First Ride
Santa Cruz hit a homerun with its first full-suspension 29er, the Tallboy. But the company has been working hard on a longer-travel version and unveiled the new model—available in both carbon and aluminum frames—earlier this month in Sedona, Arizona, where it also introduced two other value-oriented niners.
Both versions of the new 135mm-travel Tallboy LT use the same geometry and VPP suspension. According to Santa Cruz engineering director Joe Graney, the company toyed with several travel options on early prototypes, but 135mm “just felt right.” Compared to the company’s 26-inch bikes, the Tallboy LT has unique anti-squat characteristics that work with the increased inertia of larger wheels. Both test bikes we rode came with a 140mm travel Fox 34 and ISCG chainguide tabs. To accommodate the tabs, Santa Cruz offset the lower link.
While it was messing around with the links, engineers also further recessed the grease fittings to protect them from trail debris. Like other VPP bikes, the new models use angular contact bearings. They also include dropper post cable guides under the top tube. While many newer long-travel 29ers have benefited from improved geometry, Joe Graney says headtube height is still “the elephant in the room.” So he made the Tallboy’s as short as possible At just 3.9 inches tall on a size large frame, it’s as much as an inch shorter than others in the category. The 69.5-degree head angle and 17.9-inch chainstays offer well-balanced handling. The bikes come in three sizes: M, L, and XL, but don’t hold your breath for a small size. “We could make the bike, but it will ride like shit,” says Graney.
“It’s time to recognize that not all bikes fit all people.” The Tallboy LTc is lighter for its wheel travel than any other 29er, says Santa Cruz. At just 5.3 pounds for a large frame with shock, it’s hard to argue. That’s 1.2 pounds lighter than the aluminum version and, remarkably, .3 pounds lighter than the 26-inch Santa Cruz Blur LTc. To shed weight, the company molded in more carbon pieces and removed some aluminum bits from the frame.
To stiffen the rear triangle, the company added a bridge, playfully called MUT (for mega upright technology) that connects the two pivots in the rear triangle.
