Overall, we found the Santa Cruz Heckler to be a solid performer in almost every situation. STORE, ABOUT US Santa Cruz has also added a host of features to make this bike last as long as it possibly can. Shifter: SRAM X01 Eagle Single Click, 12spd Check out the new 2021 Heckler MX as well.. The wheels very much impressed our testers as we pushed this bike hard and tried to see if we could get them to flinch. Santa Cruz somehow made the Heckler feel like it wants to dive into each corner with a smile on its face. This is THE "one bike does everything" bike. “We could have spec’d a lighter, or larger custom battery, but that presents a problem should our customers develop any issues. Because of this suspension modification, the Heckler MX sits at a similar height off the ground – the BB is just 2mm higher. I've had mine since Oct. '06. Tires: Maxxis Minion DHR II, 27.5×2.6 EXO+ TR, DRIVETRAIN The Santa Cruz Heckler in detail. However, the head angle is actually slacker by almost a full degree (64.6° vs 65.5°). Four to six-inch tall rocks and roots transferred a bit of feedback to our riders feet and hands. The Santa Cruz Bullit CC 2021 in detail. THE LAB If you are looking for an eMTB that instills confidence while you’re literally laying the bike over in corners, slashing berms and ruts alike, then you will fall in love with this bike. BIKE REVIEWS This was the primary element Santa Cruz set out to address with their 2020 Heckler CC. While the Shimano Steps system never gave us any problems, after spending more and more time on Bosch-equipped bikes, it’s harder to go back to the Steps, which hasn’t been revised in a number of years. Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth At 76 degrees, the seat tube angle puts the rider in a nice position to put power down while feeling centered over the bike and keeping it from lifting the front end on steep climbs. The Heckler also provides more mid-stroke and bottom out support. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. So it looks like a less agressive bike compared to the old Heckler. TERMS OF USE There’s no denying that Santa Cruz was late to the e-MTB party when it released the new Heckler CC earlier this year. Then there’s plenty more to check out on Flow Mountain Bike, including all our latest news stories and product reviews. I really appreciate it when reviewers talk about the often overlooked things like pivot rebuilds, and long term maintenance. It seems that this bike inspired us all to ride like maniacs, trying to drag handlebars and pedals in berms. Details below from Santa Cruz. Weight: 46.5-lbs; Santa Cruz has given what the brand thinks is the most abused bike in the line-up a refresh for 2021. The Californian brand didn’t exactly rush its first electric mountain bike, which allowed for plenty of time to deliver a fun, agile and refined package. GEAR REVIEWS Then the new Bullit could be the bike for you. Brake spec on the Heckler comes in the form of SRAM Code RSC 200mm with Santa Cruz’s own carbon bars, a Race Face Aeffect R stsem and the incredibly stiff, Santa Cruz Reserve DH carbon wheels. It also maintains the same 445mm chainstay length, which is great news as we really dug the playful and flickable nature of the 27.5in Heckler. This Santa Cruz website uses cookies for example to improve and analyze the website, for social media and to ensure that you see relevant ads. The person with the smartest and most helpful replies will earn some sweet new gear. The range has four sizes, the smallest of which is a … eMTB ... Review: The 2021 Specialized Turbo Levo is … For those who care about these things, the Heckler’s welded up from custom-butted 6069 a… Once again, the crowd-pleasing geometry allows the bike to thread technical, tight descents with ease. Santa Cruz Nomad 2021 – our conclusions. THE DIRT 2021 Santa Cruz Bullit geometry The Bullit’s geometry is confidently modern, but not extreme. It’s also claimed to be quieter with 50% less drag, and it offers greater tune-ability via Shimano’s smartphone app. We tested the X01 RSV model, which retails for $10,599 and comes with a Fox 36 E-Float Performance 160mm fork, Rock Shox Super Deluxe Select Ultimate shock and SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain. This stuff should be standard in bike reviews. The geometry and 27.5” wheels let the bike perform in tight switchbacks, technical chunky climbs, and steep up-and-overs. No complaints there, we’ve got a six-year-old Mk1 Heckler kicking about that’s still got the originals in. No real surprise there – you’re still looking at parting with at least $12,799 AUD for the entry-level Heckler MX R. Keen for that X01 model? To start with, it chose 27.5in wheels for the Heckler. Where things get interesting with the Heckler MX is with its wheelsize and travel. Headset: Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Leave a comment and vote up the most thoughtful comments and each month we’ll pick a winner. Frame: Carbon CC; 150mm It just meant we needed to charge the bike after every ride instead of getting 2 or three in before recharging. MOTO Our absolute favorite place to ride the Heckler was in twisty, turny terrain. If you’re looking for … Just a week after presenting the Heckler MX, Santa Cruz are expanding their portfolio with a new long-travel eMTB, the new Bullit.It has a whopping 170 mm of travel, a brand-new Shimano EP8 motor and mullet wheel setup, with a 29″ front wheel and a smaller 27.5″ rear wheel. You won’t be getting much change out of $20K. The Heckler MX is based around the same chassis as the existing Heckler. Our biggest complaint of VPP-equipped bikes. The brand-new Santa Cruz Nomad 5 is a great choice for riders who spend most of their time at the bike park, riding full tilt, sending massive jumps and carving through berms at Mach 10. Changes to the 2021 Santa Cruz Heckler are limited to the new and better drive unit from Shimano and the addition of a mullet setup in the form of the Heckler MX. CONTACT US Join the Pack and get the latest news and read the latest reviews on the top mountain and electric mountain bikes. Today, Santa Cruz has announced two new Heckler electronic mountain bikes. Please, It appears you're using an old version of Internet Explorer which is, when it released the new Heckler CC earlier this year. The bike’s chassis has become significantly more capable and sensitive, delivering the composure and traction that the bike was lacking in the past. Battery: Shimano 504Wh Integrated To avoid jacking up the front end though, Santa Cruz has fitted a shorter 140mm travel fork (down from 160mm on the regular Heckler). Once the suspension got moving and we were in the rock gardens or landing bigger hits, the suspension opened up and worked very well, but the initial hits are where we had the biggest issues finding a happy medium with suspension tune. Did you think the new 2021 Santa Cruz Heckler MX had to little suspension travel and to small a battery? Our $10,599 Santa Cruz Heckler in the X01 RSV spec sits just one rung below the top-of-the-line $13,099 XX1 AXS RSV build. Cranks: Shimano M8050 Hollowtech, 165mm The frame is made of Santa Cruz’s top end CC carbon, and molded around a 250-watt Shimano Steps E-8000 motor and 504Wh Shimano battery. Cassette: SRAM XG1295 Eagle 10-50T It’s no doubt a beautifully engineered chassis though, and now that the Heckler comes with a Shimano EP8 motor, we expect there’ll be greater interest from riders who are keen on the low-slung mullet vibe and the slacker head angle of the Heckler MX. Fork: FOX 36-E Float Performance Elite, 160mm Rims: Santa Cruz Reserve 30 V2 27.5 Carbon [F], Reserve Carbon DH 27.5 [R] It climbs very well, and the geometry allows it to remain nimble while putting the power down. First Look | The Santa Cruz Heckler MX gets a mullet & Shimano EP8, Canyon Torque:ON | A Brand New Long Travel e-MTB Has Landed, 2021 Canyon Spectral:ON First Look | Canyon e-MTB range arrives in Australia, FIRST LOOK | Santa Cruz Releases New 5th Generation Nomad, Pivot’s New Shuttle Gets Fox 38, Shimano EP8 And Huge 726Wh Battery, This website requires Javascript for optimum viewing purposes. To learn more about cookies, click on Cookie Policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. RETURNS & REFUNDS, Copyright 2017-2020 The Loam Wolf | All Rights Reserved |, Shorter Range Compared to Bikes with Bigger Batteries. Price: $10,599; Likewise, if the Korean automaker continues to maintain its excelle… While you’re counting your beans, read on for a closer look at the specs and prices of the four options on offer; Enjoyed that article? Alongside the new Heckler MX version, Santa Cruz is also updating the existing 27.5in Heckler. Santa Cruz offers the Heckler eMTB in four variations, all of which are built with their CC carbon fiber. Shimano electronics were chosen for their refinement and reliability, while quality pivot hardware, easily replaceable radial bearings and no-nonsense internal cabling were considered with … If you haven’t checked it out already, be sure to check out our tech deep-dive on Shimano EP8 here. ... but Santa Cruz does make the 150mm Heckler in a small with a 416mm reach. While we wouldn’t recommend this bike to everyone as the ideal bike to buy, there is no denying that for riders who live and ride the terrain where this bike excels, you will have a new favorite sled in the garage! Unlike the launch version of the Santa Cruz Heckler , this is no shrinking violet, with an up-to-date motor, bigger battery, bullish geometry and a mixed wheel combo that gives you the best of both worlds. It’s possible that if we were on larger 29-inch wheels the hits would also be a bit smoother, but then we’d lose out on the fun, playful and peppy demeanor of the Heckler. If you are a discerning eMTB rider who loves to climb and venture deep into the wilderness, then you’ll likely find issue with the Shimano Steps system, 27.5” wheels and 504Wh battery. You will find it difficult to upset the Heckler on the way down after dialing in the suspension unless your trails have lots of higher speed sections where you’re regularly encountering square-edged hits. If you were one of the many Santa Cruz Bicycles fans awaiting their entry into the eMTB market, then you probably caught our Heckler introduction video and feature story a couple months back. While there’s clearly a family resemblence with the original Heckler, the current bike is all-new. Bottom Bracket: Shimano Great in-depth review on the new Heckler over at NSMB.com. Handlebar: Santa Cruz Di2 Carbon, 25mm rise Sadly, it seems that some of the positive gains made on Santa Cruz’s pedal bikes, didn’t make the jump to the Heckler. We’ve definitely developed a reputation of not being fanboys of VPP bikes, however Santa Cruz has been making us eat our words as each generation of Bronson, Nomad and 5010 gets better and better at eating up square-edge hits. Now called the Heckler V8, it too comes with the latest Shimano EP8 motor. The 2021 Santa Cruz Megatower X01 Reserve makes a big leap in performance with the coil kit. FEATURES We were unsuccessful as they kept spinning round after three months and tons of abusive miles. The design of the Santa Cruz Heckler started with the familiar, and wildly popular Bronson. On the other hand, the Heckler is also a couple pounds lighter, and on 80% of our rides, the range wasn’t an issue. Along with a different fork and shock, the Santa Cruz Heckler MX is a new option for riders after a premium, carbon fibre electric mountain bike. If you live in an area with slalom-like trails or you just love blasting corners, this bike is for you. Santa Cruz has finally joined the e-Party with its first ever electric mountain bike; the Heckler! Want to win some free schwag? On the way down, the Heckler is competent in most situations and absolutely excels in some. And like every Santa Cruz bike, the Heckler is built for the rigors of true mountain biking. Pricing starts at $7,399 and goes up to $13,099 for the SRAM AXS RSV model. To balance things out, the rear shock is also down-stroked, so it too delivers 140mm of travel (down from 150mm). We see fresh updates of young products all … 2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz Release Date and Price. When you click on accept, you authorize Santa Cruz to use the cookies as set for our website. While the Heckler was a conservative, 'get on base' approach, this new Bullit takes a mighty cut and swings for the fences. There is a Maxxis Assegai 29×2,5″ up front and a smaller Maxxis Minion DHR ll 27.5×2.4″ at the back. All Heckler models will now come with the EP8 motor, except for the cheapest ‘R’ build, which sticks with the Shimano E7000 drive unit. After countless hours and two sets of thrashed tires, we’re ready to report our findings on the 160/150mm, Shimano Steps-equipped Heckler. Santa Cruz have updated their Heckler eMTB range for 2021. Its weaknesses are balanced out by its strengths. And they’re introducing the new Heckler MX. If you’re a die-hard Santa Cruz fan, then the Heckler could be the bike you’ve been waiting for. As well as updating the existing models to Shimano’s EP8 motor, the Californian brand have added a new model to the Heckler range.The 2021 Heckler MX shares the same frame, motor and battery as its stablemates but gets slightly shorter travel – 140/140 mm compared to 160/150 mm on the … We couldn’t help but pedal straight back up hillsides just to session our favorite turns on every downhill trail we rode. Hubs: DT Swiss 350 For 2021, Santa Cruz is updating their Heckler with the Shimano EP8 motor. Review: 2021 Santa Cruz Bullit - The Electrified Freeride Machine. Shimano’s Steps system is verified, reliable and there is a robust dealer network should problems arise,” Santa Cruz told us. Yes, the shock’s in the same place, it eschews SC’s VPP technology for a good old single pivot design and you still get a cranked top tube, but as far as we can tell the only bits it actually has in common are the pivot bearings. The Heckler’s geometry is solidly in the all mountain category, with a reach of 490mm on our size large. Two models sit below: the R for $7,399 and $8,399 for the S. Overall, the Heckler is very much a Santa Cruz: race-y, well constructed, and fun as heck to ride. Climbing performance aboard the Heckler was very solid. Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select Ultimate, POWERPLANT Using a full carbon fibre frame with 160/150mm of travel, the Heckler is essentially an e-Bronson. The downside to this bike comes when the trails get rougher. The new 2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz is still under development, but the latest reports suggest it could hit the market already in the second half of the next year. The 27.5in rear wheel remains, but a 29in wheel is placed up front for added rollover and improved stability. Suspension Design But although we had a blast testing it, the arrival of the Heckler CC didn’t seem to pack the punch that Santa Cruz was hoping for. Even more to heckle The Heckler is about expanding your own trail map - accessing previously unreachable trails, unlocking less-used trails, and doing so independently. Website: Santacruzbicycles.com, Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link (Buy now). In terms of motor power and battery life however, the Heckler’s climbing range and capabilities are lacking, especially when compared to Bosch Performance CX-equipped bikes. The bike scores with its terrific suspension and inspires with outstanding cornering manors. Santa Cruz's Heckler was the brand's first foray into the e-bike market and took a few people by surprise only 10 months ago. Saddle: WTB Silverado Team Saddle, WHEELS The Heckler MX. The Heckler is on the lighter side for an electric bike, tipping the balance between 46 and 48lbs (21-21.5kg) depending on the build. Our testers have been able to spend a significant amount of time on the Heckler over the past few months and we all had similar findings. Thank you for the continued support.Â, CHASSIS While its silhouette may resemble a portly version of the Bronson, there are a few key differences to the VPP suspension design that differentiate the Santa Cruz eMTB and its human-powered siblings. Derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle. Stem: Race Face Aeffect R More time to save up then? First off, the bike is very neutral in both geometry and suspension, which allows it to excel in most situations. Santa Cruz Heckler 2021 / S / Carbon CC / 27.5; Santa Cruz Heckler 2021 / X01 / Carbon CC / 27.5 / RSV; Santa Cruz Nomad 2021; Santa Cruz Stigmata 2021. We found that the battery consistently dropped bars quicker than most of our other bikes, which makes sense since the battery is 150-200Wh smaller. It sees in a new kit list, size-specific chainstays, and some very eye-catching colourways. And if you haven’t already, make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel, and sign up to our Facebook page and Instagram feed so you can keep up to date with all things Flow! It uses the most sought after motor today, the Shimano EP8, and mates it to a 170mm front and 170mm rear travel bike. 2021 Santa Cruz Bullit E-MTB Review. My first encounter with the all new Santa Cruz Heckler.#emtb #ebike #heckler Details about the price are still unknown, but we expect that base versions will go somewhere between $25,000 and $30,000. Our testers found that the rear wheel hung up a bit on square-edge hits. There are certainly more powerful and longer lasting options on the market, we would have picked the new Bosch system, but we understand that Santa Cruz had to make a decision they believed was the best for them and their customers. Both options will still feature the same 504Wh battery though – you won’t see Shimano’s bigger 630Wh option here. Building on the Santa Cruz e-MTB lineup, the new Heckler MX is built around the latest Shimano EP8 motor and features a mullet wheelsize setup. Now that Hyundai has a crossover and SUV for seemingly everyone, it's prepared to enter the pickup-truck wars with the 2021 Santa Cruz. We've been riding a Heckler CC R for the past week to see how it compares to the competition, read on for the full review. Lusty Industries, the Australian distributor for Santa Cruz, expects the new Heckler MX range to hit our shores in March of 2021. PRIVACY POLICY Yikes! This bike has less suspension travel and more lightweight components. To deliver on this statement, Santa Cruz has taken a three-pronged approach. Santa Cruz claims that this adds a bit more support and traction while pedaling over rough terrain while seated and pedaling. The new Santa Cruz Bullit is the e-bike Santa Cruz should have released to kick off its entry into the motor-assisted market. MX means it’s got a larger 29er front wheel. A hotly contested choice by die-hard ebikers, the choice to reveal an ebike this late in the game with what many consider an outdated and small motor and battery wasn’t a choice Santa Cruz made without much debate. The name? The Heckler is about expanding your own trail map – accessing previously unreachable … Some of our favorite parts about the bike’s performance. Many Flow readers lamented the choice of a four-year old Shimano E8000 motor, and perhaps the dual 27.5in wheels and 504Wh battery seemed a little off-trend in a market that’s dominated by big wheels and bigger batteries. It would appear that Santa Cruz has been listening though, because today it releases a new variation of its premium, carbon fibre, full suspension e-MTB. Heckler introduction video and feature story. With Shimano having maintained the same mounting points with its new e-MTB motor, it was easy for Santa Cruz to update the Heckler with the new EP8 drive unit. Santa Cruz Heckler motor and battery details. Santa Cruz gives the Heckler an early refresh with new EP8 motor options and a mullet MX build available for 2021. Brakes: SRAM Code RSC, 200mm And like every Santa Cruz bike, the Santa Cruz Heckler CC XT 27.5 Electric Mountain Bike is built for the rigors of true mountain biking. If you were still resisting the electric urge back then, give it a click and get learned-up on the details because this review is going to focus a lot more on the ride and specs than the technical details we went over in our first ride feature. Santa Cruz Stigmata 2021 / Rival / Carbon CC / 700c; Santa Cruz Stigmata 2021 / GRX / Carbon CC / 700c; Santa Cruz Stigmata 2021 / Force 2X / Carbon CC / 700c; If you buy something through Competitive Cyclist, we will get a small commission, you won’t pay a penny more, but it helps keep the lights on. There’s a carbon mainframe and swingarm, with a lower-link VPP suspension layout that keeps the shock down low, while providing a more progressive and poppy suspension rate. The head tube angle sits at 65.5 degrees with a 76-degree seat tube angle and chainstay length of 445mm, giving the bike a 1,237mm wheelbase and 346mm bottom bracket height. Santa Cruz has chosen to use a full Shimano setup for the motor and battery, and spec the bike with the 250W, 70Nm torque E8000 drive unit and E … Compared to the Bronson, the Heckler has less anti-squat. It’s a decision that makes perfect sense if absolute manoeuvrability is your goal, as, all things being equal, smaller wheels are lighter and take less effort to stop, go and turn. I call it a TRUE ALL-MOUNTAIN BUILD: Truvativ cockpit, WTB Saddle, Sram X.9 thumb shifters and RD, Shimano XT FD, Raceface Atlas Cranks/BB, SPD pedals, Avid Juicy 7 Disc brakes/levers--8" front disc, 6" Rear. If you were one of the many Santa Cruz Bicycles fans awaiting their entry into the eMTB market, then you probably caught our Heckler introduction video and feature story a couple months back. The 2021 Santa Cruz Heckler gains Shimano’s new EP8 motor and an MX model sporting a mullet setup if that takes your fancy. Mar 2, 2021 . Equipment The Santa Cruz Bullit sports mullet wheels, just like the Heckler MX. COMPONENT REVIEWS Compared to the old E8000 motor, EP8 boosts torque up to 85Nm, while also taking off nearly 400g of mass. Although we normally live for the rockiest of rock gardens, we’ve found ourselves avoiding those trails in favor of sessioning our slalom track up in the woods, and we’re not too bummed about that.