Does a Kenevo count? It’s 190/187mm travel…
2026 Santa Cruz Bullit
- Thread starter mehukatti
- Start date
ebsocalmtb
Active member
Yeah I'd say I ride my relay to it's limits often. Most of the time, that's because of the terrain, pace/aggression level or features I'm riding. Some of the time, it's because I'm riding something just over the edge onto the bigger side (think straight forward double black features) and I run out of talent and I need the bike to save me.
Either way, I've owned 150r ebikes and while they are great... I find the end of their capabilities on almost every ride I do on them. That's why I want the bullit over the vala.
Either way, I've owned 150r ebikes and while they are great... I find the end of their capabilities on almost every ride I do on them. That's why I want the bullit over the vala.
I went in to my LBS today (Australia) and asked about the new Bullit. They said they didn’t know anything about when it might happen. They only said they had heard a rumour that there might be a new bike coming. No idea when. There were 3 Valas there looking pretty good I must say. But yeah, this wait is killing me!
Monstermax4
Member
It’s exactly what you think… April 15
Druster
Member
TheMirrorVision
New Member
It’s on SC’s site in the Features section of the Vala page: Vala
Druster
Member
People are saying that’s it.
MTB-WALES
Member
Surely with 170mm rear they would stick an x2 on it rather than float x. That shock feels like your under shocked on a 150 travel bike
CarolinaCrawler
Active member
Alot of that comes down to bike and rider. As a big guy I cannot make a X2 work on a progressive suspension bike. I can only get small air can shocks to give me the support needed on those bikes.
Frameworks specs their enduro acoustic bikes with float x's. If its good enough for Neko and Asa its good enough for me.
MTB-WALES
Member
The nomad is x2 and coils that’s where I put this bike.
MTB-WALES
Member
For a trail bike
MTB-WALES
Member
Yes that’s kind of my point the not putting the new x2 on this would be a mistake
No one knows what it will be spec'd with. That pic tells us nothing. It could even be a 2026 Vala for all we know.
Druster
Member
Caught that one too
ebsocalmtb
Active member
It ships with a float x at least up to the xx1/reserve build. I do not recall what that build had on it, but I know that the gx axs build (9,500ish) is float x. I got a chance to look at the pre-release literature showing build and geo when I was deciding between the vala and the bullit at my lbs.
The builds are not great if I'm honest. Wheels are shite (500g rear hub, same as the vala and rf ar offset rims), the gx axs build has maven bronze (for 9,500 it should come with silver imo), aluminum bar, etc. C70/C90 transmission builds are likely the smartest buy, and upgrading the wheelset and the damper in the fork and upgrading the brake levers. Honestly, I didn't have any info on what the Maven Base was, and when I added up the cost of an x2 damper and potentially the maven lever upgrades, I was quickly at the gx axs cost. If I were a smart man, I'd have just ordered the R kit, stripped it and built it frame up.
Edit: just found the info on the maven base. SRAM Introduces Lower-Price Maven Base, DB4, and DB6 Brakes They have smaller pistons in the calipers, and ditch the swing link. Since the maven's are over powered, I'm going to guess it's mostly fine... but it makes the assumption to upgrade those with maven silver levers questionable. This makes me stand by my fork in the road even harder. The two obvious options for me with the new SC builds are GX AXS, or Base model (s) and strip the bike and pretty much nothing in between.
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The new float x2 is just about to be announced by the sounds of it, so I’m assuming they just stuck a float X on there for now as they probably weren’t able to show the new shock.
Pics of the new float x2 are on the Levo thread.
SC just announced a load of new colourways for their bikes with the new mechanical transmission - no new colours for Vala by the looks of it
Pics of the new float x2 are on the Levo thread.
SC just announced a load of new colourways for their bikes with the new mechanical transmission - no new colours for Vala by the looks of it
ebsocalmtb
Active member
They will not be shipping with the float x2. I confirmed this yesterday with my lbs as we were having a conversation about long stroking the vala. Anything is possible, but the bike is on it's way to dealers, and the dealer info is still showing float x.
The build sheet was available to dealers just over a month ago... it was showing c70/c90 transmission and maven base pre-embargo dates for those. The oem mfg's freely show things that are embargo'd to their ibd's as the ibd's are subject to embargo information and requirements as well.
Yes I agree. Maybe they’ve done it for the photo so as not to confuse people looking at the Vala. But then again why not just use a real Vala for the shot. The Bullit is supposed to be their full enduro machine. They won’t use float x.
ebsocalmtb
Active member
The nomad ships with the float X on all builds save the XO Axs and XO Axs reserve. As I said before, I am certain that GX AXS and below, ship with a float X. You aren't going to get away from that shock unless you spend 10k+.
Ok that makes sense thanks. But yeah, still a bit annoying.
Also from what you guys have been saying my LBS knew a lot more and wouldn’t tell me about dates etc.
And... did you decide on a long stroke Vala or wait for the Bullit?
Is it float x for the X0 and XX builds too?
Hoping not, pretty disappointing if it comes with a float X!
Long stoking the Vala works well. Also SC has updated the Vala website with new build kits from Sram.
ebsocalmtb
Active member
It depends. Each LBS has a different relationship with their sales rep. Some share more info then others... also has a bit to do with how much volume your SC dealer does on just how much access they get to the info. There is a lot more for an IBD to lose by sharing this info then gain... especially for example of they have Vala's sitting on the floor and into their line of credit for the pleasure of having them sit there.
I'm waiting for the Bullit and I have placed a deposit on an XL GX AXS build in teal. I rode the XL vala and liked it quite a bit, tbh if there were no bullit otw I'd order one of those and be more then content with it. That being said, this is replacing a transition relay and I do think I'd prefer the extra capacity that the bullit has. Also, I have an XL nomad 6 that is my park/enduro bike... the idea of having the same geo/capability on my emtb as my park bike is enticing. I may still pivot back to the vala if I ride the bullit and it's too lethargic or a chore to ride. I bet you it's going to be perfect though.
I do not recall 100% what the XO/XX builds had on them, tbh since they were both over 10k I didn't pay much attention to them. I'm pretty sure it was a float X on all builds... but, in looking at the nomad, the XO/XX have the x2... so I have to assume that the bullit could very well have the same build breakdown. I too hope that it comes with the new x2 on even the GX AXS build and that they quietly updated this without notifying the IBDs... but I really doubt it.
