Not mine, but a good customer of mine who still uses it to cruise around a bit. He bought it brand new in 1994

 

2014 Superlight 29. Cheapest full suspension Santa Cruz at the time, simple single pivot. This photo was from a few years back when it was still running a triple (!) and no, I don't carry gatoraid on rides, that was garbage I picked up. As she sits now, about the only original parts are the frame, bottom bracket and crankset and the seat collar. I put on a longer fork so she's a little slacker than originally, around 68 degrees I think. But really short wheelbase, toe overlap could be an issue at times.

Alas, I bought a new full suspension the beginning of this year and will be selling the SC, if I can get a decent amount for it.

 

2014 Nomad. This was a once in a lifetime dream bike for me. The first time I saw the frame and the color combination, I felt in love. Is not for everyone but the color spoke to me in a way like no other. I sold almost everything possible to buy the frame.

It sat in storage for four years while I gathered basic parts to build it up. Then fast forward another 6 years, I finally gathered enough sales and promotions to get this on full XTR and carbon wheels just like that original 10k bike on pinkbike and like the freeway advertising board next to the airport. One and only time I saw a mtb made the freeway advertising board.

I don’t keep bikes long, but this one stayed with me for a decade. It still is by far the easiest freeride bike to long manual due to the compactness. It is also this compactness though that makes it very outdated geometry wise. Can’t keep up stability wise with the current generation of bikes.

It is currently semi-retired as a back up bike. When I find another worthy frame, the xtr and carbon bites will transfer over, and I hope to hang this on the wall as a moment in my cycling career.

 

The bright Santa Cruz colors are great to look at.

 

I also still ride my '18 Hightower LT. I think it's great to have a 150/150 bike that comes in around 30lbs. I was tempted to buy a new Hightower frame and swap things over, but I decided instead to buy an upgraded shock and fork and now it feels like I have a new bike for a lot less $$. I've demo'd the Ripmo and Switchblade, and while those bikes are better climbers, I think my LT is a better descender.

 

Two of my favorite toys.

 

I got my 2018 Hightower LT in the fall of 2022. It's head angle is steep and it's seat angle is slack compared to the latest models, but it works for me and imo is still a top tier ass kicking piece of kit. Yup.

Post up your "older" Santa Cruz bikes that are still in regular use. (and by older, well, you can decide what that means).

View attachment 2089029

These “old” HT LT are still very capable bikes, even though it don't have the latest geo.

As for it’s HTA, you can open the fork to 160mm or 170mm (if you didn’t do it till now), this will give you -0.5°/-1°. This will also effect the STA, but will give new life to your bike.

 

At 5'0" with short legs it is hard to find a bike that fits my wife as well as her old Julianna, and she doesn't ride as aggressively now as she did 20-30 years ago, so this bike is still in regular use.

 

At 5'0" with short legs it is hard to find a bike that fits my wife as well as her old Julianna, and she doesn't ride as aggressively now as she did 20-30 years ago, so this bike is still in regular use.
View attachment 2089227

my first full suspension bike was the early 2000's he/him/his version of your wife's bike. coming off a hardtail, it was a game changer for sure. and those frames were anodized, not painted.

 

1999 Chameleon, converted to single speed years ago.

 

I love my V1 Hightower so much, I got another one! Not much original on either bike though. My Hightower has ridden pretty much every sort of terrain across the country and raced in XC, enduro, and endurance races.

One is built up more trail/XC and one more enduro. Both are set up slacker than the stock geometry also. And my everyday setup weighs in only a hair above 27 lbs. I also have a couple spare linkages and two full propack sets of bearings, hardware, and axles for them so I can keep them running for many years to come!

 

'19 v3 5010. Love this bike.

 

2013 Tallboy LTc. Ill ride it till dies. Great bike

 

Here's old. But it's a backup/lend bike now. It was ridden 3-4 times a week before I got my Hightower. V2, got it in 2011.

 

I’ve always loved those nomads. I still have my 2005 heckler. It is great. My son rides it some now. I’d still ride it if it was a 29er. At 6-6” going to 29 was a new world.

 

2010ish Butcher. It's the SO's bike now and rarely get's ridden.

 

I have a Nickel frame I need to get rid of.

 

Still loving my chameleon. Going back and forth between MX wheels or full27.5 plus. Still can’t decide what I love most. Both 10/10 for me.

 

2002 superlight in regular use still. Only the frame is original now. Luckily chose a frame that was too large back in the day - so not too small by modern standards.

thank SC for still being able to get parts

 

That's something that definitely keeps me loyal to Santa Cruz/Juliana - long term service parts availability.

 

On another note if anyone has a v1 HT small CC that they want sell let me know as I always want another one.

 

I'm still riding my '18 5010 v3, but I don't consider it old. Old is my '06 Stumpy FS that my buddy still rides.

 

Slack seat tube angle was the main issue of HT1 + HTLT frame. It was really bad for me to ride uphill and that's why I sold it and bought Nicolai G13.

 

‘12 or ‘14 Heckler.

A few years younger Chameleon assembled from parts some from the Heckler above.

 

2005 Heckler. Sold it but it is still ridden regularly. Upgraded many times over the years. 1 x 11 and new XT brakes right before it was sold. Only thing original on it was the Carbon Monkey bars. I had it built with all the parts I specced. Thought it was my forever bike and it almost was. Rode it for over 16 years.

Was my backup bike when I picked up my Mach 5.5. Now the 5.5 is the backup....

 

Nice heckler. Great bikes. My 05 gets ridden by my son.

 

Yeah, I got my miles out of it for sure. It was like night and day riding new suspension geometry when I retired it for my use. My son did ride it a bit with me too, but mountain biking never took off for him. He's only 21 so there is still hope though!

 

Hecklers FTW. My Heckler 6.1 is no longer "still getting after it" but it was super awesome so here's a pic of that badass machine:

 

Hecklers FTW. My Heckler 6.1 is no longer "still getting after it" but it was super awesome so here's a pic of that badass machine: View attachment 2092980

My buddy had one like yours, no coil though. He sold it to another friend of ours that occasionally gets out and rides with us. They were a fun bike in the day, just sucked pedaling uphill on techy stuff.

 

My 2005