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The Santa Cruz Bullit looks almost identical to the Santa Cruz Heckler, costs about the same, and has the same motor. The big difference: The Bullit, with its 170 mm of travel, is more geared towards full-throttle downhill action. Does that make it the better deal?

Bosch and DJI have stirred up the motor market with their latest innovations. In contrast, Shimano has responded with a rather lackluster race update. The Shimano EP801, introduced in 2021, remains the newest and highest-quality motor from Shimano. It’s also the foundation for the excellent weight of the Santa Cruz Bullit, as it weighs in at 2.6 kg, making it lighter than Bosch’s CX motors.

The EP801, even though it’s got a few years under its belt, is still an excellent EMTB motor capable of handling rough terrain. However, with Bosch’s new 5th generation CX motor and the DJI Avinox E-Bike motor on test , Shimano has lost some ground in terms of motor control and modulation. Additionally, the Shimano motor has a few minor quirks that some might not accept as readily in 2025 as they did in 2021:

● It rattles loudly downhill on the trail.
● It whines very high-pitched when providing support uphill.
● It requires relatively high RPM (over 90) to hit the optimal working range.

For those who say these points don’t bother them, the EP801 motor will still be, in terms of weight, power, and energy consumption, state of the art in 2025.

The very good weight of the Santa Cruz Bullit is primarily due to its small 630-Wh battery. By comparison, the Santa Cruz Heckler has less travel but a larger 750-Wh battery, which results in a similar weight.

However, 630 Wh is by no means insufficient. Many Bosch e-bikes, such as the Santa Cruz Vala, are currently equipped with only a 600-Wh battery. At full support level and a system weight (rider + bike) of 100 kilos, this is roughly enough for 1700 vertical meters.

This number is an estimate, as it heavily depends on the terrain, tires, and rider weight. Nevertheless, the range is sufficient for going on tours—especially since the removable battery provides the option for a spare battery.

Despite the different travel compared to the Santa Cruz Heckler, the geometry differences are minimal. The Heckler has a lower bottom bracket and shorter chainstays, while the Bullit features a slacker head angle, matching the additional travel.

Downhill, the Bullit is a bike that exudes a lot of confidence. The generous suspension travel and thick tires, combined with the stable geometry, offer a secure ride. Only SRAM’s Code brakes could use a bit more bite.

With 450 mm, the rear end isn’t super short despite the small 27.5-inch rear wheel. Since the front is relatively high with the 170 mm fork, you’ll still have to manage keeping the front wheel on the ground during steep uphill sections—a characteristic inherent in a 170 mm bike.

With its latest EMTB, the Vala, Santa Cruz has parted ways with the VPP linkage. The Bullit, however, still relies on the legendary design with a closed rear triangle.

A closer look at the kinematics shows that the rear wheel path of the Bullit extends relatively far back. It almost has a sort of “high-pivot” effect. On the trail, you’ll notice that the 170 mm of rear travel offers plenty of capacity without hitting limits too quickly.

“Charge ahead, hold on tight, and roll over.” – This strategy works effortlessly with the Bullit’s suspension. Thanks to the strong progression in the rear, you have some reserve, even in the toughest terrain or with big jumps. Fittingly, the Fox 38 fork on our test bike was absolutely confident. In terms of suspension, there is nothing to criticize about this bike.