Santa Cruz Chameleon Carbon

[jdog]

Super horrible video, but rather than show a lot of riding, this is the first that really shows off their “factory” in SC. They don’t build the frames here, but they do pick the parts, install the BB & cranks and build wheels here.

It is notable that this is their first partnership with HOPE TECH on a bike build. Looks like they will be using Hope hubs and headset on the top end model

This bike is pretty neat as it can be run SS or geared and 29er / 27 plus.

 

[CrankAddictRich]

Cool bike.... but that color way UGH!

let's a launch a cool new bike... and paint it doodoo brown?

 

[Ryan.P]

https://m.pinkbike.com/news/first-look-santa-cruz-chameleon-goes-carbon.html

 

[Steve Vai]

The Copper is dope!!

 

[CrankAddictRich]

The Copper is dope!!

If it is actually copper, that's a different story, but in many of the pics it just looks brown.

 

[jdog]

If it is actually copper, that's a different story, but in many of the pics it just looks brown.

We should have a few next week. I’m eager to see the color in person.

 

[jShort]

How easy is it to swap between 27.5 and 29? Is it really just a matter of swapping the wheels?
Can I have a light xc 29er build and then throw on the + wheels and have a hardtail trail bike?

 

[stb222]

How easy is it to swap between 27.5 and 29? Is it really just a matter of swapping the wheels?
Can I have a light xc 29er build and then throw on the + wheels and have a hardtail trail bike?

Yes, Easy as swapping wheels with the same hub/rotor setup.

Looks pretty damn copper to me.

 

[MadisonDan]

How easy is it to swap between 27.5 and 29? Is it really just a matter of swapping the wheels?
Can I have a light xc 29er build and then throw on the + wheels and have a hardtail trail bike?

My XtC requires zero adjustments to switch between the stock 27.5+ wheels and the Crest 29's.

 

[jShort]

Maybe I sell my habit and hardtail for one of these. My bike shop was evicted from the basement to the furnace room and space is TIGHT.

 

[ChrisG]

This adds a little more fuel to my infatuation for building a rowdier SS one of these days.

 

[Ryan.P]

How easy is it to swap between 27.5 and 29? Is it really just a matter of swapping the wheels?
Can I have a light xc 29er build and then throw on the + wheels and have a hardtail trail bike?

Different rear drop outs to keep bb height similar.

 

[rick81721]

Looks pretty damn copper to me.

Same here, I like it. What's this thing weigh?

 

[jdog]

How easy is it to swap between 27.5 and 29? Is it really just a matter of swapping the wheels?
Can I have a light xc 29er build and then throw on the + wheels and have a hardtail plus

How easy is it to swap between 27.5 and 29? Is it really just a matter of swapping the wheels?
Can I have a light xc 29er build and then throw on the + wheels and have a hardtail trail bike?

I’d get the 27pous version as it comes w 130mm vs 120mm on the 29er. We’ve mostly sold these as 27plus so far, but in 29er it looks fun too.



This guy seems super stoked on this bike.

 

[Steve Vai]

How easy is it to swap between 27.5 and 29? Is it really just a matter of swapping the wheels?
Can I have a light xc 29er build and then throw on the + wheels and have a hardtail trail bike?

They do technically offer a different drop out to optimize the geo for a larger wheel. We run the 29er dropouts with 27.5 wheels on my son's Chameleon to give it a more XC feel.

 

[Soundguy]

I’m digging the copper....sweet bike. Fake Boy George just fucked my whole morning up, though.

 

[Patrick]

I’m digging the copper....sweet bike. Fake Boy George just fucked my whole morning up, though.

this should help

 

[jdog]

They do technically offer a different drop out to optimize the geo for a larger wheel. We run the 29er dropouts with 27.5 wheels on my son's Chameleon to give it a more XC feel.

Curious how much steeper that makes the angles..

 

[Steve Vai]

Curious how much steeper that makes the angles..

I can measure it. We're also running a 100mm fork so the whole bike just sits lower.

 

[rick81721]

Fake Boy George just fucked my whole morning up, though.

Yeah that was turribly lame