Tech

Santa Cruz revive the Chameleon

By Press Office · 41 comments

Dirt or asphalt, mountain or urban, geared or singlespeed—the moniker Chameleon has never rang more true than on this updated-for-2017 Santa Cruz classic. Upsized to either 29-inch or 27.5+ wheels, the Chameleon shifts from trail rally sled to bikepacker to winter slayer with simple, elegant aplomb. The wheel change is accomplished via interchangeable dropouts, and there’s a singlespeed version for each wheel size—geared dropouts are 148mm-spaced, and singlespeed are 142mm.

ccs-62657-0-61897500-1489567053.jpgThe Santa Cruz Chameleon R1+.

The Details

  • Aluminium frame
  • 120mm fork travel
  • 29 or 27.5+ wheel options
  • 67.5-degree head tube angle
  • Ships with gears, but singlespeed dropouts are available
  • Internal dropper post routing and two water bottle mounts
  • Interchangeable dropouts for gears (with 148mm x 12mm axle) or single speed (with 142mm x 12mm axle)
  • Threaded bottom bracket

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Build kit options:

There are two build options for each wheelsize. The D and D+ are the entry builds and the R1 and R1+ models sport a few upgraded components. The D and D+ build kit features a RockShox Recon Silver RL fork, SRAM NX drivetrain with Race Face Aeffect cranks and SRAM Level brakes. The R1 and R1+ models get a Fox Rhythm fork, SRAM NX drivetrain with a wider GX cassette, Race Face Aeffect AL cranks and SRAM Level T brakes.

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Geometry:

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Comments

the nerd

Mar 16, 2017, 1:35 PM

Yours? 

 

I wish... 

Heel Drop

Mar 16, 2017, 2:17 PM

How is this meaningless here in SA?

help us out Rush sports with some pricing - I am in the market for one

lechatnoir

Mar 16, 2017, 2:24 PM

help us out Rush sports with some pricing - I am in the market for one

 

Price and date please....

Hairy

Mar 16, 2017, 2:27 PM

How is this meaningless here in SA?

50% off retail if you quote your Hubber username? :P

Hairy

Mar 16, 2017, 2:31 PM

50% off retail if you quote your Hubber username? :P

And Mr Min must sign the frames :)

_im_from_earth

Mar 16, 2017, 4:36 PM

Price and date please....

 

Hoping to have pricing and web updated by tomorrow ;)

We are working really hard to keep prices in line / competitive with the US$ MSRP. This puts a bit of pressure on the dealers as it has reduced their margin a bit (obviously ours too). For rough calculation: US$ price x ROE + 14% V.A.T (shipping / handling usually adds 5% or so...)

lechatnoir

Mar 16, 2017, 5:10 PM

 The bare frame, which is said to weigh 4.6lbs, sells for $749 USD, and complete bikes start at $1,599 and top out at $1,999 USD. 

 

 

Hoping to have pricing and web updated by tomorrow ;)

We are working really hard to keep prices in line / competitive with the US$ MSRP. This puts a bit of pressure on the dealers as it has reduced their margin a bit (obviously ours too). For rough calculation: US$ price x ROE + 14% V.A.T (shipping / handling usually adds 5% or so...)

 

USD2K x 13R/$ +5% +14%VAT for the the top end model makes this extremely attractive. Almost too good to be true, and you know what they say about that here...  :ph34r:

 

Still, pricing is pricing and this is a high-end brand, so expecting the requisite high-end pricing. But... will be holding off on pulling the trigger on the Big Trail for a week or two to see how this develops.

Heel Drop

Mar 17, 2017, 4:22 AM

Hoping to have pricing and web updated by tomorrow ;)

We are working really hard to keep prices in line / competitive with the US$ MSRP. This puts a bit of pressure on the dealers as it has reduced their margin a bit (obviously ours too). For rough calculation: US$ price x ROE + 14% V.A.T (shipping / handling usually adds 5% or so..

can I order one R1+  

Heel Drop

Mar 22, 2017, 4:24 PM

which one R1+ which is 27 and a hald or R1 which is 29 er ?

 

Mostly ride trails around Durbanville - I am leaning towards the 27 and a half with the plus tyres

_im_from_earth

Mar 23, 2017, 6:30 AM

Ladies and gentleman... pricing is up. Bikes are on order. ETA is 3rd week in April. Be sure to secure yours ASAP as numbers are limited: https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-ZA/node/1779

JasonS

Mar 23, 2017, 5:31 PM

Thanks for the prices Rush, but no frame-only option quoted?

 

Ladies and gentleman... pricing is up. Bikes are on order. ETA is 3rd week in April. Be sure to secure yours ASAP as numbers are limited: https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-ZA/node/1779

doppelganger

Mar 30, 2017, 1:32 PM

  • Aluminum Frame: R11995

Thanks for the prices Rush, but no frame-only option quoted?

 

Hairy

Mar 30, 2017, 2:08 PM

 

  • Aluminum Frame: R11995

 

just short by a few rondt to 12K .... pretty much the same price as a hand made in CT Hungry Monkey

Goblin

Mar 30, 2017, 2:08 PM

nsmb_2017_gearreview_santacruz_chameleon

 

Initially thought the army green was fugly as hell.

But this pics a beut.

Damn nice looking bike.

the nerd

Mar 30, 2017, 2:40 PM

just short by a few rondt to 12K .... pretty much the same price as a hand made in CT Hungry Monkey

 

Was thinking the same... 

 

Also Mercer is steel. 

 

And we all know what is truly real! 

doppelganger

Mar 30, 2017, 5:10 PM

And which would you prefer?

I thought the Mercer was only 27.5?

 

 

I must say I keep coming back to this bike (not that I can afford to just buy one - but dreaming is free)

 

just short by a few rondt to 12K .... pretty much the same price as a hand made in CT Hungry Monkey

FCH

Mar 30, 2017, 5:24 PM

suggest you order and pay for a truckload of them this evening before Jake-the-trousersnke Zuma closes the meeting with the top 6- rand is about to take a bloody nosedive again.

 

 

 

Hoping to have pricing and web updated by tomorrow ;)

We are working really hard to keep prices in line / competitive with the US$ MSRP. This puts a bit of pressure on the dealers as it has reduced their margin a bit (obviously ours too). For rough calculation: US$ price x ROE + 14% V.A.T (shipping / handling usually adds 5% or so...)

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