Sharing the same surefooted and fun-loving geometry as the Blur LT and LTc, but with a super-bomber single pivot rear suspension offering 150mm travel, the Heckler recipe remains true: a tough aluminum frame, a solid, efficient suspension and some of the best trail manners out there. Mix together, and go shred some trail. Then go do it again. And again. And again...
Submitted by
trail topher
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2012
Strengths: Burley frame. Good value. Trans Red paint looks amazing. Great at descending.
Weaknesses: Didn't climb great for me. Manitou Minute was not a great fork choice.
Bottom Line:
I really wanted to like this bike but never felt great on it. I had it built up at 28lbs but it always felt sluggish on climbs. On technical trails like Palmer Park I wished for a little more travel and on XC trails in Colorado I wished for a better climber. I know a lot of riders who love the Heckler. I sold it to a buddy for a great price and he likes the bike a lot. For someone who can only have 1 bike the Heckler is a great compromise. I would rather have a XC bike and maybe a 6 or 7" travel bike for more techy stuff.
Similar Products Used: Gary Fisher HiFi Deluxe, Fisher Rig, Iron Horse Hollowpoint
Bike Setup: 2005 Frame with Fox RP23. XT cranks, XT brakes, Syncros FL wheels, Minion tires, Tubeless with Stans. XT and LX mix. Manitou Minute fork
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Submitted by
Omid Ghassemi
a Downhiller
from Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2012
Strengths: Bombproof, sexy, light as it needs to be, pivot design works amazingly and allows you to get air easily and it is highly adjustable. you can basically do 140mm up front with the stock fox float (6"...but in truth gives you 5"...with propedal too!) and you have a pedaling bike. do 150mm up front for am and if you pop a 160mm up front with a coil rear like i did, its a mini-dh/fr rig.
Weaknesses: The original kit was absolute crap.
Bottom Line:
The 2011 Heckler was my first mountain bike. The frame is like the bullit's little brother. it takes and beating and craves more at the end of the day. The frame geometry and single pivot design are both beautiful, functional (and some...) and bombproof. Seriously, if you want a bike that can climb like any trail bike and descend like a straight downhill rig. it also pops like no other!
Bike Setup: lime green heckler, fox van r coil shock, fox 36 van fit rlc, blk mrkt 50mm stem and 750mm bars, straitline pedals, shimano deore cranks, deity dh saddle and seatpost, fsa orbit headset, elixir cr's w/ 185mm rotors front and rear, azonic outlaws, e13 lg1 chainguide with 34T mrp chainring, sram xo dh drivetrain, maxxis minion dh r's 2.5"
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Submitted by
Metheguyonabike
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2011
Strengths: Throughout the history of this frame it has been worked, re-worked, and worked over again. What does this mean? It means that the Heckler is a well thought-out piece of art that has no flaws.
Weaknesses: Truvativ Stylo stem.
Bottom Line:
This bike goes to show that single pivot designs (when done right) is still relevant in mountain biking. Sure, there's a teeny tiny bit of bob when climbing trails, but it's hardly noticable if at all. By no means is this a deal breaker. Maybe it's just me because I run about 20% sag. I replaced the stem it came with, however. I bent it doing a drop. I stuck an Easton Haven stem in its place. Oh yeah, the shock and fork are spot on and buttery smooth. They compliment each other perfectly. BUY THIS BIKE.
Submitted by
dhabartrider11
a Weekend Warrior
from Milton, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2011
Strengths: The frame is the strongest part of the bike.
Weaknesses: Sometimes parts, if your running a 160mm fork a high quality headset is a must, and winter...you will really hate this white crap.
Bottom Line:
Five years ago i made my decision base on reviews from this site to go out and buy a heckler for myself, and i can tell its worth every penny. I've been riding the hell out of this bike for four years now on very rock terrain and its as good as the day i bought it. The reliability of single pivot over my friends dw link and vpp suspension allows you to never miss a day of riding. Coming from a 4.5" fs travel bike to the heckler has given me a ton of confidence in every aspect. I might move on to other bikes in the very distant future, but I'm keeping this bike for the rest of my life. NEVER FOR SALE!
Bike Setup: x9 drive train, fox 36 talas, rp23, joplin, formula rx. size xl
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Submitted by
FoyBoy326
a Weekend Warrior
from Belmont, CA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2011
Strengths: Great handling
Rock-solid downhill
Decent climber
Great looks
Weaknesses: None so far
*non-weakness but warning: Frames run small
Bottom Line:
My first full suspension bike and most valued material possession. Such a great bike: SC's smart placement of the pivot point cuts down on pedal bob- I was original concerned with the lack of pro-pedal on the Float R shock (considered upgrading to RP23)- but my concerns washed away after my first few rides.
At 5'10.5, 170 lb, I was concerned with my choice to order the medium frame. While at times I feel like I wish I were stretched out a bit more on long climbs- this is the perfect size for a hopping and mashing around the whole mountain. Those with a less aggressive ride style in my similar "right on the line" status (according to SC sizing charts) would probably be more comfortable with the Large frame.
I bought the frame on line and then built the bike from there. This is the ultimate bike, the frame is light enough that it can be cross country or you can beef it up and go all mountain. I have a blast every time I ride this bike. It handles great, it takes abuse, it's just a fun bike.
Bike Setup: sram drive train(2x10), fox suspension, azonic wheels, ks950i seatpost
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Submitted by
cman8
a Weekend Warrior
from Salt Lake City
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2011
Strengths: Lightweight, Strong frame, Good quality, Great components,climbs like a beast, Handles great.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike at a price I could not pass up. I was planning on buying one next year after reading all the reviews. I found this on craigslist for a score. I have not been disappointment. I bought it as an upgrade from my Maverick 4.5 and an upgrade it is. This thing climbs like a mountain goat and comes down just as good. I have not bottomed out on some 3-4 ft drops. I have owned it for about 1 1/2 months and have not been disappointed. Too bad season is almost over but this is making me stoked for next year. Buy this bike, on a deal or new more than 200 reviewers cant be wrong. Plus I hear SC is a bomb company when it comes to CS.
Bike Setup: the setup is really good, it looks like it is ready to kick A$$
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Submitted by
Flash
a Weekend Warrior
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2011
Strengths: Fit,feel,ride quality,simplicity,looks,ease of maintenance,durability.
Weaknesses: Really?
Bottom Line:
By far the best bike I have ever owned. I have been riding for 45 years. No one bike has done it all for me like this one. I keep it ready to ride. I have had many bikes come and go, some that I really like. This is the only bike I will never get rid of. Period.It's been to Pisgah,Brown County,North Country Trail and many of our own sweet Michigan trails. Awesome performance on all. If you told me I could only have one bike the rest of my life this is it.
Similar Products Used: Just about every FSR,Salsa El Kaboing, Trek Fuel EX9, many others.
Bike Setup: Fox 140 up front,Fox RP2 out back. XO,2x9,Crossmax Enduro's running tubeless, King headset.
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Submitted by
AJ aka "Crash"
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle Metro, WA
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2011
Strengths: Great performer for all kinds of trail riding - in the PNW, we have a lot of rocky, rooty, twisty trails that are wet 1/2 the year. Now that Hecklers are getting cheaper, a real bargain compared to other bikes with this much performance - it's a fantastic trail bike. Easy to flick around the trail, and sucks up the rough stuff quite nicely. They keep tweaking the bike to make it better and better.
Weaknesses: A bit flexy compared to other bikes now available. Part of the flex is the frame/swingarm connection, and the other is the fork I have on my bike (regular QR, not a thru-axle). I've also had issues with swingarms breaking at the pivot on all 3 Generations I've owned - latest replacement swingarm is now the new through-axle design that should be stronger - last 2 swingarms had the driveside pinchbolts snap (3rd Gen), and I had failures at the pivot clamp on the swingarm (1st and 2nd Gen). The new design looks much more bombproof. I should add here that I'm a lot larger than most riders at about 225lbs, like to jump/drop stuff, and basically thrash my bikes. I have a reputation for breaking bike parts, so something to bear in mind.
Bottom Line:
GREAT bike for the money. Actually, just a great bike. No lack of grin factor. :-) Hopefully the design change they did with the swingarm pivot resolves the largest weakness with this bike - certainly looks like it will, but time will tell.
I'd recommend getting either a 15 or 20 mm thru-axle fork for stiffness in the front.
All that being said, you can't go wrong with buying this bike and riding the ever-living snot out of it. It's a great bike, and now you can get it for not a lot of coin.
Similar Products Used: I'm on my 3rd Heckler (had a 1st Generation from 99, a 2nd Gen from 04, and this 3rd Gen one bought in 2007). I also own a SC Bullit I've used for FR and DH. My next bike will be a SC Butcher, which I've found all around much stiffer during test rides...also considered a Specialized Enduro due to the same sort of stiffness front and rear as the Butcher.
Bike Setup: Bought this as the complete bike deal with the higher end build kit offered in 2007. Fox float fork 140mm, Fox RP23 shock, 2 ring/bashguard setup, platform pedals. SRAM stuff throughout (shifters, chainrings, deraillerurs, cranks, etc etc).
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Submitted by
aaron042671
a Weekend Warrior
from winnipeg, manitoba,canada
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2011
Strengths: nice look, strength, weight(not too,too heavy but not for weight weenies)simple yet effective susp. good support via website for tech questions.
Weaknesses: parts are difficult to obtain at LBS(canada)
Bottom Line:
my 1st full susp. bike which i purch. frame used for $300. built it up with eco-mid priced components other than fork(nixon) for under $750. will do fine for trail riding on prairies and city. very few(-10) hecklers in manitoba so i feel unique. looks awesome(red,blue,black colour scheme) i would recommend to any rider from beginner to experienced. could build one/purchase complete for relatively cheap compared to new. when i decide to buy new, santa cruz will be one of my top choices.
Similar Products Used: norco, giant hardtails, first susp. frame ever!
Bike Setup: nixon fork, hayes 9 brakes, sun black eye wheels, truvativ crank(w/b.g) shimano der. mec s.p and ped. axiom h.b and seat.
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Submitted by
woahey
a Cross Country Rider
from Sedona, AZ
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2011
Strengths: Priced well, especially for how much bike you get. No bob out of the single pivot if shock is set right. Light enough to rip up hills but heavy enough to be stable coming back down.
Weaknesses: None yet
Bottom Line:
Great bike. Huge confidence builder. Will never sell this one!
Similar Products Used: Haro X1, Haro X2, Brodie Knack
Bike Setup: 2010 Heckler Dam kit. Deore/SLX, Float R, Indy Sektor, Azonic wheels,
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Submitted by
Stinky Wiz
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2011
Strengths: Versatility - a do it all machine that combines relatively light weight with strenth, reliability, simplicity and beauty.
Weaknesses: None that I have noticed. Perhaps not ultra plush due to simple Float R out back.
Bottom Line:
This is my third generation Heckler. I tried a couple of other brands between my last one and this model, ended up coming back and don't regret it. SC has always stood by their product (2 swingarms replacements on 1st gen, and 1 mainframe replacement on 2nd gen) and with an engineering and development spanning as long as the Heckler series this one is holding up as well as I expected, that is to say very well indeed. I am a large rider at 6'3 and 230lbs, the bike fits me well and remains as tight as the day I bought it other than a need for new shock bushings after 1 1/2 years of thrashing. I pieced it all together myself as is my practice and am very happy with the setup (although I wouldn't turn down a thru axle front and a more refined rear Float shock). The riding I have done mainly involves climbing and descending steep and technical singletrack with occasional fireroad ascents and some gentle hilly terrain thrown in. It climbs well, handles lobs off 4 footers, descends thru highspeed rocky technical terrain and serpentine smoothies with aplomb and gives me the confidence to go faster and keep pushing my limits as its handling is rock steady and confidence inspiring. I would recommend one to anyone on a budget looking for a no-nonsense missile to stick with the fellas on the ascent and leave em for dead on the back-side. Bottom line: it brings out the best rider that I can be and puts a smile on my face every time.
Similar Products Used: '99 Heckler, '03 Heckler, '04 Kona Coiler DL, '08 Yeti ASR
Bike Setup: Fox Float 150 RLC up front, Float R out back, Sunline V1 bars, Thompson Stem & SP, SLX cranks and front DR, XT rear DR, XT discs (203 up front, 160 rear), XTR rear shifter, XT front shifter, WTB DH saddle, Mavic 321 rims laced with 14 guage & brass to XT QR hubs, Oury lockon grips & King HS
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Submitted by
nextwave
a Weekend Warrior
from Cumming,Ga
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2011
Strengths: point and shoot, no brake jack, doesn't bob when in granny
Weaknesses: I KEEP SNAPING PINCH BOLTS DRIVE SIDE ON THE SWING ARM!!!
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, but I keep snapping the pinch bolt on the drive side of the swing arm. Santa Cruz has been very good about replacing the swing arms, but this last one has gone 6 months!I understand there was a redesign because of this issue, they are going to give me redesigned swingarm strip the powder coat from the front of my frame resticker and clear coat the frame. It will be raw so it should look pretty good and kinda 1 off but it has been 6 MONTHS without this fantastic riding bike. It has just been a long time to be on my back up bike. Please Santa Cruz get it back to me!!!
The bike rides great up and especially downhill. I'm a big guy 260# and other than the current issue I cannot complain.If you are a person with limited downhill skills this bike will put a mile wide smile on your face.
Bike Setup: X9 shifters & derailleurs, juicy 7 brakes, etc..
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Submitted by
mustleaveplanet
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2010
Strengths: It just feels "right". climbs well, decends well and rails the corners. jumps with ease and, despite the single pivot limitations, it has very little pedal bob or brake jack
Weaknesses: Nothing really. It's had a long evolution and is pretty much bang on! Maybe a maxle rear end to stiffen it up more in the next gen but that's being really picky.
Bottom Line:
This is one of those bikes that inspires confidence as soon as you throw a leg over it. The single pivot works so well it out performs many more complex designs. Propedal helps, but isn't needed if you climb in the saddle. It's light(ish), strong and looks great. The heckler is a short bike, so if you like more wheelbase, go for a size up than you normally choose. Other than that, i'd say get one. It's a true all mountain frame that's timeless, simple and effective.
I've recently moved to San Antonio, TX. After much discussion both in the Beginner's Corner and local Texas forums I think I've narrowed my choice for bike down somewhat, and I rea Read More »
I've got a 2011 Heckler that I want to set up with 650B wheels- but still keep my 26" wheels as well. Right now it's set up with the stock build RockShox Sektor SA 150mm front for Read More »
Hey guys,
I am about to pull the trigger on a bike upgrade. I am trying to decide between a Santa Cruz Superlight R AM and a Heckler R AM. I live in Florida so it is pretty flat, Read More »
OK, so I went out to put a new part on my bike yesterday and it was gone... bastards! So someone lifted my Heckler out of my garage yesterday around 1PM while I WAS HERE! Pisses me Read More »
