It would be for touring so no shredding I'm afraid. Looks like easiest option is to convert galaxy and buy spare battery if needed . But everyone likes the idea of a new bike . Got carried away talking to someone yesterday and looked at a few. But when you start looking none are what I want . Removable decent size battery , take panniers reasonable price. Cairn E adventure was a contender but Fazue motor gets slated as do they all. Back to the drawing board im afraid.
2024 Santa Cruz Heckler SL
- Thread starter mehukatti
- Start date
Alan Yeung
Member
What a coincidence. I have a Levo with a Zeb, X2 & Cascade link and now own a HSL as well (GX-AXS trim).
1) 4000' climbing in River might be possible. I picked up my HSL late last season so only got a few rides in. My weight is similar to you ~175lbs, and my longest ride in 6C temp was: 25.15km, 782m climb, 84% battery used, moving time: 2:26, avg. power output by me: 80W - I have a Wahoo BOLT connected to the HSL that gives me my wattage output and other stats. Note I was riding in a custom mode somewhere between River and Rocket.
2) Like you I modded the Levo's suspension to address the issues you mentioned. With the HSL I don't feel the need to mod anything just yet. The bike sits nicely in its travel and is very playful in stock form. The 42 lbs vs 51 lbs weight difference is very noticable. The HSL rides and can be thrown around like a regular bike. The Levo will out climb the HSL in the super steep stuff and fireroad climbs. The Levo in 170/170 form will also be a little more stable in high speed descents in the gnar but everywhere else the HSL outshines the Levo. I have no issues keeping up with friends in full power bikes riding single track. It's only the long steep climbs where I lose out. You have to work a little harder on the HSL but I actually like that.
3) If there's one thing I might experiment with is swapping out the Super Deluxe shock with my X2 to see if it increases the midstroke pop.
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My mate loved the coil on his the short time he had the bike, he said it was way better than the air shock.
Andeh
Member
Well, my buddy won't stop raving about his HSL, so I ordered one for myself. Getting an S build and basically flipping most of the components over to my Levo to sell that or just use it for trail work.
Andeh
Member
I got my HSL built up, at least mostly, and got 1 ride in before the rain returned. My buddy who delivered it was also on his, and we did about 4,150 ft in 2:15 moving time. We ran Breeze on low angle fire roads, River most of the time, and Rocket on the steeper punchy bits. We each had about 15% charge left.
My first impressions are that the bike is great. The assist level is just right for me, it speeds up climbs considerably but still feels like normal pedaling (just without the suffer). The bike descends a lot more like a normal bike than my 52+ lb Levo did. Right now it's sitting at over 45 lbs, but that includes pedals, DH tires, and Reserve 30 HD AL wheels (I'm still waiting on my 30 Carbons, and will run Enduro casing tires on those). The motor is pretty quiet, but it does have more of a high pitched whine than the Brose/Specialized did. It also was dead silent descending - no rattles or clunks, unlike EP8s that I've ridden with. I didn't have any issues with the ring controller, but I think I'd probably prefer a 2-button controller like Brose. Also, it's weird that in order to engage walk assist, you have to toggle down to the motor off mode first.
I knew I what I was getting into, but I'm still disappointed with the software/interoperability of the Fazua system compared to the Brose/Specialized. I paired the motor with my Wahoo, but it can't share battery percentage, only power info. Apparently you can only see battery percentage with the phone app, or with a Garmin device and using the Fazua app on that, which is not configurable and shows a bunch of useless information. Also, while out riding, my phone could not connect to the motor to check the battery percentage, apparently because it was paired with the Wahoo. Fazua has a long way to go in terms of software / UI.
My first impressions are that the bike is great. The assist level is just right for me, it speeds up climbs considerably but still feels like normal pedaling (just without the suffer). The bike descends a lot more like a normal bike than my 52+ lb Levo did. Right now it's sitting at over 45 lbs, but that includes pedals, DH tires, and Reserve 30 HD AL wheels (I'm still waiting on my 30 Carbons, and will run Enduro casing tires on those). The motor is pretty quiet, but it does have more of a high pitched whine than the Brose/Specialized did. It also was dead silent descending - no rattles or clunks, unlike EP8s that I've ridden with. I didn't have any issues with the ring controller, but I think I'd probably prefer a 2-button controller like Brose. Also, it's weird that in order to engage walk assist, you have to toggle down to the motor off mode first.
I knew I what I was getting into, but I'm still disappointed with the software/interoperability of the Fazua system compared to the Brose/Specialized. I paired the motor with my Wahoo, but it can't share battery percentage, only power info. Apparently you can only see battery percentage with the phone app, or with a Garmin device and using the Fazua app on that, which is not configurable and shows a bunch of useless information. Also, while out riding, my phone could not connect to the motor to check the battery percentage, apparently because it was paired with the Wahoo. Fazua has a long way to go in terms of software / UI.
Dig into this assumption a little more. I do use a Garmin, but I don't use a "Fazua app" on it. I've got my battery % and pedal power on a custom data screen.
Andeh
Member
The guy I rode with just described it as that, and showed me on his Garmin watch and 530. He said you install a widget or something, which gives you 2 different preconfigured Fazua screens. I forget the exact different fields, but it was like battery percentage, mode, and some stuff I don't care about like moving speed. One screen was more minimal than the other.
With other ANT+ devices (AXS derailleurs, heart rate monitors, Specialized Levo, etc.), they provide numerical data to the head unit that you can set up in custom screens to your preference on Garmin and Wahoo. The info I care about is: current time, ride duration, ride distance, elevation gained, ebike battery %, AXS gear #. I have 1 screen that shows all of that. Then my Wahoo also uses some colored LEDs across the top to show heart rate zone.
I do what you do with my R60 and Edge 530, a custom screen with basically that same data you listed.
I’d be interested to know how this is done, the Fazua app is ok on my garmin 1040 but it would be nice to use a custom screen with my own selection of fields and at least be able to display the battery percentage.
What have you tried? All I remember doing was powering the bike on and pairing its sensors to the computer, then building the custom data screen as I would for anything.
Andeh
Member
I ordered a Garmin 540 since my Wahoo has been kinda flakey lately anyways. I'll try setting it up on there and try to put together a how-to if I'm successful.
I did press my buddy also on a HSL more about how he set his up (he's not super tech savvy), and he did say that on his Garmin watch he used this: Connect IQ Store | Free Watch Faces and Apps | Garmin
It let him show both battery percentage and mode on a single screen on his watch. I will try using the standard Garmin custom fields first, then try that if it doesn't work.
I did press my buddy also on a HSL more about how he set his up (he's not super tech savvy), and he did say that on his Garmin watch he used this: Connect IQ Store | Free Watch Faces and Apps | Garmin
It let him show both battery percentage and mode on a single screen on his watch. I will try using the standard Garmin custom fields first, then try that if it doesn't work.
FAZUA - Garmin Dashboard
fazua.com
Andeh
Member
Yeah, we know about that. The Fazua Dashboard is shit. We're trying to set up custom screens with more useful info.you can add this fazua widget to your ebike garmin profile where u can find also other additional fieldsFAZUA - Garmin Dashboard
Andeh
Member
Yeah, so as others have said here, Fazua "just works" with Garmin. No idea why Wahoo can't but whatever. I just searched for nearby devices on my new 540 and it saw "ebike" even with the HSL turned off. (Guessing that's also why the ebike battery has drained to 88% over the last week without being ridden.) I really like how you can do all the Garmin configuration on your phone now (that was one of the major draws for Wahoo for me).
Here's the screen I was able to create with stock fields:
Here's the screen I was able to create with stock fields:
My mate is having issues with the batteries draining with all 3 of the bikes on his showroom floor, he was saying they’d lose about 1-2% a day. He’s been going back and forth with Fazua trying to figure it out, he was saying they seem pretty clueless. Wonder if it’s just been the BT not turning off this whole time.
Thanks for this, I’ve sorted it on my garmin 1040.
select menu>sensors>add sensor
your ebike and gear sensors should show up. Just tick the boxes to add them and they are selectable for the custom screens.
Has anybody else had issues with the motor on their HSL?
I have done about 70 miles on mine over the 4 weeks I’ve owned it and the motor has been almost silent but today it was making a a bit of a grinding sound when putting power through the right pedal and it felt like riding on rough bb bearings resonating down the crank into my foot.
I guess I should contact my bike shop in the morning.
I have done about 70 miles on mine over the 4 weeks I’ve owned it and the motor has been almost silent but today it was making a a bit of a grinding sound when putting power through the right pedal and it felt like riding on rough bb bearings resonating down the crank into my foot.
I guess I should contact my bike shop in the morning.
Yep…that’s a fairly common failure. My mate went through 2 motors for the grinding issue and 2 ring controllers in a month of ownership, he returned the bike for a refund.
That is definitely the new trend.
Common failure as stated, but also make sure it’s not just your crank arms needing to be torqued down. Mine needed a few rounds of tightening during “break in,” on both motors.
Andeh
Member
I got a few more rides in on my new HSL after the rain let up, and I'll just say that this is a damn fun bike. It's much better handling than my Levo was, and way easier to bunny hop and pop off smaller features. Like others have said, it uses it's travel exceptionally well. The only time I felt hard bottom on the shock was a huck to flat.
The range is totally fine for my use cases. On Saturday I rode with a mixed group of ebikes and regular bikes, running only in Breeze with the exception of 1 steep techy climb where I used Rocket + tried the boost function, and we did just under 3,000' of vert in 1:45 of moving time, ending up with 52% charge left. Then on Sunday I rode solo on my local trails and did 4,700' in mostly River, but using Rocket on all the steeper parts, in 1:40 of moving time, and had 2% battery left.
The range is totally fine for my use cases. On Saturday I rode with a mixed group of ebikes and regular bikes, running only in Breeze with the exception of 1 steep techy climb where I used Rocket + tried the boost function, and we did just under 3,000' of vert in 1:45 of moving time, ending up with 52% charge left. Then on Sunday I rode solo on my local trails and did 4,700' in mostly River, but using Rocket on all the steeper parts, in 1:40 of moving time, and had 2% battery left.
The vert you're getting is quite good. Is this on the winch and plummet style trails you mentioned? Mind sharing your weight (and FTP estimate if you know it) for others to reference?
Glad you're enjoying the bike! I still have barely ridden any of my former bikes since getting the HSL.
Andeh
Member
Yeah, winch & plummet (although I didn't ride a couple of our steeper trails because they were still wet). I currently weigh about 163, 5'8". I've never done a proper FTP test, but using the internet calculators by age & weight, they say 300w.
BrandEZ_SL
New Member
Unfortunately the replacement DU in my HSL has started making mechanical knocking noises again and will be replaced shortly. It also cut out several times on my last ride, almost like it had the brakes on. Not sure if that's heat protection or ring controller issues or what. Really hoping 3rd motor will be the charm because i adore this bike.
Curious if the other replacement DU homies still have not had any issues since.
Curious if the other replacement DU homies still have not had any issues since.
Bummer. So far so good on mine. A bit over 600 miles on my replacement, and those were basically all sloppy PNW winter riding.
your next one is a good'n.
BrandEZ_SL
New Member
I’m using custom profile that gives me access to full power in both river and rocket but with different degrees of effort.
I’m never checking motor temp, shouldn’t have to worry about this given what these bikes cost imho. I trust the engineers made a bike that can be ridden for a full battery cycle without having to monitor this.
I basically only ride in the dry, occasional mud puddle.
For reference I’m 190lb and pretty fn hard on my bikes.
Andeh
Member
I haven't had a DU replacement (only had the bike for about a month) but:
*running custom profile also that was given to me by a buddy who's had his HSL longer than me
Breeze: 150 max power @ 150 rider power, 52% acceleration
River: 300 max power @ 170 rider power, 65% acceleration
Rocket: 350 max power @ 150 rider power, 90% acceleration
*last couple rides I've run full Rocket, done about 4,500' in ~2:15, battery at <10% charge when finishing. I weigh <165 without gear.
*I never look at motor temperature. So far motor noise seems consistent throughout my rides, and if anything, changes less in terms of volume over the course of the ride than my Levo did.
*I've been riding in moderately muddy conditions and hosing the bike off afterwards.
*running custom profile also that was given to me by a buddy who's had his HSL longer than me
Breeze: 150 max power @ 150 rider power, 52% acceleration
River: 300 max power @ 170 rider power, 65% acceleration
Rocket: 350 max power @ 150 rider power, 90% acceleration
*last couple rides I've run full Rocket, done about 4,500' in ~2:15, battery at <10% charge when finishing. I weigh <165 without gear.
*I never look at motor temperature. So far motor noise seems consistent throughout my rides, and if anything, changes less in terms of volume over the course of the ride than my Levo did.
*I've been riding in moderately muddy conditions and hosing the bike off afterwards.
All battery powered devices have vampire drain.
Not sure why your buddy is shocked. Hasn't he ever owned literally anything with batteries before?
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