Santa Cruz Driver 8
by Tyler Maine
Jan 29, 2009
Source: Santa Cruz Bikes
Here's our new bike. We call it the Driver 8.
It has 8 inches of next-generation VPP rear wheel travel. It also has enough room to raise or lower the seat through a 7-inch range. It's got a 1.5" head tube, an 83mm wide bb with ISCG05 mounts and 150mm rear spacing with a Maxle thru-axle. So, just what kind of bike is it supposed to be?
Here's our new bike. We call it the Driver 8.
It has 8 inches of next-generation VPP rear wheel travel. It also has enough room to raise or lower the seat through a 7-inch range. It's got a 1.5" head tube, an 83mm wide bb with ISCG05 mounts and 150mm rear spacing with a Maxle thru-axle. So, just what kind of bike is it supposed to be?
We designed the Driver 8 to be a general duty, daily driver gravity hauler. It is a super tough, super versatile bike that is ideal for life at Whistler. It's a damn good long travel high speed trail bike (Wait, is that freeriding, or all-mountain high speed trail riding? What about low speed, sphincter pinching gnarl? Does it speak with a Canadian accent? Man, this gets confusing...)
Anyway, it's a kickass park bike, more lively and poppable and jumpable than the V-10. And it is also a very handy downhill race bike, probably a better race choice for most riders who aren't World Cup pros on most courses that aren't World Cup courses. But it can still plow through big rocks and huge drops with the best of them. 8 inches of travel is still a whole lot of cushion for the pushin'...
When the seat is slammed all the way down (7 inches of up and down adjustability, remember?), it is in a similar fore/aft location to the seat on a V-10, but can be run even lower. However, due to the angle of the seat mast, when the seat is raised up as far as it will go, the pedaling position is about the same as that of the Nomad, which is a pretty good location to kick at the cranks and point a bike uphill.
With regard to that "general duty, daily driver" comment, we've gone heavy duty with the VPP links. The upper link is carbon fiber, insanely strong, and pivots on four beefy radial contact sealed cartridge bearings. The lower link gets grease ports for easy service, huge 15mm pivot axles with the same trick locking collet head feature as the Blur LT, Nomad and new Blur XC, and it swings on EIGHT angular contact bearings. All bearing sets, top and bottom, are encased in a further set of lip seals and labyrinth washers to further combat the ingress of dirt. The bike comes with its own grease gun, and you won't need a personal mechanic to deal with any of that.
You can call it a freeride bike, if you're into that. You can call it a park bike. You can call it a downhill bike. It can do all that, and more. We're sticking to our guns. We call it the Driver 8.
-$2399 US MSRP, powdercoat frame w/RockShox Vivid 5.1
-$2561 US MSRP w/Fox DHX RC4
-(add $200 for anodized finish)
Click here for full geometry details
Available to customers mid-May, 2009, in all the usual powder coat colors as well as an anodized, as yet to be named, sort of golden color.
*Accepting orders for FRAMESETS now
*Accepting complete bike orders April 1st, 2009
For more info including sizing and geometry, please visit www.santacruzmtb.com.
12mm Maxle rear thru-axle
12mm Maxle rear thru-axle
83mm bottom bracket with ISCG 05 mounts
Anyway, it's a kickass park bike, more lively and poppable and jumpable than the V-10. And it is also a very handy downhill race bike, probably a better race choice for most riders who aren't World Cup pros on most courses that aren't World Cup courses. But it can still plow through big rocks and huge drops with the best of them. 8 inches of travel is still a whole lot of cushion for the pushin'...
8" of next-generation VPP travel
Mud flap shock cover
Mud flap shock cover
When the seat is slammed all the way down (7 inches of up and down adjustability, remember?), it is in a similar fore/aft location to the seat on a V-10, but can be run even lower. However, due to the angle of the seat mast, when the seat is raised up as far as it will go, the pedaling position is about the same as that of the Nomad, which is a pretty good location to kick at the cranks and point a bike uphill.
7 inches of up and down seat adjustability
With regard to that "general duty, daily driver" comment, we've gone heavy duty with the VPP links. The upper link is carbon fiber, insanely strong, and pivots on four beefy radial contact sealed cartridge bearings. The lower link gets grease ports for easy service, huge 15mm pivot axles with the same trick locking collet head feature as the Blur LT, Nomad and new Blur XC, and it swings on EIGHT angular contact bearings. All bearing sets, top and bottom, are encased in a further set of lip seals and labyrinth washers to further combat the ingress of dirt. The bike comes with its own grease gun, and you won't need a personal mechanic to deal with any of that.
Carbon fiber upper link with 4 radial contact sealed bearings
Easy service grease ports
You can call it a freeride bike, if you're into that. You can call it a park bike. You can call it a downhill bike. It can do all that, and more. We're sticking to our guns. We call it the Driver 8.
-$2399 US MSRP, powdercoat frame w/RockShox Vivid 5.1
-$2561 US MSRP w/Fox DHX RC4
-(add $200 for anodized finish)
Click here for full geometry details
Available to customers mid-May, 2009, in all the usual powder coat colors as well as an anodized, as yet to be named, sort of golden color.
*Accepting orders for FRAMESETS now
*Accepting complete bike orders April 1st, 2009
For more info including sizing and geometry, please visit www.santacruzmtb.com.
Link to News Story
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213 Comments
- + 3 Show
this just about perfects the freeriding catagorey, slack, long travel, single crowns bikes.
- + 7 Show
and im not a fan of the color and look of that one... this build though is the shit
http://dirtmag.co.uk/news/category/dirt-team/exclusivedriver-8-photos/dirt-1234474.html
http://dirtmag.co.uk/news/category/dirt-team/exclusivedriver-8-photos/dirt-1234474.html
- + 18 Show
So are you saying the V10 isn't much of a 'race' bike either? The V10 also has a 67 deg head tube angle.
- + 5 Show
too bad it's so expensive. but i guess you get what you pay for. top quality bike for sure.
- + 9 Show
what the f*ck?!?!? i just bought a brand new 2009 santa cruz v10 for like 3300!!! this sucks. i could have had this one which would suit me alot better, and for a lot less
- + 2 Show
jvsomething for this sexy of a bike its not that expensive look at a V10 or Bullit. now thats really expensive.
im not saying this is cheap but its better then alot of other 8in travel bikes with this setup
im not saying this is cheap but its better then alot of other 8in travel bikes with this setup
- + 3 Show
fatsir, the price is for the just the frame. the bullit is like 1300 for the frame or something like that. its way cheaper
- + 0 Show
really nice however there are a few things that i dont like about the bike, the seatpost tube sticking out from the frame i thing it makes it look tackie if that bit was missing you could still have your seatpost lower down. And also the plate which conects the swing arm to the frame above the shock i think needs to be slightly further back giving it a slightly higher bb if it had those things corrected then this bike really would be a nice mini v10. otherwise its a sick bike!
- + 6 Show
"Super 8" was the first good downhill bike from Sta Cruz (1998 circa).. they wouldn't use the same name again
- + 2 Show
Well lets puts it this way. Why don't they name the h3 the h1? They don't produce the h1s anymore... Well theres your answer... Its not the same thing and it would be dumb using the same name twice.
- + 2 Show
I know that name Convo was over ages ago but they named it after a dog that was called driver and belonged to the company but died
- + 13 Show
its named after the dog that Santa Cruz had since the beginning of the company. the dog recently passed away which is why they named the bike in the dogs honor.
- + 8 Show
for all you trolls the nomad is a 6'' am bike, I want a v6 with a 12mm rear end and a v10 style mainframe for heavier freeride/ss which the nomad does not fit, even if it is named after a dog it will still get called a V8 weather you freaks like it or not, so a V6 makes perfect sence, I want what suits my purposes, not what a manifacturer or some pinkbike-o-phile kid thinks I should want, get a life you bunch of winners
- + 1 Show
I must be the only one born before 1980 on this board... The bike was named for a dog which was named for an R.E.M. song.
Clever name... "Driver 8", as in "i>Daily/i> Driver, 8" Travel." Get it? Funny stuff.
Despite that, I don't get the point of the bike. No FD? So it's one of nu-skool Hammerschmidt rigs?
Clever name... "Driver 8", as in "i>Daily/i> Driver, 8" Travel." Get it? Funny stuff.
Despite that, I don't get the point of the bike. No FD? So it's one of nu-skool Hammerschmidt rigs?
- + 4 Show
OHHH dazem! you have DESTROYED my self confidence. I will never be able to ride again, I must sit at home alone polishing my bike repeatedly hoping someone will come along and give me a confidence booster. What EVER shall i do?
- + 3 Show
for everyone who wants to call it the V8: thats a juice, and nobody likes it because its made out of carrots and tomatoes and whatnot.
personally, I think the driver 8 sounds too much like the demo 8, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion... unless your opinion is that V8 juice is good, then f*ck you
personally, I think the driver 8 sounds too much like the demo 8, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion... unless your opinion is that V8 juice is good, then f*ck you
- - 1 Show
gottagetanorco that would also mean the V10 would be any engine,the bullit would be a bullet and the blur would be a blurey fog...thats basicly what your saying..
- + 4 Show
the name is unimportant, its not an arguement, read my comments, call it whatever I still want to see a V6 and not a nomad....if you dont get it you never will, no point in explaining it, you just dont get it
- - 2 Show
DarkElement for a race bike an engine would be sick, for a freeride/dh bike a bullet would sound cool and sort of attack, the blur for 4x/whatever would be sick cause it sounds fast
but when you're talking about freeride/race, carrots and tomatoes just don't seem to fit to much... still just my opinion, maybe some people would love to race on carrots and jump/huck tomatoes?
dazem, i get what your saying, i thought i had seen V8 instead of V6. my mistake!
but when you're talking about freeride/race, carrots and tomatoes just don't seem to fit to much... still just my opinion, maybe some people would love to race on carrots and jump/huck tomatoes?
dazem, i get what your saying, i thought i had seen V8 instead of V6. my mistake!
- + 1 Show
For some reason I'd go with this over the V-10 for racing. Something about having 8-8 makes it seem a much better platform.
- + 4 Show
On paper the head angles are the same, but remember the V-10 is designed for a HUGE amount of sag. When you sit on either of those, the V-10 will be slacker.
- + 0 Show
Santa Cruz needs to loosen up, the head angle on the V-10 is way too steep and slightly too steep on the D-8 IMHFO
- + 0 Show
yes but, the steeper the head tube angle,the better the braking and handling,But the looser headtube angle the better extreme high speed stability (85 KPH+)..but all these things can be counter acted by suspention design..the VPP gives the V-10 very good high speed stablitily, with a steep head tube angle,why wouldnt the Driver 8 be as good or better?
[Reply]
- + 0 Show
Looks nice but the article doesn't mention the geometry or weight of the frame. Would be nice to test ride one of these for sure.
- + 1 Show
Geo on medium sized frame:
tt=22.8
st=17.5
HA=67
wb=44.3
cs=17.4
bb height = 14.5
Built around 560mm A2C fork
tt=22.8
st=17.5
HA=67
wb=44.3
cs=17.4
bb height = 14.5
Built around 560mm A2C fork
- + 0 Show
ive just bought a commencal supreme 2. Wish i would had seen this sooner, this bike looks the bolx.
- + 0 Show
I'm so jealous of that mud-flap for the shock, I've been trying to engineer one for my vp-free but no success yet.
- + 0 Show
If they wanted a truely versatile big bike, they would have made a front derailer possible as well. Looks like a fun bike though.
- + 0 Show
i dunno, it seems like its being labeled a park bike/light DH. not really much cause for a granny gear when you've got a chairlift or shuttle.
In any case, this bike looks beautiful, and I might just have to upgrade my frame this summer.
In any case, this bike looks beautiful, and I might just have to upgrade my frame this summer.
- + 0 Show
could you still do a hammerschmidt though? I don't remember how the cabling worked on those things...
- + 0 Show
On their site they say you can, but that it might adversely affect suspension performance when in the low gears.
- + 1 Show
The Bullit is their versatile big bike. This is a light DH bike. Intense has the M6/Socom, now SC has the V10/Driver 8
- - 3 Show
The Bullit is a sad excuse for a "versatile big bike." You can only be so versatile with a single pivot.
- + 1 Show
That bike looks rather Amazing. The way the frame is built, kinda reminds me of a Foes. The way it looks, like a V-10 and a Foes had a kid. But im not a fan of how the seat post is. Its probably strong, but id bet that is gonna be the first broken part on the frame.
- + 0 Show
That's what I thought. Like they were trying to get into the same realm as the Fly, though I don't think anything is as versatile as that bike.
- + 2 Show
This bike is so sick. Props to santa cruz for designing it. The v10 is just too much of a bike so to have 8 inches on the same platform is awesome
- + 0 Show
what a great idea, thats a great free ride bike for santa cruz, the only thing i dont on the frame is where the linkage meats by the seat post, it makes the seat look like it sticks way out the back
[Reply]
- - 2 Show
Seat mast looks ridiculous to me. This bike is not something that you'd really want to pedal anywhere too far. This is how it should have been done:
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2943610/
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2943610/
- + 0 Show
The straight-up seatpost really kills it. I'm sure it rides like a dream, but they could have designed it to be a bit more badass-looking.
[Reply]
- + 1 Show
looks good but with 17.4 chainstays i have to say thanks but no thanks. give me a 16.9 option and I'm right on board
- + 0 Show
to the guy who made a pic of it but shorter..yes it looks better but i guarenttee that there is a reason they didnt
- + 0 Show
the frame is only 500 dollars less then the V10..i wonder if the price will drop on it next year or something it seems like it should be cheaper
- + 0 Show
whats the difference between that and the v10 its got the same specs... besides the head tube and bb
- - 1 Show
i have had 4 v10 over the last few years but this is the bike that i have been waiting for the hole time the vp free was a big bunch of crap to tall and to weak santa cruz finally got it
- - 1 Show
seems like the same technology of the v10 just in a smaller slightly more affordable package
- - 5 Show
short travel v10 by an inch and still costs a fortune....
too many gullible riders out there wasting cash.
too many gullible riders out there wasting cash.
- + 0 Show
I know, but I was told it was because they couldn't keep up with the demand and were exporting the production to Taiwan(?) like the rest of their frames... Same with the V10...
Although its about time they re-juvenate the VP-free...
In any case it's always nice to see new frames with already efficient and proven suspension designs.
Although its about time they re-juvenate the VP-free...
In any case it's always nice to see new frames with already efficient and proven suspension designs.
- + 0 Show
is is me, or does this frame look different from this one:
http://dirtmag.co.uk/news/category/dirt-team/exclusivedriver-8-photos/dirt-1234474.html
maybe the black one is more of a prototype and this ano orange is more of a production? idk... but i like the looks ofthis one much better
http://dirtmag.co.uk/news/category/dirt-team/exclusivedriver-8-photos/dirt-1234474.html
maybe the black one is more of a prototype and this ano orange is more of a production? idk... but i like the looks ofthis one much better
- + 0 Show
That has to be one of the nicest bikes i have ever seen.Its a V10 turned into a freeride bike plus a few other features added to make it better.
- + 1 Show
you know if they can drop off 2 inches of travel from the v-10 they should drop off $2000 from the price of the full bike hehe but thats just me
- + 0 Show
bout time they replaced the vp-free. looks great. how long have they been without an 8 inch park bike?
- + 1 Show
Santa Cruz hasn't made an 8 inch travel bike since the Super 8. The VP Free has 7.5" of travel.
- + 0 Show
Whatever, I was just answering your question. "how long have they been without an 8 inch park bike?" I'd say about 10 years.
[Reply]
[Reply]
- + 0 Show
when do they come out??
ive been waiting for santa cruz to build a nice DH/Freeride bike
looks super sick
ive been waiting for santa cruz to build a nice DH/Freeride bike
looks super sick
- + 0 Show
So, it seems like you could throw a dual crown fork on there and have a sick race bike. It looks to me like they headed in the same direction as Trek did with their top DH bike. Session 10 was huge so they needed a lighter race bike with less travel so they made the Session 88. Although Trek changed the rear suspension design and Santa Cruz didn't really, the though is the same, make a smaller travel bike that is lighter and more versatile.
- + 0 Show
I heard it is the same geometry as the VP Free.
But It is still a sick Bike!!!!
Looks Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!
But It is still a sick Bike!!!!
Looks Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!
- + 0 Show
nice looking but i don't like the untidy gussets, should be integrated in hydroformed tubes / monocoque.
the rearend looks sick though... nice design.
the rearend looks sick though... nice design.
- + 0 Show
It's called Campagnolo. They've been putting grease port fittings on their components since the 70s.
- + 0 Show
the welds are very clean on that bike. nice craftsmanship and extra steeze for the anodizing.
- + 0 Show
i think freeride bikes are just fake
many riders talk about freeride a way off life,
but is fk=&%· expensive,
so is not FREEride
why instead of making expencive bikes,create something more economic with the same stuff?
is just my opinion so dont talk shit to me
many riders talk about freeride a way off life,
but is fk=&%· expensive,
so is not FREEride
why instead of making expencive bikes,create something more economic with the same stuff?
is just my opinion so dont talk shit to me
- + 0 Show
The fact it is "freeride" what you are talking about, does not necesarily mean you get it for free (this is all stuf you gotta pay for dude). Now what? You are saying have them make different bikes out of the same stuff. If I charge you £1 for 1 kilo of bread, you can either make stars, baguettes or turn the dough into other shape like forms, but you still be getting £1 for each kilo. I know this is just your opinion, but do not worry as I am not talking shit to you.
- - 1 Show
Great looking bike, but not much of a daily driver. Single drive up front with no derailleur guide in sight. I'd hate to pedal that hulking beast up hill! With a shuttle or lift is how you'd get to the top. It is intended to bomb descents. Santa Cruz is almost a boutique bike company; if it wasn't for the Syndicate would anyone realy know them?
- + 1 Show
sngltrkmnd - I agree!~ NO FD...Hard work bringing a bike like this to the top of a trail in a 36T in Mammoth CA. As old as my Highline is getting at least they can run a front der and really, really do what this bike claims to be able to do. At least they gave you a 30.9 diam seat tube so you could run telescopic post to really get leg extension. Guess I'm a hater.
- + 1 Show
Is it just me or is this anticlimactic after all the anticipation waiting for the next bike to replace the VP Free? This bike just doesn’t have the sex appeal that I expected. I’ll keep my old VP Free for now and when it dies I’ll probably end up getting one of these, but luckily my old rig still has lots of life in it.
- + 0 Show
i like it. it meets a lot of dh racers and freeriders needs. a jumpier and livlier v10? that sounds just right.
but my race season starts in april and this thing aint ready till mid may.... darn it, back to the bigger bikes.
i think sc could have timed release better, but the bike is just rad.
but my race season starts in april and this thing aint ready till mid may.... darn it, back to the bigger bikes.
i think sc could have timed release better, but the bike is just rad.
- + 0 Show
dh bikes keep getting less and less travel maybe they'll soon be back on hardtails again - I personally don't like the look of this, although it does look nicer than Intense's offerings - Gimme the Foes RS7 any day!
- + 0 Show
personally, i think it looks terrible and bulky. santa cruz bikes always looked very thought out and refined, this one looks sloppy and thrown together. i'm sure it gets the job done though
- + 0 Show
I have been waiting for this bike to be released ever since the announcement of the end of the VP Free. I think this bike will be an amazing ride. I'm glad they lowered the BB from 15.4in to a respectable 14.5in (even though I think it should be lower still). I'm skeptical of the 67 degree head tube. Seems a little steep to me. Aesthetics play no part whatsoever in my bike buying decisions, but I do think this bike looks pretty cool.
On another note: Dazem: if you want a nomad that's built for DH and slopestyle, check out the intense SS. Pretty similar to what you're looking for...
On another note: Dazem: if you want a nomad that's built for DH and slopestyle, check out the intense SS. Pretty similar to what you're looking for...
- + 0 Show
for ne one thats interested the actul price after going and doin some research is about 5700 as a complete look 4 urself at this site: http://dirtmag.co.uk/news/category/dirt-team/exclusivedriver-8-photos/dirt-1234474.html
- + 0 Show
For those that are upset with the name, it was named the Driver 8 for sentimental reasons. It is named after the SC mascot. A malamute/wolf cross that has been with the company for over 10 years. He passed away a couple weeks before this press release.
[Reply]
- + 0 Show
pretty damn sexy bike,but stuck to the past......ok v10 rocks but they just put a Totem solo in front and some changes and we have a new bike..???? I think it belongs to last years aesthetics...that was put out now....
Totem takes the credit...!
would love to ride it though...
Totem takes the credit...!
would love to ride it though...
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