After a protracted absence from the road market, Santa Cruz has returned with the second coming of the Stigmata. This time, the model has been redesigned from the ground up from the company’s favorite space age material.
They’ve also dropped a completely refreshed Highball 29er and a 27.5 version into the mix as well.
Head past the break to learn all about the new models…
According to Santa Cruz Product Manager Josh Kissner, the new Stigmata was designed to “crush cyclocross races and strike out on long dirt road crusades.”
They’ve built this versatility into the frame by supporting larger 160mm brake rotors for prolonged descents, a (company first) Pressfit BB for better drivetrain compatibility, and 41mm tire clearance.
True to the company’s off road pedigree, the frame also sports a 15mm thru axle front end and a 142×12 rear end.
While anyone who wrenches on bikes is generally apprehensive regarding internal cable routing, Santa Cruz has consistently created bikes that are easy to work on. The Nomad proved the company could do hassle free internal routing, and the Stigmata has taken that concept one step further.
This frame has internally molded carbon tubes laid into the one piece mold for easy routing of all cables and is said to be Shimano Di2 compatible.
The Stigmata will be available in two different colors, five sizes, three build kits, and as a frame only. Prices start at $3,699 for a complete.
The CC carbon frameset will retail for $2,299 and includes a Stigmata CC carbon fork, axles and headset.
For those who don’t recall, SCB now sells two flavors of carbon. The CC (mo’ C’s, mo’ better) which denotes the lighter, pricier models, while the C frames are marginally heavier, but tested to the same exacting standards. You can learn more about the differences from our in depth article last year.
Frames will be available in 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60mm sizes as soon as the West Coast port disputes abate.
Highball
The new Highball also also been re-engineered from scratch, and features an updated geometry, and the same sleek internal routing as it’s 700cc cousin.
The new 29″ model has chainstays that are 10mm shorter than the previous generation and a TT that is nearly half an inch longer (you all have my sincerest apologies for switching units mid sentence). The company has also moved from a 30.9mm diameter post to a 27.2, and tuned their carbon for maximum compliance. That’s good, because the original carbon Highball was among the stiffer, racier frame’s we’d ridden.
The XC Race Hardtail also received a new fraternal sibling in the form of a 27.5″ version. This version features a more relaxed headtube angle and shorter stays, although it shares the same TT lengths as the bigger wheeled variation.
The company will offer the 27.5 model in sizes S-XL, and the 29er version in M through (a real) XXL.
Complete Highballs start at $2,799, and CC carbon framesets begin at $1,899. An aluminum version of the frame is also available (frame retails for $750, with completes starting at $1,700), but it has not been updated with the internal trickery.
You can further geek out over the differences between the new models via the geometry chart.
And for making it this far, here’s the incredible launch video for the Stigmata, which was filmed in Yorkshire, England, during the middle of a nasty mid-winter storm.
UPDATE #1: The original story incorrectly stated that the new Highballs featured a pressfit BB and a in-house 27.2 seatpost. Edited Feb 17, 8:11 AM PST.
UPDATE #2: Claimed weights for the bikes are:
Stigmata
CC carbon size 56cm matte black w/ Red Enve: 16.35 lbs / 7.42 kg
CC carbon size 56cm matte black frame only: 2.23 lbs / 1013 g
CC carbon fork matte black: 0.93 lbs 424 g
Highball 29
CC carbon size M matte black w/XX1 Enve: 19.5 lbs / 8.84 kg
CC carbon size M matte black frame only: 2.63 lbs / 1193 g (for reference, the C carbon frame weighs 3.02 lbs / 1370 g)
Highball 27.5
CC carbon size M matte black w/XX1 Enve: 19.27lbs / 8.74 kg
CC carbon size M matte black frame only: 2.58 lbs / 1172 g
