To better package a full power motor and battery, Santa Cruz have opted to run a four-bar link rather than a VPP with their new Vala ebike.
The Santa Cruz Vala joins the Blur as the bikes in the range that don’t sport a VPP platform, with their new full power ebike adopting a four-bar link instead.
With the same travel and wheel size as the Heckler but crucially, a new suspension layout and motor/battery combo, the new Santa Cruz Vala has plenty to talk about. 150mm rear wheel travel is mated to 160mm fork travel. Wheels are MX, so 29″ front and 27.5″ rear. Rear wheel travel is managed by a four-bar setup that has been chosen to better package the ebike components in the frame.
Power is provided by the new Bosch Performance Line CX motor with 85Nm torque, fuelled by a 600Wh battery and an optional 250Wh range extender. Peak power is 600W. The new motor has a drivetrain decoupler for lower descending noise, a hill start function, whilst a vast increase in sensors improve how the motor responds to the trail you are riding. The new motor is also 100g lighter than the outgoing model.
Compared to the Heckler, the Vala has considerably lower anti-squat through the travel range. Falling from 150 to 60% for the Heckler and 117 to 80% for the Vala. This aims to keep the bike from bobbing on climbs but keeps the bike active on choppy traverses and climbs. Anti-rise also changes dramatically compared to the Heckler. From 112% to 40% on the Heckler, to 63% to 84% on the Vala, this means the bike stands up well in steep terrain whilst maintaining traction at all times.
A longer stroke shock (60mm vs 55mm), also helps lower the leverage ratio, improving long descent performance whilst the the lower chock mount chip provides two options. Lo for consistency and High for sitting into the travel for small bump plushness. The upper chip also changes BB height and head angle by 4mm and 0.3 degrees respectively. With the new suspension platform and frame layout, the Santa Cruz team could also improve seat post insertion, with size MD coming with a 180mm drop post.
Five Santa Cruz Vala models will be available. Three Carbon C and two Carbon CC bikes. The range starts with the Vala Carbon C R at £6,699.00 with the range topper being the Vala Carbon CC XX AXS RSV at £11,999.00.
Geometry
The Santa Cruz Vala is available in sizes XS to XXL.
Reach on the MD in Lo is 456mm with a seat tube of 400mm. Head angle is 63.9 degrees with an effective seat tube angle of 77.2 degrees. Chainstays are size-specific at 441mm with a wheelbase of 1242mm.
Santa Cruz Vala models
Santa Cruz Vala Carbon C R
Key features:
- RockShox Zeb Base 160mm fork
- Fox Float X Performance shock
- SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed drive
- Bosch Performance CX motor
- Bosch 600Wh battery
- SRAM DB8 Stealth brakes
- SRAM HTH hubs on Reserve 30HD AL rims
- SDG Tellis dropper
- £6,699.00 RRP
Santa Cruz Vala Carbon C S
Key features:
- Fox 38 Float Performance 160mm fork
- Fox Float X Performance shock
- Bosch Performance CX motor
- Bosch 600Wh battery
- SRAM Maven Bronze Stealth
- E13 SL e-spec hubs on Raceface ARC 30 HD rims
- OneUp dropper
- £7,599.00 RRP
Santa Cruz Vala Carbon C GX AXS
Key features:
- Fox 38 Float Performance Elite Grip X2 160mm fork
- Fox Float X Performance Elite shock
- SRAM GX AXS T-type 12 speed drive
- Bosch Performance CX motor
- Bosch 600Wh battery
- SRAM Maven Bronze Stealth
- E13 SL e-spec hubs on Raceface ARC 30 HD rims
- OneUp dropper
- £8,599.00 RRP
Santa Cruz Vala Carbon CC XO AXS Reserve
Key features:
- Fox 38 Factory Grip X2 160mm fork
- Fox Float X Factory shock
- SRAM XO AXS T-type 12 speed drive
- Bosch Performance CX motor
- Bosch 600Wh battery
- DT Swiss 350 hubs on Reserve 30HD rims
- SRAM Maven Silver Stealth
- OneUp dropper dropper
- £9,999.00 RRP
Santa Cruz Vala Carbon CC XX AXS Reserve
Key features:
- Fox 38 Factory Grip X2 160mm fork
- Fox Float X Factory shock
- SRAM XX AXS T-type 12 speed drive
- Bosch Performance CX motor
- Bosch 600Wh battery
- i9 Hydra hubs on Reserve 30HD rims
- SRAM Maven Ultimate Stealth brakes
- OneUp dropper
- £11,999.00 RRP
