Summary of Reviews

We have read all expert and user reviews on the Santa Cruz Tallboy. In summary, this is what cyclists think. Published Nov 26, 2020 by Becky Vordermann.

20 reasons to buy

The Santa Cruz Tallboy is a cross-country oriented bike that excels on the descents. It has 130mm of travel in the fork and 120mm of travel in the rear.
The bike is very versatile. Experts found it stable riding through technical, slow terrain and down rocky descents.
Experts found the Tallboy playful and easy to pop off jumps on.
The suspension rarely bottoms out during rough descents on the bike, according to experts.
The 760mm RaceFace Ride handlebars and 50mm stem place riders in a position of leverage, control and power riding the Santa Cruz Tallboy.
The 29-inch wheels paired with Maxxis Minions roll over rocks and roots with ease.
Experts agree the Tallboy’s geometry and componentry make it comfortable for taking on endurance distances.
Santa Cruz offers riders several build options with both aluminum and carbon frames. This allows riders to find a bike that best fits their preferences and budget.
Available in six sizes, the Tallboy fits a wide range of riders.
The bike’s geometry and grippy Maxxis Minion tires allow riders to tackle almost any climb.
Experts rarely had to adjust the shock from open on climbs. The Tallboy allows riders to climb with stability and minimal pedal bob.
A 0.4cc volume spacer is included with the Tallboy to provide riders with a more supple ride.
Flip chips allow riders to fine-tune the geometry of the Tallboy to their riding style and the terrain they ride.
The frame has ample space for a bag, allowing riders to take the Tallboy on backcountry bikepacking adventures.
Experts found the bike stable to ride with gear and additional weight.
The 76.4° head tube angle places riders in a position on climbs that keeps the front end of the bike down and allows riders to stay in line.
Santa Cruz provides riders with a lifetime warranty on the frame of the Tallboy.
Every size of the bike has room for a water bottle in the frame.
A ribbed chainstay protector prevents chain slap and damage to the chainstay from trail debris.
A small mud flap protects the shock from trail debris on the Tallboy.

4 reasons not to buy

Experts found that pedal strikes were frequent in the low flip-chip setting on the bottom bracket.
The stock tires on the bike are 2.3”. Several experts expressed they would have preferred wider tires. The bike has clearance for tires up to 2.6".
Experts agree the sag setting was hard to determine due to the low position of the suspension in the frame.
One expert noted the steering was slack and that the front end could wander.

Bottom line

The Santa Cruz Tallboy is an efficient climber that excels on the descents. The VPP suspension provides riders with support and comfort on a variety of terrain. Experts found the suspension rarely bottoms out on rough descents or causes pedal bob on climbs. They also found that the 29-inch wheels, paired with grippy Maxxis Minion DHR and DHF tires, allow riders to maneuver over obstacles with ease. Test riders found the Tallboy comfortable for long days in the saddle. With room in the frame for a bag, this bike has the potential to be a bikepacking rig for the backcountry.

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