Bullit

The Bullit 4 is a substantial reset for Santa Cruz’s longest-travel full-power e-MTB. Introduced for 2025, it replaces the previous Bullit’s VPP layout with a new four-bar suspension platform built around the Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 system, pairing 170mm front and rear travel with a 600Wh internal battery and optional 250Wh PowerMore range extender. That change is more than a packaging exercise: it shifts the Bullit’s character toward a more gravity-specialized, more neutral-feeling chassis with broader setup flexibility, including dual flip chips for geometry and progression tuning.

What distinguishes this generation is how deliberately it prioritizes descending over maximum battery capacity. Santa Cruz chose the smaller 600Wh pack specifically to avoid the weight and handling penalties of 750–800Wh batteries, aiming for a bike that feels closer to a self-shuttling downhill bike than a high-range all-rounder. In the market, that places the Bullit 4 at the sharp end of the premium e-enduro category: expensive, unapologetically aggressive, and intended for riders who want full-power assistance to access steep, rough terrain repeatedly rather than cover the most mileage possible. It is not positioned as a versatile trail e-bike; it is a gravity-first machine with full-power support.

Gen Bullit 4

Santa Cruz Bullit

Build

Size

03 / Geometry

Geometry & fit.

5 sizes published.

The Bullit 4’s geometry is firmly in gravity e-enduro territory. In size Large, the bike combines a 480mm reach, 640mm stack, 63.6° head tube angle, 78.7° seat tube angle, 446mm chainstay, and 1280mm wheelbase. Those numbers point to a very centered climbing position paired with a long, slack front end for descending stability. The steep seat angle keeps the rider’s hips forward over the bottom bracket, which helps on steep seated climbs despite the notably slack head angle. Meanwhile, the long wheelbase and generous stack create a planted, confidence-heavy feel at speed rather than a compact, reactive one.

Santa Cruz also uses size-specific chainstays, growing from 440mm in Small to 452mm in XXL, which should help preserve front-rear balance across the size range instead of leaving taller riders perched too far over the rear axle. The 27mm BB drop contributes to the bike’s low, cornering-focused stance, which reviewers consistently linked to excellent grip and turn-in security, though it also explains the reports of more frequent pedal contacts in technical terrain. Overall, the numbers suggest a bike that fits riders into an upright but aggressive position and rewards steep, fast trails far more than flatter, slower riding.

Reach × Stack · size Lmm

Where the handlebar sits relative to the bottom bracket — the single most important fit pair.

01Fit geometry6 values

Stack640 mm

Reach480 mm

Top tube617 mm

Headtube length120 mm

Standover height738 mm

Seat tube length420 mm

03Handling geometry7 values

Headtube angle63.6°

Seat tube angle78.7°

BB height346 mm

BB drop27 mm

Front center834 mm

Wheelbase1280 mm

Chainstay length446 mm

Which size should I buy?

Slide your height to see the recommended size. GearWise's fit algorithm works from the published stack, reach, and ETT — the brand's own recommendation may differ.

Your height

5'8"173 cm

5'0"5'5"5'10"6'3"6'7"

Recommended size—Based on stack, reach & ETT for your height.

→Calculated from GearWise's own stack / reach / ETT algorithm — the brand's size chart may recommend a different size, and a proper bike fit beats any calculator.

04 / Other builds

The lineup.

5 builds, ranging $7,849 – $13,449.

The Bullit range spans from the 70 at $7,849 to the Podium at $13,449, with the 90 ($9,099), GX AXS ($10,149), and X0 AXS RSV ($12,549) filling out the middle and upper end. Across the range, the core platform stays consistent: every build gets the same Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 motor, 600Wh battery, and the same 170mm-travel frame, which is important because lower-priced models are not diluted in their motor or chassis performance. That gives the entry models a credible value case for riders who care more about the frame and drive system than top-shelf finishing kit.

Review coverage points to the GX AXS build as a likely sweet spot, offering a strong balance between price and premium equipment, while the X0 AXS RSV build is the near-no-compromise option with elite-level suspension and wheel upgrades. Higher-tier models are also where reviewers most often referenced parts such as the Fox 38 and Float X2, SRAM Maven brakes, and Reserve carbon wheels. At the top end, the Bullit is priced like a flagship gravity e-bike, but the spec philosophy appears consistent with the bike’s purpose: heavy-duty, descent-ready parts rather than lightweight trail-bike compromises.

05 / Reviews

From the press.

16 reviews from the cycling press.

Reviewers are broadly aligned that the Bullit 4 is a major improvement over the previous-generation bike, with the switch to a four-bar rear suspension repeatedly cited as the key reason. BikeRadar found that the new chassis makes rough, steep, technical terrain remarkably easy to manage, describing the bike as predictable and easy to set up. GearJunkie’s test on large bike-park features echoed that view, noting that the bike handled a 30-foot wall ride and drop with unusual calm and describing the suspension as "buttery smooth" and notably composed on hard landings. Across reviews, the rear suspension is praised for combining very high bump sensitivity with enough support to avoid feeling vague, while the Bosch Gen 5 CX motor is consistently highlighted as smooth, powerful, and well matched to technical climbing.

The other recurring theme is that Santa Cruz’s 600Wh battery choice meaningfully improves handling. Several reviewers noted that the Bullit feels lighter and easier to lean into corners than many full-power rivals, helped by the MX wheel setup and relatively low overall mass for the category. Flow Mountain Bike called it surprisingly well-rounded despite its downhill bias, while Biker’s Edge emphasized that the bike remains lively enough to avoid feeling like a dead, overbuilt sled. That said, reviewers also agreed on the limitations: the Bullit is overkill on mellow terrain, can feel sluggish at lower speeds, and the smaller battery will be a drawback for riders expecting maximum range from a full-power e-bike. Pedal strikes also come up as a predictable side effect of the low-slung geometry, even if the standard short cranks help reduce the issue.