By Knut Nes
BikesNewsVideos
10 Comments

One new and one updated Santa Cruz Heckler for 2021

For 2021, Santa Cruz is updating their Heckler with the Shimano EP8 motor. And they’re introducing the new Heckler MX. MX means it’s got a larger 29er front wheel. This bike has less suspension travel and more lightweight components. So it looks like a less agressive bike compared to the old Heckler.

Check out this video for a quick presentation of all the details.

Heckler MX specs and geo

Heckler specs and geo

Price

Prices for both models are

  • R-kit € 7.099
  • S-kit € 8.599
  • XT-kit € 9.199
  • X01 rsv € 11.199
Tags
Knut Nes
Started mountainbiking in the 90s. Moved to emtbs in 2014 and have been reviewing them since 2016. Contact me here https://emtb.no/contact/

10 Comments

  3. Very odd suspension spec. Super weird mixing of RockShox & Fox components (some Fox rear + RS fork, some the opposite). Bizzaro.

  4. [QUOTE=”Miket775, post: 230328, member: 7900″]
    Disappointed they stayed with the 500 battery
    [/QUOTE]
    I think its quite smart, though they probably should have given the option, since it keeps the weight down

  5. I’m obviously being tight … but €7000 for a bike with an e7000 motor ?!?! You’d have to be a real Santa [S]Claus[/S] Cruz die hard to go for that option !

  6. Small battery, dated geometry and expensive. It’s a no from me. The new Vitus on the other hand, superb.:love:

  7. I look at it as a placeholder release until they get a full 29″ (E-Hightower?) out with the EP8 motor and bigger 630Wh batter.

  8. [QUOTE=”RickBullotta, post: 230331, member: 4244″]
    Very odd suspension spec. Super weird mixing of RockShox & Fox components (some Fox rear + RS fork, some the opposite). Bizzaro.
    [/QUOTE]

    The MX all have Fox shock, presumably as Fox could/would supply shocks with a shorter stroke to reduce travel to 140mm, the standard Heckler all have RS with 150mm travel. No idea what the stroke difference is as they dont list it.

    This is the same approach Vitus did with the eSommet and eEscarpe, same frame different travel/wheelsize, except Vitus did it better as those are 160 and 140, so the Geo can be kept closer.

  9. Always bought Santa Cruz bikes (Hightower LT , Butcher , Chameleon , Blur , Bullit) now time for an EMTB.
    Probably going with the Commencal Meta power 29 Ohlins.
    Bigger battery is a thing for me , but the main thing is nearly $5000 price difference between bikes with pretty much the same spec(Australia).
    For that I’ll carry a couple of extra kilos.

  10. Santa Cruz still trying to polish a turd and put a premium price tag on it, simply making it.a.mullet and fitting the ep8 motor doesn’t make it better more an admission that they were late to the party and are now playing catch up.

Copyright 2022 EMTB Forums