SANTA CRUZ TALLBOY GX AXS RSV REVIEW
DOWNHILLER’S XC RIG DELIVERS
Words by Robert Johnston | Photos by Finlay Anderson
With a tagline like “the Downhiller’s XC rig”, Santa Cruz was always going to spark the interest of The Loam Wolf crew. So, when we managed to get one in to test for the long term, we were stoked to see if it would live up to the expectations, and to find out exactly where its capabilities would tap out.
In the 120mm travel Tallboy, Santa Cruz have delivered an incredibly fun machine, but it’s still very much a short travel rig. So let us share our experiences, and help you decide if it’s the mountain bike for you.
ABOUT THE SANTA CRUZ TALLBOY GX AXS RSV
The Tallboy slots into the Santa Cruz range between the full-XC Blur and the 5010 trail mountain bikes. With 120mm rear travel and some aggressive design, one may call it “downcountry”, whatever that means. One day you could line up at an XC Marathon start line; and the next try to hang on for dear life to follow your buddies down the local enduro trails.
FRAME AND FEATURES | The Tallboy is made in carbon fiber only, with both C and CC options depending on the model selected. C is Santa Cruz’s slightly cheaper and heavier carbon, whereas the top-spec CC shaves some weight but retains stiffness and strength for an increased price tag.
As you’d expect from Santa Cruz, the details are all extremely well covered. There’s a custom ribbed chainstay protector for your riding pleasure; integrated shock fender; grease port in the lower link for easy maintenance, and a Hi/Lo flip chip in the lower shock mount. The rear end directly mounts a 180mm post mount caliper; and the bottom bracket is threaded. A chain guide can easily be mounted to the ISCG 05 tabs, with up to a 36t chainring. The rear end is claimed to offer plentiful clearance for up to a 2.5” tire.
The Tallboy is now equipped with a storage hatch in the downtube, which is supplied with a tube purse and tool wallet to keep them safe and rattle free. On top of the hatch there’s a single water bottle mount, with plentiful room in the front triangle to use a large water bottle.
The original owner of the Santa Cruz Tallboy frame receives lifetime frame warranty and free frame bearing replacements. This lifetime warranty extends to the Reserve carbon fiber wheels too, offering a free replacement in case of failure sustained when riding.
SUSPENSION | Though we’ve recently seen Santa Cruz depart from their signature VPP suspension system on their new Vala eMTB, the Tallboy still utilizes the counter-rotating dual link design. The lower link-driven VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) system delivers 120mm to the Tallboy’s rear end with a 45mm stroke shock, and is paired with a 130mm fork as standard.
The flip chip in the lower shock offers a “Hi” and “Lo” geometry position, but also provides a tweak to the suspension kinematic. In “Hi” there’s a more supportive and linear system; whereas the “Lo” position has more progression for initial comfort and bottom out resistance.
GEOMETRY | The Tallboy features some fairly aggressive numbers for its travel category, without anything getting too extreme to detract from its agility. The flip chip offers 0.2° Head Tube and Effective Seat Tube Angle tuning, and a 3mm bottom bracket height adjustment.
Santa Cruz gives the Tallboy a size-specific chainstay length and effective seat tube angle, helping to maintain the weight balance throughout the size range. Chainstays grow from 431mm to 444mm, and Effective Seat Tube Angles steepen from 75.7° to 76.8°.
In the “Lo” position we settled on, the Head Tube Angle is 65.5° and BB Drop is 41mm across the size range. Our size Large had a 473mm Reach and 630mm Stack height, with the wheelbase totaling 1227mm.
BUILD SPECS | In typical Santa Cruz fashion, there’s a wide range of build specs on offer for the Tallboy. These begin with the “R” at $4,799 / £4,799 / €5,399, and top out with the XX SL AXS RSV at $10,999 / £10,499 / €11,999. The CC frame can be purchased with a Fox Float Factory shock for $3,799 / £3,599.
We tested a mid-spec GX AXS RSV build, which is likely the build we’d opt to lay down our credit cards for if we were in the position to buy one of these lightweight trail machines. It’s built around the Tallboy C frame, with a generally sensible compromise of performance and price.
Suspension on the Tallboy GX AXS RSV is provided by Fox, with their Performance Elite Float shock and 34 130mm fork. There’s the option for the RockShox Pike Select+ fork, if preferred. As the name suggests, there’s a SRAM GX T-Type 12-speed drivetrain.
Sadly, SRAM also provides the Level Bronze Stealth 4-piston brakes, which were our only qualm with the spec choices. With the 180mm HS2 rotors on both ends, these brakes lacked the power of SRAM’s CODE, which we like to rely upon when things get gnarly.
The cockpit is a Santa Cruz carbon fiber bar with 42mm Burgtec Enduro MK3 stem. Our size Large featured a 180mm travel OneUp V2 dropper post, which was topped with a WTB Silverado saddle.
Finally, there were a pair of Reserve 30|SL rims laced to DT Swiss 370 hubs and wrapped in a Maxxis Dissector and Rekon tire combo with EXO casing and MaxxTerra rubber. The stock spec is listed as a pair of Forekaster EXO tires. We’d love to see an EXO+ casing in the rear to stand up better to the more abusive trails the Tallboy encouraged.
Our size Large Santa Cruz Tallboy GX AXS RSV build weighed in at 30.2lbs (13.2kg).
THE DIRT
Take a quick look at me, and the chances are you’d assume that my loyalties lie in the gravity-fed side of the sport, and you’d be right. That said, short travel rigs that punch above their travel class are amongst the most exciting out there, so testing the Tallboy made for a very fun time.
SETUP | At 6’2” (189cm) and with a short torso for my height, I opted to test the size Large Tallboy. Santa Cruz would have likely given me the XL based on their recommendations, and I likely would have been comfortable on either, but I enjoyed the Large’s relatively compact fit for its increased agility.
Getting the Santa Cruz Tallboy setup dialed in was straightforward. Their suggested starting shock pressure was in the right ballpark, sitting 5psi (2.5%) lower than what I settled on. Fox’s fork pressure recommendation was close to perfect too, and the Grip 2 damper was much appreciated to dial in the support and control desired.
Originally, I began in the “Hi” flip chip setting, however following the first couple of rides I switched it to “Lo”. The increased comfort and slightly improved “in the bike” feeling came at the expense of minimal efficiency loss and was instantly my preferred setting. That said, the Tallboy certainly felt more “XC” in terms of efficiency and agility in the Hi mode, so riders on the lighter duty side of the spectrum will appreciate having the ability to choose.
CLIMBING | Santa Cruz’s VPP suspension system has historically provided stellar pedaling support, with healthy levels of Anti Squat dialed in. The Tallboy was no exception, giving all of the zip that you’d expect from their 120mm trail machine. It was a well-supported machine under pedaling efforts, but with 30% sag it avoided being overly stiff and uncomfortable for rougher climb sections. I could still hold a line relatively well on a technical and rough climb, allowing me to clean portions that an XC bike on the same tire spec might struggle with. On the longest portions of smoother, flatter climbs, benefit was found from flicking the easily accessed climb switch on the rear shock to prevent any wasted energy from the shock damper.
In the GX AXS RSV build spec we tested; the Tallboy was not particularly light when viewed from a cross-country rider’s perspective. Because of this weight figure, it’s likely that lycra-clad riders would find some cause for complaint. That’s not us, though – the Santa Cruz Tallboy was a machine we’d happily roll out on for the longest mountain bike rides we’ll ever attempt. With the tagline “the downhiller’s XC bike”, you can forgive this weight figure, and as we’ll talk about in the descending portion of the review, we were happy with Santa Cruz’s approach.
The climbing position sat in a nice space between a conventional trail bike and newer-school machine. That’s to say, I was not bolt upright, with the Effective Top Tube sitting in a nice spot to give that little bit of an “aero” feeling that encouraged high tempo mile munching on flatter terrain. The balance of the Tallboy was sufficient that steeper climbs were also dispatched without issue, with only the very steepest beginning to highlight the slightly more rearward seating position. Because the head angle was not too slack, there was still plentiful weight on the front wheel. This kept things in check on steep switchbacks, making the Tallboy a formidable trail center machine.
As you’ll see in the photos, the Tallboy was provided with a healthy stack of spacers under the stem, and a mid-rise handlebar. This gave a relatively high front end, which paid dividends on the steeper descents and gave a slightly more relaxed climbing position. Moving the stem down to being slammed changed the character towards a more uphill-minded machine, further boosting the climbing prowess but at the expense of the commanding position we loved on the descents. It’s great to see this amount of steerer left to let riders select and tune the front-end height to their preferences.
DESCENDING | Many 120mm travel bikes are built with climbing performance as the top priority. However, the recent “Downcountry” trend has seen this travel bracket being applied to trail bikes that are intended to attack the descents and transcend travel categories. The Tallboy sits firmly in this space and makes for a certified riot on the right terrain. “Downhiller’s XC bike” was a perfectly selected tagline for this machine, and the results really captured my heart. Santa Cruz regularly nails the “in the bike” feeling with their geometry, and the Tallboy was no exception. That said, the Tallboy GX AXS RSV had its capabilities choked by a couple of spec admissions, so buyers should be prepared to budget for some immediate part swaps to ensure ultimate Tallboy enjoyment.
The Tallboy CC frame felt impressively stout for its low weight, and when combined with the Reserve 30|SL wheels, the demeanor on the descents inspired some hard charging. Loading up the Tallboy into bermed corners was a pleasure, with the geometry placing the rider in a confident position. The supportive suspension gave plentiful snap coming out the other side, and rewarded pumping efforts. This suspension was unmistakable in the short travel zone though, for better and for worse. It was a well-controlled example of what 120mm can offer these days, but I regularly found its limits. In the “Lo” flip chip position, there was reasonable comfort and end-stroke resistance to inspire rider confidence, but still with enough pep to remind you what the Tallboy was designed for.
Equipping the Tallboy with some burlier, tackier trail tires for a ride, I set about finding just how capable it was on my local enduro trails (sorry Santa Cruz). With the tires swapped, next to show their limits were the under-gunned SRAM Level brakes. The Fox 34 only complained on the steeper drops into well-supported turns for my 220lbs (100kg) mass and are a suitable spec call in my eyes. The Reserve wheel’s strength and stiffness never came into question.
Unsurprisingly, the Tallboy didn’t offer the same planted and stable nature as a longer-legged machine. However, when ridden aggressively and purposefully, it was impressive how fast some of the mid-level natural enduro descents in the Tweed Valley could be ridden. On the fastest and roughest trails, it was out of its element as you’d expect, but it put up an amicable fight. I’m not advocating that the Santa Cruz Tallboy should replace an enduro bike, but you get the impression that it’d give it a shot if given the chance.
FINISH AND VALUE | Santa Cruz has been making bikes with a stellar finish for many years, and the Tallboy continues this theme. Their suspension system is well crafted, with well-sealed bearings and solid hardware that reduces maintenance needs and makes service straightforward when the time comes. Alignment was excellent, with the suspension pivots going together easily and the rear end cycling smoothly and freely when the shock was unbolted. The integrated shock fender does a reasonable job at keeping the worst off, and the frame deals with mud and stone infiltration fairly well.
The Tallboy was fairly quiet on the trail, though the bottle cage on top of the glovebox could rattle on the highest frequency trails, as did the cables and chain from time to time. None of these were excessive, but noise resonated through the Tallboy more than some. The rear triangle offered excellent clearance with the 2.4” rubber fitted, and there was no evidence of rear tire rub that can often be caused by frame and wheel flex. The glovebox storage system was solid, giving ample space to stuff some tools, a snack and a small packable layer.
Taking a look at the geometry through the size range, Santa Cruz does a reasonable job at sizing the Tallboy for riders across the spectrum. With fairly low seat tube heights across the board; and consistent 20-25mm reach and 10-18mm stack height increases, most riders should be able to obtain a comfortable fit. The size-specific rear ends are not the most aggressive and don’t retain the same front to rear center ratio throughout the range, but will certainly help to maintain a reasonable balance. Dropper post insertion is solid, and most riders are likely to fit a sufficiently long dropper.
When it comes to value, it’s hard to say that the Tallboy is exceptional value. That said, the spec is mostly excellent, and the frame quality and after sales support are stellar. The GX AXS RSV build kit we were supplied for the test offers a solid parts package for the most part, and is likely what we’d aspire to purchase if we were in the market and had the money to burn, though we’d be swapping out the brakes immediately.
COMPONENT REPORT
Maxxis Dissector / Rekon EXO Tire Spec | The Rekon and Dissector tire combo made for a party, but didn’t offer the ultimate descending confidence. The rear tire was keen to break free at any moment and offered limited braking traction. We’d likely opt to replace the Rekon for a Dissector EXO+ to support our preferred riding, albeit at the expense of some rolling speed. On this style of bike, tire spec can change the characteristics considerably and there’s a lot of give-and-take for traction vs efficiency. A Dissector is still a fast rolling tire in our space, as Downhill-minded riders.
SRAM Level Bronze Stealth Brakes | We understand why Santa Cruz would spec the lighter weight trail disc brakes on the Tallboy, but we really wish they hadn’t – especially the Bronze level. The drop in power compared with the SRAM CODE can’t possibly be worth the small number of grams to the majority of riders, and the Level brakes were the first to limit the capabilities of this downhill-minded “XC” machine.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
Santa Cruz Tallboy VS SCOR 2030
As the last aggressive short travel machine I spent good time on, the SCOR 2030 put up a good fight with the Tallboy. Both are incredibly fun and well-executed machines, but the character was slightly different on-trail.
The Tallboy was an easier machine to ride fast, with better geometry balance. On the other hand, the SCOR took the edge in the steepest terrain, as well as having a more playful rearward bias. Suspension systems were comparable in both their bump eating abilities and pedaling efficiency.
Overall, build quality on both machines was great, though Santa Cruz slightly edged out the SCOR for the smallest details. You’re unlikely to be disappointed with your investment on either machine though, representing two extremely fun and high-quality machines.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Truly a downhiller’s XC bike, the Santa Cruz Tallboy is an inspiring machine that’s likely to serve both a trail center cruiser and light enduro bruiser well. There are some spec changes we’d love to see, but overall Santa Cruz delivered an exceptionally fun machine in the Tallboy, with healthy capability and excellent mile-munching manners. 
Price: $7,899
Website: Santacruzbicycles.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Robert’s habitat is the Tweed Valley, Scotland, which is renowned for its root-littered enduro mountain bike trails. Robert has been developing his bike handling skills for the last 16 years. Since he was a pup, he’s been riding everything from BMX through to enduro and downhill bikes. Combining a playful style with occasional speed-focused aggression, he favors supportive bikes, and does his best to push them hard.
Rank: European Tech Editor
Size: 6’2” / 189cm | 220lbs / 100kg
Social: @robert_johnston
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