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[[{“value”:”The Santa Cruz Vala was the first departure from VPP that we saw Santa Cruz take on their eBikes, and it impressed us with its overall ride character when it first launched. The subsequent release of the Vala AL – a cheaper version that packs all of the same features but with a slightly heavier alloy frame – had us intrigued. Could Santa Cruz hit the budget-conscious eBiker’s sweet spot of quality and performance?
We were excited to put the Santa Cruz Vala AL to the test, as we seek the best eMTB on the market in 2026.
Written Review: https://theloamwolf.com/emtb/santa-cruz-vala-al-review
Main Shootout Page: https://theloamwolf.com/emtb/2026-emtb-shootout/
These intensive group reviews would not be possible without some amazing partners. Their support ensures our entire crew can ride all these bikes on a variety of terrain to establish real-world data for our audience.
Fox Racing kept the team warm during the odd storm, comfortable on hot days, and ensured we were always looking cool while staying protected.
Schwalbe Tires provided control tires with amazing and predictable performance, and 2 weeks of testing across the 15 test eMTBs with zero flat tires.
We’d also like to thank our destination hosts. We stayed at Glorieta Adventure Camps just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico and we were supported by Sante Fe City and Santa Fe County and their Tourism Dept. Thanks for the hospitality, and you should definitely get down there for yourself!
Sponsor Links:
https://www.foxracing.com/
https://www.schwalbetires.com/
https://www.santafe.org/
https://www.santafecountynm.gov/community-development/economic-development
https://glorieta.org/
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Need Tools or a Workstand? Visit Feedback Sports and use code TLW-2026-15 for 15% off your order: https://alnk.to/6xOugBb
Suspension Smoother:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKZCF7G7?maas=maas_adg_B1DAD94BBF4462E95EB3627DD9C94432_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&th=1
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https://store.theloamwolf.com
C H A P T E R S
00:00 Introduction
00:58 About the Bike
01:26 Build Spec
01:47 Spec to Value
02:48 Geo
03:11 Climbing Performance
04:34 Descending and On-Trail Feel
07:11 Final Thoughts”}]] Read More The Loam Wolf
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