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Submitted by
surfzombo
a Downhiller
from Smogtown, California
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Up 7th | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | Hacienda Schwinn (RI | | Strengths: | Still a good strong frame after 11+ years. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | Dedicated single speed for at least 10 years. Old '97 Marzocchi Z2 Bombers that have been rebuilt time and time again and are still (kinda) plush. I've a short stubby CNC'd stem to set me back on the bike because this Chameleon just loves STEEP. | | Bottom Line: | I've been running this frame fer a long, long time (her frame No. is 328). She's a great workhorse, but loves being set free and pointed down hill. Matter of fact, and not to pat myself on the back, just yesterday the bike and I smoked some guy on an Ibis Mojo on the local downhill. I don't know how the newer Chameleon's ride. I hear they're made in Taiwan. (mine was made in the USA). RIDE ON!!!!!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gager5000
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | North west MTB centr | | Strengths: | Sold ride, strong frame, looks gorgeous | | Weaknesses: | No rear disc brake mount, paint. | | Bike Setup: | SID 100's, LX groupset, Hope wheels | | Bottom Line: | I have this bike for 7 years now and I'm still not bored of it. It still gives me the same buzz now as when I first rode it. Granted, the paint works past its best but its seen off several groupsets, done many thousands of miles and I still get people talking to me about it on the trails. Its not the best XC bike in the world, or the best racer but it'll be very good at anything you try on it. Guess thats why the call it the do it all hardtail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wardo
a Cross Country Rider
from calgary canada
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | ickysticky | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | local dumster | | Strengths: | well i just picked this frame up from beside my local dumpster lol! what kind of idiot throws out a perfectly good frame! so i stripped it down no cracks or dents anywhere! i was pretty stoked from there on in! painted it white with a chameleon stenciled on it (it really looks sweet) and am now starting to build it up im going to love this bike its super light and looks strong! | | Weaknesses: | i cant complain with a free frame! | | Similar Products Used: | stinkys norco 4x | | Bike Setup: | fox vanilla RLC, single track rims, bonerager cranks and bash guard, xt drivetrain, stroker trail brakes, | | Bottom Line: | i cant wait to ride it! im going to use it for my xc ripper and commuter because i allready have a stinky for everything else! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manuel Araica
a Cross Country Rider
from Rowland Heights
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | super strong | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | s-works | | Bike Setup: | thompson-kk set-single speed 34/18 white industries- | | Bottom Line: | I just finished building up this used frame from ebay and I cannot be happier. This a do it all bike. I love the horizontal drop out and my surly chain tensioner. I took for a ride and to my surprise and I was still passing all the geared boys in front of me. I have an s-works as single speed and it is more agile and faster than my lizard, but I got the lizard to do technical single tracks and take it to more uneven terrain. A+. I called Santa Cruz to complain about the fact thay they are not building more horizontal dropout and you will have to deal with EBB. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle Hewitt
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, England
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardsough | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisure Lakes | | Strengths: | Handling, strength, durability. | | Weaknesses: | Will not accept larger than a 2.1 rear tire.
Disc adaptor is a bad design. | | Similar Products Used: | Norco Sasquatch, Cannondale Chase2, Spooky MetalHead, Gt Zaskar. | | Bike Setup: | Series1 (1999) Large polished frame, 2002 Marzocchi DJ1's, 8speed cassette, DH wheelset, 2" riser bars, Avid Supreme Arch rear brake (possibly the best rim brake ever made), Hope Mini disk front. | | Bottom Line: | Im trading this bike in after 5 years of sterling service and will be sad to see it go. I have riden everything on it-BMX tracks, Welsh Forestry commission trails, dirt jump trails, XC, DH, commuting to work when snowing etc etc and its never let me down.
The handling was a revelation from the first time I built it up and rode it to the last ride.
Pity there now made in Taiwan. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Jewett
a Downhiller
from Hacienda Hgts., CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere in the Puente Hills | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | Hacienda Schwinn | | Strengths: | Besides being a blast to ride, it's conversation starter. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing compares | | Bike Setup: | SS, Paul WORD hubs laced onto Rhyno lite rims, IRC Mythos 2.10 front tire on the rear,IRC Kujo 2.65 on the front hooked up to my old '97 Marzocchi Z-2's,XTR V's, Race Face cranks w/ platforms, Chris King head-set with wide ass Powertools handlebars, Thomson seatpost w/ Crossbow seat | | Bottom Line: | I've been beating this bike senseless for over 5 years now. She started out with gears but was soon converted to SS. She has been my car and recreation vehicle the whole time and takes what ever abuse that I can dish out. I'm proud to own such a great bike. I know this sounds like a lot of gushing clap-trap but it's how I feel about my Cal-Trans orange Chameleon. Sure, the paint jobs got some dings, but that's just a bikes way of showing age wrinkles. Good strong welds. NO cracking that I can see and I take good care of this bike maintenance wise. Be the first on yer block and buy one TODAY !!!!!! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a
from Boise, ID
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Feels lighter than it is, Built like a tank, fun as heck-fire. Forces you to enjoy riding a bike again. It's a Santa Cruz. | | Weaknesses: | Hmmmm, if I really had to pick something, I'd say the chain stay sticks out to much/or is too wide/thick. Every once in a while the heel of my shoe will clip it. But, that usually only happens if I'm not clipped in, and no, I don't have big feet (9.5). But ironically, the beefy chain stay is what I love about this bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Skykomish! | | Bike Setup: | XT/XTR, Thompson, CK hubs-n-head, Magura Free Ride disc, Psylo, Mavic F219. | | Bottom Line: | After being on full suspension (SC Heckler) for a while I was a little nervous about this purchase, but I needed a back-up bike. I was amazed at how fun this bike is, it’s so quick and stiff. Climbs much better then I expected. It tracks really well, jumps great, and I never have that fear that I’m going to break it.
After my Heckler, I never thought I could fall in love again, but the fact is the Chameleon is my new love (more stiff in the rear than my FS, but my Nokians take up the bumps nice). To show my complete obsession with this frame, I’m buying another one for single speeding. And holy crap, it’s only 500 bux! For that price why would I waste my time converting it back and forth every weekend?
After riding a hard tail again, I realized that I got lazy because of the FS. A lot of riders think hardtails are a thing of the past, Which just means they are old and lazy, and have lost the fun-factor in riding a bike.
Go get this Frame, and put the Fun-Factor back in riding.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Hawes Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | Adventure Bicycle Co. | | Strengths: | Stiff, stiff, stiff. But very smooth. Corners like crazy. I can bury the front tire in turns, it holds tight and I can launch out of the corner without hesitation. That's what I love most about this bike, it is so much fun on the slalom and fast, rolling downhills. It's strong. I can't imagine breaking the frame. It doesn't flex a bit, no matter how high I jump. | | Weaknesses: | It's stiff. My fatigue factor went way up with this bike. An hour and a half to two hours and I'm done (it's set up as a single speed - so I'm done anyway). There are no other weaknesses. It's geometry is perfect for me. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized M2 Pro, Titus Riddler, a couple FS's | | Bike Setup: | Easton Monkey Light, SLR Saddle, Syncros carbon fiber post, Fox Float 100 RLC (adjusted to 80mm), Chris King headset, Avid Single Digit 7 brakes, TruVativ Stylo cranks, White Industries hubs (Eric's Eno on the rear) laced to Mavic UST tubeless rims. | | Bottom Line: | What a great SS frame. Mine is an '03 model, before the extra gussets at the headtube. Mine seems plenty strong, but a little extra beef can't hurt. I can ride the crap out of this thing with no worries. It has nice tight geometry. You can throw it around and it responds instantly. It would be questionable as a geared hardtail. I think the long rides might beat me up too much. It's great for a quick - go out and beat yourself to death and then have a beer - type of ride. I wouldn't race it. I race locally at the beginner/sport level and my Titus Riddler is far more well suited for the task. I will, however, keep it as my dedicated SS. No frame does everything perfect, but this thing is just damn fun to ride. But maybe I just like SS too much. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
w.
a Cross Country Rider
from North Carolina
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$325.00 | | Purchased At: | new from classifieds | | Strengths: | have the new design and really love it. the bike is as stiff and tough as other reviews state. it is made by santa cruz -- quality is better than a good warranty | | Weaknesses: | i am comming from a heckler so the stiff rear is taking some getting used to (see below) | | Similar Products Used: | I have owned a cannondale hardtail, sc heckler (new one) | | Bike Setup: | switch between psylo (for adjustment) and vanilla (for buttery smooth strength), balanced light vs strong components, disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | so far the bike has been great. i had to free up some $$ so I sold the heckler and picked up a chameleon. took it out for a trial and totaled my rear wheel on a fairly small drop (guess I showed my rider skill that day). the frame took the rider/ cheap rear wheel error without complaint. the bike is light and strong -- the gussets (esp the headtube) and disc mounts are enough to warrent selling your old on and buying the new one. I don't want to be a banner boy for sc, but they make the toughest bikes on the market for a trail rider not looking to take out a loan. get the newer versions -- the chameleon and heckler and almost different bikes than they were a few years back. If I have any problems or complaints, I'll let you know | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from West Chicago, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Kettle | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | www.richardsbicycles.com | | Strengths: | Tricked out tubing, aggressive geometry, awesome paint job, versatile uses. | | Weaknesses: | None as of yet...I'll post if anything surfaces | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Specialized, Schwinn, Litespeed, Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | TruVativ crankset and BB, XT, Hayes Disc, Ritchey bars/stem, Ritchey wheel set, Thompson Elite seat post, Crank Bros Candy peds, Rock Shok Psylo SL | | Bottom Line: | Sweet bike, scuba yellow w/black components. So far the bike exceeds my expectations. Was turned on to the frame after talking to a wrencher at local bike shop. Great reviews on MTBReview pushed me to get one and I'm not disappointed. The frame is well built, beefy, yet light. Get the 2003.5 or later frame set for nice improvements. Bike handles very well on tight singletrack and climbs especially well (duh, compared to my 30 lb plus hardtail). Psylo fork is great, easy to set travel from 85-125 at the turn of the dial and the handlebar quick release lock-out is a nice feature. Purchased the bike from Richards Bicycles in Palos, (check 'em out on the web at www.richardsbicycles.com) Great group of guys and a ton of high end bikes...they'll ship anywhere and have killer prices! Look forward to the upcoming season so I can put it to the test! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a
from tx
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | direct from SC | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up to my previous post. After sending my frame to SC they charged me $200 for a replacement frame. I opted for the polish finish which put the total to $250. The redesigned frame looks great! 2003.5 and newer frames are now beefier than the 2002's newer design and the 2001's and older original design. Cool BMX style gussets where the toptube and downtube meet, beefier headtube, and ovalized downtube! They even changed the rear end from the previous 02' redesign. FINALLY some integrated disc mounts on top that work with the bike setup the way it should be, SS!! Also, SC changed the seat tube diameter from 27.2 to 30.9, hmmm wonder why!! I have to say that I still love the bike and will probably keep riding the SC Chameleon till the day I die. I still wish that SC had a better warranty but $250 isn't to bad for this sweet a$$ ride. 5 turds for the new design!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Greenland, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anything | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Hoback Sports | | Strengths: | Stiff, Strong, Light, Fast, Great geometry, attractive. | | Weaknesses: | none yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Dean Jester, Voodoo team ti, and various other late 80's, early 90's hardtails | | Bike Setup: | SS: Paul Hubs, Mavic X517, Hutch Python-Lite 2.1, Paul Brakes, Zokes MX-Comp, Easton Monkeylite bars, Thomson stem, King HS, Easton Carbon post, Raceface cranks & BB, Spot chainguard, 32T front with 16T Sun-Race clutchless freewheel, speedplay frogs. everything is black and NO Shimano parts to be found on this backwoods rig! | | Bottom Line: | tight bike! anyone looking for the best climbing singlespeed frame on the market should look no further than the Santa Cruz Chameleon. i've been riding this bike hard for over 2 years now, and have seen no frame faults or paint issues that have been listed in other reviews. i've never set it up with gears, so no comments on the issues with chainstay width and clearance issues. maybe i just got lucky? anyway, get one of these frames and build a SS or geared bike that will elevate your game. frame is definitely confidence inspiring, considering the super stout rear-end. long top-tube is good for descents, and wheelbase is still relatively short with tight chainstay length for sprinting. Probably the most agile Singletrack bike i have ever ridden. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D-Money
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, Texas
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Ant Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | West U Schwinn | | Strengths: | Light and strong, handles like a pi$$ed-off spider and stiff as a brick. Awesome bright apple-green color. | | Weaknesses: | little room for the rear tire and gears, had to one-off the fitting for the disc brakes | | Similar Products Used: | some overpriced trek from a chain store | | Bike Setup: | ritchey crank, deore/XT shifters/derailleurs, bontrager wheels, hutch tires, disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | Great little rig and a value to boot. Could have used more room for the rear gearset and tires, plus disc mounts, but I understand they fixed that with the new redesign. Bike does not rattle or shimmy when it takes my 220 pounds over drops and declines, very tight handling | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from tx
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS (employee purchase) | | Strengths: | -stiff
-light
-horizontal drops
-looks cool!! | | Weaknesses: | -stupid attachment for rear disc doesn't allow you to use disc brakes on the rear when setup SS.
-paint doesn't stand up to much
-frame cracks where seat tube meets with the top tube
-crappy 2 year warranty and a$$hole customer service!!
| | Similar Products Used: | lots | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Chameleon SS, King headset/hubs, XTR levers, Truvativ Stylos, WTB 2.24s, Fox 125 RL | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike! However, after riding the bike for a little under 2 years the frame has cracked. The bad thing is my buddy's Chameleon cracked a few weeks ago and now mine's cracked in the same spot, (seat tube just over the top tube!) I think the enormous amount of seatpost you have to run may have contributed to this failure. Seems like it might be a design flaw. SC has a 2 year warranty on this year model and a 1 year for older frames. This SUCKS! Not to mention the customer service guys are real jerks. My buddy was treated badly and ended up having to pay $250 for a new frame since it was a 2000 and out of it's 1 year warranty. Mine is just now getting to SC and I'm sure that I'll end up getting screwed and have to pay $250 for a new one. I love the bike but it should have a better warranty. Warranty issues and crappy customer service keep me from giving it 5 flaming turds!!! When I find out what SC does with mine I'll update this review. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
claudio
a Weekend Warrior
from ITALY
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | technical | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Integrated disk mount
huge space for rear tyre
gusset bullit style | | Weaknesses: | maybe i will find in time? I think not | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale sm500, kona chute, chameleon 99-2k | | Bike Setup: | z1 drop-off 2k2 130mm, xt, dt onix hubs w. mavic f519 and michelin hot-s ( or nokian nbx rear, gazza core front ), formula b4 | | Bottom Line: | Just finished building the day before yesterday.
I have only had the time to familiarise with it yesterday, so i cannot be very precise with my impressions.
Anyway first riding impression is great. Feels like the old one,that i liked a lot, maybe a bit more stable, the same light handling.
It has solved the problems of the old model, that are disk adaptor and poor space for rear tyre. It is also more beautiful than the old one.
I am only surprised that i could'nt find any advertising about the re-design of a bike like the chameleon.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jumpy
a Downhiller
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | a hook-up | | Strengths: | Adaptable, calculated numbers, SS capability, stiff frame, very durable | | Weaknesses: | why would anyone put their caliper mount where these gus did? No more dropout grinds.... although I still use it for JUST that! | | Similar Products Used: | DB reactor, bruiser, homegrown, my bullit | | Bike Setup: | 03 DJ1 20mm, 8"/6" Deore hydro's, sovos cassette/disc R. hub, 26"x2.5" hookworms, northshore's/guard, azonic 1 /12 bar shorty deluxe stem. other various parts in rotation do to ongoing durability issues | | Bottom Line: | Best HT urban bike to date that I've had. Even my stupid friends like it! I like my bullet and all, but little chameleon is the street king. Coming off a lil' bigger bike was wierd, but this bike does very well for itself. 6.5' to flat can be pulled out of yer A$# easily. the SS drivetrain is very specific, but eliminates DT skip and excess parts to kill off. does great stoppies, manuals, and stupid bike tricks. It runs rings around my bruiser, which I thought was the way to go until now. the smaller TT (21.5" med) helps w/ lifting the front a ton. It looks really dumb sitting next to my bullit but only because it's the same frickin color and I look like some team jerk. It bunnyhops WAY over wheel high w/out even barely trying. No downhill use intended, but I could build it that way if I wanted to. der.'s DO fit, but SS and urban are the combo right now. I had an ultegra derailleur on there, but it was crazy lound and hit the frame too much for me to want to keep the bike that way. then gears went bye-bye. Had a fox 125RLC on there, but that thing flaked out nice and quick, so a new zokey was ordered up-problem solved. I like this bike and will probably not part with it easily. If you ride urban, get hookworms! no more slippy slip on the urban front! One thing: pease please please get the caliper mount ABOVE harm's way! It comes up, ok santa cruz? these guys are known for bikes without issues, and this one's just like it's big brothers. True versatility....Makes for one siiiiiiiick stealth fighter. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Myers
a
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Deep Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Versatile, XC, DH, DS, FR, whatever you can throw at it... | | Weaknesses: | None | | Bike Setup: | Built Strong | | Bottom Line: | Great bike. I owe it to this bike to write up a review after 2 years of great riding. I have ridden this bike all over WA... St. Helens, Capt Forest, Seattle area, North Sore, Squamish BC, Whister BC, Cascades, etc. It has performed excellent in all conditions. It has also made me a better rider. You watch your line and learn to choose the smoothest route. The tail end is stiff and very responsive. No complaints about pain because it's polished. Beautiful welds on the head tube with gorgeous square chain stays. You can pound up hills with ease and accelerate down hills with confidence. If you're concerned of it being too stiff then buy a full suspenseion bike. This is a brilliant hardtail. If you want to build skills and are looking for dependability I would grab one of these. Santa Cruz makes a bad boy product and this bike is just one example of that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nick
a Weekend Warrior
from leeds england
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | stif sport | | Strengths: | unbreakable,cool colourlight weight for such a strong frame | | Weaknesses: | i'm told crap paint but iv'e not had it long enough to notice. | | Similar Products Used: | trek 4500,club roost evo | | Bike Setup: | xt/deore transmission,cheap vuelta wheels,bontranger stem,bars,avid brakes,marzocchi mx comp | | Bottom Line: | having only just got back in to mtb and only riding a trek 4500i wasn't sure about the step up to a chameleon,i wasn't sure if it would make a difference to my riding,but as soon as i got to the bottom of the first hill i have to climb,wow it climbed,i knew from that point that i had made the right decision.riding single track it is begging to be hammered,just point and it goes,i wish i was fit enougth to do this bike justice,i haven't really given it much air yet as i'm not sure my wheels will hold up,but i will when i upgrade them.to sum up i have to say it has given me a lot more confidence,knowing that it will not break and it is a joy to ride and it certainly puts a smile on your face.....if you like x country and like to ride hard go buy one,you might even start to do a bit of freeride...price is in pounds not dollars.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sam
a
from downtown los angeles
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | JPL angeles forest san juan | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | helens | | Strengths: | its ability to be a all rounder bike up down it doesnt mater this even makes a great messenger bike with some semi slicks | | Weaknesses: | rear tire clearance very tight bt thats about it unless you care about the harsh ride hahahha i dont its just control to me | | Similar Products Used: | i took apart my stumpjumper and my zaskar to make this bike so the parts are off both i also have a gt 1.0 road bike and a 00 1500 i drive | | Bike Setup: | i took most of my 01,stumpjumper parts like 517 wheelset handlebars and the whole xt drivetrain and from my gt i took the 4" bombers raceface cranks and my contin vertical pro tires biachi green super soft seat and kore stem avid ti brakes | | Bottom Line: | i took apart my favorite bike for this one bike my gt is ready to rest its been through alot and will live on my stumpjumper is to delicate so its going to storage my chameleon is white with white bombers the it bascially has all my stumpumper parts o nit and is very light but i dont have to worry about it denting this bike is super strong i dont think ill ever need a nother hardtail unless i miss my gt zaskar i compare these 2 bikes all the time | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | North Shore | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | private | | Strengths: | A great bike for climbing and so quiet on the descents. Will take any terrain out there. | | Weaknesses: | Aboslutely none. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper M2 | | Bike Setup: | Manitou X-Vert Super | | Bottom Line: | The first time I rode this bike I knew I was on something special. The first climb felt like the trail was flat. The bike seems to be always right under you no matter what you throw at it. Unbelievable on the descents. Makes you a better rider each time out. Your confidence will soar riding this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
richard ponec
a Downhiller
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | cbc | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | flip cycles (fully built) | | Strengths: | strong, light, short wheelbase. awsome downhill,over drops,this bike can handle anything. great for trials and dirt jumping, this is a realy versetile bike. | | Weaknesses: | no weekness, except that its very popular with the shifty eyed man with the file in his pocket. | | Similar Products Used: | nothing yet. | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi z1, xtr v brakes rest xt | | Bottom Line: | totaly awsome. a must buy for any freestyle/trials/dirt jump rider. 10 flamin chilis for the best hardtail frame out there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan
a
from uk
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | geometry fits perfect and it already feels like i been riding this bike for ever
accelerates like omg
strong
light
fast stable and confidence inspiring
looks sweeeeeeeeet
&c | | Weaknesses: | yawhat?
maybe it looks too nice | | Similar Products Used: | kona, zaskar, blah | | Bike Setup: | z1/xt | | Bottom Line: | omg
i am a better rider than i was last week
ok so i should wait longer to review this i guess but already i am so damn impressed
i go faster and glide several inches above the trail and take off from jumps like from an aircraft carrier
it's a shame that im gon break a lot of the components on the bike
buy one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
super duper
a Weekend Warrior
from the District
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | caney loop | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | small bike shop | | Strengths: | sooper kill construction, beautiful craftsmanship, very good handling. it's a four pound frame but it sure doesn't feel like it. stiff rear end- accelerates and climbs dooper good. | | Weaknesses: | crackhead magnets | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale f1000, fisher paragon | | Bike Setup: | lx hubs, xt everything else, avid sd 1.9L v's, b valiant rims, thomson post, hutch pythons, manitou mars c | | Bottom Line: | this bike is stunning in polished alu. out in dogpatch it kills. climbs hills like a quadraplegic tryin' to walk again. very comfortable in the jumps, the fast descents, the switchbacks, all that stuff. this bike also seems very safe at insane speed, as it is extremely easy to pull out of certain death type situations. have never really wiped out too bad on the trails, and i probably should have. only thing is crackheads love 'em. as in love to steal 'em. that means forget about riding them around campus. i love the bike. get it for the american non-robot-made craftsmanship. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PJ Paulson
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, AB Canada eh!
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Pebble Beach | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Calgary Cycle | | Strengths: | Predictible, quick but not nervous, nice strength to weight ratio, beefy stays, top tube cable routing, short stays and long top tube. | | Weaknesses: | Slotted drop-outs are awkward for quick changes, disc brake mount should be above chainstays, tough to fit a decent size 24" tire on rear | | Similar Products Used: | American Comp light hartail, brodie climbax, trek 8900, Kona explosive, brodie evolution, FSR XC, San Andreas, Kona Roast. | | Bike Setup: | Easton Carbon Monkey light bar 1.5", thompson Elite stem, ahead-set, raceface prodigy splined cranks, Weyless pedals, avid mechanical discs, XTR with gripshift, Mavic 219 and Mavic 317 on Hugi 240 hubs | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, versatile, strong. I haven't ridden a better hartail yet. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
c t
a Weekend Warrior
from dublin
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Jauquin Miller in Oakland | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Best frame I have ever owned! Stable going downhill, corners very fast, nimble, easy to throw around. The way I have the bike set up it feels like a XC/BMX/Slalom/urban bike. Much more stable and confident going downhill than the dual suspension FSR XC I owned previously. Short and thick chainstays make the bike accelerate quick. Climbing is no problem even with a four inch fork. I have owned four bikes over the past 10 years and this is my favorite so far. | | Weaknesses: | No rear disc break attachment. Although I don't plan on switching to disc brakes this bike could use them. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky mountain reaper | | Bike Setup: | 90mm stem, riserbars, raceface cranks, gripshifts, panaracer fire XC, mustang XT wheelset, SID 100, XTR V-brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Highest recommendations if you want a do everything bike!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruce Buck
a
from Provo, UT
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | mtbr | | Strengths: | Stiff; FAST acceleration; STRONG; awesome geometry; VERY versatile; Handles great | | Weaknesses: | Rear disc mount not very stiff. LOW resale value. Paint quality is questionable | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Z5 130mm; Hayes hydros; Tioga 2.3s; Sun Rhyno Lite XL; etc. | | Bottom Line: | THIS IS AN AWESOME HARDTAIL!!! I'm 5'6" and this is the only frame that I felt fit me PERFECTLY (MED.)!!! Great geometry. Even with a 5" fork it handled great. YES it IS stiff, but that pays off on a steep climb (great climber) and for urban riding (FAST, FAST acceleration). No sign of flex. If you want to take the edge off the bumps, run a 2.3 or 2.4 tire and run about 35psi. Burly enough for rocky downhill and urban drop-offs.
While the disc rotor adapter didn't seem to be very secure (bolted down tight enough), I NEVER had a problem with having rocks/twigs damage it. Horizontal dropouts held the wheel in place fine; no slippage. The shifting was PERFECT due to a thick, stiff derailleur hanger.
I'm going back to full suspension (Bullit), but if I were to get a hardtail again, it would HAVE to be a Chameleon! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anders
a Weekend Warrior
from Madbury, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | wheel power | | Strengths: | light, stiff, awesome warranty, good rear wheel clearance | | Weaknesses: | horizontal dropout r annoying to get wheel out. also, sometimes the wheel slides back if i hit something hard. disk brake mount is scary looking - it hangs below chainstay. | | Similar Products Used: | GT zaskar and pantera | | Bike Setup: | all xt, sun mammoths, 2.35 kujo front/2.2 michelin dh rear, profile cranks/bb, race face rings ring bash guard-32-22, marzocchi 99 z1 5", answer bar(bent a little), control tech short stem, xtr seatpost, cheap wtb seat, oddessy triple traps | | Bottom Line: | besides from the little annoyances, its an awesome bike. i use it mainly for urban riding, but wanna try dh on it sometime. its only 4lbs so i can j-hop easily on it. wheelies great also. i havent had any problems with it yet(and hopefully never), but if/when something does happen, theres the lifetime manufacturers cost warranty on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tommaso
a Weekend Warrior
from Pistoia, Italy
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Metanodotto | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Rig design | | Strengths: | Stiffness: you can't imagine what is stiffness before you have tried this frame.
Fastness, both up and down.
Great Stability and precision, you choose where you want to pass from and the bike does what you ask her. | | Weaknesses: | Bo! I did'nt find any yet. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Chameleon, shimano xt group, formula b4 disc brakes and votec gs fork set at 100mm. | | Bottom Line: | At the moment the best bike I've ever had. I gave away my sc superlight because it was too light for my purposes, the rear triangle moved to much on the sides when I went downhill.
I thought I would have problems with such a stiff frame... but my back is doesn't hurts me.
Going up is good but the real joy is going down faster and faster, more than my old Full Suspension.
I love it!!! 10 chilis to this bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JJ NIX
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hulks Lair | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Great for Aggressive or Larger Rider! I'm 6'4" and 230 Lbs.
and have ridden this bike for over 2 years. It has taken me across town and through the roughest Rock Gardens. Overall this Bike Rocks. Everyone says it has a Stiff Ride! It does! However when dialed in with the proper Build Kit and Components. You will hardly notice your riding the Beefiest Chainstays on the Block. I Jump on this bike and Forget I ever Looked at a Full Suspension. | | Weaknesses: | None! | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Lava Dome | | Bike Setup: | XTR Drivetrain, Avid Arch Supreme brakes with Speed Dial Levers, Race Face Cranks and Stem, Chris King Headset, Azonic 1.5 Riser Bars, Marzocchi Z2 Atom 80 and Rhyno Lite Rims with King Hubs. Oh Yeah, SDG Belair Saddle with a Rock Shox suspension seat post to take the Harshness Out. | | Bottom Line: | This bike when not in use sits in our Living Room right next to the Big Screen (To the dismay of my Wife). I spend less time on the Couch and more time Riding this way. A very Versital Bike that over time has proven to be a great investment. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Moshman
a
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | The Chameleon is light, strong and has great geometry. I love the fact that u can do almost anything with it. It's light enuff for XC, but strong enuff for jumping and some trialsing. | | Weaknesses: | None that I can think of yet. Maybe the fact that it's difficult to accomodate a fat DH tyre in the rear becoz the chainstays are so beefy. | | Bike Setup: | Avid arch rivals, azonic handlebar, thompson sten, XT and LX mix for drivetrain, Roox cranks .... | | Bottom Line: | If u want to buy a hardtail and your riding style encompasses a lot of things from XC to trials, the chameleon is the only choice. It does everything and does them well.
All in all, a great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Reynolds
a Racer
from Drexel Hill, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | bike world | | Strengths: | Probably the best hardtail for the dollar, SUPERSTIFF, great geometry, fast as hell, takes a beating, and just a great all around ride. | | Weaknesses: | Decals and paint are a bit shabby | | Similar Products Used: | TREK 8500, TREK Elite, and an ELsworth hardtail that cant compete with this frame. | | Bike Setup: | JUDY Race w/air upgrade, XT, Bontrager race comp., and Rolf Dolomite wheels. | | Bottom Line: | I would reccomend this bike to everyone who wants a fast, responsive hardtail that you can beat the living piss out of. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TIm S
a Downhiller
from Edmonton
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | ewok | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | RVCN | | Strengths: | awesome geo, rigid, point and go and oohhh so strong | | Weaknesses: | the decals aren't clearcoated but who cares | | Similar Products Used: | CRAPPP GT, Gaary Ficher | | Bike Setup: | Z.1 Qr20 full xt sun ryno lites, Race face sweeeetetete | | Bottom Line: | GET it now i've loved every minute on this frame best deal out there i'm 6'8 240 and have felt no flex unbeleivalbr
5 all wound | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Trials
a Racer
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with dirt, whether here or elsewhere | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Johnny Sprocket's | | Strengths: | Basically this bike is as good as they come. Extremely nimble, extremely strong. It is the most versatile bike I've ever owned. It can serve as a cross-country, big hit, trials, slalom or singlespeed. This bike is for people who ride, not for those who think they ride or talk about riding. | | Weaknesses: | The decals are stickers, and therefore aren't clearcoated (not protected) and are easily damaged. Cry me a river. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn HomeGrown, Brew 200 proof, Cannondale M 800, Norco Team edition trials frame. | | Bike Setup: | XT Drivetrain, Fox Vanilla fork, Avid mech disc front, Raceface ISIS cranks, 0° Rims (14gspokes) | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. It is the coolest bike I have ever owned in 8 years of riding. This is a no BS bike. Enough said. Go Santa Cruz. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom james
a Downhiller
from kingston washington
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | rut of doom; thors udnies; washington | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Bainbridge Island Cycles. | | Strengths: | oh god; where to begin.
sooooo stiff. stiffer than titanium, yht it is alum. yhow do they do that?!>?!
Fast fast fast. i have ridden many many many bikes, this is by far the fasteest of any of the.
lightweight. with xt and raveface can weigh 22.5 pounds
so strong. i have wheelie dropped five foooters, didnt even dent the rims.
so great geometry. anyone can manual, wheelie drop or manual drop with ease on this bike | | Weaknesses: | the tinniest bit unstable.
forged on deraileur mount.
paint and decals are not bombproof. but who gives a shi.t?
chain derails more often than i would like but i think its chain tension, not the frame.
| | Similar Products Used: | others exist? | | Bike Setup: | judy sl. lx and xt parts | | Bottom Line: | oh god. i love this bike.
can be slightly unstable on highspeed extreme-back-wheel landings, mostly because its so light.
this bike is so strong and stiff. i have ridden 6 foot drops and four foot wheelie drops and have yet to feel anything flex. nothing flexes.
this bike is like a trained dog; it sits awaiting your command, not twitchy or nervous, but once you say the word it jumps to the task. and excels. the geometry on this bike is so beautiful.
this bike is so light, i can bunnyhop a foot!
*************************bottom line
Will manual wheelie, or descend anything!
the rear end is not forgiving at high speeds, also sluightly unstable.
So strong. So stiff.
THIS BIKE IS LORD!
BUY THIS BIKE! if you hate it email me and i will buy it from you.
one thing to consider
cockpit is fairly short. hurts back on long road rides. not a commuter bike. stock saddle is a rock
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Weekend Warrior
from Marblehead, MA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Lynn Woods | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$475.00 | | Purchased At: | International Bicycle centers | | Strengths: | Tough as nails, beefy, did i mention strong?? Its also pretty very light as far as Dual slalom frames go. | | Weaknesses: | none yet, and i really doubt there will be any | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8500, Gary Fisher hoo koo e koo | | Bike Setup: | full XT, icon cranks/stem, rhyno lite wheelset, thompson post, monkey lite, RS psylo race | | Bottom Line: | SICK BIKE! I am in love with this bike, although it may just be because my last bike was a hardcore XC bike that couldnt take a drop for it's life. The frame is light, strong and perfectly built for dropping, launching, descending, small time trials, urban assault..you get the idea. Buy a chameleon, you will be very happy with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from T.O. Canada
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardwood Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Trail Blazers Cycles | | Bottom Line: | This is just an update from my last review. I've really been giving this bike quite the beating over the past while, and it's truly been amazing. Urban Assault, dirt jumping, 5' drops, and no problems. I'm so happy with this frame that I'm going to buy a Bullit next. If you're looking for a hartail to throw around, or even to race (done it) this is a dream!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
charlie hobbs
a Weekend Warrior
from bournemouth UK
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$570.00 | | Purchased At: | off camber - blandford | | Strengths: | good weight, real stiff, a lot of fun, real sharp handling | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | sunn single speed | | Bike Setup: | Judy, SINGLESPEED with a DMR hub which is real nice, panracer fire XC, azonic up front and DMR flat pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is magic, and I've never been so emotionally drawn towards a bike before. I spend my evenings sitting in the shed having a beer and just looking at it.
its set up as a high intensity XC bike, single speed (cos I'm 105th in the world) and 100mm of judy. Its real lively, great handling and a lot of fun. I've suddenly become faster because I know it will go where I point it.
The apple green is rad. And as a singlespeed its great, I was worried that it may be a bit stiff and lifeless for a SS, but its got loads of character, and most importantly it transfers power to rear tyre really well. Also as an SS its dealy silent and hassle free, of course!
Best bike I've ever ridden, and I'm now going to roll a fat one and sit in the shed with it for a while | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from usa
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | dumb question | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | cambria | | Strengths: | Very fun to ride! Beefy 1 inch chainstays. Can handle six inch travel forks. Geometry looks killer. S.S XC D/S | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | GT hard tails (not similar) | | Bike Setup: | Z.1 MCR - King Disc on rhynos - Truvativ hussefelts - azonic shorty - Nokians - other stuff | | Bottom Line: | I mostly ride lots of XC on my SL. I wanted a fun bike built like a tank, that I could learn new riding skills on and not have to worry about breaking parts. This bike tears it up on the trail too, it has a dropped top tube that leaves plenty of room to manuever. The rear end is very stiff due to the fat chainstays. I've got Nokian 2.3s on the bike and by lowering the air pressure in the rear tire it helps soak up the harder hits. This frame is very high quality, Santa Cruz pays great attention to details and some how produces this $500.00 frame. At that price you can put some great components on and still save some cash. This is my 2nd Santa cruz frame and I'm already planning my third, if I could rate these guys higher I would!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J D
a Cross Country Rider
from C'ville
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Wilder Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Perfect balance, very centered feel, no power loss b/c of the stiffest rear triangle in the buisness | | Weaknesses: | Stiff ride | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn MOAB1, Homegrown, Trek 7000, Specialized FSR, C'dale Jekyl | | Bike Setup: | Zoke z4 air, truvative cranks and XT drivetrain (2x8), avid 7 brakes, WTB wheelset | | Bottom Line: | Lots of people write reviews and say their bike is the best. Before I had this bike I wanted it....After I got it I loved it but then got the idea to upgrade to full suspension, after testing many different types, I kept coming back to my santa cruz. You see this is the best handling bike I've ever swung a leg over. Goemetry is perfect - you have to try it to believe it. The frame is stiff which is good and bad. Stiff because it basically flattens uphills and I only ride a 2x8. I used to have it set up as a SS and could even suprise myself with how much I could climb with one gear. The bad part it that like others have mentioned- it has a stiff ride. Not a big problem - go get a Ti seatpost, and a supple tire set (all you gear heads should get that new tubeless stuff - I just use a regular 2.1 at low pressure) and you are money. I have no desire to get another mtn bike. This one is so good that I can't blame the bike for anything. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tool
a Cross Country Rider
from Florida
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Reddick, Ocala, FL | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Shop | | Strengths: | Very stiff and over built, perfect for heavy weight riders. Standard geometry 71/73 with sloping top tube fit well with plenty of clearance for the scrotum. Fast sprinting on the staights and great handling through corners. Can be converted from single speed to multi speed to disc brake bike. Large variety of color choices are available. Good price for such a versital bike. | | Weaknesses: | Too stiff for long cross country rides. Disc brake mounted under the chainstay causing the caliper to hit rocks in tight areas. I broke the disc brake adaptor twice. Rear wheel was difficult to remove from the horizonal drop-outs. Cheap paint job with no clear coat -if paint matters. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale F2000, Specialized Stumpjumper M2, Cannondale Killer V900, Cannondale Super V1000. | | Bike Setup: | Hayes brakes, XTR shifters and derailleurs, XT cassette, Race Face cranks, Sun/Real wheelset, Hutchinson Python tires, Thompson seatpost, Selle Italia Flite saddle, Control Tech stem, Mokey Lite handle bar, Time pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for heavy riders or riders wanting a stiff ride. The disc brake mount was terrible. The Chameleon would make a better dual slalom bike than a cross country bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from T.O.
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardwood Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Trail Blazers Cycles | | Strengths: | -STIFF, STIFF, STIFF!
-nice welds--climbs like a goat
-Awesome geometry--versatility | | Weaknesses: | --None--
Well, you can't put any bigger than a 2.4 " tire, but who really cares? | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Klein, Rocky, Thin Blue Line | | Bike Setup: | Full Race Face, Full XT, Maintou SX
Got the one in SCUBA YELLOW :o) | | Bottom Line: | This thing is so stiff that you pedal and you just start to gooooo! The 1" chainstays look cool, the welds are nice, and the geometry is to die for! Never have I found a bike like this. Point and shoot, that's all it is. I can't say enough good things about it, but the reviews do all that is needed :o) 5 Flammers for the frame! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Glenn Z
a Weekend Warrior
from SF, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Downieville (downhill) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | some dude | | Strengths: | PERFECT GEOMETRY...for both front suspension or rigid. | | Weaknesses: | the seat tube slit is in the back...but who gives a !@#$ There are NO Weaknesses. | | Similar Products Used: | M2 Stumpy, Trek, bunch of other crap. | | Bike Setup: | rigid, and front susp. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best out there...the Geometry is perfect. handles like the best bontrager. I ride single speed rigid setup and don't get passed ever. When I first set it up was with a suspension fork and that was great...but then I got a full susp xc bike and used the fork for that and made this bike single speed rigid. Some of my friends have ridden it and it helps them keep up...and they have a pound of resin in their lungs. I could go on...
THIS IS THE BEST ALUMINUM FRAME.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisure Lakes | | Strengths: | This is the new SC Chameleon I'm talking about here and it seems to have had all of my complaints about the original Chameleon sorted out. The frame as a whole has been beefed up considerably including larger tubes all round and an improved head tube gusset. There is now more tyre clearance at the back ( vital for riding in England even in summer ) and the fork crown clearance has also improved a little. I loved my original Chameleon which I had for 18 months, but this is just a bit better, SC have managed to sort out all of the above problems and still retain the superb ride quality of the original. It's strong but easy to throw around especially in the air. Shifting your weight around on the Chameleon seems far easier than on any other bike I've ridden, and yet still manages to feel stable and confident when things get sketchy. An excellent jump and street bike, the quality of the paint job is also up there with the best. | | Weaknesses: | The original chameleon was just a tad underbuilt ( mine snapped at the downtube just below the gusset and at the top tube ), but on first impressions of the new frame that seems to have been addressed. For me personally, if it had just slightly more mud room at the back ( I'm running 2.3s ) and a a BMX style bottom bracket shell then it would be slightly better. Having said that however, it would take away from the all round appeal of this bike. The flash paintjob could also be seen as a weakness as it's pretty hard to miss ( mine's red ) and as it's still quite new I don't want to scratch it yet! | | Similar Products Used: | Original Chameleon, Kona Chute, GT Zaskar etc | | Bike Setup: | RS Psylo forks, Hope hubs with D521s, Roox "Danny's" stem with WF risers, 24seven 3pc Crank, Snafu pedals and other nice Shimano, Sram and Planet X finishing kit. | | Bottom Line: | A great bike, will suit almost anyone who likes to do a bit of everything. Although, this bike is most at home being ridden on jump trails, dual courses and at / into street obstacles. A very good bike has just gotten better! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh
a Racer
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Vietname | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | TC's bike BARR | | Strengths: | Ummm... its stiff and lightish | | Weaknesses: | can't fit more than 2.5 width tire on the back | | Similar Products Used: | couple of little cromolly frames, a Mountain cycle moho and an azonic | | Bike Setup: | mmm bombers up front medium frame for slalom and jumping (small for me), xtr brakes and stuff sweet slalom bike... | | Bottom Line: | Its nice and quick handling, great for slalom, can get much more hieght hopping this frame than any other... gets a little bumpy over rocky section cause its so stiff but it heaps responsive.... just wish i had enough money to buy a large one to replace my XC bike..... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from VA
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | FAST XC | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Pedalshop.com | | Strengths: | stiff rear end, climbs GREAT!!!!, nice welds, killer paint job, affordable, and the list goea on and on. | | Weaknesses: | just a tad heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Sub 22, Redline ProLine MTB, K2, RVT, Litespeed, Surly and couple few more. | | Bike Setup: | mixed bag: Z3, Cane Creek, Shimno, KOOKA, Avid and SRAM products. | | Bottom Line: | This is the forth time I have bought this frame.
The first one was two small, the other I sold to check out something else but, I keep going back to the Santa. In the past 5, 6 years, I have been through at least 2 dozen frames.
THE BUS IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gosh darn, that Santa Cruz is nice looking in Scuba Yellow.
I just can't say enough about it.
It's Sofa King nice!!!!!!!
It's not a feather weight like some of your's all's frames out there but, it's Sofa King great in every other way.
versatile: as in, you can make it into 4 kinda of bikes
(gear'd or "XC", DS, DH and 1x1).
KICK ArS geometry!!!!!! climbs great, down hill is freaky clean, a real point and shoot kinda steering, bunny hops like a kangaroo on bad crack!!!!!!, bottom bracket clearance is sick, stand over is just a good (specially for guys like me with really tools).... to boot, it's got a great paint job and cleaning cable routing.
I really do enjoy that frame over all other frames I have had.
The only other frame that I like just as much is that Ti RVT I had about 4 years ago.... but with the $500 difference in price, I'll take the Santa Cruz. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eric
a Racer
from fort worth, texas, usa
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | ruston/lajitas | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | colonel's bicycles - fort worth | | Strengths: | lightweight...rigid...climbs like a demon...very versatile...semi-unconventional size/shape... | | Weaknesses: | nothing major...powdercoat chips/scratches fairly easily...not a suspended frame - for the rough downhills... | | Similar Products Used: | this is only my second mtb, with my other being a gt timberline that is both way too heavy and too small to judge against... | | Bike Setup: | chameleon, manitou mars c, lx/xt drive group, avid arch rivals, bontrager mustang rims/xt hubs, richey zmax tires, sdg custom saddle, kore elite 2 post, wellgo 813 pedals, nuke proof stem, titec bars, and yeti lock-on grips... | | Bottom Line: | if the course has a lot of uphills, this bike will take names...being an aluminium hardtail, it slows a bit on the rough downhills - its only real drawback...the geometry works well with a slanted top tube to stay out of your way...overall, i would highly recommend this frame for anyone looking for a serious hardtail... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Crazy Bit#$
a Weekend Warrior
from NY
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | PLATTEKILL!!! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | The internet | | Strengths: | -A do-anything,new-school,kickass hardtail
-Great quality--paint,welds,etc. are some the finest I've seen
-Horizontal dropouts mean you can convert it to a single-speed
| | Weaknesses: | -A little stiff...but coming off a Stumpjumper M2(rattle city!!)it isn't so bad
-Price..but how many bikes can do such a wide variety of stuff?!Face it,it's almost like buying 2 bikes! | | Similar Products Used: | Voodoo Sobo(belonged to a friend,rode it for about a week),Surly 1x1(currently own it,using it as a winter bike),'98 Specialized Stumpjumper(loved it,but cracked the frame) | | Bike Setup: | LX crank/cogset/F&Rderaillers/hubs/shifters/brake levers,Manitou X-Vert Super,Avid Arch Rival 40's,Kore seatpost& Lite 3 stem,Azonic Doublewall riser bar,Mavic 221's,Panaracer Fire XC's,Shimano DX pedals,Bontrager FS gel saddle--IT KICKS ASS!!!! | | Bottom Line: | I am SO impressed with this bike...after I busted my '98 Stumpy M2 last July,I needed a new ride.So I saved up my cash and bought a 17" Chameleon frame off an internet mail-order shop.It came in a BEAUTIFUL bronze red powder coat and everything spoke of QUALITY--you don't see this kind of workmanship everyday,folks!
Let's just say,I haven't regretted spending the extra cash.THIS BIKE KICKS SO MUCH ASS!!It can do anything--racing,technical XC,even some mild hucking.And if you get bored with that,strip off all the gears and GO S.S!! And oh,the quality....Look at the reviews!They don't lie!
It's so nice that I bought a S.S bike to thrash around in the winter so this bike wouldn't have to.Coming from a 200-lb thrasher who takes pride in killing bikes,that means a LOT.
5 smokin' habaneros!!!!!!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from syracuse,ny,usa
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything really fast | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | everything-i have been riding it a year now and i come to love it more every time i ride it-it took me a while to get the geometry right-went through three different stems to get it but now it is perfect-one inch square chain stays make it a rocket-good climber and a hucking bike all in one---------------------------------------if you can only afford one bike and like a variety of different riding buy this bike | | Weaknesses: | it is hard to get the rear wheel on and off sometimes-but i will take this as a weakness any day | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz bullit,mongoose department store garbage | | Bike Setup: | Z1 CR,xt,raceface,dt swiss on 519's | | Bottom Line: | if you are considering this bike get it.i have mine set up so with a change of tires i can either race cross country or bomb downhills with no problem,this bike will take a beating-buy it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Davies
a Downhiller
from Louisville, Co
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | big drop bonanza | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Santa Cruz | | Strengths: | When in doubt...go with Santa Cruz. You could define me as partila to this comapny since I own three of their bikes, but the truth is that I am not stupid and when I see strength...I see it in super stiff stays/ immaculate paint jobs/ horizontal drop outs/ classic geometry/ and tried and true aluminum. | | Weaknesses: | Honestly...there really are not any. I am absolutely satisfied. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona/ Rocky Mountain | | Bike Setup: | Chameleon frame/Marzocchi z-1/ Sun Rhyno Lites/ IRC Kujos/ Esp 9.0 drivetrain/ Kooka bash guard/ Azonic shorty stem and bar/ Cane creek headset/ Magura hydros/ and a rider on top that rips it! | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy it. This bike is too stiff and reliable. Also it handles corners like rails, so if you lay it to the side you will be okay. Anyways, I smile when I see her and I cry when I say goodbye. "Happy Valentines day" to my Chameleon. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dain Trittau
a Racer
from Lombard,IL
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any trail involved in the WORS racing series | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | Very stiff frame, excellent handling, it is single speed compatible, as well as disc brake compatible and able to run derailleurs--also came with awesome warranty on the frame | | Weaknesses: | I have yet to find one after two years riding, and one year racing! | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn, Trek, & Klein | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz frame, manitou fork, Cooks Bros cranks, with XTR set up. Soon to have Chris King hubs with Mavic 517 rims.... | | Bottom Line: | After more than two years of riding this bike, I became even more addicted to it. The handling is excellent, it also helped to kick ass in my first series of racing. Definitely a good bike for downhills as well as climbing hills. All I have ever needed to do was upgrade various parts, but the frame has held strong. Should the day come to replace the frame itself, I will definitely be calling on Santa Cruz again! (Although I really don't think I"ll see the day where I will even need to THINK about replacing this frame!!) Overall, I have to say the name of this bike says it all: Chameleon. It literally seems to change itself to fit the type of rider you are, whether it be cross country, easy riding, or racing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from southampton
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | sheephills USA | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Stiff cycles | | Strengths: | Stiff frame so that not much energy is wasted.All the power is put down so you go extremely fast | | Weaknesses: | It does not have a rear disc mount.The brake calliper is upside down | | Similar Products Used: | zasker | | Bike Setup: | cross country.Mavic 517s. XTR groupset.Hope sport Hubs.Hope disc brakes.Ritchey finishing kit | | Bottom Line: | This bike is very fast.It is superb for XC.If you do free ride it is great for that aswell.The frame is extremely strong and still very light.It is lighter than a GT Zasker (if you were thinking about one of those).One of the reasons why It is so good is because it was designed by the man who made the first high altitude Helicopter. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod Delanougerede
a Weekend Warrior
from Southampton, England
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Farley Mount | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Stif Mountain Bikes | | Strengths: | super stiff box chainstays, great balance between strength and weight. Responsive geometry. | | Weaknesses: | its all round image may not suit racers. | | Similar Products Used: | none. | | Bike Setup: | Z3 m80s, D521cds, deore groupset, ritchey/bonty kit,v8s,tioga 2.1 DHs. | | Bottom Line: | The chameleon I'm reviewing is the new chameleon,[ which has bigger tubes and is disc compatible]. What can I say about this frame that hasnt already been said? I ride this frame for almost any type of riding you can think of and it does this just fine. Slalom, singletrack, doubles, street, trials, uphill, downhill...... IT'S THE ULTIMATE ALL ROUNDER!!!Unless youre a weight obsessed XC racer or a 20 stone kamikaze DHer,get in with the chilled out,freeride lifestyle and buy one today. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Taylor W
a Cross Country Rider
from Ont,Canada
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | credit river | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Zone | | Strengths: | Climbs great. Eats up bumps and jumps and anything else you throw at it. Worth the money. | | Weaknesses: | Um hmmm let's see uhh ever since i got this bike Icant seem to remember what a weakness is! | | Similar Products Used: | none come even close | | Bike Setup: | Psylo SL,Deore Xt and Lx, titec bar stem and seat,Avid brakes | | Bottom Line: | Awsome bike with a thirst for every type of ride freeride/urban,cross country-it does it all | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Seaside Cycles Manchester,MA | | Strengths: | Stiff, Climbs like a billy goat, great geometry, beefy chainstays | | Weaknesses: | Durabilty | | Similar Products Used: | Trek | | Bike Setup: | Atom 80 | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike because I was told it was bombproof. It craked after 6 months of riding. Also where it cracked was pretty unusual...the top part of the weld where the seat tube meets the top tube. I think the setpost tube extends to far beyond the top tube. This happened with a 400mm seatpost in there!
Another thing I just learned...these frames are only waranteed for a year??? What's the deal with that? I have never heard of such a short warantee!Doesn't speak much to the confidence of their quality. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Landon Wing
a Cross Country Rider
from Visalia, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | lindo mar | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Tri-Sport | | Strengths: | stiff, stiff, stiff. built to take a beating. also, for short riders like myself, it has a low standover height. | | Weaknesses: | stiff, stiff, stiff. with the good you also get the bad. the stiffness of this bike kills my back on hard rides. slack head tube angle( by XC standards ) makes the rider put some effort into his or her turns. | | Similar Products Used: | tested: klein pulse race, mantra comp, and santa cruz heckler | | Bike Setup: | '00 sid xc, sram 9.0 shifters, rear derailer, 9.0sl levers,avid mag brakes, xtr front derailer, xt cranks, bontrager race wheelset, race face team sl headset, speedplay pedals | | Bottom Line: | despite my complaints, this bike is an overall killer ride. with the components that i have listed, the bike weight is 23 pounds. it is designed for eveything santa cruz says it will do (XC, dual slalom, and single speed). it may not be exceptional in any one deparment, but versatility is its forte. a wimpy XC rider like myself requires something a little more precise and cushy. the santa cruz superlight sounds very appealing to me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Debby
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Bike Setup: | MarzocchiZ2, FSA Orbit, Shimano LX/XT, Magura H33S, Azonic Pyramid PDW, WTB Speedmaster, WTB Velociraptor (front), Specialized Team Edition (rear) and an SDG BelAir! | | Bottom Line: | I love it's versatility. It's not just PLAINLY versatile, it actually works out. Try making the Ellsworth specialist work on some hard XC climb. The Lizard is nice and rigid at the right places, making for good climbs and decent decents. Not forgetting it's agility in corners and it's strength. Here's a bike I've trashed without fear of it breaking up all over me AND it came at an incredible bargin cos' I got it at the local annual bike exhibition. I give 5 piles of scarlet jelepenos! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pat
a Cross Country Rider
from philadelphia
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | my backyard | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$345.00 | | Purchased At: | b+b bike | | Strengths: | beefy Chainstays, great geometry | | Weaknesses: | I have not found any yet. I wish it were a little lighter but what can you expect when you have 1" chainstays! I would change the dropouts since it is hard to get a wheel in and out very quickly on the rear. | | Similar Products Used: | nuke proof stealth, | | Bike Setup: | Nuke proof stem, zoom bar (crap!) race face real seal headset, plasma shifters, judy xc, bontrager valient f/r rims, XTR f/r hubs, xt crank, 545 pedals, xtr rr rd, sram chain, un72 bb, salsa shaft post, sdg bel air saddle. Avid levers and brakes. I switch between ritchy speedmax tires and bontrager jones. I love it! | | Bottom Line: | It is a great frame for the price. A student can pick this up and really trick it out if they would like to or some one can get it as their first second or third bike! It has given me more guts to try some more cool jumps and get me into the world of single speeding and d s. I am a former courier so I know how to beat a bike and so far it is loving every minute of it. You can do alot with it (single speed etc) and it really takes a beating.
I am a santa cruz convert! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jimmy olsen
a
from uk
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | see below review | | Weaknesses: | not durable compared to a cromo bike | | Bike Setup: | single ring and z1's with v's. | | Bottom Line: | only a few weeks after posting a review my chameleon has cracked by the gusset on the down tube. gutted. only a small one, but they only get worse and its not too confidence inspiring. i had it a year, not long enough to be impressed durability wise. i dont ride that hard really either. hard enough to write of alu cranks and stuff like that, but thats why i bought the santa cruz in the first place (im 14st at the most) . looks like im buying that steel custom sooner than expected, i wont buy another alu hardtail, theres good reason bmxers wont touch the stuff..
maybe its only time until hard riding hardtails will be steel all the way, at least for riders who want a bike to last more than a year or so. the lowered rating still doesnt change the fact this bike handles like nothing else ive ridden. i'd just like to ride it for longer! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a
from Broomfield,Co,USA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | STOUT,STOUT like Guinness. Sweeeet square stays. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | My Y2K Stumpjumper comp... ...But better. | | Bike Setup: | Race Face high rise bars, RF 60ml Downhill stem,
RF Real Seal headset, RF North Shore crank set, RF bb,
RF seatpost, Selle Itallia Saddle w/ ti rails,
Magura HS33 Race Lite hydro calipers w/ boosters f&r,
Mavic 517 SUP w/ XT hubs f&r,
Specalized Hemisphere Ex tires, 24t ring in front w/ a Threshold bash ring, Ultegra r. deraileur w/ Ultegra cass.,
Grip Shift 9.0 sl shifter.
| | Bottom Line: | Right now this is my urban assult/trials bike. But the way it rides, I may have to build one up to replace my Stumpy,(which up to this point has been my favorite of all time). This bike will eat up ANYTHING you can throw at it.
I am using a road deraileur because of the tiny cage, solid construction, BEEFY springs and the simple fact, that it is ALL metal, and that it can take some abuse and still perform. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jimmy olsen
a
from uk
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | fod | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | geometry and sizing are unique and almost perfect, strong and stiff, lots of colours, stiff back end, not too harsh on a trail ride. | | Weaknesses: | no rear disk fittings for 98/99 model (this is no good for a frame this versatile)
| | Similar Products Used: | dmr trailstar, marin alu | | Bike Setup: | z1's, profile cranks, dmr speedguide, 521's, kujo tyres, lx/xt, azonic bars, 60mm stem. this bike is a perfect custom all rounder ( as long as your not worried about long climbs..) | | Bottom Line: | awesome handling, the only thing that rides better than a kona kula.
i got the large (17.5 c-t, 14.5 c-c) as im 6ft 2", and like to trailride aswell as dh and jumping etc. does everything well, handles like the holy grail of bike geometry.
i've seen a few snapped ones, but they get abused and theres alot out there. feels tough, stiff but forgiving aswell, weird. when this breaks im gonna get someone to build an 853 steel version with the exact same angles and size cos i love it so much! the only bike ive got this attached to, it rules! only gave 4 value marks cos its expensive in the uk, at £500.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren Kinney
a Cross Country Rider
from Springfield Mo
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Super fast handling, excellent cornering ablity!!!!! The square chain stays shove all your pedal power to the ground, and makes the thing climb like a goat!!!! | | Weaknesses: | Krptonite | | Similar Products Used: | Giant chromoly, and Kona Aluminum frames. | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Manitou SX fork, SRAM Neos front and rear deraillers, Truvative Stylo cranks, Mavic 517 rims, Rock Shox suspension seat post. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is pro level quality!!!! A retail price of $500 for the frame set is highway robbery. If your in the market for a new frame take a seriosly long look at this one. You will find that your old frame was holding you back. I can't say enough for this frame, I've had it only a week and the thing has totally blown me away. This frame will make you a better rider!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon Mouton
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mountain Goat, Winter Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | This bike rocks! Since the first day I rode it, I can't get the smirk off of my face. The frame is great for Dual Slalom, or Free Ride. The beefy chain stays make it a quick decender. The Chameleon has a way of making you feel like you can push it a little harder each time, and then rewards you with its great handling. | | Weaknesses: | Yeah Right! | | Similar Products Used: | GT Zaskar, Trek 8000, Diamondback Zetec | | Bike Setup: | I am riding on a Marzocchi Z1 BAM fork. It is outfitted with XT front and Rear Ders, and XT Disc Hubs with Mavic F519 DH/DS Rims. I am looking into a Race Face North SHore Crank, but am currently running a XT Crank, most of the rest is race face. | | Bottom Line: | If you are on a budget,and want a bike speced just for you, buy the frame and go to work. Whether you set it up for single speed racing, XC, or DS, THIS BIKE ROCKS. Pick your poison!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ulrich Hansen
a Weekend Warrior
from Odense, Denmark
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Super rigid frame, but also very comfortable ride. Low, sloping toptube. Accepts long-travel forks. Replacable rear-drops (horizontal/both sides), so you'll be able to run a single-speed setup. Fast, fast, fast! | | Weaknesses: | ............................................no! | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed Obed, Specialized Stumpjumper etc. | | Bike Setup: | Black frame with red Judy Race 100, Magura Louise/HS33 brakes, Mavic X517/X317 CD rims w. Sapim Laser spokes, XT 9-speed der., XTR cass., Sram Rocket, Easton Monkeylite DH-bar, Syncros post, Middleburn cranks, PD-M636 pedals | | Bottom Line: | This bike rides so well, that I've decided (for the first time ever) to keep this bike untill it breaks! It just loves twisty singletracks, jumps, DH's, well almost anything you throw at it. It will just eat it, burp, and ask for more!
A big plus is that the frame is also affordable, and the color-selection is great.
Buy one and enjoy! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
raya
a Racer
from courtney,b.c., canada
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | solid, no flex. Forgiving for an aluminum bike. Climbs well and descends tight trails better than any other bike i've ridden. Short, robust chainstays and geometry make it very fun to ride. Cool color options. | | Weaknesses: | none so far! | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mtn. oxygen, and altitude. | | Bike Setup: | xt/xtr drivetrain, hayes disc, SID xl triple crown. | | Bottom Line: | I don't think this bike will break as easily as my Oxygen did. Way more sturdy than other frames I've ridden. Worth the money for sure. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ross
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | all mt.seymour | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | stiff!! Strong and responsive. Center of gravity is directly over the cranks! Makes you ride hard! This frame kills the kula and brodie frames I've tried. | | Weaknesses: | none so far. | | Similar Products Used: | kona kula/brodie climbmax | | Bike Setup: | xtr, Magura hs22's, Ti seatpost, profile risers, judy freeride XC 100mm, king headset, kore elite, 517s. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is so fun, I've missed a lot of work days because of it. If you want a well built xc an/or slalom/downhill hardtail, this is the most versatile and sweetest frame I've tried so far. Buy it or try a Cove Stiffee--great value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JEFF
a Cross Country Rider
from Hayward, CA USA
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | The frame is so stiff and responsive.Very good value in the budget rider( +- 500 bucks)
Aluminium frame does absorb some shock so the ride does not tear you up.Also it handles tight technical trails very well and is a good climber giving all your energy to the pedel stroke and not to the frame. | | Weaknesses: | Need a good chainstay protector....Make sure the sizing is to a tee....runs small | | Similar Products Used: | Gary fisher mt. tam | | Bike Setup: | xt all around except xtr r. der. Z2 fork, 517 wheels, time atac pedels. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the price and a great ride for tight trails as well as if you are considering doing a single speed; removable drop outs! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony Schardt
a Racer
from Springfield Mo U.S.
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Chadwick | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Super stiff, and very sweet, not a light wieght but not a boat anker. | | Weaknesses: | Lizard Skin chain stay gaurd is almost required. | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher Mt. Tam, and Haro DX2. | | Bike Setup: | xt/xtr and a judy Race. | | Bottom Line: | Great frame not a lot of cash needed and sweeeeeeeet ride greta for longer rides. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
todd
a Racer
from annapolis,md,usa
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | peavine (reno, nv) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | sizing (santacruz sizing charts are spot on); BEEFy, short chainstains direct ALL power to ground; responsive, quick, direct handling, the santacruz people are great | | Weaknesses: | the bike, geometry and frame have none | | Similar Products Used: | DEAN colonel/scout | | Bike Setup: | xt with rockshox sid SL, sun/ringle rims, tioga/wtb tire mix, control tech stem and post | | Bottom Line: | this is the best hardtail i've ever raced/ridden. perfect sizing and great handling. this bike comes out of the box ready to go and go fast. a great bike for XC...has AWESOME ds potential (looks similar to my azonic ds-1) and is light, light, light. i didn't think anything could best my old DEANer but this one has. amazingly good ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pilgrim
a Weekend Warrior
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Devils Gulch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Everything !!!! | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | none that can compare | | Bike Setup: | Scuba yellow,xt/xtr raceface northshore, manitou x-vert 80mm, Chris King/ mavic 517,avid ar 50's , panaracer fire xc pros. Platforms. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best hardtail that you can get, handmade in USA for $500!! It climbs and decends awesome, the faster and harder you push it, the better it rides. If you are considering buying one do it, you will thank yourself!! It is very responsive and stable. I rode a large one that was at a shop and had to order one my size, since then a freind that was riding a Kona rode mine and was so impressed that he ordered a frame for himself and hung up the Kona frame for decoration. This bike kicks ass!!! All of their colors are cool too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Bramwell
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Teddington lock | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Very stif responsive frame. Super strong. Can do anything on this. The 17" model is the perfect size and geometry for a 6' dirt jumper. This frame has style. | | Weaknesses: | The gussett beneath the head tube acts as a stress riser and if you do a lot of jumping, this is where it will snap. I have snapped 2 already (Listen for clicking when you pull front brake). This have been changed for the Y2K model.
Cannot use a rear disc. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Rockhopper.
Specialized Stumpjumper.
Kona Chute.
| | Bike Setup: | 17" frame
98' Bomber Z1 BAM
Front Hope pro disc
DMR Cranks
XTR Everything
Azonic, Roox, FSA, Syncros, | | Bottom Line: | If you jump or ride hard, nothing else will do. If you are concerned about weight then pass it by. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | BEEFY, PERFECT GEOMETRY | | Weaknesses: | NONE WHAT SO EVER | | Bike Setup: | Z3 LT, Azonic Stuff, Specialized Evil Twin Tires, Magura Raceline D's | | Bottom Line: | This frame rocks!!! Perfect for DS, freeriding and what ever you want to do. I have it setup for DS. Awesome riding, beefy as hell no flexing. Geometry is perfect for high speeds, and jumping! Recently started snow racing and the bike rocks for the snow too!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jarrod Renaud
a Racer
from Boulder City, NV
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Boulder City MTB Park!! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Beutiful, Tough, Stiff, Fast, BEEFY!!... Comfortable, Light, Fast...and best of all...FUNFUNFUN!! | | Weaknesses: | What?? | | Bike Setup: | Lime Green frame, X-Vert forks, azonic this, azonic that. A lot of sweet random parts. | | Bottom Line: | --%/ This bike ROCKS!! It was light untill I stuck a pair of Panaracer DH Pros on there. Its heavier but ohhhhhhh so worth it. This frame is such a quick handler but is also stable at speed, this thing LOVES speed. Jumps?? Hit'em like theres no tommorow!! Dual slalom?? why...YES Of Course!! XC?? Bring it on!! If you are considering buying a new bike or frame and you want a FUN bike then...BUY THIS ONE!! \%--
What ever you do---make sure you get LIME GREEN!! Its looks SWEET!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | I took ownership of my Chameleon in September, and the smile hasn't come off my face since. This bike is the most comfortable bike I've ever riden. It is perfectly balanced, totally neutral - perfect for dual slalom, cross country, or any other application you can throw at it. I'm 5'9" to 5'10". I orderd a medium frame and put a 110, 5 degree stem - it fits perfect. The frame is gusseted at the head tube/down tube junction for added strength, and has 1" square chainstays. In short, this fram can handle a ton of abuse. However, this frame does not beat the rider up. It rides very smooth for an aluminum frame. It handles technical singletrack just as well as it handles a session at the bmx track just as well as it handles long, steep climbs. In short, I can't say enough good things about it. | | Bike Setup: | I've got my Chameleon set up with a Manitou SX Ti, Hayes disks, and full XTR. Not only does it ride well, it also comes hits the scales at about 23.5 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that this bike rips! Anyone who is looking for a great value ($500 for the frame)and a bike that just plain ol' kicks butt should get a Chameleon. You'll never have to but another bike again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
St Andrew
a weekend warrior
from Bucks, England
Date Reviewed: October 12, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
What can I say about this frame? It's just fantastic!!! It's a seriously hardcore lump of 6-series alloy that just begs to be thrown at whatever challenge you can dream up! It jumps, it goes downhill fast, it eats trials courses, and the respectable weight means that it'll do XC easily enough too. The frames do come up on the small side, so if you're not used to this genre of bike then make sure you try before you buy (you'll be sold on it instantly). The geometry is spot-on though and my personal set-up with Z1's is as quick steering and responsive as anyone could want. If you want a hardtail that'll do anything, believe me when I say you cannot go wrong with this frame!!! | | Overall Rating: |
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