Santa Cruz Heckler X0 AXS RSV 29 Review

In the automotive and motorcycle world, Japan has always had a reputation for being a breeding ground for excellent engines. Shimano is doing its utmost to live up to this reputation in the e-bike world with the EP801 engine. 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.

In the Downhill, the bike racks up plenty of points. The outstanding Rock Shox chassis calmly and confidently handles rough terrain. The thick 38mm stanchions on the fork provide an extra dose of steering precision and performance. Thanks to the solid power, the SRAM brakes can be counted on in the upper class segment. With four pistons and 200 millimeter rotors , Santa Cruz won't take any chances in that area. At the drivetrain components and the rest of the parts, Santa Cruz uses good equipment. When it comes to the geometry, Santa Cruz does not go completely crazy. The head tube angle and reach values were chosen with care. The result: A balanced riding behaviour with a good combination of playfulness and straight-line stability. The bottom bracket is high, which costs handling points. This tends to make the rider stand on the bike. On other EMTBs it feels better integrated. Too steep and technical uphills are less the comfort zone of the Heckler X0 AXS RSV 29. On bikes with a steeper seat angle and longer chainstays, it is much more relaxed to climb in demanding terrain. For the very good geometry, the developer team of Santa Cruz definitely deserves props. Such a knack for detail in geometry is rarely seen. With its 21,8 kg, the Heckler X0 AXS RSV 29 is one of the lighter E-bikes. The competition is often significantly heavier.