Santa Cruz Heckler Review...

[Ryan]

Check out Farkin.net's latest review (http://www.farkin.net/page.php?p=7d4adb23d008ef0df0014ef1f83b02da), on what has to be one of the sweetest bikes we've tested so far. Feel free to ask me any other questions about the bike you may have too :)

[ja_har]

I have to say I love my Heckler. I rode it hard for a season in Whistler, everything from DH, super techical north shore freeriding, epic trail rides, dirt jumping and some cross country racing as well. Just by changing the air pressure in the 5th element and Shermans it goes from XC to DH runs in seconds. I built mine up heavy with Firefly 20m axle, DH wheels & cranks and Hope minis but am still impressed how well it pedals. Now I am back in Australia my XC bike is virtually redundant, dragging off mates on a long XC ride then killing it down any hill I can find.
My only concern is that I would want a stronger frame with more travel to go full on racing DH. But it will make an awesome 4X machine.

[teflon]

Totally agree with that review - I'm an Aussie living in Vancouver (3yrs), I'm fortunate to be in the enviable situation of being able to ride The Shore, Whistler and other superb MTBing trails in BC and the lower Vancouver mainland most of the year. I just bought a Heckler 04 'free-ride' spec'd with coil 5th Element, Sherman SPV Firefly 04, Mavic D321, Chris King, Raceface, Thompson, Sram X.0, MRP minime chainguide etc. What a sick ride!! As many reviews say, depending on how you spec it it can fall into a number of styles but basically it does it all. Fo me the best strengths emerge in slow ultra technical single track - a great Shore bike. Because it is light you can pedal it all over the place where you'd normally dismount a bigger DH rig and hike-a-bike. Burley enough to do medium drops (still trying to find this bikes' limitations) but I've seen guys like Tyler Klassen hit road gaps and 10 footers on one.
Shame they are so expensive in Oz, but they are an amazing bike.

[Instinctual]

Stainless steel bushings?

I remember when I had an old LTS3 with an elastomer shock, it had 4 pivot points, and it used plastic bushings, which gave me no end of repairs.

Isn't the whole purpose of bushings to be much softer and weaker than the main material so as to prevent wear? Wouldn't this mean that replacing the bushings with stainless steel ones would cause permanent damage to the frame?

[S.]

Stainless steel bushings?

I remember when I had an old LTS3 with an elastomer shock, it had 4 pivot points, and it used plastic bushings, which gave me no end of repairs.

Isn't the whole purpose of bushings to be much softer and weaker than the main material so as to prevent wear? Wouldn't this mean that replacing the bushings with stainless steel ones would cause permanent damage to the frame?

Not if it's bearing on an axle rather than the frame...

[Instinctual]

uh-huh! I thought they'd have more sense than that.

[Wheelie King]

Ok so Im looking at changing frames, and still want a frame that can do serious agresive XC aswell as climb very well.
So an allrounder really. Can anyone tell me how good theses things climb with the 5th Element Air shock?

Is there any other machine out there that is simular and better for XC/ Freeride?

[Cruz]

Wheelie, try out the Yeti 575, Spec Enduros, Titus Locomoto, Racer X, Geminis and Jekylls, maybe even the Stumpjumper. Maybe Scott MC model Genius.
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?minisite=10085&spid=6793

Best of all, build up a Turner 5 spot so we can all try it out please.
http://www.turnerbikes.com/

You have already crossed the I-Drive and VT2 off of the list obviously.

[Lyle]

Maybe slightly off topic, but my Bullit 2004 receives the same review from me as the Heckler above.

Obviously, it is heavier than the Heckler, but compared to downhill frames eg.IronHorse SGS, Giant DH, it can do much much more types of riding.

It can bomb downhill as well as anything (7 inch front and rear travel), and then be used for a long XC ride, just by raising the seat and re-setting 5th Element.

I have an e-thirteen chain device on with 38tooth front ring, and I can generally get as far around as mates with 22-32 on the front. Rather than stuffing around changing gears, you just get on with muscling up the hills and stuff. For shorter technical stuff, I generally find that if you increase speed a bit, the added travel of Bullit will help get you through. I am SO HAPPY with the Bullit.

[Wheelie King]

Thanks Cruz,

I already have a VT2 and had an I-Drive, and find them great bikes, but Im 6'4" tall and giant dont make XL in VT's.
Anyone know the advantages of polished alloy?

CLint

[Cruz]

Wheelie, try to find an xl Gemini then, the 03 1000 or 02 1000 with the xc/trail ride setup. You can try mine again even though it is a bit small for you.

[Wheelie King]

Hey Cruz,

Sorry man I dont reconise you you.
Are you MC ??

[4heckssake]

If anyone's still interested in the topic...i have an '04 heckler (with 5th element coil and similar set up to the review bike)

I had a '98 heckler up until the new one arrived. Both fantastic bikes.. but different.

Also ridden SC bullit's, supelight, chameleon and a blur.

PM me if you want to talk detail on the '04 heckler or SC's generally...as you might guess I am a die hard SC fan.

[Wheelie King]

What do you mean 4heckssake, are you selling an 04 Heckler?

[4heckssake]

What do you mean 4heckssake, are you selling an 04 Heckler?
I wasn't back then but I am now http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=24445

[Opper]

Check out Farkin.net's latest review (http://www.farkin.net/page.php?p=7d4adb23d008ef0df0014ef1f83b02da), on what has to be one of the sweetest bikes we've tested so far. Feel free to ask me any other questions about the bike you may have too :)

Ryan

Where did you get the set up info from Tim Flook Racing?
i just bought a heckler about a month and half a go. I have'nt had any probs with the set up in their guide but I'd like to experiment with other combos to see how it goes.

[Ryan]

http://www.tftunedshox.com/progressive/setuppdfs.htm

There's a bunch of setup information available there, should keep you busy for a while :)