Tallboy R 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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Over the past few years, the name Santa Cruz has become synonymous with industry buzz words and the latest tech trends: top-end carbon fiber, slacked-out geometries, bottomless suspensions — in short, everything enduro. Behind all of this recent success on the all-mountain front, though, the Tallboy R Complete Mountain Bike stands tall and silently confident. The Tallboy is a classic, 29er chassis that Santa Cruz has long touted as its best seller and the bike that rides the way the California-based manufacturer thinks 29ers should: "fast and fun." Judging by our experience in the Tallboy's saddle, "fast and fun" translates to a surprisingly eager suspension with a specially tuned FOX Float shock that keeps the big wagon wheels glued to the trail for climbing speed and XC aggression.
The latest iteration of the alloy Tallboy's frame features the same geometry that long enjoyed the distinction as SC's best seller. The few alterations made over the years have largely been about dialing the interaction between the frame, the shock, and the Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension design. 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 the tires on the trail 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.
While the suspension design is the same as that on the top-tier Carbon CC Tallboy, the alloy model features a more humble build kit. It may not be designed for the World Cup podium but, it still holds its own on local trail circuits. The drivetrain is a blend of Shimano's XT, SLX, and Deore components, putting the focus on reliability over tech-sheet bling. The brakes follow suit, pairing Deore calipers with Shimano RT66 rotors to temper the wagon wheels' aggression when approaching tight switchbacks and preparing to pick a line through the occasional rock garden. The kit is rounded off with two more familiar names at the wheels: the same reliable, proven WTB rims and SRAM hubs that Santa Cruz has been including on its yeoman builds for multiple generations.
- Frame Material
- aluminum
- Suspension
- Virtual Pivot Point
- Rear Shock
- FOX Float Performance
- Rear Travel
- 100 mm
- Fork
- RockShox Recon Gold TK Solo Air
- Front Travel
- 120 mm
- Headset
- Cane Creek 10
- Shifters
- Shimano SLX M670
- Front Derailleur
- Shimano Deore M618
- Rear Derailleur
- Shimano XT M786 GS Shadow+
- ISCG Tabs
- yes, ISCG 05
- Crankset
- 22 / 36 t Shimano Deore M617
- Bottom Bracket
- 73mm BSA threaded
- Cassette
- 11 - 36 t Shimano SLX HG81
- Chain
- KMC X10.93
- Brakeset
- Shimano Derore M615
- Brake Type
- hydraulic disc
- Rotors
- 160 / 160 mm Shimano RT66
- Handlebar
- Race Face Evolve Flat
- Handlebar Width
- 720 mm
- Grips
- Santa Cruz Palmdale lock-on
- Stem
- Race Face Ride
- Saddle
- WTB Volt Race
- Seatpost
- Race Face Ride
- Wheelset
- [rims] WTB STi19 TCS
- Hubs
- SRAM MTH 716/746
- Front Axle
- 15 x 100mm
- Rear Axle
- 12 x 142mm
- Tires
- Maxxis Ikon Tubeless Ready
- Tire Size
- 27.5 x 2.2 in
- Pedals
- not included
- Recommended Use
- cross country
- Manufacturer Warranty
- lifetime on frame
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