If ever there was a gravity riders’ XC bike, the Tallboy is it.
The 120mm Tallboy takes a leap further into what short-travel bikes really are capable of. With kick-ass lower-link VPP suspension, a streamlined design, the typical Santa Cruz refinement, and rather radical geometry, the Tallboy is back to being a genre bending folk hero.
Sure, 10mm more travel might only seem like one small step—but coupled with a lower link-driven VPP suspension design this is one giant leap for the Tallboy.
It’s the kind of bike that makes you sprint while going up, along, over, or down due to the maximum efficiency of the VPP design and responsive, lightweight chassis. But because it shares the same engineering principles as our longest travel bikes, the progressive lower link-mounted shock feels equally at home doing cross-country as it does in extreme-country. Paired with a 130mm fork the Tallboy becomes ever more appealing to riders who like to open it up.
And the geometry, that's a big part of what's going on...
Established theory suggests shorter travel bikes get ridden slower, therefore require steeper and more conservative geometries. In reality though, when was the last time you ever throttled back on a fun trail because you weren’t on a bigger bike? Caution to the wind and all that. So we’ve done the same here and mimicked our longer travel geometry to create a bike with a 65.5-degree head-angle, generous front center, and short offset fork. Something rarely seen on a bike of this ilk.
And the radical thinking doesn’t stop there. The Tallboy’s 436mm chainstays ensure that the bike stays nimble in every situation. Match that to a relatively low BB (335mm and 37.5mm drop) and you’ve got a combo that’s ready to haul into every pocket turn and launch out the other side.
R-Kit Aluminum Build Specs
Weight: 15kg / 33.06lbs
Fork: FOX Rhythm 34, 130mm, 29"
Shock: FOX Float Performance DPS
Rear Derailleur: SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Crankset: SRAM Stylo DUB 32t
Cassette: SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t
Chain: SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB 68/73mm
Brakes: SRAM Guide T
Brake Rotors: Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset: Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset
Bars: RaceFace Ride
Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm
Grips: Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar
Front Hub: SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, 32h
Rear Hub: SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h
Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29" Rims
Spokes: Sapim Race
Front Tire: Maxxis Dissector, 29"x2.4, 3C, EXO, MaxxTerra, TR
Please Note: Price, Weight and Parts Spec information is subject to change.
Frame Sizing
If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, consider the following.
Personal Preference A larger size frame will be more stable, and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.
Body Dimension Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.
Lifetime Warranty and Support Missing a ride sucks. That's why we build the very best bikes and offer legendary rider support for life so that you don't.
R-Kit Carbon Build Specs
Weight: 14.31kg / 31.54lbs
Material: Carbon C
Fork: FOX Rhythm 34, 130mm, 29"
Shock: FOX Float Performance DPS
Rear Derailleur: SRAM NX Eagle
Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Crankset: SRAM Stylo DUB 32t
Cassette: SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t
Chain: SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB 68/73mm
Brakes: SRAM Guide T
Brake Rotors: Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset: Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset
Bars: RaceFace Ride
Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm
Grips: Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar
Front Hub: SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, 32h
Rear Hub: SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, 32h
Rims: SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h
Rim Options: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29" Rims
Spokes: Sapim Race
Front Tire: Maxxis Dissector, 29"x2.4, 3C, EXO, MaxxTerra, TR
Please Note: Price, Weight and Parts Spec information is subject to change.
Frame Sizing
If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, consider the following.
Personal Preference A larger size frame will be more stable, and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.
Body Dimension Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.
Lifetime Warranty and Support Missing a ride sucks. That's why we build the very best bikes and offer legendary rider support for life so that you don't.
If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, consider the following.
Personal Preference A larger size frame will be more stable, and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.
Body Dimension Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.
Lifetime Warranty and Support Missing a ride sucks. That's why we build the very best bikes and offer legendary rider support for life so that you don't.
