How does it compare? The Santa Cruz Bronson has 10mm less travel than the Moon on the back end, but the geometry numbers are really darn close to each other, and both bikes have a similar intended use and feel on the trail, especially while descending.
The Moon, like the Bronson, is a capable climber. It's a little more "loungy", and you do sink into the travel a touch more than on the Bronson, but there's a similar feeling of efficiency. Both bikes are forgiving and supple in chunky terrain. The Moon does have a little more give to it with that extra 10mm of travel when plowing through rough stuff, but it's barely enough to discern, and I doubt you could tell much of a difference if you rode both bikes down the same trail back to back.
Both bikes do a good job of muting small bumps and chatter - the Moon is a bit softer in the initial and mid part of the shock stroke than the Bronson, but both bikes are undoubtedly a "heels down flat out" kind of ride.
Another difference between these two bikes is the frame material and spec options. The Bronson has four different aluminum build choices and a whopping ten different builds with carbon that you could choose from; it's also available as a 'frame only' in both carbon and aluminum. The Moon has three build options and all of the frames are aluminum. When you put the bikes next to each other, looking at where they line up for the price, we have to compare Santa Cruz's aluminum Bronson S+. This is the nicest build one can get before going into carbon. It's slightly less spendy than the Moon, but has less high tier components.
This puts the Moon a bit above the Bronson in the element of builds, however, the Bronson has a water bottle mount on the downtube - something that the Moon misses the mark on.
But the flag is a big plus!
In regard to trail crap, which I also try to avoid;
www.camelbak.com/en/drinkware/R04037--Podium_Mud_Cap
will fit most water bottles.
There are also numerous other brands sold with caps, e.g. Elite or Decathlon.
Of course it sometimes makes sense to take a backpack for spare clothes etc. but I stopped using a water bladder years ago, even when riding with I pack. I just prefer to have as little weight on my body as possible and more on the bike.
To each his own.
Also hydration bladders aren't the most sanitary either. They are a bitch to clean, remove and fill, and I always have to empty and store mine in the freezer. You ever set your bag down and play the game of keeping the mouth piece out of the "decomposing soil"? Again pros/cons to each and it comes down to preference, I use both and sometimes in combination, it's nice to have water in your pack and then some gatorade in a bottle on the frame. Speaking of you ever put something that wasn't water into a hydration bladder?
If water has sat in them for more than a few months, I’ll rinse fresh water through them, but that’s it. Never a problem.
I agree that for some it may not be an issue to have water bottle mounts and for others it will and as commercial retailer it seems like an easy call to throw some simple mounts on the bike- especially if you have space for it. Not having a mount would be a negative for me and may dissuade me from buying the bike were there similarly spec'ed, priced and functioning alternatives with a mount available. It's not everything- but it is something and those somethings add up.
PS.
Kross bikes with a middle quality specs was more expensive than a similar Scott with better parts, so that's also a big drawback.
@mihauek: there are many rumors but I think Nino would beat me, even if I was on an E-bike.
Who would have thought...
However, this used to be a pain in the ass of a group of people from my country even today. Some sort of people I don't even understand. They do have a kind of the "origin complex" I think. It is sad because it is shitting at the manufacturer only because of the country it comes from. Now, those are Poles! They tend to appear only on the internet. I'm wondering why...
Since "bolts problem" Moon was changed twice. First time when switched into 27,5 and then after years - 2nd gen. It was shown in 2018 I guess. Even if there was any problem with a linkage that went broke I guess there was no problem with fixing it within a manufacturer warranty. I wouldn't be surprised if Kross would fix it on their own after the warranty period expired.
Personally, I had never a single problem owning full-sus made by Kross. Quality of the bikes is decent. I'm talking about the overall look and finishing of the details because broken parts are something I've never think of. I've never seen such a broken bike on my own. Believe me, I've seen a lot of punished Moons, Earths and Soils, on trails and bike parks. People are beating the crap out of those bikes. Year, after year, after year.
I'm not connected in any way with Kross. I don't have any special good or any particular bad feelings according to this company (they don't get my special handicap because they are made in my country). I had a load of a good time riding a few of their bikes. .
My Kross was 27.5", it broke. My friend had the same model - it broke, second friend changed the linkage to the more solid one, just to be sure it won't break, however, he broke few bolts. I won't trust this brand, even if they redesign the whole frame. The first impression they made is quite wrong and my point of view won't change. BTW, did you know that for professional racers like Maja Włoszczowska, Kross is not making the frames? It's Giant which is responsible for frames for the racers in Kross team.
If you are trying to tell me that Giant (Kross's biggest MTB opponent on Polish market) is the producer of Kross Racing Team bikes you have to be a complete delusion. I know what you are talking about and it was NOT a Kross Racing Team where Maja Wloszczowska and Jolanda Neff were in the same racing team. It was Giant Racing Team and later a Liv Racing Team. That was the place where those two met each other and become friends.
Iwas in Przasnysz 2 years ago and I saw their place where they started making own carbon framed bikes. For the market and for the team.
Do you have any questions?
Once again, I don't have any special good nor bad feelings about Kross brand. But I know they are making good bikes and the future of this brand is very bright. Good for them.
ps. Romet Viking was a far better bike than early Atala Flyer in 26" priced twice as high.
Atala was an amazing road bikes manufacturer but on MTB they made a lot of pure shit.
p.s. found it: www.kross.pl/en/2019/enduro/moon-3-0
Be carefull thought because there won't be much of choice for sizes.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/15626117
Wow, really? A bike with more travel easily soaked up hits that a shorter travel bike could also take? I stopped reading the review after that particularly insightful nugget...
That border wall is a pathetic idea and misguided attempt at shoring up the sieve that is our southern border & not everyone from the US has fastened themselves to that nitwit's third teet.
(For your information, ...the upper link rotates in the opposite direction to the lower link. That is an important point in the VPP.)
It's just saying that the rescue itself is the same as the Santa Cruz VPP.
The location of the rear suspension is not important.
The composition of the top/bottom link and the motion of the
swing arm are important.
And before you try to post something in English, try to learn the damn language. "I owned Kross once (hardtail) and never again buy another." - means you will never buy any other bike than Kross.