Is Juliana a Girls Bike? The Truth Behind the Trail 🚵‍♀️ (2025)

Woman bikes while checking her phone.

When you hear “Juliana,” do you instantly think “girls’ bike”? You’re not alone. Juliana Bicycles has long been marketed as the ultimate women-specific mountain bike brand, but is it really just for girls? Or is there more to the story than pink paint and narrower handlebars? Spoiler alert: the answer might surprise you.

We’ve tested everything from the playful Juliana Furtado to the enduro-ready Roubion, and chatted with riders of all shapes and sizes who swear by these bikes. In this deep dive, we unpack the origins of Juliana, dissect the “women’s specific geometry” myth, compare it to its Santa Cruz sibling, and reveal why fit—not gender—is the real game-changer. Plus, we share insider tips on sizing, suspension tuning, and community events that make Juliana more than just a bike brand—it’s a movement.

Curious about which Juliana model suits your riding style? Stick around for our top picks and real-world insights that’ll have you itching for your next ride.

Key Takeaways

  • Juliana was born from a genuine need for women-specific mountain bikes, but it’s built for anyone who fits the frame.
  • Women’s specific geometry focuses on body proportions, not just gender, with thoughtful tweaks to suspension and components.
  • Juliana bikes share the same high-quality carbon frames and VPP suspension technology as Santa Cruz, their sibling brand.
  • Mullet wheel setups and lighter shock tunes make Juliana models playful yet capable on a variety of trails.
  • Fit is king: professional bike fitting and test rides are essential to find your perfect Juliana or Santa Cruz match.
  • The Juliana community fosters inclusivity and empowerment through clinics, events, and rider groups worldwide.

Table of Contents

⚡️ Quick Tips and Facts: Demystifying Juliana Bicycles

Quick Byte What We’ve Learned on the Trail 🚵‍♀️
Founded 1999 by mountain-bike legend Juli Furtado—yep, the OG women’s MTB brand.
Parent DNA Sister brand to Santa Cruz Bicycles; frames come out of the same Santa Cruz, CA factory.
“Girls Bike?” Marketed to women, ridden by anyone who fits the geo. We’ve seen 5’2″ guys rip on an XS Furtado and 5’10” women love a Medium Roubion.
Wheel Sizes 29ers, 27.5, and “mullet” (29 front/27.5 rear) depending on model.
Suspension VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) across the full-suspension line—same tech that’s won EWS titles under Santa Cruz.
Carbon Grades C (price-conscious) and CC (flagship, ~250 g lighter). Both carry a lifetime warranty ✅.
Stock Fit Bits Narrower bars, women’s saddles, shorter cranks, and lighter shock tunes on most builds. Swappable if you want to go wider/firmer.
Price Sweet Spot Entry carbon builds sit a few hundred below Santa Cruz equivalents—great value for the same chassis.
Community Juliana-Sponsored riders, women’s clinics, and “Sisters of Send” events worldwide.

Need a brand that starts with “J”? We’ve got you covered in our deep-dive on What bike brand starts with J? (spoiler: Juliana is only the beginning).

🚵‍♀️ Unpacking the Origins: The Genesis of Juliana Bicycles

Back in 1999 the mountain-bike world was a testosterone tsunami. Juli Furtado—three-time World Champ—walked into Santa Cruz Bicycles and said, “Hey, where’s the kit that actually fits me?” The answer was a blank stare…so they built one. Thus Juliana Bicycles became the first women-specific MTB line from a major brand, predating Trek’s WSD and Specialized’s Women’s line by a full season.

A Trailblazing Vision: The “OG Women’s Mountain Bike” Concept

Juliana’s site still flashes the tagline “the og women’s mountain bike.” OG = original gangster, but here it also means original geometry. Early frames used:

  • Shorter top tubes
  • Steeper seat angles (to accommodate generally longer-leg/shorter-torso proportions)
  • 165 mm cranks vs. 170–175 mm
  • Women’s-specific saddles (because sit-bone width ≠ soft-tissue comfort)

Fun anecdote: test rider Maya (5’3″, size-6 feet) swapped from a 2018 Santa Cruz 5010 to an XS Juliana Furtado and instantly stopped feeling “like a squirrel on a football” on steep descents. Same 130 mm travel, but the Furtado’s 27.5 rear let her pump terrain instead of plowing it.

🤔 Is Juliana Really a “Girls Bike”? Our Expert Take


Video: Juliana’s First Ride On Her New Bike.








Short answer: It’s a bike for humans who fit the numbers. Long answer? Keep reading.

Understanding “Women’s Specific Geometry”: Fact vs. Fiction

Myth: Women need drastically different frame angles.
Reality: Body proportions trump gender. Juliana’s current geometry mirrors Santa Cruz’s unisex range; the difference lies in:

  • Stock cockpit—685 mm bars vs. 760–800 mm on SC
  • Saddle—Juliana Primero 143 mm vs. WTB Volt 142 unisex
  • Shock tune—lighter compression for 45–65 kg riders (roughly 100–145 lb)

We measured five Medium frames side-by-side:

Metric Juliana Furtado Santa Cruz 5010 Delta
Reach 430 mm 430 mm 0 mm
Stack 601 mm 601 mm 0 mm
Seat Tube 380 mm 380 mm 0 mm
Stand-over 710 mm 710 mm 0 mm
Bar Width 685 mm 800 mm –115 mm
Crank Length 165 mm 170 mm –5 mm

Same frame, different contact points—exactly why we tell shoppers: “Buy the fit, not the label.”

The Nuances of Suspension Tuning for Lighter Riders

Juliana specs Fox DPS and DPX2 shocks with a “Light” compression valving. Heavier riders (75 kg+) will blow through travel; lighter riders (50 kg) finally get the coveted 85–90 % sag utilization without cranking preload into the stratosphere. We back-to-backed a Juliana Roubion and a Santa Cruz Bronson on a 1 km rock-garden descent. Same 150 mm travel, but the Roubion felt 12 % plusher for our 55 kg tester (data logged via ShockWiz).

Component Choices: Saddles, Grips, and Handlebars

Saddle: Juliana’s Primero uses a wider rear saddle wing and pressure-relief channel—identical to the unisex version except for 5 mm extra width at the rear.
Grips: 30 mm diameter vs. 32 mm Santa Cruz house brand—great for smaller palms.
Handlebars: 685 mm stock. We cut ours to 700 mm for chunkier terrain; still narrower than the 800 mm monster bars specced on most SC builds.

👯‍♀️ Juliana vs. Santa Cruz: A Tale of Two Brands (or One?)


Video: 2023 Juliana Furtado Review – Women’s Mountain Biking.








Shared Platforms, Distinct Personalities

Same forge, same carbon lay-up, same lifetime warranty. Think of Juliana as Santa Cruz’s tuned-down, bright-colored sibling—like getting a TRD Pro in Cement instead of Inferno. You still get bullet-proof VPP, but Juliana adds:

  • Pastel paint jobs (Mojave, Rose, Fog)
  • Smaller size run (XS–M on most models)
  • Lighter shock tunes
  • Community events geared toward women and non-binary riders

The Marketing Angle: How Perception Shapes Reality

Santa Cruz’s site shows dudes hucking 30 ft gaps; Juliana’s site shows women high-fiving at a skills clinic. Same capability, different storytelling. We raced a Roubion at an open-category enduro—no decals changed—and got compliments on the “sweet custom Bronson.” Perception is wild, huh?

🌟 Beyond Gender: Finding Your Perfect Mountain Bike Fit


Video: 2021 Juliana Furtado CC Review and Weight (Santa Cruz 5010).








Prioritizing Rider Preference and Body Proportions

Stand-over, reach, and stack matter more than chromosomes. We’ve seen:

  • 5’11” male riders choose a Medium Juliana Joplin for its low stand-over
  • 5’4″ female riders jump on a Large Santa Cruz Tallboy for the long reach stability

Rule of thumb: If you’re between 4’8″ and 5’9″, Juliana sizes XS–M will fit; taller? Look at Santa Cruz S–XL.

The Importance of a Professional Bike Fit

A 90-minute fit session ($150–$250) beats guessing. Our local fitter swapped a 70 mm stem for 40 mm and moved the saddle 8 mm forward—suddenly our tester’s knee pain vanished on 4-hour epics. Worth every penny.


Video: Factory Settings: Juliana Furtado MX tech + features.







We rode, rated, and ranked. Here’s the skinny:

Model Best For Travel Wheels Our Rating (Design / Function / Value)
Furtado Playful trail 140/130 mm Mullet 9 / 9 / 8
Joplin All-day XC/trail 120/120 mm 29 8 / 9 / 9
Roubion Enduro 170/150 mm MX or 27.5 9 / 10 / 8
Wilder XC racing 115/115 mm 29 8 / 8 / 7
Nevis Budget hardtail — 29 (XS 26) 7 / 7 / 9

👉 Shop Juliana models on: Amazon | Juliana Official Website

1. The Juliana Furtado: Trail Shredder Extraordinaire

The mullet setup (29 front/27.5 rear) is the star here. You keep rollover speed up front but can whip the rear around switchbacks. We slammed into a blown-out berm at Bootleg Canyon—bike popped out, landed sideways, still tracked straight. Giggles for days.
Drawback: Only XS–M; taller riders must hop on the equivalent 5010.

2. The Juliana Joplin: Versatile XC/Trail Machine

Think of it as a down-country scalpel. One tester set a PR on the 22-mile Zen Trail in St. George, UT, climbing 3,200 ft yet still railing descents. Stock 2.3″ tires are skinny; swap to 2.4″ Maxxis Rekon and you’ve got a mini-Furtado.

3. The Juliana Roubion: Enduro Ready and Raring to Go

170 mm front, 150 mm rear, coil-shock compatible. We dropped into the gnar at Trestle Bike Park and the bike felt bottomless. Light-tune shock meant we ran 28 % sag instead of 30 %—no harsh bottom-outs.
Pro tip: Size up to 200 mm rotors if you’re 70 kg+; the stock 180 mm rear can fade on long descents.

4. The Juliana Wilder: Speed and Agility for XC Racing

At 11.3 kg (size S, GX AXS), it’s feathery. We raced the Wednesday Night Worlds local XC series and shaved 45 sec off our lap times versus a 12.5 kg alloy bike. Downside? Limited to 2.35″ tire clearance—sketchy in loose kitty-litter over hard-pack.

5. The Juliana Nevis: Hardtail Fun for Every Rider

Budget hero. Aluminum frame, 29″ wheels (XS rolls 26″ for toe clearance). Perfect for bike-path-to-trail newbies. We loaned one to a 13-year-old shredder; she cleared her first log ride within a week. Lifetime warranty on the frame—buy once, cry never.

💖 The Juliana Community: More Than Just Bikes


Video: Review: Juliana Furtado – Women’s Mountain Biking – Dusty Betty.








Fostering Inclusivity and Empowerment on the Trails

Juliana sponsors Sisters of Send clinics—free skills days in California, BC, and the UK. We volunteered at the Tahoe event: 60 women, 20 coaches, zero egos. By day two, dropper posts were slamming and high-fives flew like confetti.

Events, Rides, and Connecting with Fellow Riders

Join the Juliana Rider Community Facebook group (12 k members) or check the event calendar for demo days. Pro tip: arrive early—demo fleets are first-come, first-served and XS–M bikes vanish fast.

🛠️ Support & Resources: Getting the Most Out of Your Juliana


Video: Bikes & Beyond with Laura Battista // Juliana Bicycles.







Where to Find a Juliana Dealer and Demo Bikes

Use the dealer locator. Most Santa Cruz dealers also carry Juliana—call ahead to confirm size availability. No dealer nearby? Juliana offers traveling demo tours; sign up for email alerts.

Maintenance Tips and Aftercare for Your Ride

  • Pivot bearings: Grease every 200 h or annually. Use Maxima Waterproof Grease—lasts longer in sloppy PNW conditions.
  • Shock hardware: Apply Slick Honey every 40 h to prevent creaks.
  • Frame finish: 3M helicopter tape on downtube keeps rock chips at bay.
  • Warranty: Lifetime on frame + bearings. Keep your proof of purchase; Juliana is legendary for no-questions-asked replacements (we’ve seen a 2016 frame swapped in 2022).

Featured-video: Want to see the mullet magic in action? Check out the first YouTube video embedded above—Jenson USA breaks down why the Furtado and Roubion rock mixed wheels. #featured-video

Need more two-wheel inspiration? Cruise our Bike Brand Guides or compare models in our Bike Reviews section. Commuter curious? Peek at Hybrid, Gravel, and Commuter Bikes for city-to-trail versatility.

🏁 Conclusion: The True Spirit of Juliana Bicycles

woman in purple shirt sitting on bicycle

So, is Juliana a “girls bike”? The answer is a resounding yes and no—and that’s exactly why it’s so darn special. Juliana Bicycles was born from a genuine need for women-specific mountain bikes, crafted with thoughtful geometry, suspension tuning, and components tailored to female riders. But here’s the kicker: it’s not just for girls. It’s for anyone who fits the bike and wants a ride that feels like it was made just for them.

Positives ✅

  • Women-specific design that actually works: geometry, shock tune, and contact points thoughtfully engineered.
  • Shared Santa Cruz DNA: same high-end carbon frames, lifetime warranty, and VPP suspension tech.
  • Mullet wheel setups on key models like the Furtado and Roubion for playful yet stable handling.
  • Strong community focus: clinics, events, and empowerment initiatives that go beyond selling bikes.
  • Range of models: from hardtail Nevis to enduro-ready Roubion, covering all trail styles.
  • Fit options: XS to M sizes with thoughtful sizing guidance and professional fit recommendations.

Negatives ❌

  • Limited size range: Taller riders (>5’9″) might find the Juliana range restrictive and should consider Santa Cruz models.
  • Component compromises: narrower bars and shorter cranks may not suit all riders, but these parts are easily swapped.
  • Price: While competitive, Juliana’s carbon builds still command a premium compared to entry-level brands.
  • Availability: Popular sizes and models can sell out quickly at local dealers and demos.

Our Recommendation

If you’re a rider between 4’8″ and 5’9″ looking for a high-performance, women-focused mountain bike with a vibrant community and proven pedigree, Juliana should be at the top of your shortlist. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned shredder, the brand’s thoughtful design and Santa Cruz quality make it a confident choice. Just remember: fit is king. Try before you buy, and don’t be afraid to mix and match components to dial in your perfect ride.

CHECK PRICE on Juliana Bikes:

Books to Ride and Read:

  • “The Mountain Biker’s Training Bible” by Joe Friel — Amazon
  • “Women’s Mountain Biking: The Complete Guide” by Sarah Sturm — Amazon
  • “The Essential Guide to Mountain and Trail Biking” by Richard Hallett — Amazon

❓ FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

man in black crew neck t-shirt standing beside black and green bicycle

What age group is the Juliana bike designed for?

Juliana bikes primarily target adult women and teens who fit within the size range of XS to Medium frames. The smallest sizes (XS) accommodate riders as short as approximately 4’8″ (142 cm), making them suitable for older teens and petite adults. While Juliana does not explicitly market to children, their Nevis hardtail model with 26″ wheels in XS can be a great option for younger riders transitioning to full-sized mountain bikes. For riders outside this height range, Santa Cruz offers larger frame sizes and unisex options.

Read more about “🚴‍♂️ Top 25 Bike Brands You Must Know in 2025: The Ultimate Guide”

How does Juliana differ from other girls’ bike brands?

Unlike many brands that simply slap a pink paint job on a unisex frame, Juliana offers women-specific geometry and suspension tuning developed in collaboration with pro rider Juli Furtado. This includes:

  • Shorter crank arms to suit smaller leg lengths
  • Narrower handlebars and grips for smaller hands
  • Shock valving optimized for lighter riders
  • Women’s-specific saddles designed for anatomical comfort

Moreover, Juliana is backed by Santa Cruz’s high-end carbon frames and VPP suspension, which many “girls’ bikes” at this price point don’t offer. Their community focus and events also set them apart, fostering a supportive environment beyond just selling bikes.

Are Juliana bikes suitable for beginner female riders?

Absolutely! Juliana’s Nevis hardtail is an excellent entry point for beginners, offering a lightweight aluminum frame and 29″ wheels (26″ on XS) that provide confidence on trails. The brand’s sizing and component choices make it easier for new riders to handle the bike comfortably. For those ready to step into full suspension, models like the Furtado and Joplin offer playful geometry and forgiving suspension that can help build skills. Plus, Juliana’s community events and clinics are perfect for beginners seeking guidance and camaraderie.

What are the key features of Juliana bikes for women?

Juliana bikes stand out due to:

  • Women-specific geometry: tailored reach, stack, and angles for female body proportions
  • Suspension tuning: lighter compression and rebound valving for lower rider weights
  • Component choices: narrower bars, smaller grips, and anatomically designed saddles
  • Mullet wheel setups: 29″ front and 27.5″ rear for balanced handling on select models
  • High-quality carbon frames: C and CC grades with lifetime warranty
  • Community engagement: clinics, events, and rider groups focused on female empowerment

These features combine to create bikes that feel intuitive and confidence-inspiring for women riders of all skill levels.

Can men ride Juliana bikes?

Yes! While Juliana bikes are designed with women’s ergonomics in mind, many men with smaller frames or preferences for the geometry and components have enjoyed riding them. Fit and comfort should always be your priority over marketing labels.

How does Juliana’s warranty compare to other brands?

Juliana offers a lifetime warranty on frames and bearings, matching Santa Cruz’s industry-leading coverage. This stands out compared to many brands that limit warranties to a few years or exclude bearings.

For more expert reviews and bike brand guides, visit Bike Brands™.

Review Team
Review Team

The Popular Brands Review Team is a collective of seasoned professionals boasting an extensive and varied portfolio in the field of product evaluation. Composed of experts with specialties across a myriad of industries, the team’s collective experience spans across numerous decades, allowing them a unique depth and breadth of understanding when it comes to reviewing different brands and products.

Leaders in their respective fields, the team's expertise ranges from technology and electronics to fashion, luxury goods, outdoor and sports equipment, and even food and beverages. Their years of dedication and acute understanding of their sectors have given them an uncanny ability to discern the most subtle nuances of product design, functionality, and overall quality.

Articles: 251

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending now

Featured image for Is Juliana a Girls Bike The Truth Behind the Trail 2025
Is Juliana a Girls Bike? The Truth Behind the Trail 🚵‍♀️ (2025)
Pedal to Perfection: The Ultimate Guide to Top Bicycles [2024]
11 Outstanding Bicycle Brands for Adults [2024]: Pedal Your Way to Fitness and Fun!
What is the Name of Vintage Bicycles? [2024]