What is the new Heckler?
The new Heckler is a 150mm travel VPP suspension tuned for ebike use. Mated with a 160mm travel fork it is ideal for the kind of riding adventures many aggressive trail riders want to tackle most.
Enabling these rides are two versions, an MX mullet 27/29 and a 29er version each with its own rear triangle to keep geometry consistent. The MX excels in tight, steep, high-flying terrain while the 29er maximizes traction for loose terrain and rolling speed for big adventures.
And not lost in all these developments is the use of a 720wh battery, 90 wh more than the 630wh Bullit and 216wh more than the outgoing Santa Cruz Heckler with 504wh. The Shimano smooth EP8 is still the motor used with its 85nm of torque. It still has the 'knock' while coasting but it's noticeably quieter than the previous versions.
![Bicycle Tire Wheel Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Crankset]()
What changed from the previous Heckler?
The outgoing Heckler introduced only two years ago was a landmark bike for Santa Cruz, but it's already shown its age. Such is the pace of ebike development these days and we are glad Santa Cruz has shortened the product cycle for such a significant bike. We were not completely impressed by the previous Heckler (our review here: First Ride - Santa Cruz Heckler E-Bike) but felt it was a very important step in joining the new category which is a paradigm shift from normal bikes where Santa Cruz excelled for decades. But the first steps have to be taken to build the foundation of the team and technology to compete in the ebike arena.
The following are the significant areas this new Heckler is different from the old.
![Reed instrument Brass instrument Bicycle fork Wind instrument Woodwind instrument]()
The mighty new battery
The Heckler 29/MX will have the largest battery Santa Cruz offers They went with a third-party battery supplier called Dafron to make this size and configuration possible with the Shimano EP8 motor. The interchangeable 720wh battery is still one of the quickest batteries to replace with just the twist of an Allen key.
“The 720Wh battery is marginally heavier than a current 630Wh battery (used in the Bullit), so we were able to maintain great ride characteristics while also giving the rider enough power to get out and really explore. Going any bigger would start to diminish both ride quality and geo.”
- Todd Ford
![Tire Wheel Plant Bicycle Crankset]()
The new battery weighs 9.1 lbs compared to the outgoing 504wh at 6.1 lbs. It does weigh quite a bit more as a top-spec Heckler weighs 39 lbs without battery and 48 lbs with battery. These weights leave us longing for a 5 lb. 'weekday SL battery' that might put this bike under 45 lbs for those weekdays or 'light-assist' rides where one has little chance of consuming all the power of a 720wh battery.
![Bicycle Tire Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Wheel Sports equipment]()
How does it ride?
The new Heckler is the bike that most trail riders need. It fulfills the many aspirations of the outgoing Heckler and it tones down the bulk and rowdiness of Bullit to a package that fits more trails and riding styles.
Its greatest attribute is it delivers a massive sweet spot of climbing and descending. Descending-wise, the mullet wheel size on 150mm rear and 160mm front delivers a compliant ride with awesome small bump sensitivity. It delivers the comfort of the Bullit on trails as it responds to small and medium hits. This characteristic gets even better with the flip-chip set to the low position as the ride gets more supple on the initial travel and more progressive.
![Bicycle Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Tire Wheel Crankset]()
Geometry and sizing are spot-on and the rider feels very well centered when cornering and descending. One can steer with the body more and the mullet wheel size gets the rider low and the bike light on the rear makes the bike more playful and nimble at speed. On our local trails, this was a lot more fun than the Bullit and it was really a good match for the Gen3 Levo. Jumps were handled with ease but we did bottom out on a couple of flat landings. Suspension tokens will be installed soon.
Tire spec seems like a perfect starting point with the Assegai front and DHR rear. Ample cornering and braking are on call to take on trails outside one's comfort zone.
![Bicycle Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Plant Wheel Bicycle helmet]()
Climbing
Climbing seems perfect. As well as the Bullit climbs, this is better with less bulk and travel. It's very supple on trail chatter and on steep, ledgy climbs, it is active with good traction. The rider position is much better than the old Heckler with a seat angle close to 77 degrees.
The motor cruises and hums along on ECO or TRAIL mode. It's quiet and efficient and the way it responds to rider input is seamless. We observe that it's quieter than the Trek Rail Bosch or the Specialized Gen 3 Levo Brose.
In full Boost mode, this does not have as much punch or peak power as the Trek Rail or Gen3 Levo. So we are certain it's not going to win any climbing time trials against those other bikes. Battery consumption too seems to be harmed more than others when in Boost mode. As we've observed in other EP8-equipped bikes, this is at its best when operating in Trail mode.
How does it compare to the Bullit?
![Bicycle frame Bicycle tire Bicycle fork Wheel Hood]()
KEY FEATURES:
![Font Material property Circle Number Pattern]()
EP8 Motor Features
![Wheel Vehicle Automotive lighting Automotive tire Motor vehicle]()
![Bicycle Cloud Wheel Tire Land vehicle]()
PROS:
![Wheel Tire Bicycle Bicycle tire Automotive tire]()
CONS:
Bottom Line:
We can only hope that Santa Cruz can make enough of these since this new Heckler will answer the call for many riders, from existing ebike owners to future ones. All the details are dialed and the wheel size and flip-chip options will give riders a lot of flexibility to find the right bike for them.
Geometry is spot-on and the lower link suspension is an important offering in this arena. Santa Cruz checks all the boxes with this offering and they package it up in a compelling, dialed and attractive package.
![Font Screenshot Electronic device Multimedia Darkness]()
More information: Santa Cruz Bicycles
![Slope Rectangle Font Software Electronic device]()
![Rectangle Font Slope Parallel Circle]()
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![Bicycle Cloud Wheel Tire Land vehicle]()
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![Tire Wheel Cloud Land vehicle Sky]()
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![Bicycle Wheel Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Bicycle wheel Bicycle wheel rim]()
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![Wheel Vehicle Automotive lighting Automotive tire Motor vehicle]()
![Bicycle Bicycle wheel rim Bicycle tire Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Automotive tire]()
![Automotive tire Crankset Carbon Bicycle part Automotive design]()
![Font Material property Circle Number Pattern]()
![Bicycle Tire Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Wheel Sports equipment]()
![Bicycle Wheel Plant Tire Vehicle]()
![Bicycle Tire Wheel Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Crankset]()
![Tire Wheel Plant Bicycle Crankset]()
![Font Screenshot Electronic device Multimedia Darkness]()
![Wheel Tire Bicycle Bicycle tire Automotive tire]()
![Bicycle Wheel Tire Bicycle frame Bicycles--Equipment and supplies]()
![Bicycle Wheel Plant Tire Vehicle]()
![Bicycle Wheel Plant Tire Vehicle]()
![Bicycle Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Plant Wheel Bicycle helmet]()
The new Heckler is a 150mm travel VPP suspension tuned for ebike use. Mated with a 160mm travel fork it is ideal for the kind of riding adventures many aggressive trail riders want to tackle most.
Enabling these rides are two versions, an MX mullet 27/29 and a 29er version each with its own rear triangle to keep geometry consistent. The MX excels in tight, steep, high-flying terrain while the 29er maximizes traction for loose terrain and rolling speed for big adventures.
And not lost in all these developments is the use of a 720wh battery, 90 wh more than the 630wh Bullit and 216wh more than the outgoing Santa Cruz Heckler with 504wh. The Shimano smooth EP8 is still the motor used with its 85nm of torque. It still has the 'knock' while coasting but it's noticeably quieter than the previous versions.
What changed from the previous Heckler?
The outgoing Heckler introduced only two years ago was a landmark bike for Santa Cruz, but it's already shown its age. Such is the pace of ebike development these days and we are glad Santa Cruz has shortened the product cycle for such a significant bike. We were not completely impressed by the previous Heckler (our review here: First Ride - Santa Cruz Heckler E-Bike) but felt it was a very important step in joining the new category which is a paradigm shift from normal bikes where Santa Cruz excelled for decades. But the first steps have to be taken to build the foundation of the team and technology to compete in the ebike arena.
The following are the significant areas this new Heckler is different from the old.
- Outgoing 504wh battery increased to 720wh
- Geometry modernized - seat angle from 75 to 77 on Mullet, reach about 20mm longer
- Available in Mullet and 29er and optimized for both using different swingarm. Mullet is now 150/160mm instead of 140/140mm
- Now available in CC and lower cost C carbon versions
- Flip chip is now available. 4mm bb drop but the main effect is a more progressive leverage rate
- Assegai front tire now instead of DHR, Fillmore tubeless valves used
- Small bump compliance seems much improved. Any rear shock should fit now and they’ve switched to Rockshox Super Deluxe.
- Small size MX is 27.5/27.5 but they were able to fit the 720wh battery
- Now about 2-3 lbs heavier, 29er wheel adds .5 lb.
- Low price with EP8 is now $8200, S kit is now $400 more than last year at $9700 instead of $9300
The mighty new battery
The Heckler 29/MX will have the largest battery Santa Cruz offers They went with a third-party battery supplier called Dafron to make this size and configuration possible with the Shimano EP8 motor. The interchangeable 720wh battery is still one of the quickest batteries to replace with just the twist of an Allen key.
“The 720Wh battery is marginally heavier than a current 630Wh battery (used in the Bullit), so we were able to maintain great ride characteristics while also giving the rider enough power to get out and really explore. Going any bigger would start to diminish both ride quality and geo.”
- Todd Ford
The new battery weighs 9.1 lbs compared to the outgoing 504wh at 6.1 lbs. It does weigh quite a bit more as a top-spec Heckler weighs 39 lbs without battery and 48 lbs with battery. These weights leave us longing for a 5 lb. 'weekday SL battery' that might put this bike under 45 lbs for those weekdays or 'light-assist' rides where one has little chance of consuming all the power of a 720wh battery.
How does it ride?
The new Heckler is the bike that most trail riders need. It fulfills the many aspirations of the outgoing Heckler and it tones down the bulk and rowdiness of Bullit to a package that fits more trails and riding styles.
Its greatest attribute is it delivers a massive sweet spot of climbing and descending. Descending-wise, the mullet wheel size on 150mm rear and 160mm front delivers a compliant ride with awesome small bump sensitivity. It delivers the comfort of the Bullit on trails as it responds to small and medium hits. This characteristic gets even better with the flip-chip set to the low position as the ride gets more supple on the initial travel and more progressive.
Geometry and sizing are spot-on and the rider feels very well centered when cornering and descending. One can steer with the body more and the mullet wheel size gets the rider low and the bike light on the rear makes the bike more playful and nimble at speed. On our local trails, this was a lot more fun than the Bullit and it was really a good match for the Gen3 Levo. Jumps were handled with ease but we did bottom out on a couple of flat landings. Suspension tokens will be installed soon.
Tire spec seems like a perfect starting point with the Assegai front and DHR rear. Ample cornering and braking are on call to take on trails outside one's comfort zone.
Climbing
Climbing seems perfect. As well as the Bullit climbs, this is better with less bulk and travel. It's very supple on trail chatter and on steep, ledgy climbs, it is active with good traction. The rider position is much better than the old Heckler with a seat angle close to 77 degrees.
The motor cruises and hums along on ECO or TRAIL mode. It's quiet and efficient and the way it responds to rider input is seamless. We observe that it's quieter than the Trek Rail Bosch or the Specialized Gen 3 Levo Brose.
In full Boost mode, this does not have as much punch or peak power as the Trek Rail or Gen3 Levo. So we are certain it's not going to win any climbing time trials against those other bikes. Battery consumption too seems to be harmed more than others when in Boost mode. As we've observed in other EP8-equipped bikes, this is at its best when operating in Trail mode.
How does it compare to the Bullit?
KEY FEATURES:
- Boost 148mm spacing
- Direct mount brakes w/ 200mm rotors
- Santa Cruz UDH
- IS headset
- Flip chip lowers bb by 4mm and makes it more progressive
EP8 Motor Features
- Lighter: 310g than E8000 (2.57kg)
- More efficient: 36% less drag
- More power: 85 Nm torque
- Smaller volume, more clearance
- More tuning via E-TUBE app
- Quieter at all levels of output
- More responsive and realistic riding feel
PROS:
- It is the bike, travel, and geometry most progressive trail riders need
- Agile, nimble, and capable
- pops up and catches air with enthusiasm gets the rider out of trouble on awkward landings
- It's quiet climbing, much more than the E8000
- The motor is absolutely responsive to torque inputs with a natural riding feel
- Motor torque and low-end grunt is excellent with great tuneability and profiles
- Grips and motor control switch surfaces are excellent
- The tires are perfect. Grippy upfront and agile out back
- Brakes are very capable with the latest Guides with 200mm rotors
- The range is excellent and excellent, especially in Trail mode.
- Battery swaps are best in class in terms of speed
- 29er and Mx options with no compromises are most welcome
- USB port available
CONS:
- The coasting rattle is more muted now than previous versions but still present
- The motor had great 85nm torque at low rpm but it seems to taper off at higher rpms
- The saddle is small and painful considering how much-seated climbing will be performed
- The motor switch is far from reach
- It can get heavy at lower price points. This is more noticeable on very slow, tight trails or when moving it around the garage/car
- Charging port cover seems flimsy. USB port is hard to access.
- Still no integrated motor display and still only 5-bar battery level
Bottom Line:
We can only hope that Santa Cruz can make enough of these since this new Heckler will answer the call for many riders, from existing ebike owners to future ones. All the details are dialed and the wheel size and flip-chip options will give riders a lot of flexibility to find the right bike for them.
Geometry is spot-on and the lower link suspension is an important offering in this arena. Santa Cruz checks all the boxes with this offering and they package it up in a compelling, dialed and attractive package.
More information: Santa Cruz Bicycles
