{"id":54067,"date":"2023-09-12T09:01:43","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T07:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=745803"},"modified":"2023-09-12T09:35:32","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T07:35:32","slug":"new-santa-cruz-heckler-sl-gets-fazua-ride-60-motor-and-mullet-wheels","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/new-santa-cruz-heckler-sl-gets-fazua-ride-60-motor-and-mullet-wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"New Santa Cruz Heckler SL gets Fazua Ride 60 motor and mullet wheels"},"content":{"rendered":"

Santa Cruz enters the lightweight eMTB market with 150mm-travel Heckler <\/p>

By Luke Marshall\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 12 September 2023 at 07:01 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Lightweight electric bikes have become a popular addition to mountain bike brands\u2019 line-ups, and Santa Cruz has joined in the fun, launching the Hecker SL.<\/p>\n

The new bike features 150mm of rear-wheel travel and geometry that will see it comfortably tackle the whole mountain. It gets assistance from Fazua\u2019s Ride 60 motor and an integrated 430Wh battery to give you a boost up the hills. It rolls on mullet wheels<\/a> too.<\/p>\n

Santa Cruz states this bike is for the discreet e-biker, newcomers or those hesitant about riding hefty machines that alter the ride feel and want something more in touch with trail bikes<\/a>. It\u2019s designed to provide a little helping hand on the hills so you can push harder on the descents.<\/p>\n

There are five sizes, from small to extra-extra-large, and five build options, starting at \u00a36,699 and increasing to \u00a311,999. International pricing is TBC.<\/p>\n

Under the hood<\/h2>\n
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Fazua\u2019s Ride 60 drive unit is a discreet and quiet package.<\/span><\/figcaption> Grant Robinson<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

At the heart of the Heckler SL is a Fazua Ride 60 electric bike motor<\/a> and an integrated 430Wh battery. The battery isn\u2019t removable.<\/p>\n

The motor delivers a maximum torque of 60Nm and 450W of peak power in its Boost function. Santa Cruz boasts it has more range and power than other electric mountain bikes<\/a> in this class. Battery charge time is 3.5 hours.<\/p>\n

There are three power settings: Breeze, River and Rocket, which can be customised in Fazua\u2019s app so riders can set their motor performance preferences.<\/p>\n

Battery life and power settings are displayed on a top-tube LED display that features a USB-C port to charge your phone or a bike computer<\/a>. There\u2019s a Ring Controller that sits against the grip, enabling you to change power modes.<\/p>\n

\"Santa\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The top-tube display subtly shows battery power and modes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Grant Robinson<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Santa Cruz claims the smaller, lighter motor, with its 430Wh battery, offers the same range as a full-power ebike with a 630Wh battery. Because the battery is non-removable, there are no latches or covers, plus the down-tube design is compact with a smaller internal diameter.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still a mountain bike<\/h2>\n
\"Santa\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Santa Cruz\u2019s VPP suspension platform has seen plenty of refinement over the years.<\/span><\/figcaption> Grant Robinson<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Heckler SL takes inspiration from the Bronson<\/a>, Santa Cruz\u2019s do-it-all trail bike. It dishes out 150mm of rear-wheel travel<\/a> from its VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) dual counter-rotating link suspension platform. Up-front is a 160mm-travel fork.<\/p>\n

Santa Cruz hasn\u2019t released any details of the suspension kinematics. The bike uses a mixed-wheel setup, with a 29in front and 27.5in rear wheel, which should help keep the bike agile compared to a full 29in bike<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Santa-Cruz-Heckler-SL-C-GX-AXS-mixed-wheel-size\"\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The Hecker SL uses mixed wheel sizes, with a 29in front and a 27.5in rear.<\/span><\/figcaption> Grant Robinson<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The bikes are available in Santa Cruz\u2019s C and CC carbon fibres. Both share equal strength and stiffness, however, the more expensive CC bikes get these properties with a lower weight.<\/p>\n

The frame features a window in the down tube tunnel to help you set up shock sag, plus there\u2019s a flip chip in the lower shock mount that enables you to choose your geometry from high and low settings.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s plenty of frame protection to help silence the bike, and space for a water bottle<\/a> inside the front triangle, but no mounts for tool storage.<\/p>\n

\"Santa\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Because Santa Cruz\u2019s shocks can be tough to reach, the sag window helps you set up the rear suspension.<\/span><\/figcaption> Grant Robinson<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Hecker SL\u2019s geometry appears to be contemporary without being extreme, for the five sizes from S to XXL. Focusing on a size-large frame, its standout numbers in the low setting include a moderate 478mm reach.<\/p>\n

The Heckler SL runs a 64-degree head tube for all sizes, and the size large has a 77.2-degree effective seat tube angle. While not the steepest out there, it\u2019s good to see Santa Cruz offering larger sizes with progressively steeper effective seat tubes.<\/p>\n

The chainstays are also size-specific. The small, medium and large bikes have a rear centre of 444mm, while the XL is 447mm and XXL 451mm. These should balance handling agility and stability well.<\/p>\n

The bottom bracket height is suitably low at 341mm in the low settings, and seat tube lengths are short across the board, ranging from 380mm (size S) to 500mm (size XXL). The geometry looks neutral with no great outlying numbers, which should make the Heckler SL a comfortable bike to ride.<\/p>\n

<\/colgroup> \n
Santa Cruz Heckler SL \u2013 low position<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Size<\/td>Small<\/td>Medium<\/td>Large<\/td>Extra-large<\/td>Extra-extra-large<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube length<\/b> (mm)<\/td>380<\/td>405<\/td>430<\/td>460<\/td>500<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td>432<\/td>457<\/td>478<\/td>497<\/td>523<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack <\/b>(mm)<\/td>617<\/td>626<\/td>635<\/td>653<\/td>667<\/td> <\/tr>
Effective seat tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>76.6<\/td>76.9<\/td>77.2<\/td>77.5<\/td>77.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Effective top tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>580<\/td>603<\/td>622<\/td>643<\/td>670<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>64<\/td>64<\/td>64<\/td>64<\/td>64<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)<\/td>444<\/td>444<\/td>444<\/td>447<\/td>451<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase <\/b>(mm)<\/td>1210<\/td>1239<\/td>1263<\/td>1295<\/td>1331<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover <\/b>(mm)<\/td>716<\/td>729<\/td>729<\/td>732<\/td>739<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>341<\/td>341<\/td>341<\/td>341<\/td>341<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>