Santa Cruz Vala X0 AXS RSV Review

The Performance Line CX Gen. 5 from Bosch shows impressively that they shouldn't be limited to DIY and household products. No motor has shaped the EMTB boom as much as the Bosch CX. Since October 224, the 5th generation of the Bosch Performance Line CX has been available. Compared to the previous model, the motor is especially much quieter. While you can still hear a sound when pedaling uphill, the annoying high-frequency tones have finally disappeared. The gearbox no longer rattles on the downhill trails either. With its proven performance data of 85 Nm torque and over 6 watts of peak power, the motor provides ample power, even for the steepest uphill trails. Bosch has always been a leader in motor control, and the new CX demonstrates this as well. Although it doesn't reach the extremely fine tuning of the #DJI Avinox, Bosch remains one of the best brands on the market in terms of motor control. Additionally, the motor delivers powerful support even at low cadence. Fans of XXL tours are greatly restricted by the Vala X AXS RSV with only an average range. The battery is firmly integrated into the frame and can not be easily removed.

At the chassis, Santa Cruz were generous and gave the Vala X AXS RSV a golden shine Kashima chassis from the house of Fox with 16 mm of travel at the front and 15 mm at the rear. The thick 38mm stanchions on the fork provide an extra dose of steering precision and performance. Later braking is always an option. With SRAM brakes, it's certainly possible, as their four pistons make the SRAM brake system decelerate more than fantastic. At the drivetrain components and the rest of the parts, Santa Cruz goes all-in and only uses excellent parts. 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. Overall, the Santa Cruz developers have done a great job with a god geometry.