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Santa Cruz Bicycles
Tallboy 29 D Complete Mountain Bike - 2017

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Tall bar.

For several years now, the name Santa Cruz has been synonymous with the latest, sexiest tech trends in the enduro world. The 2017 Tallboy D Complete Mountain Bike demonstrates that the tech isn't just about six-inch bikes, though, importing SC's revolutionary flip chip to the full-suspension XC world. Santa Cruz has long touted the original Tallboy as its best seller, and it describes the bike as the ideal 29er: "fast and fun."


The 2017 model is the third iteration of this platform, and SC equips it with a host of features imported from its all-mountain bikes. These include Boost axles, re-designed linkages, and the brand's latest tech widget, a flip chip that adjusts the upper linkage to keep the geometry the same whether you're running 29in wheels or 27.5+. Those updates and the flip chip's degree of flexibility mean that the Tallboy's classic 29er geometry is virtually futureproof, making it a tall bar for the competition to meet.


Considering its revered status among 29er enthusiasts, a new Tallboy is a big deal, but before we get into the changes it's worth dwelling briefly on the flip chip. The flip chip sits in the upper link and can be rotated to allow the shock mount to migrate. Being able to reposition the shock attachment point effectively accounts for the 9mm difference in radii between 27.5+ and 29in tires, keeping the geometry as static as possible across wheel sizes. SC first introduced this feature on the Hightower, but the brand seems to have perfected it for the Tallboy 3; flipping the Hightower's chip results in a slight change in head tube angle, but the Tallboy's head tube angle remains the same for 27.5+ and 29in wheels.


Compared to the previous Tallboy, the Tallboy 3 takes just a bit off the top of the head tube, dropping 2.2 degrees to fall from the standard 70.2 to a moderately slack 68 degrees. Courtesy of the Flip Chip's slight geometry alteration, that number stays the same whether you're running the wagon wheels and 120mm fork included in this build kit or 27.5+ wheels with a 130mm fork. The frame's chainstays and reach also join the modern geometry movement; the stays are shorter by 13.3mm and the reach bumps up dramatically, gaining an average of 40mm depending on the size. (At 34.2mm, Large gained the least, and sizes Small and XX-Large gained the most: 43.8 and 45.6mm, respectively.) All told, the geometry tweaks add up to a chassis that's far more capable in virtually every trail situation than its predecessor.


The VPP suspension has also taken a turn for the crunchier. It gained an additional 10mm, which aligns the Tallboy 3 perfectly with the emerging crop of 4.5in, do-it-all trail 29ers. That's not to say it's just rolling off the press as a faceless frame in a sea of similar models, though, since the inclusion of Santa Cruz's Flip Chip means the Tallboy 3 can also revel in loose conditions with 27.5+. The Tallboy 3 is essentially two frames: the race rocket 29er with a long, stable geometry featured here and a plus-size barge for floaty traction on surfaces ranging from off-trail snowscapes to rain-slicked root lattices when converted to 27.5+. The beauty is that, instead of shelling out for two separate premium machines, you just need the Flip Chip, two wheelsets, and two forks.


Despite all the tweaks to geometry, the inclusion of a Flip Chip, and the centimeter of additional travel, the VPP design remains the same updated version featured on frames like the Bronson 2.0 and 5010 2.0. It's inspired by the enduro-minded Nomad, and the result is that the links stay out of the way, which lets the Tallboy 3 accommodate a piggyback shock's external can without giving up the bottle cage. The repositioned links also make for more ground clearance, lower standover, and an additional boost in stiffness to the already stiff Boost back end.


The latest VPP's changes aren't limited to wandering links, though; the system's tuning has also been tweaked. Where the old suspension curve described a deep "U," the new VPP's curve resembles a flattened check mark, with less dramatic ramping on either end of the arc. The results are that, during the initial and mid stroke, it boasts increased bump compliance to keep the tires glued to the trail for more traction across lumpy trails and root latticed climbs. It also maintains its predecessor's firm feel during accelerations, so it won't dampen the Tallboy 3's spirited kick while jockeying for position in a mass start or a finishing sprint. The shock's ramp-up arc doesn't dramatically alter as the shock compresses, so the pedaling platform stays consistent across travel, with less wallowing, bob, and bottom-outs — even while the Boost axle's path turns rearward to absorb bigger hits deep in its travel.


As with the its slacker stablemate, the Hightower, the Tallboy 3's reworked linkage means it's one-by only, making it the ideal recipient of SRAM's beat-'em-up NX drivetrain. The threaded bottom bracket is another feature that we've come to just expect from the California-based brand, and it's a strong selling point for those who don't like dealing with the tricky tolerances and creaky interface of press-fit models. The Tallboy 3's 27.5+ mode accommodates every manufacturer's 2.8in tires, but some 3in models may have clearance issues. Understandably, its clearance decreases as a 29er, but SC still ships it with 2.3/2.25in tires, which approach the sweet spot of cush and traction without getting top floppy and muddying trail feel.


Details

  • A cross country 29er that adapts to the new 27.5+ platform
  • 4.3in of 3rd gen VPP suspension blends XC speed and trail travel
  • Slightly more aggressive geometry than previous Tallboy
  • SRAM's gutsiest one-by drivetrain
  • The latest Tallboy proves Santa Cruz hasn't forgotten about XC demons
  • Item #SNZ00BF
Frame Material
hydroformed aluminum
Suspension
VPP
Rear Shock
FOX Float Performance
Rear Travel
110 mm
Fork
RockShox Recon Silver RL
Front Travel
120 mm
Headset
1-1/8 - 1-1/2 in Cane Creek 10
Shifters
SRAM NX (right only)
Front Derailleur
n/a
Rear Derailleur
SRAM NX
ISCG Tabs
no
Crankset
30 t Race Face Aeffect
Bottom Bracket
English threaded
Cassette
11 - 42 t SRAM PG-1130
Chain
SRAM PC-1110
Brakeset
SRAM Level
Brake Type
hydraulic disc
Rotors
180 mm Avid Centerline
Handlebar
Race Face Ride Lo-Rise
Handlebar Width
760 mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale lock-on
Stem
Race Face Ride
Saddle
WTB Volt Sport
Seatpost
Race Face Ride
Seatpost Diameter
31.6 mm
Wheelset
[rims] WTB STP i23 TCS
Hubs
[front] Novatec D711, [rear] Novatec D712
Front Axle
15 x 110mm Boost
Rear Axle
12 x 148mm Boost
Tires
[front] Maxxis Minion DHF Exo 3c, [rear] Maxxis Crossmark 2 DC EXO TR
Tire Size
[front] 29 x 2.3 in, [rear] 29 x 2.25 in
Pedals
not included
Recommended Use
cross country
Manufacturer Warranty
lifetime on frame

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