Santa Cruz has introduced the Heckler SL, a mid-power eMTB supported by the Fazua Trip 60 motor. It’s the Californian model’s very first light-weight eBike, with the “common bike weight” quoted as 18.5 kg.
In designing the Heckler SL, Santa Cruz have been trying to produce the Goldilocks of eBikes. What’s that? One that’s light-weight, handles like an everyday mountain bike, is refined in its appears to be like and quiet in its operate. The result’s 150mm/160mm MX eBike packing a 60 Nm motor and a 430 Wh battery. Couple that with a contemporary, enduro-ready geometry, and Santa Cruz might nicely have hit the nail on the top.
Down for the small print.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL
Whereas the full-powered Santa Cruz Heckler can swap between a 29″ or MX configuration, the SL is devoted to the latter. The instantly recognizable VPP linkage delivers 150mm of rear wheel journey, paired with a 160mm fork.
Santa Cruz is providing 5 full construct fashions, and all run a full carbon body. The inexpensive Heckler SL R, Heckler SL S and Heckler SL GX AXS fashions run a barely heavier carbon layup, designated “C”. In the meantime the higher-end Heckler SL X0 AXS RSV and Heckler SL XX AXS RSV fashions profit from a lighter, however equally stiff carbon layup, designated “CC”.
The Engine Room
Stealthily packed into all fashions is the Trip 60 motor, produced by Fazua – a Porsche-owned firm. Examples of different eMTBs that sport the Trip 60 embody the Pivot Shuttle SL, and the Ghost Path Riot. Santa Cruz themselves additionally make use of it on the brand new Skitch eBike.
On this planet of light-weight mid-powered eBike motors, the TQ HPR-50 motor that debuted on the Trek Gas EXe has been the topic of a lot acclaim. As compared, the Fazua Trip 60 has a better most torque of 60 Nm. And, it’s extra neatly built-in into the body. Certainly, the Heckler SL provides little indication that it’s dwelling to a motor – both on the drive or non-drive aspect.
There are three journey modes, all customizable from inside the Fazua App. They’re: Breeze, River and Rocket. A Increase operate can take the motor’s most energy as much as 450 watts, very briefly.
The motor itself weighs a claimed 1.96 kg, with the 430 Wh battery weighing a claimed 2.2 kg. It isn’t simply eliminated, with the motor itself needing to be eliminated previous to sliding out the battery. The intention is that it’s charged on the bike, anyway, with a port offered on the downtube. A full recharge requires 3.5 hours. We’re instructed Fazua can also be engaged on a variety extender, due in Q2 of 2024.
Built-in into the highest tube is an LED show indicating battery life and journey mode. The system as an entire – together with motor, battery, ring controller and show – weighs a claimed 4.2 kg.
Heckler SL Geometry
Catering to a variety of rider heights is a body dimension vary from SM to XXL. Attain figures are beneficiant, spanning a 432mm to 523mm vary. On the Giant, attain is available in at 478mm – 6mm longer than the full-powered Heckler in the identical dimension.
Like its extra highly effective, heavier sibling, the SL boasts pretty aggressive geometry numbers, applicable to the bike’s intentions. A head angle of 64° is paired with an efficient seat tube angle of 76.6-77.5°, body size-dependent.
The SM, MD and LG frames run a 443mm rear-center size. In a bid to keep up good front-to-rear stability on the biggest body sizes, Santa Cruz take the rear-center size to 446mm on the XL, and 450mm on the XXL. The BB drop is available in at 13mm from the rear axle.
As is to be anticipated from Santa Cruz, the Heckler SL boasts two doable geometry settings. These are denoted Hello and Lo. A flip-chip on the decrease shock mount (on the rocker) switches the bike between the 2 settings. Numbers quoted above pertain to the Lo place; switching to the Hello place raises the BB by 3mm, steepens the top angle to 64.3°, and steepens the efficient seat tube angle by round 0.3°.
Fortunately, the Heckler SL frames see a comparatively quick seat tube throughout the scale vary, at 430mm on the LG. Which means comparatively lengthy journey dropper seat posts for all, and the dealing with advantages that include that elevated bum-to-seat clearance.
What concerning the weight?
Whereas Santa Cruz gave an “common bike weight” of 18.5 kg (40.8 lbs), they’ve since given a bike-specific weight. The Heckler SL XX AXS RSV construct in a dimension LG weighs in at 19 kg (42 lbs). That’s sans tire sealant or pedals.
Pricing & Availability
Santa Cruz is providing the Heckler SL in 5 construct fashions; pricing begins at $7,299 USD, and tops out at $12,999 USD. With the sale of each Heckler SL, $20 is dedicated to the Pay Filth fund – the charitable arm of the enterprise that helps finance path upkeep and constructing initiatives world wide. On the similar time, one other $20 is poured into their eBike battery recycling programme.
The above desk provides a short overview of the Heckler SL construct specs. Full particulars and worldwide pricing could be discovered on the Santa Cruz web site.
As with all of their mountain bikes, the Heckler SL is bought with a lifetime guarantee on the body, its bearings, and the Reserve carbon rims that function on the X0 AXS RSV and XX AXS RSV fashions.
