Santa Cruz Vala

[Poppe]

Howdy. Long time lurker, first time poster.

Wife and I considering Vala’s. I tend to like to get lower end models of something and then upgrade as I go and grow. So considering the R spec. With that said, does the R model leave my limited anywhere on eventual upgrades? This was an issue on my motorcycles sometimes where certain parts just couldn’t be upgraded or cost would get to be so much that it wasn’t with it where has had I gone up one spec then I could have run better suspension. If the S model is significant enough I could definitely jump to that, especially if it makes eventual upgrades easier.

Hope that makes sense.

I rented the specialized turbo Levo and thought I was going that route. But then sat did a short test ride on the Vala and it felt so much more natural and comfortable for some reason.

 

[SimonDee]

The R kit is cut to the bone, too compromised in my opinion. Seatpost, brakes, fork, drive train are all lowest of the low. No one has stock in the UK either, I think it's just there to get the headline starting cost.

I think the S kit is much better value. There's almost nothing you need to change on the S to have a really great bike, but you can upgrade going forward if you want. Grip X2 damper in the fork etc.

 

[Lee Dove]

The R kit is cut to the bone, too compromised in my opinion. Seatpost, brakes, fork, drive train are all lowest of the low. No one has stock in the UK either, I think it's just there to get the headline starting cost.

I think the S kit is much better value. There's almost nothing you need to change on the S to have a really great bike, but you can upgrade going forward if you want. Grip X2 damper in the fork etc.

Well . I bought an R kit bike and think it is great. Seatpost is SDG which I have been using for years without problem. Brakes are OK and do have 220 rotors, at some point I will change them for hopes NOT Mavens as fitted to the higher spec bikes. Drive train works fine on an ebike (who needs electric gears? ). My bike actually came with Ultimate spec Forks and a higher level of shock so win/win there. The S only gets the basic Fox 38.

So you may not like it but is will suit many people and give a great platform for upgrade as parts need replacing.

 

[Poppe]

Well . I bought an R kit bike and think it is great. Seatpost is SDG which I have been using for years without problem. Brakes are OK and do have 220 rotors, at some point I will change them for hopes NOT Mavens as fitted to the higher spec bikes. Drive train works fine on an ebike (who needs electric gears? ). My bike actually came with Ultimate spec Forks and a higher level of shock so win/win there. The S only gets the basic Fox 38.

So you may not like it but is will suit many people and give a great platform for upgrade as parts need replacing.

Yours came with an upgraded shock in the R? Like are you saying you prefer the R shock or are you saying the store upgraded it to something else?

 

[Lee Dove]

Yours came with an upgraded shock in the R? Like are you saying you prefer the R shock or are you saying the store upgraded it to something else?

The bike came from SC with upgraded fork and shock. The LBS was as surprised as me I suspect as it was a very early bike that SC did not have the lower spec available so fitted the higher stuff , free of charge. It is an R Spec bike

 

[cykelk]

I also think S-kit is the best value kit. Most reasons have been mentioned, though I'll add that IMO having a rear hub with an XD driver matters unless you already know you'll swap wheels.

I had to bleed my Mavens on delivery, but they've been consistent for me since (granted only about 10 rides) and definitely deliver power sufficient for the big bike.

 

[Poppe]

W

The bike came from SC with upgraded fork and shock. The LBS was as surprised as me I suspect as it was a very early bike that SC did not have the lower spec available so fitted the higher stuff , free of charge. It is an R Spec bike

ow thats amazing. Is the upgraded shock and fork the S model ones?

This will be my first real MTB I’m new to all this. I’ll be riding with my wife 50% of the time which means most of my rides will be beginner trails with light intermediate type stuff.

 

[Poppe]

I also think S-kit is the best value kit. Most reasons have been mentioned, though I'll add that IMO having a rear hub with an XD driver matters unless you already know you'll swap wheels.

I had to bleed my Mavens on delivery, but they've been consistent for me since (granted only about 10 rides) and definitely deliver power sufficient for the big bike.

On the r, what driver does the bike come with? Does the XD make upgrading in the future easier or is it just giving you something better quality that you won’t need to upgrade for a lot longer?

When I had a motorcycle, I got the base bike which meant smaller triple tree and forks. Well then doing an upgrade became significantly harder and more expensive because the not only did the forks need replacing but I had to get a custom triple tree made. That’s really what I’m trying to avoid more than anything, saving like $1300 on the R but then realizing it’ll cost me $2600 to upgrade things to the S quality or better because some part on the bike that is now not easily upgradable.

 

[cykelk]

On the r, what driver does the bike come with? Does the XD make upgrading in the future easier or is it just giving you something better quality that you won’t need to upgrade for a lot longer?

When I had a motorcycle, I got the base bike which meant smaller triple tree and forks. Well then doing an upgrade became significantly harder and more expensive because the not only did the forks need replacing but I had to get a custom triple tree made. That’s really what I’m trying to avoid more than anything, saving like $1300 on the R but then realizing it’ll cost me $2600 to upgrade things to the S quality or better because some part on the bike that is now not easily upgradable.

NX uses the HG drive freehub body, so to bump to GX cassette or run T-Type you’d also have to swap freehub body. Not a huge deal on its own, but adds another “paper cut” as they say.

 

[cykelk]

Got a solid ride on the Vala yesterday afternoon, about 12 miles 4k feet of vert. Ended the ride with 26% battery left riding eMTB +3 bias most of the ride. For range reference, with gear and a water I'm about 180lbs. Getting things dialed in, this bike rips for sure.

 

[Lee Dove]

On the r, what driver does the bike come with? Does the XD make upgrading in the future easier or is it just giving you something better quality that you won’t need to upgrade for a lot longer?

When I had a motorcycle, I got the base bike which meant smaller triple tree and forks. Well then doing an upgrade became significantly harder and more expensive because the not only did the forks need replacing but I had to get a custom triple tree made. That’s really what I’m trying to avoid more than anything, saving like $1300 on the R but then realizing it’ll cost me $2600 to upgrade things to the S quality or better because some part on the bike that is now not easily upgradable.

Upgrading mountain bikes is much simpler than motorbikes. Most things are interchangeable (not all like T Type mechs). There are only really 3 or 4 suspension manufacturers and they are all interchangeable as a unit (fork or shock complete). The base level Fork and shock on the R model are good for most riders as a lot of suspension tech is really aimed at the top 10% of riders buy people buy it because they think it makes them better riders ;-).

 

[Poppe]

Upgrading mountain bikes is much simpler than motorbikes. Most things are interchangeable (not all like T Type mechs). There are only really 3 or 4 suspension manufacturers and they are all interchangeable as a unit (fork or shock complete). The base level Fork and shock on the R model are good for most riders as a lot of suspension tech is really aimed at the top 10% of riders buy people buy it because they think it makes them better riders ;-).

Thank you. Okay copy that. That’s great to hear. I’ve been researching bikes and bike parts like crazy since I got wind of the Vala to truly understand what it’s all like - I kept thinking it all seems pretty amazingly interchangeable somehow.

I’m a fat dude. 220lbs. I saw they had weight guidelines for the suspension and I get near the top of theirs. Does that come into play at all with the R suspension vs the S - am I going to be looking bottoming out the suspension haha!

 

[Lee Dove]

Thank you. Okay copy that. That’s great to hear. I’ve been researching bikes and bike parts like crazy since I got wind of the Vala to truly understand what it’s all like - I kept thinking it all seems pretty amazingly interchangeable somehow.

I’m a fat dude. 220lbs. I saw they had weight guidelines for the suspension and I get near the top of theirs. Does that come into play at all with the R suspension vs the S - am I going to be looking bottoming out the suspension haha!

The R and the S probably have the same weight limits on suspension. Both front and back are Air so you should be able to pump them up for your weight. Both the Zeb (r) and Fox 38 (s) are good choices for heavier riders as them have 38mm chassis. All models have 38mm forks on so no better on the higher end models.. Depending on your riding you may need to get the damping tuned or some extra tokens added, both not expensive.

 

[Doomanic]

NX uses the HG drive freehub body, so to bump to GX cassette or run T-Type you’d also have to swap freehub body. Not a huge deal on its own, but adds another “paper cut” as they say.

SRAM offer an HG version of the T-Type cassette.