Wil reviews the Santa Cruz Vala

The Santa Cruz Vala made quite the splash when it launched at the tail-end of 2024. Not only was this one of the first e-MTBs on the market to feature the new Bosch CX Gen 5 motor, it’s also the first mountain bike from Santa Cruz to utilise a four-bar suspension platform.

The dramatic departure from the old Heckler and its iconic VPP design is a big deal. It stirred up quite a lot of commentary online at the launch, though the Californian brand was keen to point out that there are plenty of good reasons to warrant the move. Sure, the Vala may not look like a typical Santa Cruz, but we’re always more interested in how a bike actually rides rather than what it looks like.

So what exactly does this snazzy new e-MTB have to offer on the trail? And how does it compare to the likes of the Trek Slash+, Merida eOne-Sixty and Amflow PL Carbon? We’ve been testing the Santa Cruz Vala over a hot and dusty summer to find out!

Watch our video review of the Santa Cruz Vala here:

Related:

• Top 18 Best e-MTB Bikes | The best electric mountain bikes ridden & reviewed

An overview of the Santa Cruz Vala

The Santa Cruz Vala is a premium full-powered e-MTB that’s designed for aggressive trail riding and enduro sending. As with its lighter-weight counterpart, the Heckler SL, the Vala features a full carbon frame that is purpose-built around a mixed wheel setup, a 160mm travel fork and 150mm of rear travel.

Where things veer off track is with its four-bar suspension platform. There’s a chunky and beautifully machined one-piece rocker link that drives the shock via a trunnion bearing mount, another first for Santa Cruz. The move away from VPP is partly due to kinematics, with the Vala claimed to be significantly more neutral under pedalling and braking inputs. You can check out all the nitty gritty details in our first look article.

The other reason behind the suspension switch-up is to provide the necessary real estate to accommodate the new Bosch CX Gen 5 drive unit, which is considerably bigger than the Fazua Ride 60 motor on the Heckler SL. Bolted inside the downtube is a 600Wh PowerTube battery that’s recharged using a port next to the motor. If you’re after more capacity, the Vala is compatible with Bosch’s 250Wh PowerMore range extender battery.

Geometry & size chart

Unlike some of the competition, the Santa Cruz Vala is produced in five sizes from Small through to XX-Large. And thanks to its four-bar suspension platform, the Vala can be built with a straight and uninterrupted seat tube that radically improves insertion depth over the Heckler SL and previous Heckler. Riders are treated to better standover clearance and the ability to fit a longer stroke dropper post.

Geometry is otherwise pretty similar to the Heckler SL. You’re looking at a 64.2° head angle, a 77.1° effective seat tube angle and size-specific rear centre lengths that vary from 439-450mm.

There’s some in-built adjustability courtesy of a High/Low flip chip built into the rocker link’s rear pivot. Flipping this to Low will drop the BB by 4mm and slacken the angles by 0.3°. You’ll also find a leverage rate flip chip at the lower shock mount that lets you switch from 26 to 29% progression.

Santa Cruz Vala price & specs

There are five spec levels across the Santa Cruz Vala lineup, with prices starting at $10,999 AUD. You can check out the details for the entire range in our Vala first look story.

Regardless of spec level, all models come with the same Bosch CX motor and 600Wh battery. Each bike is equipped a Fox Float X shock, and you’ll find either a Fox 38 or RockShox Zeb up front. Also nice to see is the same Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial tyre combo being used on every model.

Our test bike is the most premium option, the Vala XX AXS RSV, which comes with an eye-watering price tag of $19,499 AUD.

2025 Santa Cruz Vala XX AXS RSV

• Frame | CC Carbon Fibre, Four-Bar Suspension Design, 150mm Travel
• Fork | Fox 38, Factory Series, GRIP X2 Damper, 160mm Travel
• Shock | Fox Float X, Factory Series, 205x60mm
• Motor | Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5, 85Nm
• Battery | Bosch PowerTube 600Wh
• Wheels | i9 Hydra Hubs & Reserve 30|HD C Front & 31|DH Rear Rims
• Tyres | Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial ADDIX Ultra Soft 2.5in Front & ADDIX Soft 2.5in Rear
• Drivetrain | SRAM XX AXS Transmission 1×12 w/X0 Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
• Brakes | SRAM Maven Ultimate 4-Piston w/200mm HS2 Rotors
• Handlebar | Santa Cruz e35 Carbon, 35mm Rise, 800mm Width
• Stem | Burgtec Enduro MK3 Machined, 42mm Length
• Grips | Santa Cruz House Lock-On
• Seatpost | OneUp V3, 31.6mm Diameter, Travel: 120mm (S), 180mm (M), 210mm (L), 240mm (XL-XXL)
• Saddle | WTB Silverado Medium Fusion, Stainless Steel Rails
• Claimed Weight | 21.47kg
• Actual Weight | 21.38kg
• Price | $19,499 AUD

Sizing & fit

At 174cm tall I’ve been riding a Medium size Santa Cruz Vala. It’s got plenty of stature about it with a decent 460mm reach and 632mm stack. The front end is pretty high out of the box due to the 35mm rise bars, though the lengthy steerer tube is adorned with several headset spacers so you can adjust to taste.

The seated position is very centralised due to the steep seat tube angle, and it balances well with the tall bar height so you don’t feel like all of your bodyweight is being pushed onto the grips.

Great to see on a Medium frame is a 180mm stroke dropper post. At the other end of the cable is OneUp’s excellent remote with a nicely textured rubber thumb pad, and the rest of the cockpit ergonomics are easy to dial in thanks to SRAM’s MMX mounting brackets and the Maven’s tool-free adjustments. While I’m not a fan of WTB saddles, I really like the thin and heavily textured lock-on grips.

Suspension setup

Santa Cruz provides a handy suspension setup guide for its mountain bikes, which in the case of the Vala includes suggested air pressure and damper settings for both the fork and shock.

It’s recommended to start with 30% shock sag, and I found that 168psi was spot-on for my 68kg riding weight. After setting the rebound damping halfway (7/14 clicks), there was no need for me to make any further adjustments to the rear suspension throughout the test period. It just worked, and it worked damn well.

The Fox 38 GRIP X2 was another story, with the suggested 91psi from Santa Cruz being a lot firmer than the 80psi that Fox recommends. I could barely use more than half the travel during my first ride, so it was clear I’d need to drop the pressure. I also cracked open the top cap and discovered four volume spacers inside, which is one more than usual for a 160mm travel Fox 38. Santa Cruz deliberately adds the extra spacer with the aim of providing more support to counter the added weight of the electric motor and battery. It also specs the GRIP X2 damper with a heavier rebound tune to match the higher air pressures.

Having ridden the steep and loamy trails that are local to the Californian brand’s HQ, I can see the recommended settings working well. The terrain around where I live is much rockier and more undulating however, with a lot of technical singletrack climbs and chunky sections that demands more traction and sensitivity. To free things up, I removed three of the volume spacers and dropped the air pressure all the way down to 72psi. Along with relatively open damper settings, the 38 felt vastly smoother and better balanced with the supple rear end.

Santa Cruz Vala weight

Confirmed weight for our Santa Cruz Vala test bike is 21.38kg without pedals and with the tyres set up tubeless.

That’s a good weight for a full-powered e-MTB that’s wearing a big Fox 38 fork, SRAM Maven brakes, thick HS2 rotors and heavy duty tyres.

Coming in at around 1.2kg each, the new Schwalbe Magic Mary Radial tyres are an excellent spec decision. The front features the lighter Trail Pro casing with gooey Addix Ultra Soft rubber, while the rear gets a tougher Gravity Pro casing and slightly firmer Addix Soft rubber.

Due to the increased flexibility and suppleness of the Radial casing, I’ve found you need an extra couple of psi at each end compared to what I’d normally run in a similar weight tyre. 23psi up front and 28psi out back did the trick for me, and for added peace of mind I fitted a CushCore E-MTB insert in the rear wheel before hitting the trail.

What do we dig about the Santa Cruz Vala?

Given the first few rides were wasted messing around with the fork and bar height, it admittedly took me a while to warm up to the Santa Cruz Vala. The overly firm fork made it difficult to drive weight through front tyre, resulting in unbalanced handling with lots of washouts. I wasn’t impressed at all.

Once I got the fork dialled in however, things improved dramatically. Indeed the Vala has only gotten better with each ride since.

The suspension is particularly impressive, and I can see why Santa Cruz threw caution to the wind by pursuing a four-bar platform. The rear end is remarkably neutral, delivering beautiful sensitivity that allows you to float with ease over rocks and roots. It’s silky smooth and totally unfazed by choppy sections of trail, with a level of terrain-isolation that’s reminded me a lot of the Specialized Levo SL.

Subconsciously helping on rougher descents is the quiet Bosch motor. The clacking noise that plagued previous Gen 4 drive units has been radically reduced. While it’s not entirely silent, the small amount of noise that is there is largely drowned out by the tyres.

As my confidence in the Vala has grown I’ve been able to push the bike’s limits, and my own, further. I’m riding harder and faster, staying off the brakes for as long as possible while letting the active suspension and sticky tyres soak everything up. Hitting bigger jumps and dirty drops-to-flat, the Vala is incredibly stable and well-cushioned. I’m yet to fully bottom out the rear shock despite using the less progressive leverage setting. I expect the more progressive setting would be handy for those using a coil.

I did try out the geometry flip chip, which slackens the head angle to 63.9° and drops the BB height to 340mm when switching to the Low position. As expected, this afforded a more planted feel with greater stability on the descents and a more sure-footed stance through the turns. The downside is more pedal strikes, even with the relatively short 160mm crank arms. As such, I generally preferred the High position for the all-round riding I’ve been doing on the Vala. The increased ground clearance has been welcome, and along with the responsive motor and sensitive suspension the Vala has proven to be a handy technical climber.

It’s not quite as ground-huggy as a full 29er, but as a rider of average height I find the mullet setup makes it easier to negotiate tight corners both up and downhill. It makes for more agile handling across the board, with less input required when making quick changes of direction. The relatively light 600Wh battery no doubt helps too, ensuring that the overall centre of mass remains low and central within the bike.

Combined with the sticky and well-damped Schwalbe tyres, the Vala’s cornering abilities are some of the best I’ve encountered. Traction is reliable and plentiful, allowing you to tip the bars in and lean the bike over with aggressive confidence. It makes for a wickedly fun and intuitive bike to ride that presents no weirdness or surprises.

What could be improved?

There’s very little wanting when it comes to the ride quality of the Santa Cruz Vala. The weight is good, the suspension is excellent and the handling is well balanced.

I expect there’ll be some taller folks who will wish for a full 29er setup. Unfortunately there’s no option to switch rear wheel sizes, and Santa Cruz is adamant that there would be too much compromise in the suspension performance were it to build in a flip chip for such a purpose. That means the Vala is mullet-specific, so if you want big wheels at both ends you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Speaking of size preferences, the stock 600Wh battery will be less than some riders want, especially those who are on the heavier side and are tackling longer all-day rides. Furthermore, the fact that the battery isn’t designed to be easily removable will make this bike a non-starter for some.

According to Santa Cruz the smaller 600Wh PowerTube wasn’t chosen just for its lighter weight, but also its slimmer profile compared to the bigger 800Wh version. This allows for a narrower and lighter downtube that offers structural, handling and aesthetic advantages.

As I’ll discuss shortly, I’ve been more than happy with the range capacity of the 600Wh battery. I also love the handling and the fact that the Vala never feels like it’s completely stuck to the ground or that it’s running away from you, which can be an issue with heavier e-MTBs.

Of course the frame will accommodate the Bosch range extender that’s available separately for $850 AUD. It takes the place of the bottle cage, though I figure that if you’re heading out for a ride where you need 850Wh of battery capacity, you’ll likely be carrying more than 600ml of water.

While I’m into the modular approach that allows you to add the range extender if needed, if you’d just prefer to have a bigger battery in the downtube from the get-go then the Vala won’t be or you. If I were to speculate, however I reckon at some point in the future, we’ll see an updated Bullit designed around the Bosch CX motor and a bigger 800Wh battery. With that bike’s extra travel and gravity slant, it’d make sense to have maximum capacity for racking up as many downhill laps as possible.

Range testing with the Santa Cruz Vala

I’ve mostly been riding the Santa Cruz Vala with the Bosch motor in eMTB mode. This adapts the power output based on how much your legs are putting in, making for a more natural and intuitive riding experience.

Compared to the old Gen 4 motor, the new Gen 5 version offers notably smoother acceleration. It’s less jerky on the trail, providing incredible traction control when combined with the Vala’s sensitive suspension and sticky tyres.

As for range, I’ve been able to ride over 50km and climb 1,400m vertical while using the eMTB mode. For further analysis I also put the Vala through our standardised range test, using the Turbo mode with all of the motor’s settings dialled up to the max. Here’s how it stacked up against the competition;

• Norco Sight VLT (Shimano EP8, 900Wh Battery) – 2,478m climbing
• Amflow PL Carbon (DJI Avinox M1, 800Wh Battery) – 2,460m climbing
• Canyon Spectral:ON (Shimano EP8, 900Wh Battery) – 2,451m climbing
• Cube Stereo Hybrid 160 (Bosch CX Gen 4, 750Wh Battery) – 2,320m climbing
• Merida eOne-Sixty (Shimano EP801, 600Wh Battery) – 2,114m climbing
• Rocky Mountain Altitude (Dyname 4.0, 720Wh Battery) – 2,108m climbing
• Scott Patron (Bosch CX Gen 4, 750Wh Battery) – 2,079m climbing
• Trek Slash+ (TQ HPR50, 580Wh Battery) – 1,962m
• Santa Cruz Vala (Bosch CX Gen 5, 600Wh Battery) – 1,767m climbing
• Focus JAM² SL (Fazua Ride 60, 430Wh Battery) – 1,665m climbing
• Scott Lumen (TQ HPR50, 360Wh Battery) – 1,567m climbing
• Orbea Rise (Shimano EP8-RS, 360Wh Battery) – 1,388m climbing
• Norco Fluid VLT (Bosch SX, 400Wh Battery) – 1,361m climbing
• Trek Fuel EXe (TQ HPR50, 360Wh Battery) – 1,312m climbing
• Scott Voltage (TQ HPR50, 360Wh Battery) – 1,311m climbing
• Specialized Levo SL (SL 1.2, 320Wh Battery) – 1,307m climbing
• Giant Trance X E+ Elite (SyncDrive Pro, 400Wh Battery) – 1,057m climbing
• Specialized Kenevo SL (SL 1.1, 320Wh Battery) – 1,053m climbing

Looking at that list there are a couple of comparisons worth pointing out.

The Vala didn’t get the same amount of elevation gain as the Trek Slash+, despite both bikes coming with a similar size battery. Much of the difference is due to the less powerful TQ motor, which results in a considerably slower average climbing speed (14km/h vs 20km/h). I’d also suggest that there is quite a bit more drag from the Schwalbe tyres on the Vala.

Also noteworthy is the Merida eOne-Sixty, which racked up two more laps on the same test loop compared to the Vala. I’d put this mostly down to the Shimano EP801 motor. Once the battery level drops below 20% the motor’s power output is heavily restricted, and it drops again to barely a trickle when you hit 10%. This helps to eke out as much range as possible, but it is kind of annoying. In comparison, the Bosch CX motor gives you proper support all the way down to 0%.

Component highs & lows

When it comes to bang for buck, it’s the Santa Cruz Vala S that gets our pick out of the lineup. It is significantly cheaper while still coming with Fox Performance Series suspension and SRAM Maven brakes, along with the same OneUp V3 dropper and Schwalbe Radial tyres. The alloy wheels might not be as durable, but chuck in some CushCore inserts and you’ll be laughing.

Our $19,499 AUD test bike is quite a bit more expensive, though it isn’t exactly an outlier. To put things into perspective, it sits right in the middle between the Specialized S-Works Levo ($23,500 AUD) and the Merida eOne-Sixty 10K ($15,999 AUD), two e-MTBs that feature a similarly premium level of spec.

I do like that Santa Cruz has put together a more eclectic component package compared to some of its competitors. The US-made Chris King headset and Industry Nine Hydra hubs add a bit of flair alongside the Burgtec stem and rear thru-axle. Even the Fillmore tubeless valves are a cut above the usual standard.

Factoring in the price tag, it would have been cool to see a wireless Fox Transfer Neo dropper post. The cable-operated OneUp dropper has worked fine though, and it makes sense that Santa Cruz chose it given the two brands are owned by the same parent company.

The Reserve wheels offer great peace of mind thanks to their crash replacement support, and the Vala frame comes with a lifetime frame and bearing warranty for the original owner. The finish is top-notch too, with great attention to detail in regards to pivot hardware and frame protection.

It’s also worth acknowledging that Santa Cruz has avoided the temptation to chase grams with the Vala’s build kit. With its big 38mm chassis fork, hugely powerful brakes and tough tyre casings, it’s all sensible stuff that’s designed for proper e-MTB smashing.

How does the Santa Cruz Vala compare to the Heckler SL?

That’s a question we’ve been asked repeatedly since receiving the Santa Cruz Vala. And no wonder, since the Heckler SL shares very similar specs on paper.

Both bikes feature a mixed wheel setup, the same travel and near-identical geometry. Obviously, the frame is different, with the Heckler SL built around the iconic VPP suspension platform, a Fazua Ride 60 motor and a smaller 430Wh battery.

With a greater focus on weight, Santa Cruz specs the Heckler SL with a RockShox Lyrik fork, SRAM Code brakes and thinner Maxxis EXO/EXO+ tyres. The end result is a complete bike that weighs 19kg in its top-end trim.

As to how it compares on the trail, unfortunately I don’t have any meaningful ride experience with the Heckler SL. We received a test bike in late 2023, but the Fazua system failed during the first ride and we were never sent a replacement to complete the review. There are plenty of reports online from users and other bike testers who have encountered problems with the Fazua Ride 60 motor, so we’re not alone. That said, we also know many folks who have had nothing but flawless experience, so it would seem that some of those earlier issues have been resolved.

It’s also true that the Heckler SL has been an incredibly popular e-MTB for Santa Cruz, having received rave reviews for its poppy suspension and lively handling. The mid-power motor and battery are also appealing for those who are looking for a riding experience that’s closer to a regular enduro bike.

Still, I do think the Vala is going to cut some of the Heckler SL’s lunch. It’s only 2.5kg heavier but comes with a far more powerful motor, a bigger battery and the option of a range extender. There’s also Bosch’s enviable reputation when it comes to reliability, and comprehensive dealer support thanks to its global network. Along with the burlier build kit, which is what a lot of e-MTB customers are looking for, the Vala is likely to be the more desirable pick out of the two bikes.

Flow’s Verdict

The Santa Cruz Vala may be new to the market, but already it stands as one of, if not the best e-MTB we have ever tested.

By moving away from the VPP platform to a more conventional four-bar design, Santa Cruz has been able to deliver an impressively neutral suspension package that produces excellent grip and a floaty ride quality over rough terrain. It’s still a responsive and agile bike to throw around thanks to its relatively low weight, mullet wheels and balanced geometry, and the intuitive Bosch motor offers loads of finely-tuned traction control on the climbs. The reduced noise on the descents is also very welcome, and so too is the German brand’s reputation when it comes to reliability and dealer support.

Sure, some folks may wish for wheelsize adaptability, and those chasing the biggest battery possible will be disappointed that Santa Cruz didn’t choose the 800Wh PowerTube to go inside the downtube. There’s also no denying the Vala is one pricey bike, even if you’re looking at one of the lower spec models.

Considering the frame quality and well-considered build kit, it’s clear where the money has been spent. It’s all top-notch stuff, and we like that the focus has been on performance over weight. It all adds up to a brilliant e-MTB that is ready for just about anything you could throw at it. If you’re after the one bike to do most, it’d be hard to think of anything else that offers this level of refinement.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER - Wil Barrett

Hometown

Bendigo, Victoria

Height

175cm

Weight65kg