While it’s been 27.5″ this, 650B that, and general tweener fever everywhere , today the original wheel debate instigator just struck back. Wagon wheel marketing fervor may have died down in the wake of the mid-wheel wonder child, but the sales numbers don’t like. 29ers are extremely popular and the original 100mm travel Santa Cruz Tallboy helped popularize them.
Four years ago the Tallboy changed the game and pushed the limits of what many riders thought a 29er trail bike was capable of. So whats changed?
For the most part, the changes are subtle. Even the most ardent of fanboys couldn’t really tell the difference (aside from graphics) until he or she went for a ride.
The updated bike keeps the same the dialed geometry that made the Tallboy both an industry and consumer favorite.
Although fresh little updates, like stealth routing, don’t hurt.
Despite all the new, some things never change. We expect Santa Cruz will continue to spec triples for a very long time, so they’ve added a direct mount for front derailleur.
So what is different? After four years of working with the Syndicate racing team and developing a slew of new carbon bikes, Santa Cruz engineers have developed a better grasp of what is possible. This new frame is a 1/4 lb lighter than the outgoing Carbon model and overall stiffness has improved.
Santa Cruz has also re-positioned the shock to increase pedaling efficiency and for a more linear feel. This subtle improvement gives the frame enough stand over to be offered in a size small.
Aluminum Version
Once upon a midnight dreary, new Santa Cruz models were offered in carbon only. Leaving the 99% of us to drool over our keyboards and wait for the inevitable aluminum release. Luckily, those days are gone. The Tallboy 2 Aluminum received all the same updates as it’s more flashy brother AND has dropped .3 lbs in the process.
Unlike the carbon version, it’s also available in this smashing green livery. Complete aluminum builds start at $2,399 USD.
Details
• 100mm travel
• 29″ wheels
• Frame weight with shock (claimed) = carbon: 5.37 lbs, size medium
• Frame weight with shock (claimed) = aluminum: 7.21 lbs, size medium
• Price (frame only) – carbon $2699 USD, aluminum $1950 USD
• Colors: carbon – matte carbon/white, gloss white/black; aluminum – gloss green/black, gloss grey/orange
• Stealth cable routing
• 142x12mm thru-axle
• 2 water bottle cage mounts
• Molded chainstay protector
• 12 Enve decal color options
• 73mm threaded bottom bracket
• Direct mount front derailleur
• Standard or Direct mount rear derailleur option
• Sized: S, M, L, XL, XXL (aluminum only)
For anyone keeping track, this is the 7th new/updated bike Santa Cruz has released this year! We’re not counting aluminum and carbon frames as separate endeavors, otherwise that number balloons into the double digits.
