With the Santa Cruz Vala, the Californian bike manufacturer unveils its first eMTB with a Bosch motor. It comes equipped with a brand new Bosch Performance Line CX motor, 600 Wh battery, relying on a mullet wheel setup and 160/150 mm of travel to deliver Santa Cruz’s renowned ride qualities. With its fresh look and new rear suspension concept, the Vala brings a breeze of fresh air into Santa Cruz’s e-bike portfolio. But how does it fare on the trail?
No revamp, no overhaul! With the Vala, Santa Cruz introduce a brand-new full-power e-MTB all-rounder. It comes equipped with the new Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a permanently integrated 600 Wh battery, filling the gap between Santa Cruz’s other two full-power eMTBs, the Bullit and Heckler with its 160/150 mm of travel. Like all of Santa Cruz’s eMTBs, the Vala relies on a mullet wheel setup with a big 29″ wheel at the front and a smaller 27.5″ wheel at the rear to strike the perfect balance between composure and agility. Our Santa Cruz Vala X0 AXS RSV test bike retails from €11,499, tipping the scales at 21.5 kg in size L. Its distinct design marks a departure from the classic Santa Cruz aesthetic. Why have Santa Cruz abandoned the VPP rear suspension for the Vala, and how does the bike perform on the trail?
What makes the new Santa Cruz Vala X0 AXS RSV special?
Looks… like a Santa Cruz? Actually, it doesn’t! While most full-suspension bikes of the Californian brand rely on the unmistakable VPP rear suspension system (the manufacturer’s hallmark), their new full-power eMTB, the Vala, breaks tradition. Whether it’s a trail bike like the Hightower, an enduro bike like the Megatower, or eMTBs like the Heckler SL and Bullit – all are distinctly recognisable as a Santa Cruz with their signature twin-link rear suspension.
The Vala takes a completely new approach: the classic VPP suspension gives way to a four-bar Horst-Link design. Why this change? Integrating the large Bosch motor into the existing VPP design proved too complex to transfer the latest suspension optimizations from regular mountain bikes to the Vala. Therefore, Santa Cruz’s engineers opted for a Horst-Link rear suspension design, which gave them more freedom with the frame design and suspension kinematics in order to achieve the best ride feel possible.
You can find the full test at our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE.
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Words: Benedikt Schmidt Photos: Max Schumann, Peter Walker
