Santa Cruz Heckler CC S

The Heckler is about expanding your own trail map—accessing previously unreachable trails, unlocking less-used trails, and doing so independently. The full carbon frame and interchangeable 504wh battery keep the weight down (45.3lb) compared to bikes with larger batteries, but it's fast and easy to put in a fresh battery for even bigger, longer days.

The new Shimano EP8 motor is lighter than the previous unit (310g), has more power (85Nm versus 70Nm), smaller volume (-10%) for greater ground clearance, less drag (36%), more heat resistant, and is tuned to give more power in Trail mode. All this means it's even more capable of tackling longer, tougher rides.

The 27.5-inch wheels keep the bike playful and maneuverable in order to make the most of the trail. The slack head angle (65.5-degree) and 445mm chainstay length provide a snappy and fun feel while still providing traction for when the trail gets steep and technical, both up and down.

Like all Santa Cruz bikes, the Heckler pedals well regardless of watts involved. The 160mm-travel fork is paired with 150mm-travel at the rear to provide a wide range of capabilities. We tweaked the VPP kinematics to have slightly lower anti-squat than other bikes. This adds a touch more support and traction over rough stuff when pedaling seated—a major advantage of having the pedal-assist on your side.

And like every Santa Cruz bike, the Heckler is built for the rigors of true mountain biking. Shimano electronics were chosen for their refinement and reliability, while quality pivot hardware, easily replaceable radial bearings, and no-nonsense internal cabling were considered with a mechanic's sanity in mind!

The Heckler's boundaries aren't defined by distance, laps, or time. The boundaries in our head that say, "Don't bother", "Turn back", "Impossible." Smashing these boundaries is what got us hooked on riding in the first place. Heckler's not about taking things easy, it's about making things possible.