Santa Cruz has just dropped a new eMTB, and it’s probably not what you expect. At first glance, it looks like a Santa Cruz, but then you start to realize something is different… like the lack of VPP!
Yup, following in the footsteps of the Santa Cruz Blur, the new Vala abandons VPP in favor of a more traditional four-bar design. Why? According to Santa Cruz, it all comes down to motor packaging and making their “best handling ebike” yet.
The Santa Cruz Vala is a full power ebike, meaning it has a (relatively) large Bosch Performance Line CX motor to mount to the frame. This latest generation full power motor with 600 watts of peak power and 85nm of max torque was just launched, and while quieter than ever, it still takes some consideration to fit into the frame. For Santa Cruz, the motor housing would be in the way of the ideal pivot placement for VPP, so they decided to look into a new design that would give them “the freedom to make all the right spec and kinematic choices.”
Four-bar suspension designs have been around forever for a reason, and Santa Cruz states they were able to improve anti-squat figures while maintaining the ideal amount of anti-rise while also decreasing the leverage ratio for better damping and consistency on long decent. The frame also has a progression flip chip independent of the geo flip chip which allows for 26-29% progression. The Vala offers 150mm of rear travel and is paired with 160mm travel suspension forks.
In terms of ebike system packaging, Santa Cruz also went with a 600Wh internal fixed battery in order to reduce the size of the downtube. They point out that the next size up, the 800Wh battery, adds 2.2lbs so most riders will be happier on the 600Wh battery that suits their needs. If you do need more range, the 250Wh PowerMore range extender is an option that adds 3.3lbs and is available aftermarket.
The suspension layout and frame design also allows for an added 110mm of insertion depth with Valas coming with the longest dropper posts for SC yet. Medium will spec with 180mm travel posts, while larges will come with 210mm.
All Valas will be sold as MX wheel bikes with a 29″ wheel in front and 27.5 in back, which they say offers better handling for ebikes to counteract the extra weight of the battery. Frames have a maximum tire width of 27.5 x 2.5″, and use Boost 148mm spacing and post mount brakes for 200mm rotors.
Designed with durability and ease of service in mind, the frames use 5mm Allen key fittings on all pivots, and the main pivots use preloading collet axles with expanding wedges to prevent them from backing out. You’ll also find bigger ball bearings, a one piece forged shock link, captive Geo flip chip hardware, and four oversized bearings at the chain stay pivots with an axle to hold the pieces captive.
Additional frame details include a tool mount under the top tube, and a display on the top tube that connects wirelessly to the mode switch on the bars.
Geometry
The Vala will be offered in five sizes, from SM to XXL. The Geo adjust chip Ofers hi/lo settings that will adjust the BB height by 4mm and the head tube angle by 0.3º.
Build Kits and Pricing
Complete builds start with the R spec at $7,299 and top out at $12,799 for the XX AXS RSV build. All builds include the new Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial casing tires, and SRAM brakes (Maven on S and above). Lower builds use the C carbon frames, while XO AXS RSV and above get CC.
Claimed weights range from 47.33lbs for the XX AXS RSV build, to 49.49lbs for the R build.
