Tallboy Carbon CC XTR Complete Mountain Bike - 2016
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Don't worry though, we have a lot more XC Full Suspension in stock than that.
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As we watch enduro bikes slide further and further into recliner-chair geometries and absurdly squishy travel, Santa Cruz's willingness to let the Tallboy Carbon CC XTR Complete Mountain Bike exist as an almost perfect ideal XC/trail machine is refreshing. The combination of a consistent pedaling platform and the aggression of 29in wheels mean the Tallboy makes enduro sleds look like sluggish toys on climbs, and the surprisingly eager Virtual Pivot Point suspension pulls all-mountain capabilities out of a four-inch rear end that the chairlift crowd might mistake for mole-hill riding. For cyclists who insist on being the engine both up and down, the Tallboy and Shimano's climb-friendly XTR double drivetrain are the only lift pass needed.
Unlike much of its other frames, Santa Cruz didn't fiddle with the Tallboy's geometry across model years. Instead, the California-based manufacturer looked at ways to shave weight and improve stiffness. The resulting frame is significantly lighter than comparable designs on the market. These gains are owed primarily to Santa Cruz's inimitable Carbon CC frame construction, which features a higher modulus carbon than the Carbon C model, so less material is required to hit the same strength and stiffness numbers. The chassis is lighter, so fewer watts are required to propel it, and the increased stiffness means those watts are transferred more efficiently.
The frame's two carbon triangles are built as whole pieces rather than glued together from disparate bits. This saves weight and increases structural integrity by allowing Santa Cruz to wrap carbon continuously through and around key junctures, eliminating the artificial stress points that result from bonded construction methods while saving weight by requiring less material. Finally, the carbon is also compacted from the inside and the outside for a more even finish that avoids any structural defects, excess material build-up, and resin pooling for — you guessed it — even more weight savings.
The suspension is a refinement of Santa Cruz's dual-link, counter-rotating VPP suspension design. When compressing the suspension from the beginning of the stroke, most of the rotation happens in the stiff aluminum top link, which pulls the wheel closer to the bottom bracket. That keeps the Tallboy soft off of the top, making for a supremely smooth ride. Once you pass the sag point and get deeper into the travel, the forged aluminum lower link handles most of the rotation. In this stage, the rear wheel travels away from the bottom bracket, so it's better equipped to handle larger, square-edged impacts. VPP is also incredibly effective at neutralizing brake dive and g-outs, and it maintains a solid, consistent pedaling platform to reduce bob.
Like with previous Tallboy models, the 2016 version is keen to keep the tires on the trail, providing the same traction while standing to hammer up climbs that made it the benchmark 29er so many years ago. The full Shimano XTR drivetrain take advantage of this aggression with a range of gears focused on establishing gaps before the summit, and the simple, stiff collet-style pivot hardware and oversized, 142mm rear axle ensure that fewer watts are lost to rear end flex. FOX's Factory series finish the frame with just enough squish to bomb steps without wallowing in brake dives, g-outs, and bob, and the DT Swiss hubs provide nearly instantaneous responsiveness for popping the Tallboy's wagon wheels over rocky cruxes without losing momentum.
- Frame Material
- Carbon CC
- Suspension
- Virtual Pivot Point
- Rear Shock
- FOX Float Factory
- Rear Travel
- 100 mm
- Fork
- FOX 32 Float Factory
- Front Travel
- 120 mm
- Headset
- Cane Creek 110 Mixed Tapered
- Shifters
- Shimano XTR M9000
- Front Derailleur
- Shimano XTR M9025
- Rear Derailleur
- Shimano XTR M9000 GS
- ISCG Tabs
- yes, ISCG 05
- Crankset
- 26 / 36 t Shimano XTR M9020
- Bottom Bracket
- 73mm BSA threaded
- Cassette
- 11 - 40 t Shimano XTR M9000
- Chain
- Shimano HG900
- Brakeset
- Shimano XTR M9000
- Brake Type
- hydraulic disc
- Rotors
- 160 / 160 mm Shimano RT86 Ice-Tech
- Handlebar
- Santa Cruz Carbon Rise
- Handlebar Width
- 720 mm
- Grips
- ESI Racer's Edge
- Stem
- Syntace F109
- Saddle
- WTB Silverado SLT
- Seatpost
- Thomson Masterpiece
- Wheelset
- [rims] Easton ARC 24
- Hubs
- DT Swiss 240s
- Front Axle
- 15 x 100mm
- Rear Axle
- 12 x 142mm
- Tires
- Maxxis Ikon tubeless
- Tire Size
- 29 x 2.2 in
- Pedals
- not included
- Recommended Use
- cross country
- Manufacturer Warranty
- lifetime on frame
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