Santa Cruz Ebike

[Jamsxr]

Most of the new bikes don’t bring much more to the table, the SL is really the only significant step over the past few years, but I’m not a Specilized fan.

I still can’t find many better value bikes than my Fox Factory and XT equipped Meta Power for 4K, certainly not any that I’ll have more fun on!

I’ll probably hold on until Shimano bring out the next gen motor and a have higher capacity internal battery.

 

[paquo]

With the price of the Heckler and Levo SL, What are these manufacturers smoking? It seems like they don't want to sell many of these. Absolutely STUPID prices.

the spec you could rationalize buying with the light weight etc, i couldn't though as it doesnt seem special with a 34 fork and max 2.4 tire but the santa cruz there does not seem to be much value

 

[squeegee]

I guess every forum needs a super douchebag like gary

Fo Sho!!

 

[06z]

The SL is shown as completely sold out on the Specialized website for some models. The market is out there for the volume they produce. As mad as that sounds.

In the US, all Founders are still available and only the medium on S-Works are sold out. The lowest end Carbon has small and XL available. It only matters on how many were sold. We will never know.

 

[Fivetones]

It only matters on how many were sold. We will never know.

As an indicator there was a waiting list of around 5 months in many bike shops last year in the UK for the Levo Comp Carbon. I gave up waiting in the end and went for something else.

 

[RickBullotta]

Levo SL has a max tire size of 2.3", and that's a non-starter for me. I need more of an all-mountain bike. I'm quite happy with my Shuttle for now, and will wait it out a year or two for the next wave of drive and battery systems that don't compromise range and power for weight.

 

[AZRickD]

I have a gray, S-model on order.

All things considered, (and I test rode everything available) this should do the trick for me.

 

[miPbiP]

I reckon Santa Cruz have been quite shrewd here. (perhaps by accident not design).

They've made an ebike for Santa Cruz customers, not a Santa Cruz for ebike customers.

Tried and tested platform, familiar model name and use case, no huge risks for SC or customer, ticks all the boxes for SC riders.

 

[AZRickD]

Funny thing, tho...

I’ve never really got along with Santa Cruz bikes. They just felt off to me. I preferred short and mid-travel Pivot and Ibis.

Then I recently hopped on the new v3 Bronson and had a ball.

 

[markjl]

Funny thing, tho...

I’ve never really got along with Santa Cruz bikes. They just felt off to me. I preferred short and mid-travel Pivot and Ibis.

Then I recently hopped on the new v3 Bronson and had a ball.

Have you had a chance to demo the new Heckler?

 

[AZRickD]

No test ride of the Heckler (I call it the eBronson).

But I have ridden the v3 Bronson and like it.

I have ridden numerous Shimanos. I understand Santa Cruz going with it.

I consider this a rational extrapolation to the final product.

The bike is in a cargo box.
It’s dark in there.
It needs to be set free.

 

[markjl]

The bike is in a cargo box.
It’s dark in there.
It needs to be set free.

Hopefully I can test one this weekend in the Phoenix area. Plan to compare this to a Rail, Levo and Levo SL.

 

[AZRickD]

Hopefully I can test one this weekend in the Phoenix area. Plan to compare this to a Rail, Levo and Levo SL.

Air Park Bikes will have a few, at least for a parking lot demo. They are coming in batches and have to be set up.

I can also arrange a ride on mine at some point... if I actually get my hands on it.

 

[markjl]

Air Park Bikes will have a few, at least for a parking lot demo. They are coming in batches and have to be set up.

I can also arrange a ride on mine at some point... if I actually get my hands on it.

Just talked to them. They hope to be getting in any minute. Really like the 27.5 setup. Hoping for a little lower stand over than the 29rs of the other brands in the running.

 

[R120]

So, anyone buying the Santa Cruz?

I reckon you should try one - look at the geo of the XXL, right up your Strasse

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

I reckon you should try one - look at the geo of the XXL, right up your Strasse

I asked them when I knew about the bike but they don’t seem interested at all. Oh well.

 

[R120]

I find it interesting that the marketing/launch of the bike seems to actively try and avoid the EMTB press, and focus instead on core MTB media. Its a bit like, yeah we made an EMTB, but its really one of our MTB's, not an EMTB at all.

Even EMBN didn't get an invite.

 

[magnil]

I find it interesting that the marketing/launch of the bike seems to actively try and avoid the EMTB press, and focus instead on core MTB media. Its a bit like, yeah we made an EMTB, but its really one of our MTB's, not an EMTB at all.

Even EMBN didn't get an invite.

Guess they know that it is not so hot so better try customers that are not that informed about EMTB? But strange anyway.

 

[squeegee]

Seems logical, Santa Cruz is hugely popular in my area, they probably don't want to stir the pot any more than needed or want their name all over something that many in the US are having trouble accepting or just plain hating on.

I get yelled at for riding trails that are legal to ebikes, but only by other MTBers, never a hiker.

 

[AZRickD]

Last night I spent a couple of hours watching 2020 SC Heckler videos and reading the usual MTB and eMTB internet outlets.

There are gobs of video reviews and test-ride articles to keep an avid reader informed.

 

[steveo]

One thing i like about it is the handlebars with the cut outs for cables very tidy. I wonder if you will be able to buy them separately and will be able to use with the likes of a bosch kiox ? Or even better might give other companies like raceface ideas ?

 

[squeegee]

Last night I spent a couple of hours watching 2020 SC Heckler videos and reading the usual MTB and eMTB internet outlets.

There are gobs of video reviews and test-ride articles to keep an avid reader informed.

Me too but why skip out on EMBN and Rob...you gotta wonder? May be just a cost issue.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Me too but why skip out on EMBN and Rob...you gotta wonder? May be just a cost issue.

I’m not that big in the grand scheme of things! I don’t think many UK outlets got hands on. Maybe BikeRadar, didn’t see any first rides from anyone else.

Even www.ebike-mtb.com who usually get everything didn’t get it.

 

[miPbiP]

Could be they don't want to play the latest/greatest bike egame and are aiming at existing Santa Cruz customers.

 

[B1rdie]

I think SC just do not want to run the risk of releasing a product now to run against the many “innovations” that might sell well this month and become a huge customer complaint problem next month, they will sell out the ehecklers for sure and will have their customers avid for the next one as they start melting the hate for motors amidst the loyal comunity.

 

[snowbro]

This explains everything you might wonder about this ebike. There is zero passion and it truly shows. They were forced by their parent company to make it. The interview is highly uncomfortable to watch.

Also, it's like being late to the party, but further compounding, you are the ugly chick.

It really reminds me of Heckler & Koch's motto to civilians: Because you suck and we hate you. That is the vibe many people are getting from SC with this ebike. Exact same thing as HK or Ferrari, they have to make a product for civilians that they don't want to, or else they go under. Ferrari purposely built many cars under Enzo that had parts which would wear out fast and require removing the entire motor etc. Just out of spite to the consumer, all he wanted to do was race and hated customers. That is how Lamborghini was born, a scorned Ferrari customer made his own car company out of spite to Enzo.

 

[Gary]

 

[AZRickD]

Oh, I don’t know about that.

I’m no Santa Cruz fanboy. I’ve never owned one and only swapped bikes with Santa Cruz owners a few times.

What I see is a company with a pedigree and a viewpoint that tasked itself with making a product that diverts from their normal. And their efforts resulted in a product that incorporates their ethos and is infused with Santa Cruz DNA.

So, they spent all of 2017 researching the market - dimensions, motors, etc. Then all of 2018 was used building up aluminum and carbon test mules. Then 2019 tweaking designs that would somehow allow them to fit a motor onto their beloved Bronson platform while finding a way to keep the Nomad-esqe lower link. And into production.

In the end they come up with a product that looks like a Santa Cruz, rides like a Santa Cruz, and fits within their “No Missed Rides” philosophy.

That three-year effort doesn’t seem like Santa Cruz put together a team that wasn’t into it. They turned one of their favorite bikes into an ebike.

They made a Santa Cruz ebike with clean lines and well-sorted components.

That’s precisely what I would expect from that company.

 

[Kentish]

Could be they don't want to play the latest/greatest bike egame and are aiming at existing Santa Cruz customers.

The comments on that pinkbike video were interesting. So much hate!

People seem to think it's disgusting SC have even bought an ebike to market. Some also recon it will be the fall of the company. Not sure I've seen anything like it before.

I personally don't think they have much choice but to make an ebike.

But yea, that pinkbike interview was a bit of a difficult watch.

 

[miPbiP]

The comments on that pinkbike video were interesting. So much hate!

People seem to think it's disgusting SC have even bought an ebike to market. Some also recon it will be the fall of the company. Not sure I've seen anything like it before.

I personally don't think they have much choice but to make an ebike.

But yea, that pinkbike interview was a bit of a difficult watch.

bizarre.

I don't think anyone here in the UK will bat an eyelid, and they'll sell plenty.