Just Released: the New Santa Cruz Bullit, an Electronic Beast of a Downhill Bike

Today, Santa Cruz released the latest edition of the Bullit, an electronic beast of a downhill bike, capable of shredding downhill while making uphill a breeze, enabling lap after lap (after lap). With massive travel, crisp shifting, and a powerful Bosch motor, the Bullit is back. For a breakdown of this all-new e-MTB, including why Contender is stoked to add it to our arsenal, read on.

Setting the Stage: e-Downhill Category & Why Contender Chose This Bike

Santa Cruz has long been a brand that marries brute strength with polished engineering, and the Bullit is no exception. This latest version continues the legacy of the Bullit as a true downhill e-MTB, pushing further into the territory once reserved only for chairlifts and dual-crown forks. 

At Contender, we’re always on the lookout for bikes that balance raw trail capability with real-world practicality. In our view, the Bullit delivers both. In particular, we’re excited for the motor–a Bosch Performance Line CX that’s both proven and powerful–and the 170mm of travel, front and rear, featuring a FOX 38 Performance Elite Fork and FOX Float X rear shock. New to the Bullit, Santa Cruz is now offering four-bar linkage on the backend, which better accommodates the powerful Bosch motor and longer dropper post, without compromising on-bike performance. Combined with SRAM’s GX AXS T-Type 12-speed wireless drivetrain, this bike is poised to ride smooth--and fast. 

For mountain bikers looking to hit steeper lines, send bigger jumps, or just crush more vertical in a single day, the Bullit gives you that “shuttle on demand” feeling—with zero compromises. 

What’s New? Key Features of the Santa Cruz Bullit 

In a sea of e-mountain bikes, what sets the new Bullit apart? Building on the details above, a few elements stand out to us: 

• Motor and Battery: as previously mentioned, Bullit is powered by the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, offering up to 85Nm of torque and a punchy 600W peak output. What we love about this motor is its on-demand power and reliability—it kicks in predictably, climbs with confidence, and delivers trail-shredding acceleration. The standard 600Wh battery keeps the weight low and the frame tidy, while the optional 250Wh PowerMore range extender unlocks even longer days in the saddle. The Bosch Flow app allows riders to customize ride modes, plan routes, and update firmware wirelessly.

• Geometry and Adjustability: the Bullit’s geometry is purpose-built for descending, with a 63.3° head tube angle (low setting), steep seat tube angle for climbing, and proportional chainstay lengths across all sizes (SM–XXL). Geo and suspension progression flip chips give riders real options to tune the ride feel to their preference. Plus, every size now gets longer dropper posts—up to 210mm on L and above—for true ‘get-low’ confidence. 

• Durability and Details: Santa Cruz focused on making the Bullit about as close to bombproof as it gets. A carbon frame (available in both C and CC layups), oversized bearings, and smart design touches like one-piece linkages and fully enclosed downtubes make it both stiff and serviceable. All models come in under 50 lbs, and as always, Santa Cruz backs it with a lifetime warranty.

Build Kits

Contender is offering the Bullit in two different build kits, including: 

• Bullit GX AXS: $9,599.00

• Bullit X0 AXS RSV: $11,899.00
  

Odds & Ends

• Suspension: 170mm front and rear travel (FOX 38 Performance Elite Fork and FOX Float X rear shock)

• Wheels: MX or mullet wheels (29” front / 27.5” rear)

• Sizes: Small to XXL

• Weight: sub-50lb weight across all builds

• Colors: Available in Matte Teal Sparkle or Gloss Black

E-Downhill Bikes: What Else is Out There? 

For those interested in electronic downhill mountain bikes, Contender also offers the brands and bikes below:  

• Orbea Wild: one of the lightest full-power e-MTBs on the market, and like the Bullit, also uses the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, but with more of a trail and enduro versatility (versus pure downhill). With Orbea’s MyO program, cyclists also have the option for greater customization, from paint job to build kit. 

• Specialized Turbo Levo: known for its incredibly natural ride feel, the Turbo Levo is powered by the proprietary Turbo Full Power System 2.2 motor and a 700Wh battery. Where the Bullit leans full-send with downhill DNA, the Levo is more of a do-it-all trail machine—it’s lighter on its feet, more playful in corners, and excels across varied terrain. 

• Mondraker Crafty: a full-power e-MTB built for enduro and all-mountain domination, powered by the Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a 750Wh battery. With Mondraker’s signature Forward Geometry, it delivers a long reach and confident front-end stability, making it ideal for charging fast, open terrain, though slightly less playful compared to the Bullit.

Learn More

Interested in learning more about the Santa Cruz Bullit, or e-downhill bikes? We’d love to help out. Feel free to drop by the shop, send us a message, or give us a call at (801) 364-0344.