About Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Bicycles was founded in 1994 by Rob Roskopp in Santa Cruz, California. Roskopp came from professional skateboarding, and his entry into mountain biking was driven by a rider's instinct: build bikes that felt alive on the trail. The company's first bike was the Tazmon, a full-suspension design released at a time when most manufacturers were still debating the value of rear suspension. The technical signature is the Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) rear suspension system, developed with engineer Brian Nogueira in the late 1990s. VPP uses two short links and two pivots to generate a rear axle path that decouples pedaling forces from suspension movement. Santa Cruz holds patents on the system and builds most of its full-suspension lineup around it. The result is bikes that pedal efficiently and react independently when the wheel strikes an obstacle. Pon Holdings, a Dutch mobility conglomerate, acquired Santa Cruz in 2015 alongside Cervelo and Cannondale. Racing representation includes Greg Minnaar on the V10 in downhill World Cup competition, with Enduro World Series and XC coverage across other models. Design and product development remain based in Santa Cruz, California.
Most popular Santa Cruz models
Cross-country runs through two platforms. The Highball is a carbon hardtail for XC racing and fast trail riding, running 29-inch wheels with no rear suspension. The Blur is the full-suspension XC option, with 120mm of VPP-linked travel and geometry shaped around climbing efficiency and race-day performance. Trail bikes span a wide range of travel. The Tallboy is the versatile 29er with 130mm of rear travel for mixed terrain, and the 5010 is the 27.5 trail alternative that delivers a poppier, more playful feel at similar travel. The Hightower scales up to 145mm for riders who want more range and capability. The Bronson is the enduro platform with 150mm rear and a 160mm fork, and the Megatower pushes to 160mm rear and a 170mm fork for long-travel 29er enduro performance. The Nomad runs 27.5 wheels at 170mm of travel for bike park and steep descents. The V10 is the dedicated downhill machine, with over 200mm front and rear built for World Cup DH racing. The Jackal handles dirt jumping and pump track in an aluminum frame, and the Chameleon is a relaxed hardtail for all-terrain versatility. The Heckler and Bullit extend the lineup as e-MTBs, and the Stigmata is a carbon gravel option for mixed-surface riding. With Santa Cruz bikes priced from around $3,000 to over $12,000, dedicated mountain bike insurance from Velosurance covers your build at full replacement value against theft, crash damage, and transit loss.
One of the lightest race-oriented hardtails on the market, it’s designed to appeal to XC purists. Its relaxed geometry makes it more composed and comfortable hardtails around. Capable of carrying 3 bottles, it’s a perfect bike for short track races and marathon events alike.
Coverage from: $12.00/mo
Get a free quote
A product of relentless engineering and real-world testing at races around the world, Blur will keep both short track for multi-day epic racers going and asking for more. Built around 29” wheels and sporting 100 to 120 mm of suspension, this is a true race-ready short-travel 29” that should not be overlooked. It’s light, capable and is made to go the distance.
Coverage from: $15.00/mo
Get a free quote
Positioned at the very extreme of short-travel 29er range, Tallboy features 130mm of front suspension and 120mm in the rear. Designed on lower-link VPP suspension and 65.5-degree head-angle, it’s extremely efficient going both up and down the trail.
Coverage from: $12.00/mo
Get a free quote
Designed for riders who like to play around on the trail, hitting all the extra credit lines, 5010 is built around 27.5” wheels and features 140mm of travel in the front and 130mm in the rear. Whether you’re weaving through the trees or launching rocks, it feels sure footed and nimble.
Coverage from: $13.00/mo
Get a free quote
Lower-link mounted shock, adjustable geometry, and progressive suspension make Hightower one of the most versatile do-it-all bikes around. Huge 150mm front and 145mm rear travel with a nearly linear leverage curve gives Hightower enough travel to ride the park and steep-and-chunky with confidence, and do all-day-long epics on off days.
Coverage from: $12.00/mo
Get a free quote
A mixed wheel bike that’s designed to be playful and poppy on backcountry trails that stay composed plowing through technical terrain. It can accept 27.5”+ chubby tires so you can keep playing even when the terrain gets lose and sloppy.
Coverage from: $16.00/mo
Get a free quote
An urban assault bike built around 26” wheels, it’s over-engineered to take on as much abuse as you can dish out. With it’s short 15.2” chainstays it likes to keep the front wheel up in the air, be that on a jump line, a pump track or when jumping curbs.
Coverage from: $8.00/mo
Get a free quote
A super agile hard tail, this bike is for those who like to experiment. It can be configured as a 29er or mixed wheel, geared or fixed. It can be configured as a dirt jumper, trail slayer, or even a bike touring rig.
Coverage from: $8.00/mo
Get a free quote
With a combination of big 29” wheels and big-hitting suspension, 160mm front and rear suspension, Megatower is the ultimate trail slayer. The progressive shock offers unmatched bottom out resistance and endless traction. A flip-chip in the bottom bracket adjusts bottom bracket height and progressivity of rear suspension.
Coverage from: $22.00/mo
Get a free quoteWe cover all types of bikes
Whether you ride the tarmac or shred the gnar, dodge pedestrians, or cruise the beach, you're a member of a special club of people who appreciate the world in a primal way – on two wheels. To keep you rolling, we address the specific risks associated with your discipline.
Coverages and Features
Velosurance offers must-have protection such as accidental damage, theft, or loss in transit. Each policy can be customized by adding additional coverages such as liability protection, uninsured motorist, and medical payments.
Total loss by theft
Bicycles are very easy to steal and equally difficult to recover, and even a hefty U-lock doesn’t guarantee your bike is still there when you return. Velosurance provides peace of mind if it is stolen or damaged in the process.
Any crash or accidental damage
Our policy will pay to replace your ride if it is accidentally damaged and beyond repair, including damage that occurs while being carried on or in your vehicle. If it can be repaired, we will pay all the costs associated with the bike's repair, including tax, labor, and shipping, minus the deductible. Cosmetic damage that does not affect safety is excluded.
Our shop or yours
When filing a claim, you’ll need to provide a repair estimate from a repair shop. We have a nationwide network of partner shops familiar with our process to help you move things along quickly. Prefer your favorite local shop? That works too.
Gear and apparel
If you go down in a crash, we cover your ride as well as your apparel, such as helmet, shoes, glasses, or riding kit that are torn up, and pay up to $500 per accident and $1,000 per term. Spare parts that are not installed, such as a spare wheelset, are also covered up to $500 per loss and $1,000 per year.
Your choice of lock
We do not dictate what type or brand of lock must be used to protect your ride from theft – you are welcome to use any lock that you trust. The best security is provided by metal locks combined with a high-quality chain. Securing your ride to a solid and immovable object, such as a bike rack, with a high-quality lock will send the thief onto the one secured with a more vulnerable lock.
No depreciation
Depreciation is a hidden deductible that increases every year and is applied if the bicycle is stolen or totaled. No one is ever happy with an Actual Cash Value insurance settlement: the bike is first devalued, and then a deductible is applied, resulting in a reimbursement that is far less than the cost of a replacement. We reimburse without depreciation, for the cost of a replacement that is of like, kind, and quality similar to your totaled bike.
24/7/365 coverage
We cover the insured bike at all times, anywhere in the USA and Canada, and can be extended worldwide on request. There are no exclusions on the time of day or limitations on how long it can be stored away from home. 24/7/365 means every minute of every day, no matter where or when.
Standalone policy
Our policy does not piggypack on any coverage you may already have, such as homeowners policies. Filing a claim won’t impact your rates with other carriers. With home insurance premiums rising each year in the U.S., it’s wise to reserve that policy for major incidents, because no matter how valuable your bike is, it’s still a lot cheaper than a kitchen fire or a flooded basement.
Permissive use
You can lend it to anyone you choose, and it will be covered. The bike and the person riding it are covered as if it were you riding it‚ this includes theft and crash damage as well as any purchased optional coverages.
Why Velosurance is best for your bicycle
Not all types of insurance are created equal. Velosurance levels the playing field by offering stand-alone bicycle coverage, where claims won’t affect your homeowner's or renter’s policy premiums.
| Policy Coverage |  | Homeowner/Renters Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Insured at Full Value | Yes | Possibly |
| Crash Damage | Yes | No |
| Theft Coverage | Yes | Limited |
| Theft by Force | Yes | No |
| Theft of Accessories | Yes | Limited |
| Theft Away From Home | Yes | Possibly |
| Vehicle Contact | Yes | No |
| Personal Liability | Yes | Possibly |
| Permissive Use Policy | Yes | No |
| Replacement Rental | Yes | No |
| Event Fee Return | Yes | No |
| Cycling Apparel Coverage | Yes | No |
| Medical Payments | Yes | Possibly |
| Racing Coverage | Yes | No |
| E-bikes | Yes | No |
| Coverage in-transit | Yes | No |
| USAC, USAT and IMBA Member Discount | Yes | No |
| FREE INSTANT QUOTE |
Not all insurance policies provide the same level of protection, and many people only discover gaps in their coverage after filing a claim. We’ve done the hard work of reviewing the fine print. To see how plans compare, check out our insurance comparison.
Client satisfaction is our #1 goal. Here's what our clients say about Velosurance
I train and race with peace of mind knowing my bike and gear are protected. Easy, clear, and reliable.
If you're a serious cyclist, this is a must 🔥
Check out Velosurance reviews to see what people are saying about us.
Contact Us
'Convinced yet? Let's make something great together.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with us.'
America's best bicycle insurance
Velosurance was created to give our fellow riders insurance that actually covered their lifestyle and peace of mind that no matter what happens on the road or trail, there would be a helping hand to get them back in the saddle.