|
Santa Cruz
2000 Chameleon XTR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Terry
a
from Alpharetta
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bottom Line: | Well...It's been over a year now and overall....this bike sucks. I will agree with what Jill says below about the disk brakes. I had to get rid of mine because the rear caliper kept leaking leaving me to ride with only the front. That sucks. I changed to XTR and have not had problem. After rebuilding for a third time...and another derailleur....I made it three rides before it screwed up again. I will stick to what I said before, it would be best to use it as a single speed. Actually, the best place for this bike is on the rack and not on the trail. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jill
a Downhiller
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything that points downhill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Snappy geometry, ultra-stiff, versatile, looks awesome, GREAT service from Santa Cruz | | Weaknesses: | Disk brake adapter location | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale CAAD3, Santa Cruz Superlight, Santa Cruz Bullit, Gary Fisher | | Bike Setup: | Bombshell Athena XC fork, Grimeca disk brakes, Proshift shifter/rear derailleur, Maxxis tires | | Bottom Line: | I don't know what this yo-yo ahead of me is talking about but I have never had one single problem with my Chameleon's chain alignment (resulting in poor rear derailleur performance) nor has Santa Cruz ever been anything but awesome to work with. I work in the industry and I have to admit that they are probably one of the best run small frame manufacturers anywhere. But that's beside the point. The point is that the Chameleon is a true do-it-all bike; I used to race mine cross country (until I bought a Santa Cruz Superlight) but have recently switched it over to a dual-slalom/play bike. You won't find a stiffer ride and the handling is so predictable. The short, squared-tubing chainstays make it climb like crazy and handle like a dream. The only weakness I have found is the position the disk brake adapter places your brake caliper; it basically puts it in an upside-down position which results in making your brake lines a bit short. This is a problem if you use Grimeca or Shimano XT disk brakes that have braided brake lines that you can't cut; so you end up with brake lines that are a little too short (but still rideable) or lines that are yards too long (if you go up to the longer length). At $499 bucks (frame), they are a super buy; you can afford to put the goods on it. Overall, the Chameleon kicks butt...go buy yourself one or two. 5 flaming yons for the Chameleon. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terry Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from Alpharetta, Ga USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anything down hill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Strengths: | Very solid...no flex at all.
Climbs much better than I do | | Weaknesses: | Santa Cruz customer service.... don't expect too much. | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, Migura discs, Mars1 shock | | Bottom Line: | Make sure that your dealer knows how to put the bike together. It has to be just right. I am running a 9 speed XTR drivetrain and have had to replace the rear derailleur twice. When used in granny gear(sometimes I just have to) it grinds against the top pulley making horrible noise and destroying the derailleur. Mine has been re-assembled TWICE by two different mechanics and I still have the problem. Everyone (except Santa Cruz) seems to think that it's the design of the rear drop outs....I'm really not sure. I am getting kinda tired of replacing derailleurs though. Don't count on Santa Cruz to help too much. While I have been able to talk with real people, it appears that they are all talk ond no action. So far, they have done nothing that they said they would do.
I'm sure I haven't been the only one with this problem.
If you order a build kit with your bike, make sure you get what you order. I ordered an XTR kit but recieved some XT parts (verified by Santa Cruz).
Overall, the bike is pretty good.... but my advise would be to use it only as a single speed. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
X-COUNTRY PORNSTAR
a Cross Country Rider
from LONG ISLAND,NEW YORK
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | SEVERD DICK,PRE-REAPER..ETC. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | ITS VERY TOUGH ,ITS AN AWSOME JUMP BIKE, GREAT ON UPHILLS. FAST! FAST! FAST! GREAT PRICE IF YOU JUST BUY THE FRAME AND BUILD ON IT LIKE I DID. | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | MT.TAM, GT ZAZKAR LE, ROCKY MOUNTAIN THIN AIR. | | Bike Setup: | FULL XTR, FULL RACE FACE, BONTRAGER RACE LITE RIMS, KING HEADSET,SID XC,THOMSON ELITE POST,NANO RAPTOR TIRES. | | Bottom Line: | ALL AROUND GREAT BIKE, A GOOD QUALITY FRAME FOR A REASONABLE PRICE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 2658.00
