Posts
4
Joined
1/16/2020
Location
Long Beach, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
1/21/2020 4:22am
Noob here, but I do get around on VitalMX quite a bit.
So I have a question for you fine folks. Years ago I bought a 2006 Specialized Enduro and it wasn't long after that I realized how terrible of a climber it was and after a year or so, I found myself losing interest in riding. After a wife and two kids, I wanted to get back into riding MTB because I just can't get out to the track as much as I used to. Maybe twice a month if I'm lucky. Last year I picked up a 2019 Santa Cruz Chameleon, put a 34mm Fox Factory Float on it and a Fox dropper, along with some other goodies and gave it a go. I've only got about 4 real rides on it so far, due to fracturing my thumb at an MX race a week after buying the Chameleon! Yesterday I was most impressed with it's ability to climb as I pulled off that gnarly (for me anyway) extra credit climb by the Brea dam at the Fullerton Loop. Please don't hate on me for mentioning that long debated funky system of trails, it's just convenient for me during the week after work and I know it like the back of my hand. Well, maybe not the first time back after more than 10 years, where I found myself a bit lost! Anyhow, here is my question. The reason I decided upon a Chameleon, was I wanted something that didn't have the pedal bob that I remember from the days of my Specialized Enduro and I wanted something that would climb like nobodies business, and the Chameleon achieved that for sure. My dilemma is, on descents, and the occasional jump, drop or kicker, I find myself wishing I had some rear suspension. Keeping in mind I come from a bmx/motocross background, what would be a solid move from the Chameleon, while not compromising the ability to climb? Lately I find myself looking at the Santa Cruz Tallboy and Hightower, but I feel the Hightower may be a bit to slacked out and more built for DH? And would it be possible or make sense dollar wise to swap my parts over from my Chameleon to a 2020 Tallboy frame?
Thanks for your advice and guidance!
So I have a question for you fine folks. Years ago I bought a 2006 Specialized Enduro and it wasn't long after that I realized how terrible of a climber it was and after a year or so, I found myself losing interest in riding. After a wife and two kids, I wanted to get back into riding MTB because I just can't get out to the track as much as I used to. Maybe twice a month if I'm lucky. Last year I picked up a 2019 Santa Cruz Chameleon, put a 34mm Fox Factory Float on it and a Fox dropper, along with some other goodies and gave it a go. I've only got about 4 real rides on it so far, due to fracturing my thumb at an MX race a week after buying the Chameleon! Yesterday I was most impressed with it's ability to climb as I pulled off that gnarly (for me anyway) extra credit climb by the Brea dam at the Fullerton Loop. Please don't hate on me for mentioning that long debated funky system of trails, it's just convenient for me during the week after work and I know it like the back of my hand. Well, maybe not the first time back after more than 10 years, where I found myself a bit lost! Anyhow, here is my question. The reason I decided upon a Chameleon, was I wanted something that didn't have the pedal bob that I remember from the days of my Specialized Enduro and I wanted something that would climb like nobodies business, and the Chameleon achieved that for sure. My dilemma is, on descents, and the occasional jump, drop or kicker, I find myself wishing I had some rear suspension. Keeping in mind I come from a bmx/motocross background, what would be a solid move from the Chameleon, while not compromising the ability to climb? Lately I find myself looking at the Santa Cruz Tallboy and Hightower, but I feel the Hightower may be a bit to slacked out and more built for DH? And would it be possible or make sense dollar wise to swap my parts over from my Chameleon to a 2020 Tallboy frame?
Thanks for your advice and guidance!
I would avoid swapping the components off your Chameleon unless everything can be switched over. Seems like every time I’ve done that I end up with a handful of random parts I can’t sell and the money I spend on the replacement parts doesn’t justify the cost.
As much as it hurts to say it, the big "S" went too gnarly on that bikes Geo. Only place it made sense was when I went to New Zealand for a week and rode nothing but double black WC style tracks.
The rear suspension kinematic is not the best either. But to it's credit it does climb extremely well (if you don't slam your pedals into rocks.
For the OP's purposes the Tallboy is a good one if you are happy with Santa Cruz. Just demo as many bikes as you can is all I can say. Buying off a spec sheet/geo chart/online review can end in disappointment in my past experiences. Coming from a moto background i'm sure you can appreciate that "comfort" you might get from a particular brand, for me a Honda CRF feels like home.... doesn't matter what year.
Thanks for all the input gents!
Did exactly that and set up a rental for a SC Tallboy with The Path for next week.
Will report back after!
https://youtu.be/8BLhCl0LUYw
That being said I'm a huge giant fan, I demoed the trance 29 and if I hadn't just bought the stumpy I'd be on that. Specialized has always taken care of me though so I'm not upset. But now that the reign 29 is out, that's pretty much my dream bike. I don't think I could part with specialized right now though. I just trust them and their support. I'd recommend trying the trance 29, reign 29, and a newer stumpy (not evo). The stumpy is one of the most instantly comfortable bikes I've been on.
I had a friend with an older gen 5010 who swore by it. I never tried to convince him otherwise, but some co-workers convinced him to hop on a long travel stumpy 27.5. He liked it but not enough to do anything about it. I told him if he's trying stumpys to try the 29er. He agreed, and his tallboy was for sale the next day. The one thing I love about my stumpy is that I can change it between short travel and long travel. Sure you'll need 2 shocks and a second "push link" or yoke but the option is there. My original plan was to get the cheapest short travel model and make it long travel, but specialized took too long to make the long travel links available after market, and I rode the stumpy in short travel for 3 rides and was sold. Cane creek offered to custom build me an inline air shock (it's available to anyone now) and the bike fucks so hard I've never thought of changing it. If I sell my Enduro (it's in park mode right now, single speed and what not) I'll look more into the long travel link. The helm can easily be raised, so just a new shock and I've got a longer travel ripper again.
All bikes are so good these days it's hard to buy a bad bike. I just started working at a shop that sells Santa Cruz and I've been very impressed with build quality as customer service. If I wasn't already on the specialized program I'd be on them or giant. Just find a bike you vibe with and have fun. Also keep in mind that sometimes bikes that are "better" on paper don't feel better. Whichever bike gives you the biggest smile when you throw a leg over it is the bike you should get.
^^ So much this, it NEVER works out like that for me. To the degree where after a few attempts I've got enough bits to build my '17 TR Scout back up only months after breaking it to sell.
On the main point - I moved from that TR Scout to a TR Patrol and as much fun as the Patrol is I do miss that pop n snap agility of my Scout, there was very little it couldn't handle.
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