Submitted by
Font9a
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area Date Reviewed: September 5, 2002
Favorite Trail:
sprinkles
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$900.00
Strengths:
Exceptional geometry, extremely stiff, horizontal dropouts, great value
Weaknesses:
Aluminum, not steel
Similar Products Used:
CycleCraft
Bike Setup:
RS SID, XTR v-brakes, Chris King SS hubs, RaceFace cranks 34:17, DX pedals
Bottom Line:
This bike has the best SS geometry I've ever ridden. It is extremely agile without being twitchy; I just get in the centerline and the bike steers itself. The braking power is good, with the burly seat stays.
Being aluminum, however, it is too brittle feeling. Rear end compliance is virtually nil, which feels great carving (oh, and it carves so lovely) fast turns in all conditions, but the tradeoff is jarring on rocky trails. The SID up front works really well, any more than 80mm would slack the head tube angle too much, after all it is a hardtail.
This is a great SS frame at a very respectable price. I am having a custom steel bike made with the same geometry, so hopefully that will be the best of both worlds. Santa Cruz does beautiful work.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Carlos Riestra
a Weekend Warrior
from Puerto Rico Date Reviewed: June 8, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Susua
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$1900.00
Purchased At:
Adrenalina
Strengths:
Geometry! Strength! Great bike for us X-Bmxers. Loves to climb & I cant wait to point it down hill!! Will adapt to whatever type of ride you have in store for it.
Weaknesses:
In my case, the polished frame (high maintenance). Other than that, NOTHING.
Similar Products Used:
too many hardtails to mention & Santa-Cruz Superlight
Bike Setup:
White-Bros. AT-4, King head set, Thompson stem & post, xt & xtr guts & brakes, Kooka cranks, Valiant rims, Rithchey riser, a few other goodies.
Bottom Line:
Get the frame at a great price and use your hard earned money to put quality parts on it. Do this and youll have a bike that can do it all and do it better than bikes that cost three times as much.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Puppet
a
from Kingston/Calgary/Canmore Date Reviewed: October 18, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Kodiak Carnage - Fernie BC
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
everything unique about the bike: SingleSpeed, Super strong both laterally and in every other dimension possible. Geometry gives me everything I could possibly ask for and more. It makes me feel like the only limit to what I can or can't ride is my own skill level.
Weaknesses:
It makes me feel like my only limit is my own skill level.
Similar Products Used:
the bike is unique.
Bike Setup:
Quickly upon purchasing it I made it my own: Single Speed (SPOT brand SS hub), Hayes disks front and rear, Marzocchi Z3QR20 w/ 5", and some downhill disk specific rims twist laced running a Kujo 2.7" front and a Maxxis 2.4" rear. Yeah, so I'm a crank...
Bottom Line:
I love my bike. No Regrets. Frame is more than worth it. the components all depend on you wheeling and dealing w/ your LBS. I ride it for everything set up as is - singlespeed. Cross Country in the Rocky Mountains and South Central Ontario, Trials and Urban Assault, Dual Slalom, and yes indeed, Downhill at Fernie when I'm feeling like a lazy s.o.b and wanna take the chairlift up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jay salaya
a Weekend Warrior
from san jose, ca Date Reviewed: September 5, 2001
Favorite Trail:
joseph grant park(very close to home)
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$380.00
Purchased At:
swap meet
Strengths:
no flexing, feels very solid
Weaknesses:
heavy
Similar Products Used:
santa cruz heckler
Bike Setup:
lx/xt/xtr(mostly xt/ shifter lx/ vbrakes xtr)
Bottom Line:
I have a 99 heckler, no complaints, really, really good for all around and cross country, but when it comes to climbing and serious riding, this chameleon rules, period. Low maintenance, easier to control, except for one thing, a must for rear swing arm, a lizard skin, to protect from chain scratches and noise.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Bouler, CO Date Reviewed: May 24, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
My hands would fall of before I could finish typing the list.
Weaknesses:
Hmm, hmm, well yeah...
Similar Products Used:
Not really similar but... Specialized S-Works M2
Bike Setup:
Random parts, mostly Lx & Xt, white bros 70mm fork.
Bottom Line:
So I'm about to leave for college and, having sold my s-works a year before, my brother say's, "i got a bike for ya". He then mails me a chamelion frame. I didn't really know much about the bike, but built it up and rode it around a bit. I have to say, this bike is above all, fun to ride. Its (how i have it built) like a great big bmx that is actually nice to ride. It does everything else well too though, I love doing downhill on it and just riding it from place to place, turns cross campus commutes into something to look forward to.
Buy this bike, that's all i can say.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ty Winty
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney NSW Australia Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Irvine Bike Source
Strengths:
Where do you start. This is the best Hardtail period. The build quality is excellent, the angles just work. I like the horizontal drop outs as for the rare occasions I have to change a rear wheel its is no trouble. The cables route well and to date I have had no challenges. Ok its not the lightest and its quality may not be as good as the high end Klein were pre Trek but this is not a weakness because once you ride this bike you will forget all that.
Weaknesses:
Decals scratch off (remind me to ask Santa Cruz for a new set). I would have liked a few more water bottle mounts. I sometimes knock my heals on the stays as they are so fat!
Similar Products Used:
Own/ed Klein Fevor, Scott Pro Racing, Specialized FRS M4, Intense Tracer (this rocks too), Trek 8000, Trek Y-22 and tested many others... Nothing is as good for the bucks as the Chameleon and the only one I even get close to riding as much is my Intense and Serrotta road bike.
Bike Setup:
Mostly XT 9 spd, Atom Bomb Z2 forks (rock on this frame), Dean TI seat post (get one), Race face LP cranks and rings, Bontrager Crow Bars and Profile Stem and some ald XT/mavic 517 wheels, Cheap Trick brakes.
Bottom Line:
This bike handles like no other. I have 12 bikes, some worth 10 times as much, but this is by far my favorite to ride for all occasions. Ride it to the shop, cycle toured for two months and 3000kms towing a BOB trailer, rode the slickrock trail several times. This is the fun bike to do it all on. I will never sell or pass on this frame.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Richard
a Weekend Warrior
from Madison WI USA Date Reviewed: July 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Whatever is under my tires
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Single speedable, light enough, tough
Weaknesses:
no rear disk mount, horizontal dropouts make the rear wheel a bit of a pain to mount and remove
Similar Products Used:
lots and lots of other hardtails
Bike Setup:
racface c-set, crossride, lx brakes (ditched the xt's), riser bar, short stem, full xt shifting, marzocchi z2 bam
Bottom Line:
Bought the bike used and i feel like i was born with the bike attached to me. I origonally sold my car to buy it as a backup-commuter but after a week I sold my k2 4000 because i knew i would't be riding it anymore. I simply love the way this bike handles, the only problem with it is that I cannot blame the bike for my lack of skills anymore (my k2 had really funny geometry). The only person I couldn't reccomend it to would be a technophile, gram counting racer. The weight is by no means bad, but their are fancier and lighter bikes available around the same price. If you love riding, race from time to time, can only have one bike, tear up bikes fast,want a single speed, ect... then I highly reccomend this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
pook dog
a Weekend Warrior
from tustin,cal.U.S.A. Date Reviewed: April 20, 2000
Favorite Trail:
rock it
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
light ,SUPER STRONG,no flex,low standover height is awesome!! This bike handles extremely well!!I ride the CHAMELEON all the time now instead of my f/s 4+inch travel CANNONDALE fr1000. I run a Judy 100 with it,just point it down anything and away you go no problem.
Weaknesses:
no rear disc mount....no biggie
Similar Products Used:
nothing even close
Bike Setup:
xtr brakes,xt sram shifter/derailleur,xt front der.,RACE FACE cranks,Judy 100,mavic rims,race face riser bar,
Bottom Line:
buy this bike for all things cycling!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from Millsboro, DE Date Reviewed: December 16, 1999
Favorite Trail:
the next one...
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Overall workmanship, original design, STRONG!
Weaknesses:
we'll see...
Similar Products Used:
Aluminum hardtails: Zaskar LE, CAAD4, Attitude Race
Bike Setup:
The way it was meant to be...single-speed! SID, Paul brakes/levers, Surly hubs, Sun rims, Easton riser, etc. 21 lbs.
Bottom Line:
too new to really review...but I'll update. Anyone else with single-speed advice?
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Sneddon
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester UK Date Reviewed: November 26, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Anythin wicked!!
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Really cool looking Extremely rigid and quick off the mark. Good for blasting trails and jumping. I even let my missus ride it!
Weaknesses:
Yes, those decals do come off.
Similar Products Used:
Had an Orange MsIsle which some git nicked.
Bike Setup:
Polished frame, Z1 Bombers, Raceface cranks,D521's, full XT
Bottom Line:
Well cool, kick ass trail bike. Go get one!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: October 23, 1999
Favorite Trail:
you guys ride trails???
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
woooooooooooohooooooo this frame is made to last and its super stiff!
Weaknesses:
have not been able to find one yet
Similar Products Used:
nothin like this!
Bike Setup:
its the Chameleon 16.5 inch frame(sid blue) with mostly XTR parts. Rock Shox SID, sid blue goes nicely with a sid.
Bottom Line:
Its a kick a$$ bike, stiff as hell and killer looks, BUY IT TODAY folks!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BoB
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB Date Reviewed: September 1, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Rigid frame, light weight, rigid frame, geometry... did I mention the frame?
Weaknesses:
none yet
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper comp
Bike Setup:
Chameleon w/ Rock Shox Judy XC and most of the rest came from my old bike, the Specialized.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. Even though I couldn't spend a bunch on components, I wanted to upgrade the frame. And boy did I. This frame is sized 1 bigger than the Spec'd was, and you'd never know know it from the ride. Much more rigid and controlable. What a super feel. What a super ride. All the the peppers you got, and then some!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Xtreme
a Weekend Warrior
from Jump Date Reviewed: August 17, 1999
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
YEAH!!!this is what i call terrific geometry!!! Cool Design Seems strong
Weaknesses:
erm....i only tested it...
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS......Yucks!!!i hate this bike, im gonna get rid of it and get the SC chameleon!!
Bottom Line:
Its now at the Bike shop and sooner or later it will be at my room!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
steve p
a Weekend Warrior
from essex Date Reviewed: July 25, 1999
Awesome bike! Top tube is low enough that I actually went one size up from my normal size (which is good because I have a long torso). Very rigid frame. Shifting is precise. The bike feels very light yet strong. My recomendation: Don't test ride one unless you're willing to part with your money because one ride.....and you're hooked.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Linda
a Racer
from Kastelowitz Date Reviewed: April 6, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The stiffness of this frame is amazing. This makes a pleasure out of cimbing that I think is worth the weight of the bike. I found the front wheel they spec the bike to have a little flex, but thats a simple up-grade.
Bike Setup:
Full XT with SID XC
Bottom Line:
This is great bike for trail riding and as a mid-level XC it also. I had almost no complants with the components Santa Cruz specs with it. No house brands =).
Overall Rating:
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