Mountain Bike Legend

Santa Cruz Bicycles was founded in 1994 in a space not much bigger than a two car garage at 104 Bronson Street in Santa Cruz, California. The Seabright Cannery industrial complex was also home to our compatriots at Santa Cruz Skateboards, RockShox, a surfboard shaper, two bakeries, a salsa company, multiple artists studios, a coffee roaster, a climbing gym, and other assorted riff-raff. Quite an eclectic, but very creative environment.

Our first bike model was the Tazmon—an 80mm travel, dual-suspension bike that rattled established sensibilities, and launched the Santa Cruz Bicycles brand into the full-suspension future. 30 years and 89 bike models later, we’re still pushing the envelope while remaining simply advanced. 

Santa Cruz Bicycles creates category-leading downhill, cross country, and electric bikes, but the company is best known for models that combine the same pedalability and descending prowess the OG Tazmon brought to the table. We design, research, engineer, manufacture and assemble the very highest quality bikes. They are so simply advanced that they make bicycling even more enjoyable and are made to last many lifetimes of real world abuse.

Bikes that last a lifetime

First and foremost, we build bikes that last a lifetime. Every bike we design in our Santa Cruz, Calif. factory has a story to tell—one of being ridden hard, put away wet, but always coming back for more. It's not hyperbole—it's bombproof frame construction, a lower-link grease port, shuttle guards, and sealed bearings in all pivots, which we’ll replace for free if they wear out.

It’s the idea that if we build bikes really well, and back them up with a lifetime warranty and rider support, we’ve created something that’s not only durable and sustainable, but inspiring and fulfilling as well. Force for Good

Santa Cruz Bicycles was founded on the belief that bikes are a force for good, and that they bring out the best in people. The world has changed quite a bit since 1994, but that attitude still holds true. It comes to life in the partners we ride with, the communities we support, and the initiatives we drive.

The Original Women’s Mountain Bike

We called this bike “The Juliana”. In the '80s and '90s, mountain bikes were effectively designed for, and marketed to, men.  At the same time, a few bold females were pioneering the sport for women.  Inspired by this movement, we felt it was time for a change. In 1999 we created the first mountain bike aimed specifically at female riders. It was a groundbreaking shift in focus for the industry, driven by a groundbreaking woman -Juli Furtado-  one of the fiercest mountain bikers of all time.

Today, Juli’s initiative has grown into an award-winning line of premium mountain bikes ridden by a crew of athletes, racers and guides who continue to blaze new trails.  Our goal is to ignite the imagination of female adventurers around the world and create something uncompromising for those who refuse to accept the status quo.