The XC bike for downhillers...
The Tallboy is making big leaps for a short-travel bike. With a strong lower-link VPP rear suspension, sporty design, Santa Cruz-typical craftsmanship, and a rather radical geometry, the Tallboy tries to push the boundaries of bike categories on every trail.
Sure, 120mm more travel doesn't sound like absolute downhill performance - but thanks to our lower-link VPP suspension, the bike can do a lot more than the numbers alone may reveal. A bike that only knows how to go full throttle and is always ready to sprint - whether uphill, downhill, or on flat flow trails. The maximum efficiency of the VPP rear suspension results in pleasantly fast and nimble handling. Technically, it is based on the same platform as our long-travel bikes and therefore feels at home not only in classic XC terrain but also on "real" trails. Paired with a 130mm fork, the new Tallboy becomes increasingly attractive even for aggressive riders.
The biggest change lies in the geometry... Conventional wisdom suggests that "small" short-travel bikes should be ridden slower and therefore require steeper and more conservative geometries than their big enduro brothers. But does that really make sense? Don't we also want to go full throttle on lightweight trail bikes and fully enjoy every descent and trail?
So, we sat down and translated our enduro geometries into "cross-country." And developed a fast bike with little travel and a flat 65.5° head angle, generous reach, and a fork with minimal offset - an aggressive geometry rarely seen in this travel category.
And the radical thinking doesn't stop there. The short 436mm chainstays ensure that the bike responds quickly in every situation. Combined with the low bottom bracket, the Tallboy can be pushed sportily into berms and playfully maneuver through challenging trails.