Santa Cruz Vala

[thevids]

Will it be any different from streatching the fork to 170mm and the shock to 65mm at all?
Asking since I would like a longer travel Vala, and there is a local 20% sale now that might or might not last til april?

I have basically long-stroked (almost) every full-sus I have ever owned so that part will be done anyway, but maybe the bullit is better in some way? or not....

 

[TheMirrorVision]

Will it be any different from streatching the fork to 170mm and the shock to 65mm at all?
Asking since I would like a longer travel Vala, and there is a local 20% sale now that might or might not last til april?

I have basically long-stroked (almost) every full-sus I have ever owned so that part will be done anyway, but maybe the bullit is better in some way? or not....

Overstroking the Vala will only give you 162.5mm vs the expected 170mm on the new Bullit, may have some potential impacts on the intended kinematics of the suspension, and may have warranty implications if the frame is ever somehow damaged due to a hard bottom out event. But having a shock that has a good HBO and/or something progressive may help avoid that last point.

 

[cykelk]

Will it be any different from streatching the fork to 170mm and the shock to 65mm at all?
Asking since I would like a longer travel Vala, and there is a local 20% sale now that might or might not last til april?

I have basically long-stroked (almost) every full-sus I have ever owned so that part will be done anyway, but maybe the bullit is better in some way? or not....

A 20% sale is a solid reason not to wait. Do you care about a range extender? Long-stroke clearance with a range extender is something I haven't seen confirmed.

 

[Doomanic]

Does anyone know if SC have an SX motored bike in development? The new Transition looks very nice.

 

[cykelk]

Overstroking the Vala will only give you 162.5mm vs the expected 170mm on the new Bullit, may have some potential impacts on the intended kinematics of the suspension, and may have warranty implications if the frame is ever somehow damaged due to a hard bottom out event. But having a shock that has a good HBO and/or something progressive may help avoid that last point.

Long-stroking to me has always been for insurance against bottom-out rather than to get a more "plush" feeling. If I run 20mm sag on 60mm stroke, I'm going to run 20mm sag on 65mm stroke also. If the longer travel ride feel is the goal, I agree - get the bike designed for longer travel.

 

[Suns_PSD]

I think the Regulators just leap frogged the Vala. It's basically the exact same bike, but offers cable shifting, the high-end frame on all builds, has a tool bag mount, and can be a 150/ 160 or a 160/ 170 that is Transition approved.

I'm going to say the weight is essentially identical.

If you look at the PB review the Regulator in a L with pedals weighed 47.25#s.
The XL Vala on the other hand weighed 48.08#s. The Vala had the advantage of the CC frame (-300 grams), the disadvantage of a Gravity rear tire (+200 grams) & of course it's stuck with electronic shifting (+100 grams).

I'd call that too close to call.

 

[cykelk]

I think the Regulators just leap frogged the Vala. It's basically the exact same bike, but offers cable shifting, the high-end frame on all builds, has a tool bag mount, and can be a 150/ 160 or a 160/ 170 that is Transition approved.

I'm going to say the weight is essentially identical.

If you look at the PB review the Regulator in a L with pedals weighed 47.25#s.
The XL Vala on the other hand weighed 48.08#s. The Vala had the advantage of the CC frame (-300 grams), the disadvantage of a Gravity rear tire (+200 grams) & of course it's stuck with electronic shifting (+100 grams).

I'd call that too close to call.

Why you throwin' shade in the Vala thread?

Biker's Edge had a good initial comparison of the two. Quite similar bikes for sure, and I think Transition chose the launch kits well. Wouldn't be surprised to see PNW kits with longer travel come later.

 

[ckkone]

I think the Regulators just leap frogged the Vala.

Haven’t rode the Regulator, looks great on paper. Looks like the Carbon XT build compares to the Vala GX AXS which is what I have. I really like wireless shifting and much prefer Fox suspension also like the looks of the Vala a bit more. Both awesome bikes and don’t think either is a bad choice. I wish the range extenders weren’t so ugly and they would come out with the damn screen already…

 

[thevids]

Long-stroking to me has always been for insurance against bottom-out rather than to get a more "plush" feeling. If I run 20mm sag on 60mm stroke, I'm going to run 20mm sag on 65mm stroke also. If the longer travel ride feel is the goal, I agree - get the bike designed for longer travel.

Exactly what I do as well!
I like it for hucking, and for the additional capabilities when stuff gets really hectic.

I find the medium stroke bikes to ride well, but I tend to crash more on them due to the loss of control when bottom out happens a place where I also need to steer.

 

[thevids]

Overstroking the Vala will only give you 162.5mm vs the expected 170mm on the new Bullit, may have some potential impacts on the intended kinematics of the suspension, and may have warranty implications if the frame is ever somehow damaged due to a hard bottom out event. But having a shock that has a good HBO and/or something progressive may help avoid that last point.

I could live with 162,5mm, i actually like the 165 of my megatower v2. But I also prefer having it originally designed that way of course.

I hope someone has testet the bottom out of a 65mm shock?