My first bike was a 90's entry level Ridgeback when i was a teen. Years later, my first front suspension bike with disc brakes was a 2013 Merida budget hardtail. After saving up, I collected my Chameleon R MX last week and i'm so happy to own a decent modern hardtail! The options for the rear and lifetime warranty are big pluses for me. The black frame released this year looks good but my previous bike was black so i had to get yellow! It cost me a wedge but i have no regrets!
Interesting. I guess it depends on where you’re coming from. I’m really only into XC, maybe downcountry tires, but from that perspective, I was really amazed how grippy the Aggressor was when I tried it on the back of a trail bike. It was paired with a DHRII upfront. It felt like I could get away with much more than I could on tires I usually run on my ht and fs bikes. I still can’t comprehend how so many ppl tolerate the abysmal rolling speed these more or less full-on trail tires provide though.
Cheers BH too. Officially it'll go to a 150mm. Ragley are cheaper for sure but if you're going hard enough to want a 150mm fork then that lifetime no questions warranty could come in real useful!
I would have mentioned this bike being more similar to the Ragley Marley/Big Al. Would love to see your review on one of those. Same head angle and chain stay design amongst other similarities.
Hi Nito, I mainly mentioned the Vitus as I'd just ridden one. There is a Marley review somewhere on the site though and the Big Al is an excellent economy equivalent if you don't need adjustable chain stays.
@@GuyKesTV cool beans, thanks for the reply. Been watching and mainly envying your weather. Down in the south west of the uk, my routes were all mud baths and now they're part mud baths and part solid ice, can't even thrash the gravel bike now! Hoping for clearer times ahead. Ride safe!
@@nito_gocni5460 It was frozen solid here yesterday but now it's slop again, luckily there are some good rocky routes nearby. I used to MTB at Exeter Uni back in the late 80s/early 90s so I know how soggy it can get down there!
@@GuyKesTV I'm down in Dorset, near the coast. I think my area belongs to the grand old duke of York, wherever you go you're either up the top of a hill or speeding back down again !! Lol.
It's dry here, and I once put an agressor on the front for a little more traction than my xc tyres can provide. I will not do that again. It does, however, last very long compared to other tires, which in this case is not a compliment..
cool review man thanks for sharing! tidy bike!! i ordered this as a frame in january 22 ..... its still not arrived yet :( unsure if i would ever go santa cruz again
Hi, I’m a new subscriber. Love the vids. Question, well I’m new to mountain biking, I currently have a RS Yari on my Nukeproof Scout V3. (Collecting skills first before moving up to a FS) Planning to upgrade my fork to a Fox 36. Well there are lot of variations, and I’m a newby to Fox Forks. What Fox 36 would you recommend aside from the E Factory. I usually ride technical trails, rock gardens, steep and flowy trails. 😅 Thanks.
Hi John, thanks for the sub. You could get a really great upgrade in fork performance by just switching the damper in your Yari to a Charger 2 damper from a RockShox Lyrik fork. That could save you up to 80% of the cost of a 36, give you a fork that feels almost identical to a 36 and leaves a lot more in your FS upgrade fund. It's a relatively simple job but maybe not one you want to do as a beginner. If you ask your local shop or a good suspension tuner though they should be able to do it no problem.
Great review! I'm trying to figure out sizing. Would you mind sharing your height and inseam? I'm 6'1'', 30inch inseam, and teetering between the L and the XL. Thanks!
I appreciate that you get a very nice frame, but I can’t get my head round how woeful Santa Cruz is in terms of value for money. £3200 for Guide Ts and SRAM NX? 😂
My first bike was a 90's entry level Ridgeback when i was a teen. Years later, my first front suspension bike with disc brakes was a 2013 Merida budget hardtail.
After saving up, I collected my Chameleon R MX last week and i'm so happy to own a decent modern hardtail!
The options for the rear and lifetime warranty are big pluses for me. The black frame released this year looks good but my previous bike was black so i had to get yellow!
It cost me a wedge but i have no regrets!
State of the art statistic display lol
Great review
Interesting. I guess it depends on where you’re coming from. I’m really only into XC, maybe downcountry tires, but from that perspective, I was really amazed how grippy the Aggressor was when I tried it on the back of a trail bike. It was paired with a DHRII upfront. It felt like I could get away with much more than I could on tires I usually run on my ht and fs bikes. I still can’t comprehend how so many ppl tolerate the abysmal rolling speed these more or less full-on trail tires provide though.
Reckon it'll go up to 150-160mm on the front end > ? torn between something like this or a Ragley .. All the best for 2023 too !
Cheers BH too. Officially it'll go to a 150mm. Ragley are cheaper for sure but if you're going hard enough to want a 150mm fork then that lifetime no questions warranty could come in real useful!
I would have mentioned this bike being more similar to the Ragley Marley/Big Al. Would love to see your review on one of those. Same head angle and chain stay design amongst other similarities.
Hi Nito, I mainly mentioned the Vitus as I'd just ridden one. There is a Marley review somewhere on the site though and the Big Al is an excellent economy equivalent if you don't need adjustable chain stays.
@@GuyKesTV cool beans, thanks for the reply. Been watching and mainly envying your weather. Down in the south west of the uk, my routes were all mud baths and now they're part mud baths and part solid ice, can't even thrash the gravel bike now! Hoping for clearer times ahead. Ride safe!
@@nito_gocni5460 It was frozen solid here yesterday but now it's slop again, luckily there are some good rocky routes nearby. I used to MTB at Exeter Uni back in the late 80s/early 90s so I know how soggy it can get down there!
@@GuyKesTV I'm down in Dorset, near the coast. I think my area belongs to the grand old duke of York, wherever you go you're either up the top of a hill or speeding back down again !! Lol.
It's dry here, and I once put an agressor on the front for a little more traction than my xc tyres can provide. I will not do that again. It does, however, last very long compared to other tires, which in this case is not a compliment..
Hahaha, this actually made me laugh out loud. One day I'll find out where they actually work and I'll let you know!
cool review man thanks for sharing! tidy bike!! i ordered this as a frame in january 22 ..... its still not arrived yet :( unsure if i would ever go santa cruz again
That sucks bro…I’m sure there is some kind of mistake! Santa Cruz rocks!
What’s the final word on the Mullet setup? Long term change in bikes or temporary fad?
Hi, I’m a new subscriber. Love the vids. Question, well I’m new to mountain biking, I currently have a RS Yari on my Nukeproof Scout V3. (Collecting skills first before moving up to a FS) Planning to upgrade my fork to a Fox 36. Well there are lot of variations, and I’m a newby to Fox Forks. What Fox 36 would you recommend aside from the E Factory. I usually ride technical trails, rock gardens, steep and flowy trails. 😅 Thanks.
Hi John, thanks for the sub. You could get a really great upgrade in fork performance by just switching the damper in your Yari to a Charger 2 damper from a RockShox Lyrik fork. That could save you up to 80% of the cost of a 36, give you a fork that feels almost identical to a 36 and leaves a lot more in your FS upgrade fund. It's a relatively simple job but maybe not one you want to do as a beginner. If you ask your local shop or a good suspension tuner though they should be able to do it no problem.
3200 cheers
Great review! I'm trying to figure out sizing. Would you mind sharing your height and inseam? I'm 6'1'', 30inch inseam, and teetering between the L and the XL. Thanks!
Hi Ryan, sorry for the delay. I'm 5' 11" but with a 32in inseam (crotch to floor) and I fitted really well on the large size. Hope that helps.
I have this same exact spec in blue, I’m 6’1” and went with the large. Fits perfect
I appreciate that you get a very nice frame, but I can’t get my head round how woeful Santa Cruz is in terms of value for money.
£3200 for Guide Ts and SRAM NX? 😂
Whats the price
Lovely looking bike but I can’t see why you would buy this over a Nukeproof scout and save a bit of cash.
Complete bike, no... frame, yes...
Aggressor is an awful tyre, literally negative braking traction.
I think we need to start an 'Agressor users help forum' on here for all the traumatised riders!
You may not be clear on the definition of the word "literally".