Description
From flowy singletrack to getting technical with small jumps, jibs, and berms, the Santa Cruz Tallboy is our go-to choice when we need a fast and agile bike that has a bit more capability than a traditional XC bike. Sitting on 120mm of VPP suspension and a 130mm fork, the Tallboy can handle more than that travel numbers suggest and lives to plow over roots, rocks, or whatever the trails can throw at it. Weighing in at a measly 29 pounds, the Tallboy is only a bit heavier than other cross-country bikes but way more capable. With a 65. 6-degree head tube angle, the Tallboy is pretty slack for having a 130mm fork and allows us to point and shoot it downhill, allowing the slack head tube angle and the large 29-inch wheels to provide stability. Size-specific seat tube angles average ring at 76. 8 degrees, allowing riders of every size to get the perfect pedaling position for efficiency. Recently, Santa Cruz revised the leverage curve for the Tallboy, giving it lower starting and higher ending ratios, allowing for a more supportive mid-stroke and a more sensitive last third of travel. This allows us to ride higher in our travel when pedaling and to have more traction when things get rough. The Tallboy also features lower anti-squat values, resulting in better small bump sensitivity and braking performance. The Tallboy features a Glovebox frame storage compartment in the downtube of the frame for storing ride essentials, a downtube and chainstay protectors for frame protection, and a Sag Window to help make setting and reading the sag of our rear shock easier. Finally, when we are looking for more confidence when riding more technical and steeper terrain, we can flip the chip in the rear shock link for a longer, lower, and slacker bike. The GX Eagle Transmission build of the Santa Cruz Tallboy offers quality components and electronic shifting at a budget-friendly price point. First, Santa Cruz’s carbon C frame gives us a lightweight, stiff ride. Next, SRAM’s new GX Eagle AXS Transmission drivetrain features the latest technology in electronic drivetrains for ultra-precise shifting in a more budget-friendly package. Next, RaceFace ARC Offset 30 aluminum rims, paired with DT Swiss’s 370 hubs, make for a durable and capable wheelset that is tough enough to take anything you can throw at them. Fox Performance Elite suspension sends this build level through the roof; it features a Fox Performance Elite 34, 130mm fork and a Float Performance Elite rear shock, making for an ultra-reliable and adjustable suspension set. To send it home, cross-country-oriented Maxxis Forekaster tires roll fast and provide traction in various conditions.*Due to a high demand in the global supply chain and bike industry since the start of the pandemic, material weight and exact components are subject to change. We are working diligently to keep tech specs updated, and any adjustments will be of equal or better spec level. If you have any questions, reach out to a Gearhead by chatting online or calling 1-888-276-7130.
