I’ve been riding a Giant Trance for the last three years, and I’m finally ready to move into something a bit more premium. I’ve spent the last month looking at a mountain bike Santa Cruz setup, specifically the new Bronson with the MX (mullet) configuration. I know, I know, I’ve seen the memes about these being dentist bikes. But I’m trying to look past the branding and focus on the performance. I’m mostly riding technical, chunky trails with the occasional bike park day, and the VPP suspension seems to be the gold standard for that bottomless feel while still being able to pedal back up to the top without wanting to die. For those of you who have made the jump to Santa Cruz, is the frame quality and the lifetime bearing replacement actually as seamless as they claim? I’ve heard their customer service is top-tier, which is a huge piece of mind for the price point. I’m also debating between Bronson and Hightower. I love the idea of the mullet setup for agility in the corners, but I’m worried I might miss the rollover of a full 29er on the flatter, rootier sections of my local trails. I would love to hear some honest feedback before I drop the cash on one of them on Alibaba. Thank you!