New 2008 Santa Cruz Bikes
Redesigns for V10, Chameleon plus a new cyclocross model
We’re hitting the run up to the Eurobike and Interbike shows and it’s time for the manufacturers to grant us a sneak peak of what’s to come for 2008. This time it’s the turn of Santa Cruz, with tweaked and redesigned V10 and Chameleon bikes and a new cyclocross bike called the Stigmata.
Expect delivery of the Chameleon by the end of September, the Stigmata in October, and the new V-10 by the end of November. If you want to check out the old 2007 models against these new ones check out the Santa Cruz site.
V10
The V10 gets a transformation for 2008. The Gold winning downhill race machine has undergone a redesign of the aluminium frame sections and also gets a new carbon fibre upper link. The new frame weighs in almost two pounds lighter and offers lower standover than the old one. The sculpted, curvier front end gives the V10 a bit more of a Nomad look and the new rear end looks tighter.
The suspension has also been revised to sit higher in its travel for a livelier ride, resulting in a lighter, tighter package with 254mm of rear wheel travel and sharper handling.
Chameleon
A favourite do-it-all workhorse frame the Chameleon undergoes some minor tweaks to make it even tougher. A bigger, more burly seat and chain stay section compliments the heavily gusseted head tube region and the frame can handle loads from a 160mm fork. The bottom bracket section also gets a reworking with a new, bigger and lighter eccentric BB, ideal for the single gear. New vertical dropouts have been designed for easier wheel removal and disc brake use with gears or when set up as a single speed. The replaceable derailleur hanger is the same as the fancy one sported by the Heckler.
Stimata
We’ve seen Santa Cruz do a road bike in the past and it was only a matter of time before they turned their welding torch to the ‘cross scene. Cyclocross is very popular in sunny Santa Cruz, so enter the Stigmata.
Constructed from new EA6X tubing they’ve come up with a lean (1300g for a 54cm frame, with powdercoat), no-compromise, race ready ‘cross frame – note the absence of mudguard and rack mounts. The tight geometry is run around a low BB and has lots of tyre clearance.
UK pricing for the new models will be available on the Santa Cruz site soon, and they’ll be on display at the World Championships at Fort William in September.
