Santa Cruz Bicycles

Heckler R Complete Mountain Bike - 2015

Ubiquitous on trails all over the world, Santa Cruz's Heckler is a legend. For years, it's encouraged riders to push their limits on highly technical terrain. Now revamped for 2015, the Heckler's better than ever. Sure, Santa Cruz's more complex Virtual Pivot Point (or VPP) suspension system found on more expensive models may be more efficient, but the Heckler's single pivot design affords low weight, low maintenance, and exceptional durability. The 2015 Santa Cruz Heckler R Complete Mountain Bike is the company's entry-level Heckler build, and it makes a great place to start ripping open the trails.

Taking geometry cues from its more expensive, VPP-equipped stable mate, the Bronson, the new Heckler has a 67 degree head tube, short chainstays, and a low bottom bracket to reward riders with quick handling that allows them to push limits and novices to hone skills. In order to ensure that this bike stays true to its goal of low-cost fun, Santa Cruz opted for hydroformed aluminum tubing. Because of Santa Cruz's expertise in working with alloy, the Heckler provides the ride quality of rival bikes that cost twice as much — all with the reliability to keep it out of the shop and on the trail. The light, yet strong, aluminum front and rear triangles are shaped and butted to place more material where it's needed. This ensures strength and stiffness for confident descending and a generally rock-solid platform on which to roam.

But that strength isn't going to hamper a climb to the top. Instead, because of the hydroforming, any excess material is eliminated to keep the Heckler feathery light. Still, you'll find that the rear triangle has an asymmetric shape and 142 x 12mm thru-axle. This prevents flex, and it ensures that suspension motion is directed to the rear shock and not into flexing the frame. Not to mention, asymmetric chainstays also helps avoid annoying chain slap.

The Heckler relies on Santa Cruz's proven suspension pivot location that places it slightly above and forward of the chainrings. This provides responsive pedaling when seated, and a plush feel when descending. One drawback of single pivot designs has always been out-of-the-saddle sprinting, because the suspension will compress under rider weight, losing energy to moving parts. Luckily, shock technology has mitigated that drawback. The FOX FLOAT CTD rear shock on the Heckler has three distinct damping settings — Climb, Trail, and Descend. Climb provides a firm pedaling platform when engaged, Trail opens up the shock a bit more for most conditions, and Descend is for when it's time to bomb downhill. The fork at the front end of the Heckler is a RockShox Pike RC 150 Solo Air, employing a 15mm thru-axle for stiffness excellent steering precision.

The wheels are comprised of SRAM 716 and 746 hubs laced to WTB ST i23 TCS tubeless rims, and they've been cased with 2.3-inch wide tubeless-ready Maxxis High Roller 2 EXO Tubeless tires. Turning the rear wheel is a Shimano SLX 10-speed drivetrain via a SRAM S1000 crankset. Avid's powerful Elixir 1 hydraulic disc brakes handle stopping duty, and the Race Face Ride cockpit is among the best alloy setups available. A WTB Volt Race rounds out a great package, providing all-day comfort to virtually any rider. The Heckler also has guides for a dropper-style seatpost and ISCG05 tabs, just in case you want to make future upgrades.

The 2015 Santa Cruz Heckler R AM Complete Mountain Bike is available in four sizes, from Small to X-Large, and in the colors Metallic Black/yellow and Lime Green/gloss green.