The new Santa Cruz Vala eMTB marks a significant departure from its range, ditching its signature VPP (virtual pivot point) linkage in favour of a 4-bar linkage to provide 150mm of rear wheel travel.<\/p>

The shift in suspension linkage is all to do with packaging.<\/p>

The new bike uses Bosch\u2019s updated full-power Performance Line CX motor<\/a> (which has brought a raft of new electric mountain bikes<\/a> to market).<\/p>

Fitting this into a frame that offered the ride characteristics and geometry the brand wanted meant Santa Cruz had to do away with its VPP links.<\/p>

The Vala is built for rough and ready trail riding, with 150mm suspension at the back and 160mm travel forks.<\/p>

Mullet (MX) wheels<\/a> boost handling, while a 600Wh battery is said to blend range with weight distribution. Geometry and suspension progression chips are added.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Repackaging the frame<\/h2>
The iconic VPP design has been swapped for a Horst-link design to help Santa Cruz fit a Bosch motor to their ebikes. Tommy Wilkinson \/ Santa Cruz<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
Virtually every other full-suspension Santa Cruz uses its VPP linkage whereby two counter-rotating links low in the frame drive the shock.<\/p>
However, the Bosch motor doesn\u2019t easily sit with this lower linkage design, as the pivot would have to bolt through the motor body \u2013 not something that\u2019s going to work very well\u2026<\/p>
In order to fit the motor, Santa Cruz has shifted to a more \u2018traditional\u2019 4-bar Horst linkage on the Vala, enabling the motor to fit, while also ensuring it could use the geometry it wanted.<\/p>
This shift has also enabled Santa Cruz to fit proper long-drop dropper posts<\/a> into the frame.<\/p>
Neat chassis details<\/h3>
$\"Santa$
Its tubes are relatively skinny for a full power ebike. Tommy Wilkinson \/ Santa Cruz<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
As you\u2019d expect, the frame is carbon, with the brand offering builds with both its cheaper \u2018C\u2019 level carbon, and the higher-modulus, lighter and more expensive \u2018CC\u2019 carbon.<\/p>
The frames have all the usual Santa Cruz accoutrements, including simple-to-service large bearings.<\/p>
These require just a 5mm hex key to do a bolt check, with collet axles designed to resist them ever coming loose.<\/p>
The link is bridged to boost stiffness and protect the shock from side loads. The captive flip-chip<\/a> hardware means bits won\u2019t fall on the floor when you adjust it, and replaceable thread inserts so you don\u2019t write off your frame if you\u2019re a bit ham-fisted.<\/p>
And, there\u2019s plenty of protection and bolted tool storage under the top-tube.<\/p><\/div><\/div>
Numbers matter<\/h3>
$\"Santa$
“Vala” means ‘chosen one’, according to Google. Tommy Wilkinson \/ Santa Cruz<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
The kinematics of a bike is what, in theory, determines how it should ride.<\/p>
The three graphs commonly seen cover anti-squat, anti-ride and leverage.<\/p>
Anti-squat determines how much pedal forces stiffen up suspension \u2013 you want some, as this resists pedal bob, but too much can lead to a harsh and bumpy ride.<\/p>
The Vala has moderately low levels of anti-squat, in keeping with what Santa Cruz is doing across its range.<\/p>
With a motor to help on the climbs, a little more pedal bob, but potentially quite a bit more grip is a compromise worth making.<\/p>
$\"Santa$
The chain slap protection is impressive. Tommy Wilkinson \/ Santa Cruz<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
At the sag point, the anti-squat is just above 100 per cent, so the suspension should be stable, while still allowing the rear wheel to track the ground.<\/p>
It falls below 100 per cent later in the stroke, so bigger hits shouldn\u2019t result in too much pedal kickback.<\/p>
Anti-rise refers to how much the rear suspension squats under braking. Too much will make the rear suspension stiffen and the wheel skip over the ground, rather than allowing the tyre to stay in contact \u2013 handy for slowing you down.<\/p>
You want some, though, to help counteract the natural forward shift of your weight under braking.<\/p>
The figures are low on the Vala, and rise, slightly, through the bike\u2019s travel, but remains well under 100 per cent throughout. As such, the Vala should provide excellent braking performance.<\/p>
$\"Santa$
The chainstay to rocker link pivot has a geometry adjusting flip chip. Tommy Wilkinson \/ Santa Cruz<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
Leverage curves refer to the amount of rear wheel travel provided by each unit of shock stroke used.<\/p>
When it comes to leverage curves, Santa Cruz hasn\u2019t changes much compared to its current bikes.<\/p>
However, the shift to a 4-bar linkage has enabled longer stroke shocks to be fitted. This means that the leverage ratios have decreased, though.<\/p>
Santa Cruz say this gives better better damping quality and more consistency on long descents, as more of the shock stroke\u2019s travel is used for any given rear wheel movement.<\/p>
There\u2019s also a progression chip fitted at the base of the shock.<\/p>
$\"Santa$
The lower shock mount features a progression adjusting flip chip. Tommy Wilkinson \/ Santa Cruz<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
This gives the bike more or less progression over the range of its travel.<\/p>
The less progressive setting will give a perkier, stiffer initial part of the suspension stroke, with slightly improved pedalling performance.<\/p>
The more progressive setting will be softer and more supple in the early part of the travel, giving more grip and comfort.<\/p>
The Vala will offer 26 per cent or 29 per cent progression.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Fine figures<\/h2>
$\"Three$
The Vala is the first Santa Cruz bike to use a Horst-link rear suspension system. Tommy Wilkinson \/ Santa Cruz<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
The geometry flip-chip offers two options \u2013 Hi and Lo.<\/p>
They alter the head and seat tube angles by 0.3 degrees and the bottom bracket height by 4mm \u2013 the Hi setting being steeper and taller.<\/p>
There\u2019s also a roughly 3mm change in reach, with the Hi offering a slightly longer position on the bike.<\/p>
In the Lo setting, a large has a 477mm reach, 63.9 degree head angle and a 77.2 degree seat tube angle \u2013 these are all in keeping with modern trends for a bike of this ilk.<\/p>
Santa Cruz has maintained its offering of size specific chainstay lengths, ranging from 440mm to 451mm in the Lo setting, across the Small to XXL size range.<\/p>
<\/colgroup>

\ufeff<\/th> S<\/b><\/th> M<\/b><\/th> L<\/b><\/th> XL<\/b><\/th> XXL<\/b><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Seat tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td> 77.2<\/td> 77.2<\/td> 77.2<\/td> 77.2<\/td> 77.2<\/td><\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td> 63.9<\/td> 63.9<\/td> 63.9<\/td> 63.9<\/td> 63.9<\/td><\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 440<\/td> 441<\/td> 444<\/td> 447<\/td> 451<\/td><\/tr>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 380<\/td> 400<\/td> 420<\/td> 460<\/td> 500<\/td><\/tr>
Top tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 574<\/td> 602<\/td> 623<\/td> 646<\/td> 675<\/td><\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 110<\/td> 120<\/td> 130<\/td> 145<\/td> 160<\/td><\/tr>
Bottom bracket height<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 340<\/td> 340<\/td> 340<\/td> 340<\/td> 340<\/td><\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 1211<\/td> 1242<\/td> 1269<\/td> 1298<\/td> 1334<\/td><\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 626<\/td> 636<\/td> 644<\/td> 657<\/td> 671<\/td><\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 432<\/td> 456<\/td> 477<\/td> 497<\/td> 522<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody>
<\/p><\/table>

\ufeff<\/th>	S<\/b><\/th>	M<\/b><\/th>	L<\/b><\/th>	XL<\/b><\/th>	XXL<\/b><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Seat tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>	77.2<\/td>	77.2<\/td>	77.2<\/td>	77.2<\/td>	77.2<\/td><\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>	63.9<\/td>	63.9<\/td>	63.9<\/td>	63.9<\/td>	63.9<\/td><\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	440<\/td>	441<\/td>	444<\/td>	447<\/td>	451<\/td><\/tr>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	380<\/td>	400<\/td>	420<\/td>	460<\/td>	500<\/td><\/tr>
Top tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	574<\/td>	602<\/td>	623<\/td>	646<\/td>	675<\/td><\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	110<\/td>	120<\/td>	130<\/td>	145<\/td>	160<\/td><\/tr>
Bottom bracket height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	340<\/td>	340<\/td>	340<\/td>	340<\/td>	340<\/td><\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	1211<\/td>	1242<\/td>	1269<\/td>	1298<\/td>	1334<\/td><\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	626<\/td>	636<\/td>	644<\/td>	657<\/td>	671<\/td><\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	432<\/td>	456<\/td>	477<\/td>	497<\/td>	522<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody> <\/p><\/table>