Following the evolutionary trend of the mountain bike, the legendary Santa Cruz Chameleon is adapting to the new world. Yes, the much loved aluminum hard tail has now grown a carbon body that is just as versatile as the original.
Santa Cruz has proven over and over that they are fully capable of building a durable carbon bike, so it comes as little surprise that we would see a new version with a composite skin. The Chameleon C is still convertible between 29 and 27.5+ wheels and offers clearance for 27.5 x 3.0″ or 29 x 2.5″ tires.
Dropout options allow for geared or single speed use, while a threaded bottom bracket is meant to keep maintenance as simple as possible. Cable routing is internal for brake, shift, and dropper post cables. You’ll also find two one water bottle mounts inside the front triangle with a triple bolt cargo cage mount under the downtube in case you want to tackle any extended adventures.
Offered in two builds in both wheel sizes, the SE bikes will include Santa Cruz’s own Reserve carbon wheels in addition to color matched Hope hubs and headsets to complete the look.
Available in four sizes, pricing starts at $1,599 for the frame only, and $3,799 for the Chameleon Carbon C S or S+ (29 or 27.5″ wheels). The SE Reserve models increase the price to $5,699 in either wheel size. Check out the full specs here.
