First Ride: Santa Cruz Tallboy Review - BikeRadar

"Low weight and fast-rolling tyres are also crucial to offsetting the extra mass you need to accelerate, so when you’re choosing tyres think semi-slick, not knobbly, for a better ride."

umm thats going to be interesting on the south downs clay mud!!!!!

pleas note people these bike frames are not made in the USA the frames are built and tacked in china, then sent to the USA were the welds are finished up....

What welds? It's carbon, don't see any.

they are made in china and finished in the USA, google it if you dont believe me!

It's Carbon, of course it's going to be made (though not welded, obviously) in China or Taiwan. What difference does it make?

the point is that the company try to deceive people in to thinking that their made in the USA, by people paid a good wage...that is the point!

Which means we get a great bike at a great price !!!!

Seriously considering this as my next frame build with 2x10crank set , just hope i can get the right frame for a 30" inside leg with 29" wheels !

Jenine, Santa Cruz put a big made in Taiwan sticker on their bikes. Also how do you know how much they are paid. It will naturally be lower as the cost of living in Taiwan is lower.

"Secondly, that longer patch means even summer tyres like the Small Block 8 will hook up well even in silly situations like 6in of snow." - Although tyres grip mainly across the tread not along it.

no matter where the frames are produced they will have to meet Santa Cruz's quality control, i own a carbon blur xc & the frame is a work of art, most of the finest carbon frames are made in the east, for the majority of the 'top marques' they have been making them for years & its what they do best.

Just got my orange Tallboy frame...components should be here in 10 days. Jenine, of all the companies that produce their frames in Asia, SC is probably the most honest about it (read most any interview of Rob Roskopp if you don't believe me), they even put a nice "Made in China" sticker (with flag and all) UNDER the clearcoat of their carbon frames. And the bikes don't bear any mention of (pick one) designed/built/assembled in the USA (even though they are).

Furthermore it does make sense to build carbon frames in China, since laying the carbon doesn't require nearly the same level of skills as welding, but is very energy and time consuming.

Aluminium frames are still made in Taiwan, where the welders are usually more skilled (and their wages are higher than in China mainland).

Personally i do care about the living conditions of the people that make the things i buy, that why my bike is made in England....cost me a arm and a leg but at least it was made by a person getting a descent wage.. i know most people are scum that only care about them selves, but im not!!!

ChileMike

Wolfcastle50

roachbiker.....so u think it ok that people get exploited so u can get a better value bike...really...if it is true i hope u get run over on it!!!!!

God save Jenine!

Though your bike may be assembled in england from materials sourced from wherever, what about the components that make up your bike?

oh this is begining to sound just like John Terry vs Craig Bellamy!

There really aren't many UK-made frames these days. Even Orange use Chinese-made tubing for the Five.

no it was actually welded in England!!!!! all the other bits are french swiss or made in japan, and a few bits made in the USA.. i only used 3rd world stuff when no other option...

Wonder if this "jenine" has actually stepped foot in Taiwan? Taiwan is one of the most progressive, industrialized and democratic countries in the world, but you don't see that from your ivory tower do you?

According to data readily available, Taiwan has 0.95% of its population living under the poverty line in 2007, UK has 14% in 2006, France is at 6%, the US at 12%.... so tell me again which is 3rd world?

Bike companies choose Taiwan not only because its cheaper, but they have the knowhow and technology to produce these precision-intense products. Welcome to the new world!

@Janine

rate the bike, or on 'yer bike, this isnt the place for a debate on whether the people of taiwan get a proportionally good wage to the cost of living!

Its a carbon bike, carbon manufacture is of a higher quality that we can manage here, i know i work in carbon surface design!

The bottom line is people in Taiwan (or anywhere) are happy to do a job for a given price. Companies will always look for the cheapest and best place to get anything done, from their point of view. I would imagine Taiwan is just as advanced as the UK and now probably more so when it comes to manufacturing (as they have been doing it now for ages!). The public there simply have less need or desire to earn massive salaries so work for less.

Oh and the bike looks cool too..!

jenine- you hope i get run over!!!! you are a prat of immense proportions, this is a bicycle forum, we are making critique's on a carbon frame & its quality of manufacture, if you feel the need to get political, comb your beard, slip your plastic sandals on & cycle down to gardener's question time on your tandem.

@Jenine: you again?! I thought we got rid of you after all your ill-informed spouting over that nice Niner frame that everyone liked.

Can you see a pattern forming here? NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU THINK. We are not bothered that 99% of our (beautifully welded) bikes are made in the far east.

Acidicboy & tomj113 are right - the Taiwanese would be interested to hear you ignorantly & dismissively describing their culture as 'third world'. If you walked into a Taiwanese factory and told them you wanted to pay 'fair' UK/US prices for their frames - say £1400 each? - they would look at you blankly, as if you had offered someone over here in Starbucks £80 for a cup of coffee.

You, sir, are a twunt.

i'm with Freckler on that, i have just found out the review you're speaking of (niner carbon), & my god, what a pillock!

It's obvious that your jaded view on the cycling industry in general is the issue, you hate it that much change your job (i hear Subway are hiring) speaking for myself, I don't work in the industry, i ride (& post) because of my ongoing love affair with the bike, i find this forum (& site) very informative & has helped me with purchases & informed bike choices (Santacruz blur xc review & titus el guapo review) i didn't realise there were actually guys on here that wrote the magazine reviews & worked for the mag. interesting!

whoa dudes! i just bought my second mountain bike and i came here to learn about bikes not poverty levels in wyoming or bangkoc. i fortunately i have more money than brains i ended up with a santa cruz tall boy with the xx stuff. my last bike was from wal mart (my apologies to offended sensibilities) and now i can do things i was not aware was possible!

mountain biking is truly one of the most enjoying activities i do now because of this bikes sheer performance. i was told my bike has no tubes? why is this?

Jenine, I am from a third world country.......that term is offensive!

I love my SC tallboy!

I think you are so ignorant! All raw materials (your "English" bike) comes from mostly Africa....or other "third world countries.....so please keep your stuck up hypocritical theories to yourself! Someone earned a living from making my Tall boy (working!) not claiming welfare...

The Tall boy is the best bike I've ever owned!

Cheers from the third world....

Has anyone got any experience with the aluminium version of this? http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/review-santa-cruz-tallboy-aluminum-spxxc-11-44647

Aluminium Tall Boy