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Pros |
Wide tires, excellent grip, comfort |
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Cons |
Low-end kits leave you wanting |
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Summary |
Santa Cruz Tallboy is in a class of it’s own when it comes to pure climb power and grip, with very few drawbacks this is a bike you want to take on your next mountain trek. |
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Our Rating |
89/100 |
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Manufacturer |
When it comes to 29ers, the Santa Cruz Tallboy holds a special spot in mountain bike history. Due to the utmost efficiency of the VPP design and responsive, lightweight frame, it’s the kind of bike that makes you sprint when going up, along, over, or down.
The progressive lower link-mounted shock, however, feels equally at home riding cross-country as it does extreme-country because it shares the same technical principles as our longest travel bikes.
In 2009, many riders were still skeptical of the massive 29″ wheels. The Tallboy came around that year and changed everyone’s minds.
These days, Santa Cruz continues to stay ahead of the trends with this versatile and playful trail bike that accommodates both 29″ and 27.5″ plus tires.
If you’re on the cusp of two sizes’ recommended height ranges, the best thing you can do is ride them both. Check your existing bike’s stack/reach measures and compare them to the new model you’re considering to get an idea of a fit you’re already comfortable with. Consider the following if riding a bike is not an option.
Technical Specs
FRAME SIZE: small (for riders 5’ to 5’4”), medium (5’4” to 5’9”), large (5’9” to 6’), extra-large (6’ to 6’3”), and carbon-only XXL (6’3” to 6’7”)BRAKE TYPE: SRAM Level BrakesSHIFTER: SRAM NX1 DrivetrainRIMS: WTB ST i23, Race Face AR, and Race Face ARCTIRES: Front Maxxis Minion or Maxxis Rekon, Maxxis Crossmark II or Maxxis Ardent Race
When looking at the specs, it’s important to note that the Tallboy maintains its geometry when in the 27.5 and 29″ configurations thanks to the flip-chip on the upper link.
We would be remiss if we didn’t bring up the 110mm Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension found on Santa Cruz’s full-suspension bikes. The bike responds to the trail and not the ride due to the suspension’s ability to isolate the forces from braking and pedaling.
If one could describe the personality of the Tallboy, it would be mischievous. This personality fits because of the shorter chainstays (about 17″), longer reach, and 68-degree head angle.
Other features worth noting are the bottle cage mount, integrated headset, threaded bottom bracket, removable front derailleur mount, radial contact bearings, and internal carbon tubes to ensure hassle-free and precise routing of seat post and derailleur cables.
Frame Size
The Santa Cruz Tallboy is available with aluminum, Carbon C, and the higher-end, lighter-weight Carbon CC frames. There are five size options: small (for riders 5′ to 5’4″), medium (5’4″ to 5’9″), large (5’9″ to 6′), extra-large (6′ to 6’3″), and carbon-only XXL (6’3″ to 6’7″).
The reach for the different sizing options are 15.9″, 16.9″, 17.7″, 18.7″, and 19.8″ for the small, medium, large, extra-large, and XXL respectively.
Brake Type
The Tallboy utilizes disc brakes. Specifically, the kits mostly feature SRAM Level brakes. They are known for their excellent stopping power in all conditions. If you are putting your bike together yourself, you should know that installation necessitates taking the grips off the bar assembly.
Shifter
The SRAM NX1 drivetrain (featuring 30-42 gearing) comes standard with most of the Tallboy kits. The SRAM NX1 is one step below the GX1 and is a fairly new 11-speed shifter. Expert riders have found that this performs shifting duties reliably and consistently and that the drivetrain is solid.
Rims
The rims that come with the kits include the WTB ST i23 for the low-end 29ers, Race Face AR, and Race Face ARC for the high-end kits. The strength-to-weight ratio for each of these options is exceptional. The fork of the bike is FOX 34.
Tires
The front tires on the 29er kits are the Maxxis Minion, and on the 27.5 kits, you get the Maxxis Rekon for both the front and rear tires. The rear tires on the 29er kits are the Maxxis Crossmark II or Maxxis Ardent Race (on higher-end kits.) Maxxis tires are overwhelming favorites among riders, and they provide excellent bite.
Price Range
For exact prices on the Tallboy, you really need to follow the link to Competitive Cyclist an authorized Santa Cruz bike dealer. With that said, here are the MSRPs for just the kits and frames:
- Tallboy Aluminum Frame: starting at $2700
- Tallboy Carbon Frame: starting at $4000
We give you the “starting at” prices because Santa Cruz has many different kits with high-grade parts available.
What We Like
There’s a lot to like about the Tallboy. Riders can pilot aggressively with minimal effort thanks to the bike’s strong cornering. It also gets high marks for its efficiency, comfortable positioning, and climbing abilities.
On climbs, experts rarely had to modify the shock from open. The Tallboy lets riders to climb with less pedal bob and more stability. The Tallboy’s frame is covered by a lifetime warranty from Santa Cruz.
Pros
- Rides with the comfort of a longer travel bike
- Super playful and high fun factor
- Beats other bikes in its class when it comes to climbing
What We Don’t Like
The biggest complaint we hear from riders is that the low-end kit comes with less than stellar components. For instance, many bike enthusiasts have mentioned updating the fork and dropper post.
Many riders prefer the dropper post so they can move the seat out of the way for downhill sections, technical sections of trails, and cornering. Because the rear suspension has a low position in the frame, experts believe that determining the sag setting was difficult.
Riders can fine-tune the geometry of the Tallboy to their riding style and terrain by using a flip-chip.
Cons
- Some of the low-end build kit options may not appeal to more seasoned riders
- Only available from authorized Santa Cruz dealers
- The rims have a history of denting but not to the point of being problematic
Buying Advice
You can’t ignore the differences between riding the Tallboy with 29″ tires and 27.5 tires. Where standard tires flounder, the 27.5 tires flow above the dust and find grip in desert-dry conditions.
And, the low tire pressures pull the bike through slick monsoon conditions. On the other hand, the Tallboy’s history comes to the fore in its 29″ form. Uphill or downhill, the 29er configuration will allow you to experience the bikes true speed and agility.
If you are a 29er fan or got into trail riding with the growing popularity of the 27.5 and you have ever had even the slightest bit of interest in giving the other side a try, then the Tallboy is your opportunity to experience both configurations in one bike.
Additionally, you will love the Tallboy if you are looking for an all-around trail bike that is capable of remaining fairly aggressive while slaying climbs. When in rougher terrain, this is one of the most capable short-travel mountain bikes.
Conclusion
You can confidently master a broad spectrum of trails with the Santa Cruz Tallboy.
This model takes care of difficult climbs like an XC racer and flies down burly hills like all-mountain bikes.
The great suspension platform, dialed geometry, and well-built frame set this ride apart. If you are in need of an all-around mountain bike that can tackle a broad array of trail types, then you should seriously consider purchasing the Tallboy post haste.
