Had mine for 5ish years, abused in Morzine and many UK uplift days, been raced on 100k enduro’s and your more traditional style XC race and still begs for more!
Most adaptable bike I’ve owned only time I replace it will be if/when it breaks/gets stolen!
In its current 1×9 set up coming in at approx 25lb (have photographic evidence if anyone doubts me!):
Id probably have one, but for some reason SC decided to put bottle cage mounts on the seat so you cant drop the seatpost all the way down on the larger sizes. Idiots.
Best bike I’ve ever owned/ridden. Tough as old boots. Will do everything from DH to XC. I’ll be riding it until it falls apart and then I’ll buy a new one
Great bikes, really versatile. I jump mine and ride xc on it, also taken it on the lifts in the pyranees. However, it is harsh at the back and long rides become a bit of an uncomfortable chore even with biggish tyres.
I have one, handles everything I dare throw it at and probably can handle a lot more! I replaced the EBB to stop it squeaking, no other complaints. I’d buy another one
Have a mk1 Chameleon, not representative of newer models perhaps?
However it has been awesome. Gone down Inners DH courses and been a team bike in 24hr races.
It does hurt if you have to sit down through rougher sections, which tends to happen when you are knackered. I run a 2.35 high roller to ease this a bit. However after longer 5+ hour rides I tend to feel a bit pummeled.
Id probably have one, but for some reason SC decided to put bottle cage mounts on the seat so you cant drop the seatpost all the way down on the larger sizes. Idiots.
poppa – Member
Our bottle mounts are on the downtube
Presumably because you have small frame sizes, non?
My XL has no bottle cage mounts on the seat tube either. I’d ignore the comment.
Seriously, mines a 2004 model and I have loved it ever since I brought it home. I’ve since swapped the stem for a short Thomson and lower riser bars which has made it snappier at the front but apart from that it’s still as is the photo.
I shall be looking to upgrade some of the bits very soon (forks, brakes, front wheel) but that’s only for the want and not for the need.
I could post pictures on here all day of my chameleon. So I will..
(Not the engine equipped model unfortunately)
Racing shots
Harsh? Its mountain biking. If you want comfy, stay at home and sit in armchair. Honestly. Its the best bike I’ve ever had.
Oh and leaning against a wall shot..
Adjustable fork is brilliant on it. It climbs so beautifully at 110mm, and then you wind it up to 140mm, shove the saddle down, and just rip it up. Its so stiff, its so responsive, its so nearly perfect. Only things I don’t like about it are the EBB (I’d rather have sliding drop outs for SS duties – easier to maintain). And some of the welding isn’t that UK friendly, but these are just niggles. Some people (me included) can suffer with a creaky EBB from these two slight faults. But when you just stop listening to the creak that pops up now and then under big power, you realise you’re riding something very, very special.
God I want to ride it right now. It doesn’t help that its right next to me (my leg is leaning against the wheel).
Posted 13 years ago
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