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Santa Cruz Bicycles
Tallboy Carbon S Complete Mountain Bike - 2016

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The incredible, flexible Tallboy.

In the field of low-travel bikes that straddle the divide between XC and trail, few models enjoy the flexibility afforded by the low, stable bottom bracket and steep, agile head tube of Santa Cruz's Tallboy Carbon S Complete Mountain Bike. Add to this the small bump compliance and mid-stroke support of Virtual Pivot Point suspension and the one-by SRAM drivetrain at the heart of Santa Cruz's S build kit, and the bike straddles the divide between race days, training rides, and IPA-fueled weekend sessions just as easily.


With the exception of a few alterations made with an eye toward saving weight, improving frame stiffness, and producing a more linear feel to the Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension, Santa Cruz has left the Tallboy largely untouched since it first demolished the myth that 29ers can't be nimble at its launch in 2009. The changes to the frame are symptoms of Santa Cruz's obsessive tinkering with carbon technology, culminating to date with the Carbon CC and Carbon C flavors, the latter of which features here.


Compared to Carbon CC, Carbon C incorporates a lower modulus carbon, so it requires more material to hit the same stiffness that Santa Cruz requires from all of its bikes. More material means more weight, to the tune of about 280g, claimed. Still, that's a small sacrifice to make when pennies are counted against grams, and the overall efficiency of the frame remains the same as the (much) more expensive Carbon CC model.


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 Tallboy's four-inches of VPP suspension have also been continually tweaked over the years, but it's largely unchanged from 2015 to 2016, no changes were made, so it's as surprisingly forgiving as its predecessor. VPP's two counter-rotating links yield a vertical wheel path in initial travel to maintain a firm platform over small bumps and climbs, but as the bike compresses deeper into the suspension, the axle moves rearward to accommodate bigger hits without sacrificing pedal input. The mid-stroke support and small bump compliance translate to snappy pedaling across trail furniture that keeps you glued on climbs and encourages aggression when you drop in, taking advantage of the efficient 17.5in chainstays and stiff, lightweight chassis for speed that doesn’t let up when the trail points down.


The build kit on the Tallboy S empowers the weekend racer without requiring a sponsorship to own. From the new, one-by SRAM GX shifting to the peerless Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes, the spec sheet reads like a World Cup XC menu. Santa Cruz is also an early adapter of Easton's ARC rims on its pre-spec'd builds, mating the new rims to SRAM's trusted MTH 716/746 hubs and proving that Santa Cruz is open to adopting new technologies — but only if there's a compelling, functional reason behind the change. With the Tallboy still enjoying low-travel dominance, there's no reason to change the frame itself.


Frame Material
Carbon C
Suspension
Virtual Pivot Point
Rear Shock
FOX Racing Shox Float Performance
Rear Travel
100 mm
Fork
FOX Racing Shox 32 Float 29 Performance
Front Travel
120 mm
Headset
Cane Creek 40
Shifters
SRAM GX (right only)
Front Derailleur
n/a
Rear Derailleur
SRAM GX
ISCG Tabs
yes, ISCG 05
Crankset
32 t Race Face Aeffect SL
Bottom Bracket
BSA threaded
Crank Arm Length
175 mm
Cassette
10 - 42 t SRAM XG1150
Chain
SRAM PC1130
Brakeset
Shimano SLX M675
Brake Type
hydraulic disc
Rotors
160 mm Shimano RT66
Handlebar
Race Face Evolve
Handlebar Width
720 mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Lock-On
Stem
Race Face Turbine
Stem Length
70 mm
Saddle
WTB Volt Race
Seatpost
Race Face Ride
Wheelset
[rims] Easton ARC 24
Hubs
SRAM MTH 716/746
Front Axle
15x100mm
Rear Axle
12x142mm
Tires
Maxxis Icon
Tire Size
29 x 2.2 in
Pedals
not included
Recommended Use
cross-country, trail
Manufacturer Warranty
lifetime on frame

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