for my style of riding: Turner wins.
Durability: Santa Cruz need a shock bushing replaced after a year. Easy and cheap fix. I love the lower link grease pivots on the Santa Cruz. I have not ridden the Turner long enough to comment on the durability but my old Turner was bombproof. No advantage until I ride the Turner longer. Advantage: we shall see
Weight: Santa Cruz is lighter at 6.6 lbs while the Turner is nearly 7 lbs. I weighed the Turner but not the Santa Cruz but read about the weight on the web. Advantage: Santa Cruz.
Climbing: Tough call because the bigger frame on the Turner gave my some mechanical advantage when cranking. The Santa Cruz locks out pretty well on climbs and creates an awesome climbing machine. Climbing traction is much better on the Turner. However, the Santa Cruz was fine. Tough to corner the variables between the bikes because of the sizing difference but VPP design is a crisper climber. Advantage: even.
Suspension design: The Santa Cruz has a great VPP design. The suspension feels bottomless as noted in a recent Bicycling magazine. It is very stiff and levels the ground incredibly well. The Turner's DW design is just awesome. Very seamless and doesn't hardly bob in any gear. The Turner seems to blow through its travel a bit too easy. I am not a suspension expert but advantage: Turner by a hair.
Descending: Santa Cruz just rumbles downhill; particularly on steeper tight turns. The Turner is so freaking stiff it just rumbles like a monster truck in technical terrain leveling the ground. Advantage: Turner.
Variables: Santa Cruz makes a carbon bike that would change the comparison: stiffer and lighter. No carbon for Turner yet. Advantage: Santa Cruz.
Which bikes is best? Hmm. Tough call. For me I would pick the Turner. However, the Santa Cruz is just a fun bike. It is nicer looking and just screams ride me. I would like to ride a carbon Blur LT and see if that makes a difference in my comparison. I love both bikes and don't think the Turner has a huge advantage.
SIZING: The Turner has a bigger head tube (5.3) than the Santa Cruz (4.7). This creates some challenges in sizing as I am trying to get my bars lower on the Turner. I'm going to go flat bar to do the trick. Advantage Santa Cruz for me. Second, Santa Cruz has a shorter down tube (18") than the 19" one on the Turner. The Turner and Santa Cruz have very similar top tube lengths but the Turner feels bigger. Advantage Santa Cruz for me.
Handling: Santa Cruz is legendary for their handling. I found this to be true as I could throw the bike around and it was incredibly fun. The Turner feels like it has a longer wheelbase and is a point and shoot rocket. I find myself going super fast on the Turner with an awesome feeling of stability. However, the downside is the Turner is not as quick in tight stuff as the Santa Cruz. Tough call but probably for my style of riding: Turner wins.
Durability: Santa Cruz need a shock bushing replaced after a year. Easy and cheap fix. I love the lower link grease pivots on the Santa Cruz. I have not ridden the Turner long enough to comment on the durability but my old Turner was bombproof. No advantage until I ride the Turner longer. Advantage: we shall see
Weight: Santa Cruz is lighter at 6.6 lbs while the Turner is nearly 7 lbs. I weighed the Turner but not the Santa Cruz but read about the weight on the web. Advantage: Santa Cruz.
Climbing: Tough call because the bigger frame on the Turner gave my some mechanical advantage when cranking. The Santa Cruz locks out pretty well on climbs and creates an awesome climbing machine. Climbing traction is much better on the Turner. However, the Santa Cruz was fine. Tough to corner the variables between the bikes because of the sizing difference but VPP design is a crisper climber. Advantage: even.
Suspension design: The Santa Cruz has a great VPP design. The suspension feels bottomless as noted in a recent Bicycling magazine. It is very stiff and levels the ground incredibly well. The Turner's DW design is just awesome. Very seamless and doesn't hardly bob in any gear. The Turner seems to blow through its travel a bit too easy. I am not a suspension expert but advantage: Turner by a hair.
Descending: Santa Cruz just rumbles downhill; particularly on steeper tight turns. The Turner is so freaking stiff it just rumbles like a monster truck in technical terrain leveling the ground. Advantage: Turner.
Variables: Santa Cruz makes a carbon bike that would change the comparison: stiffer and lighter. No carbon for Turner yet. Advantage: Santa Cruz.
Which bikes is best? Hmm. Tough call. For me I would pick the Turner. However, the Santa Cruz is just a fun bike. It is nicer looking and just screams ride me. I would like to ride a carbon Blur LT and see if that makes a difference in my comparison. I love both bikes and don't think the Turner has a huge advantage.