Rumours are more common than pedal wounds in the MTB world, and I heard a juicy one a few years ago. A source (who always claims to be reputable) told me that when Santa Cruz management proposed making an ebike, the entire engineering staff threatened to quit. Electric bikes were just starting to pop up in North America, and the vitriol that accompanied them gave the story a whiff of truth. In reality what I was smelling was bullshit and the project was already underway.
While mutinous rumours were greatly exaggerated, it’s no stretch to imagine that Santa Cruz might have been hesitant initially. At the time many riders felt like the sky was falling (even more than now) because these bikes existed at all and bikes that make things easier didn’t seem to mesh with some elements of the Santa Cruz image. It just might align nicely with the, “we just make the bikes we want to ride,” ethos however, as more riders opt to add a boosted bike to their stables.
The Heckler looks like a Bronson after a cycle of steroids; the lines are unmistakable but the brawn becomes clear after a second look. It’s motor and battery are well concealed and only the recently-launched Specialized Levo SL, which has much less power and battery life, hides the electrified truth better. But a subtle ebike is still an ebike and this left me with questions.
Who better to answer them than Santa Cruz brand manager, and fallen journalist, Seb Kemp.
[continued...]
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