Bike Check: Greg Minnaar’s World Cup Santa Cruz V10

Bike Check: Greg Minnaar’s World Cup Santa Cruz V10

Is Greg Minnaar the GOAT? Well, you could certainly make a case for it. He has won the Downhill World Championships four times, including a banger just last year in Val Di Sole, Italy, and has been World Cup champion three times. Part of the reason the likable South African has stayed on the sharp end of the stick is his focus on bike set up.

Obviously his settings have changed over the years, as bike geometry, components and suspension system has development (and race speed have gotten faster and tracks rougher), but one thing has stayed the same: He is constantly pushing himself to go faster, more comfortably and that focus starts with his bike. 

Check out the latest updates on his bike setup.

Remember when the 29er came of age in downhill? Well, it's no surprise that Minnaar was leading the charge: he's tall, 6 foot 2 inches, and if you've ever stood next to him, leggy. His waist is at least 2 inches higher than most people his size. Point being, an XL-size V10 29er make a lot of sense. 

Reserve produces custom rims for the Syndicate DH team, partnering with Nawa Technologies. Basically what Nawa provides is material that we use in the manufacturing process using our current molds and shapes, We have found the material helps increase rim strength, giving the race wheels far greater resistance to shock impacts from rocks. Syndicate added Fillmore valves, Reserve tape and sealant last year when we introduced those as well.
Fox has been providing suspension for the Syndicate team for a numbers of year, and while each race requires some customization for track conditions, Minnaar is pretty consistent with his settings. Our back, he runs a Fox DH X2 with a 550 pound spring and compression and rebound settings that are in the middle of the overall range. He runs his Fox 40 relatively stiff, ever for a World Cup DH rider. Check out the spec sheet below for more details.
Burgtec is a company based in the UK and has been in the component game for a long time. Having them as part of the Syndicate program was at the request of the riders; Minnaar himself is very particular about his grips, stem lengths and position of his bars (and levers). He runs the bars actually pretty high: 30mm rise with 20mm of spacers underneath the bar clamp. He's quite particular about his lever setup, especially when it comes to the symmetry of his grips and levers, and always runs his levers at 27 degrees down from flat.
 
Bike Spec Sheet

Frame: Santa Cruz V10 29 – Frame Size XL
Shock: Fox DH X2, 550lbs Spring, HSC 5, LSC 10, HSR 3, LSR 9
Fork:  Fox 40, 101psi, Volume Spacers 7, HSC - Open, LSC 7, HSR 2, LSR 3
Headset: Chris King Buzzworks
(+5.3mm -0.5 deg)
Handlebar: Burgtec Ride Wide DH AL 800mm 30mm rise
Stem: Burgtec 45mm w/ 4 x 5mm spacers 
Grips: Burgtec Bartender Standard
Brakes: Shimano XTR levers with Saint callipers
Rotors: Shimano Saint 203
Shifter: Shimano Saint
Derailleur: Shimano Saint
Cranks: Shimano Saint 165mm
Cassette: Shimano CS-6700  – 8spd 11t-21t
Chainring: Shimano Saint 34t
Chain: Shimano CH-HG95
Pedals: Crank Brothers Mallet DH
Rims: Santa Cruz Reserve 29″
Hubs: Chris King
Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 2.5 (Front) 24PSI / DHR II 2.4 (Rear)26PSI
Saddle: Burgtec Cloud

 

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