Santa Cruz has simply dropped a brand new eMTB, and it’s in all probability not what you count on. At first look, it appears to be like like a Santa Cruz, however then you definately begin to understand one thing is totally different… like the shortage of VPP!
Yup, following within the footsteps of the Santa Cruz Blur, the brand new Vala abandons VPP in favor of a extra conventional four-bar design. Why? In response to Santa Cruz, all of it comes all the way down to motor packaging and making their “finest dealing with ebike” but.
The Santa Cruz Vala is a full energy ebike, that means it has a (comparatively) massive Bosch Efficiency Line CX motor to mount to the body. This newest era full energy motor with 600 watts of peak energy and 85nm of max torque was simply launched, and whereas quieter than ever, it nonetheless takes some consideration to suit into the body. For Santa Cruz, the motor housing can be in the best way of the perfect pivot placement for VPP, so that they determined to look into a brand new design that will give them “the liberty to make all the precise spec and kinematic decisions.”
4-bar suspension designs have been round without end for a purpose, and Santa Cruz states they have been in a position to enhance anti-squat figures whereas sustaining the perfect quantity of anti-rise whereas additionally reducing the leverage ratio for higher damping and consistency on lengthy respectable. The body additionally has a development flip chip unbiased of the geo flip chip which permits for 26-29% development. The Vala presents 150mm of rear journey and is paired with 160mm journey suspension forks.
When it comes to ebike system packaging, Santa Cruz additionally went with a 600Wh inside mounted battery with the intention to cut back the scale of the downtube. They level out that the following dimension up, the 800Wh battery, provides 2.2lbs so most riders will likely be happier on the 600Wh battery that fits their wants. Should you do want extra vary, the 250Wh PowerMore vary extender is an choice that provides 3.3lbs and is offered aftermarket.
The suspension format and body design additionally permits for an added 110mm of insertion depth with Valas coming with the longest dropper posts for SC but. Medium will spec with 180mm journey posts, whereas larges will include 210mm.
All Valas will likely be offered as MX wheel bikes with a 29″ wheel in entrance and 27.5 in again, which they are saying presents higher dealing with for ebikes to counteract the additional weight of the battery. Frames have a most tire width of 27.5 x 2.5″, and use Enhance 148mm spacing and submit mount brakes for 200mm rotors.
Designed with sturdiness and ease of service in thoughts, the frames use 5mm Allen key fittings on all pivots, and the primary pivots use preloading collet axles with increasing wedges to stop them from backing out. You’ll additionally discover greater ball bearings, a one piece solid shock hyperlink, captive Geo flip chip {hardware}, and 4 outsized bearings on the chain keep pivots with an axle to carry the items captive.
Further body particulars embody a device mount below the highest tube, and a show on the highest tube that connects wirelessly to the mode change on the bars.
Geometry
The Vala will likely be supplied in 5 sizes, from SM to XXL. The Geo modify chip Ofers hello/lo settings that can modify the BB peak by 4mm and the pinnacle tube angle by 0.3º.
Construct Kits and Pricing
Full builds begin with the R spec at $7,299 and high out at $12,799 for the XX AXS RSV construct. All builds embody the brand new Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial casing tires, and SRAM brakes (Maven on S and above). Decrease builds use the C carbon frames, whereas XO AXS RSV and above get CC.
Claimed weights vary from 47.33lbs for the XX AXS RSV construct, to 49.49lbs for the R construct.
