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Could Santa Cruz’s New E-Mountain Bike Be the Goldilocks of Single Track?

Combining top-notch ride dynamics and a class-leading motor, the well-balanced Vala is a trail fiend’s dream. 

santa-cruz-vala-macroSanta Cruz

By Steve Mazzucchi

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“Faster, Higher, Stronger.” When searching for the best sporting goods, it’s hard not to lean on the English translation of the original Olympic motto. After all, those three objectives are what you strive for every time you gear up for outdoor adventure, right?

We’ve never ridden a Santa Cruz bike that didn’t feel spec’ed for a smooth, intuitive feel in the saddle, and the Vala looks like no exception.

Yes and no. While it’s tempting to be drawn to the gaudiest specs, the best product is not necessarily the one with the lightest weight, the biggest engine or the toughest material.

As important as those factors can be, the best product is the one that optimally balances various properties to get you where you need to go. And that’s what we are seeing with the Vala, Santa Cruz’s new electric trail bike. Here are three big reasons why.

1. Power trip

For this model, Santa Cruz teamed up with a German brand widely considered to be one of the best e-bike motor makers, if not the best. The pedal-assister of choice is the class-leading Bosch Performance CX, a strong, silent type that gives what it gets, easing climbs without making a big, whiny deal out of it. 

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Santa Cruz chose the Performance CX to optimize power and weight.
Santa Cruz

Four ride modes (Eco, Tour, eMTB and Turbo) let you choose your level of boost, with the juice coming from a right-sized 600 Wh battery.

It balances range and weight and is located low in the downtube to minimize impact on the bike’s handling. (A 250 Wh PowerMore range extender is available for those with longer days and distances in mind.)

2. Savvy specs

We’ve never ridden a Santa Cruz bike that didn’t feel spec’ed for a smooth, intuitive feel in the saddle, and this one looks like no exception. From a suspension standpoint, you get 160mm of travel up front and 150mm in back; these numbers sit right between the brand’s Heckler and Bullitt e-bikes, providing just the right amount of squish.

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Not only do Santa Cruz bikes tend to nail the kinematics, they look good doing it.
Santa Cruz

Similarly, you get a 29-inch front wheel and a 27.5-inch back wheel. This mullet set-up gives you the oomph to power over roots and rocks while your back end remains nimble and flickable. 

Adding to your overall agility is the light but sturdy carbon-fiber frame, which ensures that even the least expensive version of the Vala comes in under 50 pounds. 

3. Options galore

The Vala is versatile on a number of levels. First, it’s available in five different sizes, S through XXL. 

Second, there are five different “kits,” depending on the scope of your ambitions (and the size of your wallet), beginning with the base model R ($7,299) and scaling up various components — and the frame itself — to the top-notch XS AXS RSV ($12,799). 

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With so much variety in size and trim levels, there’s almost certainly a Vala for you.
Santa Cruz

Third, even once you have selected a bike, it’s adaptable. There are geometry and progression flip chips, which can be adjusted independently.

The former enables you to raise and lower your bottom bracket and slacken or steepen your head tube angle. The latter lets you tweak your suspension’s progression, whether you are looking for stability or forgiveness at the beginning of your suspension. 

Fourth, and probably most important of all: The Vala comes in two different colorways, Midnight Green and Gloss Grey.

Availability and pricing

The Santa Cruz Vala is available now for a base price of $7,299. Check out all the different sizes, kits and colors on the main product page.

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