Santa Cruz V-10 Carbon (2012)

It was only a matter of time before the weight and strength benefits we were seeing in our other carbon fiber bikes tempted us to apply the material to the V-10, with the same goals: reduce weight, gain strength. In this instance there was an additional goal: put the prototypes under the Santa Cruz Syndicate riders and go win World Cup Downhill races. Halfway through the 2010 season, the bike pictured here is still a prototype Syndicate frame, the frame weighs a pound less than the aluminum frame it will supercede, and the new V-10c had won two out of three World Cups, finished third once, and was leading the World Cup Overall. Only a prototype, already a winner.