Santa Cruz Tallboy LT
The Tallboy has been around for a few years, and is now one of the Californian companies best-selling models. The LT model takes the same frame and ekes 135mm of travel out of the VPP suspension platform. It’s available in alloy or carbon fibre versions, to suit the girth of your wallet.
While some manufacturers have squeezed as much as 150-155mm out of their 29er bikes, Santa Cruz felt 135mm was optimum. It gets harder to package the big wheels and the suspension components the more you increase travel, and keep the front end low and the head tube short enough to make it all work properly. The LT gets a 69.4 degree head angle, steeper than most of the other bikes in this roundup, with a 1,137.9mm wheelbase and 449.58mm chainstays for a size large.
Complete bikes start from £2,999 and you can buy the frame for £1,799.
Bikemagic had a chat with Santa Cruz head designer Joe Graney at the launch of the LTc, which you can check out here.
Share