Santa Cruz Chameleon R MX review: venerable yet versatile

For the past 25 years the Santa Cruz Chameleon been a tough hardtail that can still be comfortable and light enough for longer rides.

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By mragreeable

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Santa Cruz Chameleon R MX review: venerable yet versatile

What is agnostic geometry?

2300 for a bike with guide t brakes? SC loves to push the boundaries of bad value for money…

That pricing is mental.

Even if we accept the frame is worth £800 how can they justify £2200 for the build kit that contains SRAM NX and Guide T brakes.

A Scandal is full GX for £1200!

That does seem a bit steep. For £350 less I can configure a Solaris Max with SLX 12 speed drivetrain, deore brakes and a Fox 34 GRIP fork.

Also, and I know it was pre COVID, I bought a Voodoo Bokor with Guide T brakes and NX drivetrain for £600, even then I think the RRP was only £900.

I’m sure the frame and badge on the Santa Cruz is nicer but 3k nicer!

Do you know what the max tyre clearance is?

Tire clearence is excellent. I’m running a 29er 2.4 DHR2 in the back on a 35mm inner rim with 15mm+ clearance at the seat stays and 10mm+ at the chainstays.

Watch Hardtail Partys review if you want better info than “Geometry is agnostic” 🙂

What is agnostic geometry

God knows.

What is agnostic geometry

God knows.

Chapeau!!

Still loving my now ‘old school’ carbon Chameleon, although it gets less use since the lockdown purchase of a gravel bike, which filled a large chunk of the riding I was going to do on the hardtail.

That is a bonkers amount of cash. You can get a Titanium frame with XT build kit for less from Sonder!

crack on. does the sonder offer adjustable dropouts?
i have this version chameleon frame as a warranty replacement for this version’s predecessor. it rides very well indeed IMV. expensive? yes, but i’ve had 4 years of riding and now a new replacement, with few questions asked. despite the old one benefiting from a slackset (9.8) this feels a bit slacker again, and rides ‘quieter’. it rides really well IMV. there are plenty of hardtails out there and if you want cheaper there are loads of options. if you want versatility (29, 27.5+, ss) this is it. a budget version might be the salsa timberjack. i’d be interested to try one.

The pricing is on the steep side, but people will pay a premium for SC

Even tho plenty of the bigger & smaller brands will give you better vfm

You can say that if you just want ‘a hardtail’. Then look at what the chameleon will do and go look for other options. Salsa (if you can get one), pipedream (steel), etc.

So the adjustable dropouts are where the money is at? Seems very expensive for what it is.

Yep. Specialized’s Fuse alu hardtail has them and it’s a grand, frame only.

Yes, they do offer adjustable dropouts and it is Titanium (they don’t call it Titaniyuk do they) which is shiny (the main thing IMO) and still less money. https://alpkit.com/products/sonder-broken-road-xt

I bought the Signal Ti in XT and upgraded the wheels, still cost me less. I’ve ridden 100km loop of Salisbury plain, uplift day at BPW and everything in between. Awesome bike!

That said, who am I to judge what bike you want to ride? No skin off my knees, each to their own etc. Just have fun riding what ever you want.

2 degree steeper in the HA and the frame only price is 1300 quid vs the chameleon at 800.
likewise though – you do you. looks like a nice bike – enjoy!

I’m very late to the game but those adjustable drop outs are proper tempting.
Any other hardtails with such feature? And where can I find one? Frame only option preferred.

Just looking at one of these frames to build up singlespeed.

Has anyone got one of these and tried it with 120mm forks? I’ve got a set of 120mm SID Ultimates I’d be tempted to use on a build as they’re a great fork.

Yes I’ve put 120mm Sids on mine recently, having run 130mm Pikes up to then. Rides really well with the shorter travel – steering is a bit quicker and it steepens the seat tube angle slightly which I think it benefits from. I’ve had a few pedal strikes as it drops the bb a bit, but I am running 175mm cranks.

Fantastic, thanks.

I just needed to check that it wasn’t going to completely screw up the handling!