The Future of E-Mountain Bikes Is Here With Santa Cruz's New Vala

Deven McCoy

Tue, October 1, 2024 at 11:12 PM UTC

BIKE Magazine aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Santa Cruz Bicycles has been using its Virtual Pivot Point suspension platform for decades, but the pioneering brand is bucking this VPP design and moving to a more traditional Horst link for its new e-mountain bike: the Vala.

The Vala marks an interesting departure from the company's previous e-mtb offerings—the Heckler, Heckler SL, and Bullit—all of which have successfully employed the VPP suspension design without issue. So why the deviation?

According to Santa Cruz Brand Manager Hannah Mirepassi, "the VPP design just doesn't accommodate the full power motor while maintaining the same suspension characteristics that people expect from Santa Cruz."

Kiran Mackinnon, the product manager for suspension & ride quality, backed up Mirepassi's statement. "Moving to a four-bar linkage makes it a lot easier to achieve better leverage, but also anti-squat and anti-rise," he said. These statements further the infallible reputation of the tried and tested Horst link suspension design.

The reasoning behind the move away from the company's iconic VPP is a bit of a head-scratcher, since the brand already has VPP e-bikes in its lineup. As an interesting side note, Crestline just released its flagship e-bike line, equipped with a suspension design that looks eerily similar to the VPP. Presumably Santa Cruz has countless hours of testing, data acquisition, and research that have influenced this drastic change in design.

Critical Details of the Vala

Mixed wheels (29" front, 27.5 rear)
NEW Bosch Performance Line CX and 600 Wh battery
160mm front travel
150mm rear wheel travel
Carbon only with C & CC builds available.
Horst-link 4-bar suspension

Pricing & Builds

Base-level build kits start at $7,299 USD and climb up to five digits as the top end will set you back an impressive $12,799 USD. All builds will come with Fox suspension, SRAM 12-speed drivetrains, Maven brakes (except for the R build, which gets DB8s, and a RockShox ZEB fork), and Radial tires from Schwalbe. All build levels top the scales right around 50 lbs, which is fairly normal for a bike with this spec and intended use.

MSRP

R Build - $7,299 USD
S Build - $8,499 USD
GX AXS Build - $9,499 USD
XO AXS RSV Build - $11,499 USD
XX AXS RSV Build - $12,799 USD

Frame Details

The chassis of the new Vala is designed for stiffness and durability, featuring a stiff one-piece bridged link that enhances rigidity and protects the shock from side loads, preventing the softness that can be found in other four-bar suspension platforms. The addition of a seat stay bridge further bolsters the structural integrity, allowing the suspension to track smoothly without twisting. Sounds like a Horst link to me.

Gloss Grey ColorPhoto: Santa Cruz Bicycles

The main pivots incorporate a preloading collet axle and expanding wedge system found throughout the industry, ensuring that axles remain secure for easy and worry-free removal. The main pivots and the seat tube pivot use the same reliable hardware found in the other models, with all maintenance instructions and spare parts readily available through local shops or the Santa Cruz website. Additionally, the captive Geo flip chip hardware design prevents small parts from falling during adjustments, allowing for relatively quick trail-side modifications using just one Allen key.

The threads at the chainstay, seatstay pivots, and shock mount are all replaceable, making repairs straightforward and preventing frame damage from rough handling. With all bolts utilizing a standardized 5mm Allen key, quick checks and maintenance are a breeze, making the bike user-friendly enough for anyone to work on.

As with most Santa Cruz bikes, the Vala has a lifetime warranty on the frame and pivot bearings to offer further peace of mind to the customer. The Vala is available for Pre-order through Santa Cruz Bicycles, or your local bike shop, but at this time, we do not have an ETA for when these will begin to ship.

Our Picks & Buy Now

You can purchase them via Competitive Cyclist! Although the XX AXS RSV build is unavailable, the R and GX T-type builds can be purchased now, and in our opinion, these builds offer exceptional bang for the buck!