Tallboy takes a leap further into what short-travel bikes really are capable of. With kick-ass lower-link VPP suspension, a streamlined design, the typical Santa Cruz refinement, and rather radical geometry, the Tallboy is back to being a genre bending folk hero.
Sure, 10mm more travel might only seem like one small step—but coupled with a lower link-driven VPP suspension design this is one giant leap for the Tallboy.
It’s the kind of bike that makes you sprint while going up, along, over, or down due to the maximum efficiency of the VPP design and responsive, lightweight chassis. But because it shares the same engineering principles as our longest travel bikes, the progressive lower link-mounted shock feels equally at home doing cross-country as it does in extreme-country. Paired with a 130mm fork the new Tallboy becomes ever more appealing to riders who like to open it up.
Established theory suggests shorter travel bikes get ridden slower, therefore require steeper and more conservative geometries. In reality though, when was the last time you ever throttled back on a fun trail because you weren’t on a bigger bike? Caution to the wind and all that. So we’ve done the same here and mimicked our longer travel geometry to create a bike with a 65.5-degree head-angle, generous front center, and short offset fork. Something rarely seen on a bike of this ilk.
The Tallboy is no slouch but certainly no softie either. It has earned a loyal following amongst those who seek a bike that will hold up to the relentless hammering of “power hour” hot laps or hour after hour on solo missions. Its composure at speed gives it a little swagger, as will you after hauling into every pocket turn and launching out the other side.
There’s no label that quite fits what this bike is. But the name Tallboy says it all. Have at it.
SPECS:
| Frame | Aluminum 29" 120mm Travel VPP™ |
| Shock | FOX Float Performance DPS |
| Fork | FOX Rhythm 34, 130mm |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd |
| Shifters | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd |
| Cassette | SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t |
| Chain | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB 68/73mm |
| Headset | Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset |
| Rear Tire | Maxxis Rekon, 29"x2.4, 3C. EXO, MaxxTerra, TR |
| Front Tire | Maxxis Dissector, 29"x2.4, 3C, EXO, MaxxTerra, TR |
| Sealant | Stans Sealant |
| Front Hub | SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, 32h |
| Rims | RaceFace AR Offset 30 29" Rims |
| Spokes | Sapim Race |
| Rear Hub | SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h |
| Rotors | Avid Centerline 180mm |
| Brakes | SRAM Guide T |
| Crankset | SRAM Stylo DUB 32t |
| Handlebar | RaceFace Ride |
| Stem | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm |
| Saddle | WTB Silverado Race Saddle or WTB Volt |
| Seatpost | SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.6 |
| Grips | Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar |
*In the bicycle industry, suppliers and factories sometimes change specs without notice and state that they are "subject to change without notice". This is because bicycles are made from hundreds of parts which come from dozens of vendors. Parts are sometimes updated to the most current production generation/iteration one gets better or more current parts or a comparable part. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.