Santa Cruz Chameleon tire and wheel choice
5 min read
Asked by: Tony Harden
Is the 2022 Santa Cruz Chameleon worth it?
It’s an incredibly lively bike that’s more capable and encouraging than it lets off. It’s a stable bit of kit, too. As momentum ramps up, the bike remains as planted in typical hardtail fashion, and comfortable thanks to its 1207.8mm wheelbase and rather slack 65-degree head angle.
Did Santa Cruz stop making carbon Chameleon?
So it’s big news that Santa Cruz has now discontinued the carbon-fiber Chameleon and will henceforth only offer an alloy version, which is more faithful to the model’s heritage. Product managers at Santa Cruz have visited some significant geometry changes upon the 2022 model year Chameleon as well.
Why is the Santa Cruz Chameleon so expensive?
Santa Cruz mountain bikes are expensive because they employ a more advanced VPP suspension frameset, high-end carbon frames, and top-quality groupsets. They are also produced in low volumes and go through a costly, lengthy production process.
What kind of bike is Santa Cruz Chameleon?
hardtail mountain bike
The Chameleon has always been the super engaging, multi-mode entry into Santa Cruz ownership and the 8th version of the California brand’s best hardtail mountain bike is the most versatile, confident and flat-out-fun version yet.
Does the Santa Cruz Chameleon have a dropper post?
The dropper post is the same as the D and R models in the SDG Tellis Dropper. All of these improvements make Santa Cruz Chameleon S a great choice for results-oriented riders who don’t want to stretch their budget too much.
How much does a Santa Cruz Chameleon weigh?
28.82lbs
A 2020 Santa Cruz Chameleon R Aluminum 29 weights 13.07kg / 28.82lbs.
Where are Santa Cruz bikes made?
Quality product, quality process. We have our hands on every stage of development and construction of a bicycle, because we do it right here in Santa Cruz, Ca. We design and engineer everything ourselves, we own our own carbon fiber frame factory and we assemble all our bikes ourselves.
What is MX wheel size?
MX – a mix of both worlds
This is when a 29-inch wheel is used for the front wheel and a 27.5-inch is used on the rear. The leading 29-inch wheel creates a large contact patch that generates a lot of traction and lowers the rollover resistance.
Does Santa Cruz make a hardtail?
The Highball is our flagship carbon hardtail race thoroughbred, and a dark horse in XC versatility. More capable than a pure endurance bike, more composed than most XC race-rigs, the Highball has evolved to be easier to ride harder for longer.
Why are Santa Cruz bikes so heavy?
The SRAM NX groupset is entry level so it weighs more. I would also guess that the wheels are really heavy. If you move up to a higher tier groupset and wheels, you’ll shave some weight. As a matter of fact, any entry level carbon bike is about a pound or 2 heavier than the top of the line version.
What is so special about Santa Cruz bikes?
Santa Cruz has been making high-quality mountain bikes for a long time now. Even their older models are still high quality and ride well. The components used are generally among the best on the market so they are also long-lasting.
Why are Santa Cruz bikes so good?
Santa Cruz has spent nearly three decades perfecting their range of mountain bikes, so you can be sure that not only is the lineup vast enough to suit most needs, it’ll be of excellent quality as well. In terms of budget, they’re certainly at the higher end of the spectrum, but they deliver serious bikes as a result.
What is a hardtail mountain bike best for?
What Are Hardtail Bikes Used For? As a type of mountain bike, hardtail bikes are used for cycling on many terrains and environments. Their versatile and resilient nature means they’ll perform well in most places ride. Suitable areas for hardtail mountain biking include mountain trails, fire roads and pump tracks.
Are hardtails better for climbing?
Nothing can beat a hardtail for flat-out climbing speed and efficiency, but they suffer on the technical features found on modern cross country courses.
Can a hardtail go downhill?
Yes, you absolutely can ride a hardtail downhill. You’ll feel every bump your back tire hits but you can sure do it. In fact, many riders will ride a hardtail bike downhill to force themselves to learn how to pick a better path.
Does riding a hardtail make you a better rider?
Hardtails don’t make you a better rider but full suspensions can make you think you are a better rider than you really are.
Can you do jumps on a hardtail?
Generally, a hardtail should be safe enough for jumps and drops as these bikes are stable and sturdy enough to handle the impact of a tough landing. However, that is only a general statement as there are instances where jumps and drops are not safe for the rider when riding a hardtail.
Do 29ers climb better?
29ers are better up hills. Bigger wheels are heavier which works against you when climbing, so in this respect it’s a myth. However, if the climb is littered with rocks and steps, the bigger wheel will roll over these momentum sapping obstacles with less effort.
What is the difference between a hardtail and full-suspension mountain bike?
Hardtails have a rigid rear end for simplicity and pedalling efficiency, and a suspension fork to absorb bumps that would otherwise jiggle a rider’s arms and upper body. Full-suspension bikes have a second spring and damper between the rider and the rear wheel, to both smooth out the ride and boost traction.