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. 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. 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 offers the Heckler eMTB in four variations, all of which are built with their CC carbon fiber. Pricing starts at $7,399 and goes up to $13,099 for the SRAM AXS RSV model. 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. 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. The wheels very much impressed our testers as we pushed this bike hard and tried to see if we could get them to flinch. We were unsuccessful as they kept spinning round after three months and tons of abusive miles.
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From The Loam Wolf
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