Santa Cruz Heckler R MX Review

As a component giant, Shimano is mostly known for its dominant position in bicycle gears. But with the EP801, the Japanese are clearly showing that they can look beyond their own plate too. Even nasty steep sections are effortlessly climbed by the motor. The Shimano EP801 conveys a riding feeling. Whoever enjoys longer tours will be pleased with the good range.

Carbon is considered a premium material in the bike industry. In the price range about 7000€, aluminium is usually the frame material used. With the carbon frame, Santa Cruz can clearly differentiate itself from many competitors. Solid endurance qualities are shown by the chassis of medium quality. The low-grade chassis transfers shocks relatively clearly to the biker. The thick 38mm stanchions on the fork provide an extra dose of steering precision and performance. At the brakes, Santa Cruz middle class four pistons brakes by SRAM are used. At the drivetrain components and the rest of the parts, Santa Cruz uses average parts. The handling of the bike is pleasantly balanced due to the moderate geometry. This allows you to intuitively control the bike over the trails. The low bottom bracket height will likely be a sticking point for trail riders, as it negatively affects handling. Due to the short chainstays , when climbing steep sections, it requires active weight shifting to prevent the front wheel from lifting. For the good geometry, the developer team of Santa Cruz definitely deserves props. Such a knack for detail in geometry is rarely seen.