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Santa Cruz Chameleon 27+

548K views 3K replies 365 participants last post by  laegrim 
#1 ·
#41 ·
I have a TB3 as my main trail bike, and I also have an old Niner SIR9 that is usually set up as a singlespeed, but I'll sometimes put gears on it. The SIR9 has a been a good bike, but I've gotten used to the more modern geometry of slacker head angles and shorter chainstays, so I've been thinking of getting a new hardtail frame at some point. The new Chameleon looks pretty good, but I have some mixed feelings about it.

A good thing is the swappable dropouts so I can set the bike up as singlespeed or geared, 29er, or 27.5+. The geometry also looks pretty good -- I like the short chainstays and the head angle is slack but not too slack.

For bad things, I generally prefer steel or titanium for hardtails and never much liked the feel of aluminum hardtails. The frame also seems heavy for aluminum. It's 4.5 lbs., which is as heavy as my steel SIR9. The seat tube angle also seems a little too slack, but I'd probably fine with sliding my saddle a little more forward on the rails.

I can get a good deal on the frame, but the problem is that I'd have to also buy a new fork and probably wheelset. I'd also want to buy a dropper post for it. So all that stuff would add up to a lot.

Most of my friends' SIR9's eventually broke (usually at the rear dropout). Maybe if mine breaks I'll have a good excuse to get a new hardtail frame.
 
#45 ·
For bad things, I generally prefer steel or titanium for hardtails and never much liked the feel of aluminum hardtails. The frame also seems heavy for aluminum. It's 4.5 lbs., which is as heavy as my steel SIR9.
Spend an extra $150 ($999 total) for one of the 2017 boosted Vassago Verhauen frames arriving next week. It has similar updated geometry, can run all the same wheels/tires, and it's a steel frame that weighs the same as the Chameleon.

Thank me later. ;)
 
#48 ·
I'm also very interested in this frame (the Santa Cruz, that is. I will probably also be very interested in the Vassago when I see the numbers for it.)

Here are a couple more ride reports for the Chameleon.
Santa Cruz Chameleon 2017 R1 29 first ride review - specs, weight, price review - BikeRadar USA

Singletrack Magazine | First Ride: The Chameleon From Santa Cruz Bicycles

Note that the bikeradar.com report is by the same guy from the youtube video that LCW posted. Now if only I had some money!
 
#62 ·
Tried a 29 plus in the rear... No go using Chupacabras with i45 rims... It spun, but rubbed the seatstay where the tire was out of true... About 2mm clearance on the true side... Trying to find a 2.8 in 29plus, but don't think that tire exists... Will install a plus DHR2 and DHF and see... Calipers show they are about 3mm narrower than the Chupacabras.
 
#70 ·
I think availability is going to be an issue for a while. Rode my R1+ across town to the shop I got it at (only dealer in Phoenix whose had any) and was told it was good timing when I came in because the 3 they got were all they'd see till May. Also they happened to be having a Santa Cruz demo going on and the Santa Cruz employee working it had never even seen a Chameleon before today. Glad I got mine when I did!
Mole
 
#73 ·
New bike day!

This one came in as scheduled (was originally told April 12 when ordered, and that's when the shop got it). It got built up by the shop and I picked it up today. The only changes were a 32T chainring (better for West Michigan) and some Bombolonis because I know those roll and grip like crazy on our trails around here.



Haven't gotten it out on the trail yet, but even while messing around in the yard I can feel the balance and the maneuverability of this bike. Can't wait to take it out for a proper shakedown.

Side note: the shop said that their most recent order for one of these had a delivery date of late June. Yikes!
 
#76 ·
New bike day!
Haven't gotten it out on the trail yet, but even while messing around in the yard I can feel the balance and the maneuverability of this bike. Can't wait to take it out for a proper shakedown.
I noticed that too right off. My "test ride" didn't even involve any dirt, just jumping off curbs and riding down some stairs. Bike is a quality tool!
Mole
 
#78 ·
Bomboloni barely fits (pictured)... DHRII Plus has a little more room (not pictured)...

First off, all the reviews are spot on... Comfy in the rear, responsive in the crank, and rails hard!!!

Bought the frame and it weighed 5.4 lbs, size M (seat collar removed). 28 lbs on the nose as seen built... Sorry, for the crappy Anthropology shot...

Borrowed the wheels from another bike, as I didn't have any other Boost 29er wheels... Weight is slightly felt when climbing, but it is very stable - 780mm bar with 50mm stem, 120mm 27.5 plus fork... No dabs on the climbs yet though. 30x44 has been just enough...

Bombs down the chunk like my Nimble 9 and reminiscent of my Stache 5 Plus. The rear feels like I'm riding a plus tire, and closely muted like the N9 - close but not the same. Figured the stiff "cheena carbon" rims, i30 with 2.2 Ardent Race, would be jarring, but not at all - 17 psi, 250 lbs geared up.

Looking to setup in all configurations, as the 27.5 plus dropouts were also purchased. 130mm fork in 27.5 plus mode sounds spot on. 29plus rigid was always in my sights too, but will have to wait for a 2.8" 29er or 2.6" 29er for the rear. I really wish that 3.0" fit... Maybe the 2.6" will offset the front enough to get close to the target HT angle - 480mm A-C rigid fork. Doubtful, but maybe I'll try it with 2.2" rear first.

That said, my Stache 5 will be for sale... Rolling chassis: size 17.5, Miami Green, rigid fork and stock wheels... Might have kept the Stache if it was a size 18.5. Reach feels short now after riding the 440mm reach on the SC "lizard"...

I love this bike!!!

Sorry for you guys that have to wait for delivery. Feel free to ask me questions...
 

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#79 ·
Bomboloni barely fits (pictured)... DHRII Plus has a little more room (not pictured)...

First off, all the reviews are spot on... Comfy in the rear, responsive in the crank, and rails hard!!!

Bought the frame and it weighed 5.4 lbs, size M (seat collar removed). 28 lbs on the nose as seen built... Sorry, for the crappy Anthropology shot...

Borrowed the wheels from another bike, as I didn't have any other Boost 29er wheels... Weight is slightly felt when climbing, but it is very stable - 780mm bar with 50mm stem, 120mm 27.5 plus fork... No dabs on the climbs yet though. 30x44 has been just enough...

Bombs down the chunk like my Nimble 9 and reminiscent of my Stache 5 Plus. The rear feels like I'm riding a plus tire, and closely muted like the N9 - close but not the same. Figured the stiff "cheena carbon" rims, i30 with 2.2 Ardent Race, would be jarring, but not at all - 17 psi, 250 lbs geared up.

Looking to setup in all configurations, as the 27.5 plus dropouts were also purchased. 130mm fork in 27.5 plus mode sounds spot on. 29plus rigid was always in my sights too, but will have to wait for a 2.8" 29er or 2.6" 29er for the rear. I really wish that 3.0" fit... Maybe the 2.6" will offset the front enough to get close to the target HT angle - 480mm A-C rigid fork. Doubtful, but maybe I'll try it with 2.2" rear first.

That said, my Stache 5 will be for sale... Rolling chassis: size 17.5, Miami Green, rigid fork and stock wheels... Might have kept the Stache if it was a size 18.5. Reach feels short now after riding the 440mm reach on the SC "lizard"...

I love this bike!!!

Sorry for you guys that have to wait for delivery. Feel free to ask me questions...
envious... can't wait for my small frame to arrive... will build it as 27.5 plus. I already have a Highball as 29'er... what rims are those?
 
#89 ·
got mine ordered as frame only option... dealer in the Philippines said I was one of the first batch to get ordered and arrival in SCB factory/assembly is 1st week of May... it mght take extra long to get it in the Philippines as it comes from Taiwan, then US, then back to the Philippines...
 
#87 ·
My Stache 5 (2016 rigid) is/was fun as hell!!! I stripped all the stock parts and made it my own. I rode it rigid 80% of the time for typical SoCal trails, and would install a Fox 34 for shuttle run rides. Very capable in the fast, flowy, and rocky stuff. However, I discovered the bike was getting twitchy in the steep downs and had to be mindful at times, squishy or rigid. Never crashed, but figured I should have gotten the 18.5 and not 17.5 size. Tried a longer stem, and sliding the wheel all the way back, but it lost some of its flickability. Almost bought a larger frameset but built a Slash instead. Felt weird spending more coin to build an almost identical bike. My Stache would still be in one piece if not for the new Chameleon.

The longer reach of most new bikes really intrigued me, especially because of the scenario with my Stache. First ride with the Lizard blew me away! 29er mode though, with same Fox 34. Railed hard and stable in everything else. Better acceleration than the Stache, but lost the float roll. Felt higher on the Chameleon vs the Stache, where I was more in the bike, than on top. Not sure what the BB height difference is, but handling was not impacted. In terms of comfort when bombing down the chunk, with a 2.2 Ardent race on i30 rim felt very similar to the Stache with 3.0 rubber. It's not the wheel or rubber, but the frame doing its magic. Difficult to quantify, but it's there.

Will try 29plus with a rigid fork To see how it feels. 2.2 in the back to slack it out, and will try 2.6 too. 27.5plus wheels are being built, so I'll get to try it that too.
 
#88 ·
Thanks mate. It's interesting to hear that in certain situations the 2.2 felt similar to the Stache with its 3.0 in terms of comfort. It's great that you're going to be able to try a multitude of different wheel/tyre combos over the next few months.

I love my Stache (a lot!) but the grass is always greener on the other side right? I'd just need to set aside an additional $1500 for all the purple anodized Hope bits in the promo shots, haha.
 
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