Santa Cruz Ebike

[Gary]

I don’t know how you destroy them so quickly. Even Bernard Kerr’s e8000 has lasted him well over a year ?

Probably because Bernard is just a wee laddie and doesn't actually ride his shuttle all that much

Even so. i'd be surprised if his doesn't have bearing play

 

[Gary]

my 2019 Tazer tics more boxes than this new sled

 

[Gary]

I notice Adam Brayton runs DHF (DH front DD rear) - was 27.5 front and rear before some low lifes nicked that one and now runs a 29 on the front. They're 2.5's ..

What?

Why are you stalking an 8 stone world cup DHer and taking notes on his tyre set-up? Am I not good enough now you've seen the ginger Kestral super-tweak his E-Sommet in his tight Hope race pants?

it's a little weird if he really is running a DD rear but DH casing front... but not if he just took a spare front wheel off his Descent and stuck it on the E Sommet

No WC DHers run stupid plus tyres... You surely have this in your notepad somewhere... I suggest you stop smoking (quite) so much weed and hit the books tonight.

A'iaght

 

[AZRickD]

Heckler V8 MY20 Technology

 

[RickBullotta]

Here it is:

 

[Zimmerframe]

it's a little weird if he really is running a DD rear but DH casing front

Crap .. damned drugs ... yes, other way round ..

Am I not good enough now you've seen the ginger Kestral in his tight Hope race pants?

Don't start getting jealous, you know you'll always be number 1.

Twice now though you've made reference to other riders weight, is that xmas overindulgence proving harder to get rid of than normal ?

stop smoking (quite) so much weed and hit the books tonight

No books left, used them all to make roll ups with. Especially the big ones which were useful and had pictures in.

 

[Gary]

Twice now though you've made reference to other riders weight, is that xmas overindulgence proving harder to get rid of than normal ?

Brayton's also rather short.

I've overindulged my entire life... and I'm not referring to instagramming every crossfit session

 

[AZRickD]

I think as @AZRickD mentioned .. that's a BH Revo .(with Santa Livery). Looks a like like one anyway ?? If not .. some other similar BH....

Yes. A dirty trick. The employees watched as I was drawn to the yellow Santa Cruz lettering, only to find, "Hey, what the heck?"

 

[Funkeydunk]

NEW–Santa Cruz Heckler Electric Bike | Leisure Lakes Bikes

 

[zaykay]

Really disappointed with the value/price ratio of this bike. Two lowest spec builds even have black&white e7000 displays. There will be plenty of these bikes available with huge price reductions when Shimano releases next gen motor.

I don’t think lower linkage driven shock is a big enough differentiator since everything else is so conservative. There are other better options in the same weight range.

This bike should have been slacker 29r with Shimano 12 speed drive train in lower spec builds price level starting around 6000 euros. Top models would need a bigger battery option. Now it’s just going to be a wasted opportunity. This comes from a disappointed V4 Nomad owner.

 

[squeegee]

I'd agree with this

rode a 2020 levo this week and a 2020 Trek (Rail?) with the new Bosch a few weeks ago and just didn't like the un natural unconnected feeling both of those motors produced compared to my shitey old E8000s... it's just a shame each and every one has bearing play after a few weeks of riding

I have read so many posts of yours about bearing problems on the E8000, to the point where I've developed paranoia on when mine will shit the bed. 1,714.3 miles (2758 km) on mine per my strava to date, no bearing play or any issues otherwise. Over here in the states probably not as much slop and slime as your side of the world but it has seen it's share of east coast US wet winter riding.

On the whole "natural feeling" motor stuff...personally I have always thought that is purely marketing speak because, a) the bike has a motor and b) the bike has a motor and c) it's not an analog so why try to push an argument to that end?

I like the feel of the E8000, a lot actually. Compared to Shimano, neither Brose nor Bosch impressed me enough to say "I have to have this" over the other.

What does matter to me and my type of riding is getting good components and a plush suspension out of the box, something that Santa Cruz excels at like very few brands.

 

[TheBikePilot]

It's a meh from me...

I was really hoping Santa Cruz would bat it out of the park but they just released what looks like an average bike.

I am betting with the pushback their almost cult following may or may not have they didn't want to bet big on it so this looks like a 'test the water' bike see if they get any hate.

Team America is slowly coming around to ebikes, f**k yeh...

 

[Gary]

I have read so many posts of yours about bearing problems on the E8000, to the point where I've developed paranoia on when mine will shit the bed. 1,714.3 miles (2758 km) on mine per my strava to date, no bearing play or any issues otherwise. Over here in the states probably not as much slop and slime as your side of the world but it has seen it's share of east coast US wet winter riding.

TBF I've done around 4 times that mileage (obvs not all on one motor)
It's not slop or washing that causes it. it's sideloads.
How do I know this? I don't for absolute certainty but...
One motor I intentionally never washed (just wiped with a rag)
another I didn't ride at all in the wet.

On the whole "natural feeling" motor stuff...personally I have always thought that is purely marketing speak because, a) the bike has a motor and b) the bike has a motor and c) it's not an analog so why try to push an argument to that end?

I'm not arguing
The E8000 cuts in and out smoothly and more naturally than the two motors I mentioned. Taking it to extreme I find the old Yamaha motor pretty unridable it's so un natural feeling.
I ride non-motorised bikes a lot too so want my Eeb to feel as natural as possible. For me. That's not the Brose or the Bosch motors

What does matter to me and my type of riding is getting good components and a plush suspension out of the box, something that Santa Cruz excels at like very few brands.

Good components?
Er... there's not an Eeb under #4k that doesn't have "good" components
"Plush" is a terrible word but. Yes the new SantaCruz should have good suspension characteristics... But again very few Eebs over the #4k pricepoint don't. I'm not sure where you're getting the "like very few brands" idea from?

Having replaced many Santa Cruz frames bearings I'm actually not a
huge fan of Santa their bearing/fastner configuration... or their longevity -Free bearings to the original purchser for life is nice though.

 

[Fivetones]

Having replaced many Santa Cruz frames bearings I'm actually not a
huge fan of Santa their bearing/fastner configuration... or their longevity -Free bearings to the original purchser for life is nice though.

From the Pinkbike article, this won’t please owners then:

”The non-motorized bike gets a sealed bearing in the rearward shock eyelet that the Heckler skips for clearance reasons”

First Look: Santa Cruz's First eMTB, the 2020 Heckler - Pinkbike

 

[Gary]

This bike should have been slacker 29r with Shimano 12 speed drive train in lower spec builds price level starting around 6000 euros. Top models would need a bigger battery option. Now it’s just going to be a wasted opportunity. This comes from a disappointed V4 Nomad owner.

So you want a 29" wheeled E-Nomad CC? with shimano 12 speed drivetrain (and I'll assume a lyrik/36? and similar level finishing kit/brakes?)
for 6 grand?
when a nomad CC frameset retails for around 3.5 grand alone?
good luck with that

Good news for you though. Roksopp has already commented that in 5 years he expects possibly 50% of SC sales to be motorised...
I'd start saving those euros now
50% of their sales won't come from just this one bike

12mins in

 

[Gary]

From the Pinkbike article, this won’t please owners then:

”The non-motorized bike gets a sealed bearing in the rearward shock eyelet that the Heckler skips for clearance reasons”

First Look: Santa Cruz's First eMTB, the 2020 Heckler - Pinkbike

That's not actually one of the bearings or fastners was referring to.
The shock eye bearings are shock specific parts rather than SC specific.

most "owners" don't have a clue. Hence me replacing so many

 

[tacoma22]

The main reason I’m glad SC made an Ebike is that it will hopefully help turn around some of the e bike hate here in the US
Lots of Sc fan boys out there who swore their beloved company would never make an e bike. Lol. Their brains are going to explode.

 

[StuE]

Can't really see the point in a carbon framed ebike given the small savings in weight and high cost of production, unless of course you go down the route of using a lighter motor and battery like Specialized and Lapierre have done, I wouldn't be surprised if Santa Cruz didn't bring out an alloy framed version at some point in the future as they have done with some of their conventional bikes

 

[Dirt_Ebike]

I wish we had some of those cheaper good e bikes you Europeans have access to. These companies are exporting their analog bikes, but not e bikes to the US. I need to get my wife another bike, it would be nice to only spend 3k instead of 4-5k for her

Check out The fezzari wire peak. The price, and reviews remind me of the vitus e somet

 

[Gary]

I wouldn't be surprised if Santa Cruz didn't bring out an alloy framed version at some point in the future as they have done with some of their conventional bikes

Yeah. I wouldn't discount that either. But I also wouldn't call the weight savings insignificant. Especially if a bike is going the internal battery route.

 

[Al Boneta]

I was expecting something better than this.
I was really expecting a new Shimano motor and something more innovative from Santa Cruz.
They will still sell shit tons of these, because it’s almost like they made the least amount of effort and know that the Santa Cruz name will just sell the bike for them.
Why would anybody buy this over a YT or the dozens of other E8000 bikes that cost considerably less?
Santa Cruz has always made good bikes, but they don’t ride any better or worse than the vast majority of bikes on the market. It was just the cool brand to have a decade ago. There are other brands that have taken away their market share in the last few years. Yeti, Pivot, YT, Transition, Ibis and Evil are all brands I see on my local trails just as often as I see a Santa Cruz.

 

[Gary]

They will still sell shit tons of these, because it’s almost like they made the least amount of effort and know that the Santa Cruz name will just sell the bike for them.

totally agree.
Win win for them really.
dunno what it's like over there but around here I've found the average Bronson owner to genuinely believe they have the best performing bike they could have bought. (I guess because of image and cost). Then when you sit on their bike you almost instantly realise the owner knows next to nothing about how to set-up a mountain bike.

 

[Al Boneta]

totally agree.
Win win for them really.
dunno what it's like over there but around here I've found the average Bronson owner to genuinely believe they have the best performing bike they could have bought. (I guess because of image and cost). Then when you sit on their bike you almost instantly realise the owner knows next to nothing about how to set-up a mountain bike.

Around here in Orange County which is one of the richest areas in the United States, Santa Cruz has actually lost popularity among the cool kid bike snob riders.
And yes a lot of these people do not know how to set up suspension properly or install their blingy parts they got online

 

[seamarsh]

I was expecting something better than this.
I was really expecting a new Shimano motor and something more innovative from Santa Cruz.
They will still sell shit tons of these, because it’s almost like they made the least amount of effort and know that the Santa Cruz name will just sell the bike for them.
Why would anybody buy this over a YT or the dozens of other E8000 bikes that cost considerably less?
Santa Cruz has always made good bikes, but they don’t ride any better or worse than the vast majority of bikes on the market. It was just the cool brand to have a decade ago. There are other brands that have taken away their market share in the last few years. Yeti, Pivot, YT, Transition, Ibis and Evil are all brands I see on my local trails just as often as I see a Santa Cruz.

idk, maybe ride it first? Who knows maybe it rides amazing? They make great bikes, have an amazing warranty. I agree seems underwhelming, I just bought a yt should be here tomorrow! But I would imagine that this bike rides great with the low shock layout that SC has been using in its new bikes.

I own a v1 Hightower and still ride it, great bike! You can’t go wrong with sc warranty/service. Don’t think it’s a “fanboy” thing, it’s the fact they consistently make great bikes.

Wonder as well if they don’t know something about a new shimano motor coming out that will be able to retro fit.. if so would make sense why they would design around this motor.

 

[StuE]

So the new Heckler is too heavy, it's wheels aren't big enough and to top it all off it doesn't have a motor that might not even exist, oh and it's too expensive, this guy liked it anyway
[First Ride] Santa Cruz Heckler e-MTB

 

[Al Boneta]

idk, maybe ride it first? Who knows maybe it rides amazing? They make great bikes, have an amazing warranty. I agree seems underwhelming, I just bought a yt should be here tomorrow! But I would imagine that this bike rides great with the low shock layout that SC has been using in its new bikes.

I own a v1 Hightower and still ride it, great bike! You can’t go wrong with sc warranty/service. Don’t think it’s a “fanboy” thing, it’s the fact they consistently make great bikes.

Wonder as well if they don’t know something about a new shimano motor coming out that will be able to retro fit.. if so would make sense why they would design around this motor.

I Have ridden plenty of Santa Cruz bikes in the last 25 years, I’ve owned a Tazmon, a Heckler, a Bullit, a blur, V10 and a Nomad. I have ridden a Hightower and a Bronson. All good bikes but there was nothing that noteworthy or magical about any of them.
I can say the same for all of the E8000 bikes I have ridden or repaired. The E8000 motor is just Meh for me. The only one I ever considered buying was a Focus or a YT.

 

[squeegee]

I'm not arguing
The E8000 cuts in and out smoothly and more naturally than the two motors I mentioned. Taking it to extreme I find the old Yamaha motor pretty unridable it's so un natural feeling.
I ride non-motorised bikes a lot too so want my Eeb to feel as natural as possible. For me. That's not the Brose or the Bosch motors

Not *you* but this "natural feel" argument in general is weak IMO

Good components?
Er... there's not an Eeb under #4k that doesn't have "good" components
"Plush" is a terrible word but. Yes the new SantaCruz should have good suspension characteristics... But again very few Eebs over the #4k pricepoint don't.

Lots of $6K+ models around with sub par components, stuff you know you'll be replacing immediately, please give us the option to buy a frame kit!!

I'm not sure where you're getting the "like very few brands" idea from?
Having replaced many Santa Cruz frames bearings I'm actually not a
huge fan of Santa their bearing/fastner configuration... or their longevity -Free bearings to the original purchser for life is nice though.

Just my opinion, but there are a lot of crappy rear suspension designs out there, Santa Cruz not one of them. Was not referring to bearing life but how well a suspension does its job as in reacts where/when/how you need it to.

 

[squeegee]

The main reason I’m glad SC made an Ebike is that it will hopefully help turn around some of the e bike hate here in the US
Lots of Sc fan boys out there who swore their beloved company would never make an e bike. Lol. Their brains are going to explode.

Yep, can't wait to keep plugging this fact around here.

 

[B1rdie]

I will wait for the “hipower” or “lazyboy” models that shall follow. Since I sold my old nomad i need to have some SC branded fulfill this emptiness.

 

[Gary]

Not *you* but this "natural feel" argument in general is weak IMO

*It's* not an argument.
all motors deliver their assistance differently.
That's just a simple fact!
Pulling a blindfold over your eyes, repeating "Lalalalalalalala..." and sticking your fingers in your ears doesn't change that.

Lots of $6K+ models around with sub par components, stuff you know you'll be replacing immediately, please give us the option to buy a frame kit!!

Who are you even talking to?

If you want to custom build buy the cheapest model with the frame you want (ie. Carbon or Alu) and sell the parts you don't want. That should still end up a better deal than frame only.

Just my opinion, but there are a lot of crappy rear suspension designs out there, Santa Cruz not one of them.

Opinion based on riding this bike? or based on looking at it and thinking it "looks" the same as a bike you have ridden?
They're not the same thing.
Santa Cruz have fucked up suspension characteristics in the past it's not a foregone conclusion every suspension design they build will always be wonderful. (everything being compromise afterall)

Was not referring to bearing life but how well a suspension does its job as in reacts where/when/how you need it to.

Yeah... and fastner quality/design, bearing quality/size/type/alignment, tolerances and sealing are all pretty important to that.