Following in the footsteps of the Heckler and Bullit, the Santa Cruz Heckler SL is the newest electric mountain bike to join the lineup. It’s a pretty big deal too, as the Heckler SL represents the first lightweight e-MTB to emerge from the Californian brand. Santa Cruz may be a little late to the party, but it’s certainly come out swinging. Featuring a tidy carbon frame, compact Fazua drive system and an impressive claimed weight of just 18.5kg, the Heckler SL is ready to take on the likes of the Specialized Levo SL, Trek Fuel EXe and Orbea Rise.
The Santa Cruz Heckler SL is the first lightweight e-MTB to come from the Californian brand.
Equipped with 160/150mm of travel and a mixed wheel setup, the Santa Cruz Heckler SL is built for all-round riding.
An overview of the Santa Cruz Heckler SL
The Santa Cruz Heckler SL is a lightweight e-MTB that’s designed for all-round trail riding. It’s built around a full carbon frame that’s offered in both C and CC variants, and it features a mullet setup with a 29in front wheel and a 27.5in rear wheel.
As with the standard Heckler and the latest Bronson, the Heckler SL utilises the VPP suspension design to deliver 150mm of rear travel. Up front is a 160mm travel fork.
A slim 430Wh battery hides within the downtube, and that fuels a Fazua Ride 60 motor that delivers up to 60Nm of torque. A neat display is integrated into the top tube, with coloured LEDs highlighting the battery status and chosen assist mode. You change modes via the discreet Ring Controller next to the left-hand grip, which also gives you access to walk assist and the nifty Boost function.
Fazua provides the discreet controller and top tube display.
Rear centre lengths vary throughout the size range.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL geometry & sizing
Geometry on the Santa Cruz Heckler SL seems some slight differences to the full-powered Heckler.
The head angle is a bit slacker 64°, the seat angle is a little steeper at 77°, and the reach gets marginally longer. Santa Cruz has also given the Heckler SL size-specific rear centre lengths, which vary from 443-451mm across the five frame sizes.
As with all of the latest full suspension bikes from Santa Cruz, you’ll find a two-position flip chip in the lower shock mount that gives you access to HI/LO geometry settings. This adjustment also affects the rear suspension kinematic, with the LO setting providing a more progressive leverage rate.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL Size Chart
With a claimed weight of 18.5kg, the Heckler SL is substantially lighter than the regular Heckler and Bullit.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL price & specs
There will be five models available in the Santa Cruz Heckler SL lineup for 2024. Prices will start at $10,999 AUD for the Heckler SL C R, and will top out at $19,499 AUD for the range-topping Heckler SL CC XX AXS RSV.
Cheaper models will come with the C carbon frame, while the higher-spec bikes get the lighter CC carbon frame. Regardless of price, all bikes are equipped with the same Fazua Ride 60 motor and 430Wh battery.
We’re looking forward to swinging a leg over the new Heckler SL in the near future, and we’re eager to see how it compares to the best e-MTBs on the market. In the meantime, read on for the specs and prices of the full lineup.
The Santa Cruz Heckler SL CC XX AXS RSV comes with all the bells and whistles, but none of the vowels.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL CC XX AXS RSV
Frame | CC Carbon, VPP Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
Fork | RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, Charger 3 Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate, 210x55mm
Motor | Fazua Ride 60, 60Nm
Battery | Fazua Integrated 430Wh
Wheels | Industry Nine Hydra Hubs & Reserve 30|HD Carbon Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width
Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF 3C Maxx Grip EXO 29×2.5in Front & Minion DHR 3C Maxx Terra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in Rear
Drivetrain | SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/Praxis eTor AL Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
Brakes | SRAM Code Ultimate 4-Piston w/200mm HS2 Rotors
Handlebar | Santa Cruz e35 Carbon, 800mm Width
Stem | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm Length
Seatpost | RockShox Reverb AXS
RRP | $19,499 AUD
For $17,499 AUD, the Heckler SL CC X0 AXS RSV features RockShox Ultimate suspension and carbon Reserve wheels.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL CC X0 AXS RSV
Frame | CC Carbon, VPP Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
Fork | RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, Charger 3 Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate, 210x55mm
Motor | Fazua Ride 60, 60Nm
Battery | Fazua Integrated 430Wh
Wheels | Industry Nine 1/1 Hubs & Reserve 30|HD Carbon Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width
Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF 3C Maxx Grip EXO 29×2.5in Front & Minion DHR 3C Maxx Terra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in Rear
Drivetrain | SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/Praxis eTor AL Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
Brakes | SRAM Code Silver 4-Piston w/200mm HS2 Rotors
Handlebar | Santa Cruz e35 Carbon, 800mm Width
Stem | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm Length
Seatpost | OneUp V2 Dropper
RRP | $17,499 AUD
Built around the cheaper C level carbon frame, this Heckler SL is wearing the excellent SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL C GX AXS
Frame | C Carbon, VPP Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
Fork | RockShox Lyrik Select+, Charger 3 Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Select+, 210x55mm
Motor | Fazua Ride 60, 60Nm
Battery | Fazua Integrated 430Wh
Wheels | DT Swiss 370 Hubs & Reserve 30|SL Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width
Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF 3C Maxx Grip EXO 29×2.5in Front & Minion DHR 3C Maxx Terra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in Rear
Drivetrain | SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/Praxis eTor AL Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
Brakes | SRAM Code Bronze 4-Piston w/200mm HS2 Rotors
Handlebar | Santa Cruz e35 Carbon, 800mm Width
Stem | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm Length
Seatpost | OneUp V2 Dropper
RRP | $14,499 AUD
The price drops down considerably for the Heckler SL C S model thanks to its cable-operated drivetrain, alloy wheels and RockShox Select+ suspension.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL C S
Frame | C Carbon, VPP Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
Fork | RockShox Lyrik Select+, Charger 3 Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Select+, 210x55mm
Motor | Fazua Ride 60, 60Nm
Battery | Fazua Integrated 430Wh
Wheels | DT Swiss 370 Hubs & Race Face AR Offset Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width
Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF 3C Maxx Grip EXO 29×2.5in Front & Minion DHR 3C Maxx Terra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in Rear
Drivetrain | SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 w/Praxis eTor AL Crankset & 10-50T Cassette
Brakes | SRAM Code R 4-Piston w/200mm Centerline Rotors
Handlebar | Burgtec Alloy, 800mm Width
Stem | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm Length
Seatpost | OneUp V2 Dropper
RRP | $12,999 AUD
The Heckler SL C R is the cheapest model in the lineup.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL C R
Frame | C Carbon, VPP Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
Fork | RockShox Lyrik Base, Rush RC Damper, 44mm Offset, 160mm Travel
Shock | Fox Float Performance Series, 210x55mm
Motor | Fazua Ride 60, 60Nm
Battery | Fazua Integrated 430Wh
Wheels | SRAM MTH Hubs & WTB ST i30 Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Rim Width
Tyres | Maxxis Minion DHF 3C Maxx Grip EXO 29×2.5in Front & Minion DHR 3C Maxx Terra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in Rear
Drivetrain | SRAM NX Eagle 1×12 w/Praxis eTor AL Crankset & 11-50T Cassette
Brakes | SRAM DB8 4-Piston w/200mm Centerline Rotors
Handlebar | e*13 TRS Base, 800mm Width
Stem | e*13 Base, 42mm Length
Seatpost | SDG Tellis Dropper
RRP | $10,999 AUD
We’re liking the look of the new Santa Cruz Heckler SL, and we can’t wait to get our hands on one – stay tuned for our in-depth review coming soon!
The post The 2024 Santa Cruz Heckler SL is a brand new lightweight e-MTB with German power appeared first on Flow Mountain Bike.
Following in the footsteps of the Heckler and Bullit, the Santa Cruz Heckler SL is the newest electric mountain bike to join the lineup. It’s a pretty big deal too, as the Heckler SL represents the first lightweight e-MTB to emerge from the Californian brand. Santa Cruz may be a little late to the party,
The post The 2024 Santa Cruz Heckler SL is a brand new lightweight e-MTB with German power appeared first on Flow Mountain Bike. Read More Flow Mountain Bike
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