Brandwave

Santa Cruz vs Trek:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Santa Cruz had more branded searches than Trek among downhill bike brands in New Zealand. Santa Cruz had about 1,050 branded searches, while Trek had 590. Santa Cruz made up 11.5% of all downhill bike brand searches we track, and Trek accounted for 6.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about downhill bike brands, Santa Cruz and Trek each appeared in four of the five answers. Santa Cruz was mentioned before Trek in three out of five answers.

Among downhill bike brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Santa Cruz, about 78% more searches than Trek

Santa Cruz 1.1K searchesTrek 590 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

Santa Cruz in 4 of 5Trek in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Santa Cruz, named ahead of Trek in 3 of 5 answers

Santa Cruz first in 3Trek first in 2

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Top downhill bike brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Santa Cruz was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Trek was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Santa Cruz was listed before Trek in three out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Specialized1st
  2. Santa Cruz2nd
  3. Trek3rd
  4. Canyon4th
  5. Commencal5th
  6. Giant6th
  7. KTM–
  8. Cube–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Specialized5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Commencal4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Santa Cruz4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Canyon4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Trek4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Giant2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • KTM0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Cube0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about downhill bike brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Santa Cruz or Trek more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Santa Cruz and Trek by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight downhill bike brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Santa Cruz and Trek among downhill bike brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Santa Cruz, Trek. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKTMCommencalSanta CruzCanyonGiantTrekCubeSpecialized
Oct 202530.1%25.8%11.7%10.8%10.8%5.2%2.8%2.8%
Nov 202529.8%23.2%10.5%12.6%12.6%5.7%3.1%2.5%
Dec 202527.3%20.5%10%14%14%7.8%3.5%2.8%
Jan 202625.8%24%8.9%16%13%5.9%3.2%3.2%
Feb 202631.3%21.4%10.7%11.6%8.9%8.9%2.9%4.3%
Mar 202625%24.1%11%13.3%13.3%7.3%2.7%3.2%
Apr 202622.2%25.9%11.2%11.6%14.3%7.9%3.5%3.5%
May 202626%24.6%13.8%11%11%7.5%3.3%2.7%
Jun 202624%24.1%11.5%10.1%10.1%13.1%3.9%3.2%
Jul 202625.1%22.2%11.4%11.7%11.7%10.3%4.6%3%
Aug 202624%27.6%12.5%11.5%11.5%5.5%4.5%3%
Sep 202627%26.2%11.5%10.9%10.9%6.4%4.3%2.8%

How has the Santa Cruz and Trek comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Trek took it in June 2026, Santa Cruz took it in July 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Santa Cruz’s share of searches among downhill bike brands in New Zealand moved from 11.7% to 11.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Trek’s share of searches among downhill bike brands in New Zealand moved from 5.2% to 6.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 480 to 590.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand downhill bike brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Trek gained share of searches among downhill bike brands in New Zealand, from 5.5% to 6.4%.

  2. In September 2026, Santa Cruz lost share of searches among downhill bike brands in New Zealand, from 12.5% to 11.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Santa Cruz’s and Trek’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Santa Cruz

2 branded search terms

  • santa cruz bikes
  • santa cruz mountain bike

Trek

1 branded search term

  • trek mtb bikes

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among downhill bike brands

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