Santa Cruz had clear goals for the new Tallboy 6: lower weight and better downhill performance. According to the American manufacturer, the CC frame is over 300 grams lighter than its predecessor. At the same time, travel increases to 140 mm up front and 130 mm at the rear. That brings the Tallboy closer to the Hightower.
The most significant change, however, lies in the rear suspension. For the first time on a Tallboy, Santa Cruz abandons their signature VPP system (Virtual Pivot Point) in favor of a classic four-bar layout with a vertically mounted shock. Readers interested in taking a deeper dive into different suspension concepts should check out our article, “How your bike’s suspension design affects its performance on the trail”
This move doesn’t come as a complete surprise. Back in 2021, Santa Cruz introduced a single-pivot flex-stay design on the Blur, followed in 2024 by the Vala eMTB with a four-bar rear suspension. With the Tallboy, this strategic shift now reaches one of the brand’s most important trail bikes.
So does this mean VPP is dead? No. Models such as the recently launched Nomad still rely on the proven VPP layout. Instead, Santa Cruz are increasingly moving away from the old strategy of equipping every bike with a VPP rear suspension and the brand’s signature design language. Today, the focus is on the specific requirements of each bike category and the concrete development goals. Depending on the intended use, Santa Cruz deliberately choose the concept that strikes the most harmonious balance between weight, kinematics, packaging, and ride characteristics. According to Santa Cruz, the benefits of the new four-bar design outweighed the advantages of VPP on the Tallboy.
Weight played a decisive role in the decision. The shock tunnel required by the VPP layout demanded full carbon structures, adding considerable mass to the frame. The new four-bar design not only sheds that weight but also frees up space – allowing engineers to run shorter chainstays, particularly on smaller frame sizes like XS, for a more balanced geometry across the range.
Santa Cruz also expect kinematic advantages. With the four-bar layout, it’s easier to achieve lower progression as well as reduced anti-squat and anti-rise values with short-travel bikes. The flatter progression curve is designed to provide more support early in the travel, while lower anti-squat is intended to improve traction when pedalling. The reduced anti-rise value should prevent the suspension from stiffening under braking.
Another advantage of the new kinematic concept is the significantly increased insertion depth for dropper posts.
What details set the new New Santa Cruz Tallboy 2027 apart?
The other standout feature is the redesigned Glovebox V2. The interior finish is immaculate, with no loose fibres or dust. The lid closure has been upgraded from three to four tabs with wider spacing, giving it a remarkably secure feel, if anything almost too tight. Inside you’ll find the premium “Tool Wallet” and “Tube Purse,” and additional storage is on hand via the accessory mounts on the top tube.
The size-specific concept is applied consistently. Every size gets its own stiffness tune through different tube cross-sections and layups, specific handlebar widths, and even varying grip thicknesses.
Santa Cruz stay true to form with the cable routing. Service-friendly internal channels guide the cables silently through the frame. At the transition to the rear triangle, premium cable guides take over, routing everything neatly past the custom OneUp chain guide on the drivetrain side.
To save weight, the frame protection on the downtube, bottom bracket area, and seatstays is glued on rather than bolted. Less convincing is the small fender on the seat tube, whose purpose is hard to pin down given its position. A more practical concern is the tire clearance at the seatstay bridge, which is already snug with the stock 2.4″ Forekaster fitted.
All bearing bolts can be serviced with standard tools, though Santa Cruz unfortunately omit torque specifications directly on the bolt heads. The frame is now available exclusively in the top-tier CC layup, saving around 300 g over the Tallboy 5 CC and nearly 400 g compared to the previous C layup. Dropping the C option also streamlined the development process.
The Spec of the Santa Cruz Tallboy XO AXS RSV 2027
The spec of the spec variant we tested, the Tallboy CC XO AXS RSV, is well thought out and fits the category of a capable trail bike. The suspension consists of a RockShox Pike Ultimate fork and matching Deluxe Ultimate shock, which both work very sensitively and quietly. For braking duties, Santa Cruz rely on SRAM Motive Silver stoppers. They’re powerful enough for a trail bike and, combined with the HS2 rotors (200 mm front, 180 mm rear), deliver a firm bite point and consistent performance.
The Reserve 30|SL carbon wheelset comes with a lifetime warranty and features the new DT Swiss 350 DEG DF hubs, which allow you to adjust the degree of free rotation before freehub engagement, specifically to counter pedal kickback. As on all Tallboy models, the bike rolls on Maxxis Forekaster tires in 29 x 2.4″ with MaxxTerra compound and EXO casing. They are fast-rolling, suit the bike’s efficient character, and still offer plenty of grip for a trail bike in this category.
The drivetrain consists of a SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission derailleur and service-friendly threaded BSA bottom bracket. The cockpit also leaves little to be desired. The popular OneUp V2 carbon handlebars are matched with a premium 40 mm Race Face Turbine stem. The in-house grips are an excellent choice too, offering excellent comfort.
A welcome addition across the board: every launch model comes standard with a OneUp V3 dropper post, widely regarded as one of the best on the market right now. In size L it offers a generous 210 mm of travel, making full use of the available insertion depth in the seat tube.
Additional Santa Cruz Tallboy 2027 Spec Variants
The Tallboy 6 launches with four complete builds and a frameset, priced from €5,999 up to €9,499 for the model we tested. Pricing is notably more competitive across the range. The flagship comes in €500 cheaper than its predecessor, and the remaining models follow suit. The only exception is the frameset, which has crept up by €100.
There’s also good news for budget-conscious buyers. Another, more affordable model is set to follow later this summer. In terms of colour options, every variant is available in either elegant Gloss Carbon or eye-catching Midnight Violet.
The current entry point is the Tallboy 90 at €5,999. As the name suggests, it comes equipped with the mechanical SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission drivetrain. Suspension duties are handled by a RockShox Pike Select fork combined with a Deluxe Select+ shock. Braking is taken care of by SRAM DB8 brakes.
For the wheels, Santa Cruz rely on robust Reserve 30|TR rims laced on DT Swiss 370 hubs. Even on the most affordable model, the Californians spec the premium OneUp dropper post, which is a welcome detail. As with all Tallboy models, Maxxis Forekaster tires in 29 x 2.4” with MaxxTerra compound and EXO casing are fitted here too.
Retailing at €6,999, the Tallboy GX AXS sits in the upper mid-range segment. As the name implies, it comes equipped with the electronic SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission drivetrain. Suspension consists of a RockShox Pike Select+ fork and a RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock with three-position compression adjustment. Braking is handled by SRAM Motive Bronze brakes. The wheels use lighter Reserve 30|SL AL 6069 rims, still paired with DT Swiss 370 hubs.
Slotting in just below the flagship, the Tallboy XT Di2 is aimed at riders who prefer a premium Shimano setup. Santa Cruz spec the new electronic Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain and pair it with RockShox’s high-end suspension components. The Pike Ultimate fork brings extensive adjustment options including separate low- and high-speed compression, while the Deluxe Ultimate shock handles things out back. The wheel setup closely mirrors the flagship too, combining lightweight Reserve 30|SL AL 6069 rims with premium DT Swiss 350 DEG DF hubs.
The Geometry Of The Santa Cruz Tallboy 2027
Santa Cruz offer the Tallboy in six sizes, XS to XXL, covering an exceptionally broad range of rider heights. Reach on our test size L measures 475 mm, a modern and balanced figure that feels neither excessively long nor conservatively short. The size increments of 20 and 25 mm are within the typical range. Smaller riders especially benefit from this approach, as the XS version already starts with a very compact 410 mm reach.
As mentioned, chainstay lengths vary by frame size. Interestingly, Santa Cruz achieve this not by producing different rear triangles but by shifting the position of the main pivot. The rear triangle itself is identical across all sizes. XS through MD get 435 mm chainstays, while LG and above step up gradually to 444 mm, all in the name of consistent, balanced handling across the size range.
Worth mentioning is the short seat tube on the XS version, measuring just 360 mm. Smaller riders in particular benefit from the increased freedom of movement. A flip chip at the shock also allows fine-tuning of the geometry. Bottom bracket height changes by 3 mm, while the head angle changes by 0.3°.
One area Santa Cruz put real effort into is the seat angle. Rather than using the same actual seat angle across all sizes and simply extending the seat tube as many brands do, they tailor the seat tube individually for each frame size. The result is a consistent effective seat angle of 76.5° across the entire range, measured at a realistic saddle height defined by Santa Cruz. The goal is a comparable seated position and climbing performance for every rider, regardless of size.
Compared to its predecessor, the new Tallboy 6 has a slacker head angle for increased stability and a steeper seat angle to create more pressure on the pedals. At the same time, the seat tubes have been shortened across the entire range, which, combined with the new rear suspension layout, allows longer insertion depths for dropper posts. Where riders were previously often limited by the VPP rear suspension, there is now room for more dropper travel.
| Size | XS | SM | MD | LG | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Tube | 360 mm | 380 mm | 400 mm | 420 mm | 450 mm | 500 mm |
| Head Tube Angle | 65.1° | 65.1 | 65.1 | 65.1 | 65.1 | 65.1 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 76.5° | 76.5° | 76.5° | 76.5° | 76.5° | 76.5° |
| Chainstay | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm | 438 mm | 440 mm | 444 mm |
| BB Height | 338 mm | 338 mm | 338 mm | 338 mm | 338 mm | |
| Reach | 410 mm | 435 mm | 455 mm | 475 mm | 495 mm | 520 mm |
| Stack | 601 mm | 610 mm | 624 mm | 633 mm | 646 mm | 660 mm |
The Santa Cruz Tallboy 2027 On The Trail
As with all current models, Santa Cruz provide their own setup guide with specific suspension recommendations. Interestingly, the suggested fork settings differ noticeably from RockShox’s standard recommendations. The rear suspension settings worked excellently in our review. However, we found the fork setup slightly too firm with the recommended settings.
On the climbs, the Tallboy feels pleasantly nimble and efficient. The rear suspension is visibly active when seated, but it’s nothing that will distract anyone familiar with modern trail or enduro bikes. Standing up, the bike stays composed and never feels like it’s diving into its travel. Should you want it, the lockout is always within reach. Santa Cruz’s claim of high suspension activity under load holds up, delivering extra traction and real climbing benefits on technical terrain.
On the trail, the Tallboy impresses with an extremely sensitive rear suspension that swallows bumps effortlessly and subjectively feels like more than 130 mm of travel. If you’re worried that the lower progression could lead to harsh bottom-outs, there’s no need for concern. Santa Cruz nailed the shock tune. Even with rough landings, the suspension remained controlled and free from harsh metallic bottom-outs. The rear suspension does feel like it reaches its limits slightly earlier than the fork, but overall the suspension balance is excellent. The Tallboy never gives the impression of blowing uncontrollably through its travel.
Handling precision adds another layer to the experience. The low weight and direct dynamics encourage you to get playful, pop off edges, and push hard through berms, while the modern geometry ensures there’s always plenty of confidence and security underneath you. Simply put, the Tallboy is the kind of bike that feels instantly familiar from the first ride.
One small drawback is the noise level when riding downhill. Despite the very well-designed frame protection, our review bike was surprisingly loud on the trail. Unfortunately, we couldn’t clearly identify the exact source of the noise during the review period.
Who Should Take A Closer Look At The New Santa Cruz Tallboy 2027?
The Tallboy 6 is aimed at mountain bikers looking for an efficient bike for long rides without sacrificing confident and stable handling on descents. That positions the new Tallboy between a classic XC bike and a modern long-travel trail bike.
We see its intended use mainly in three areas:
- As an agile trail bike for fast after-work rides where direct acceleration, low weight, and playful handling matter more than maximum suspension reserves.
- For tour riders who rack up plenty of elevation gain but still expect a high level of confidence and reserves on demanding trails.
- As a complement for riders of modern enduro bikes or eMTBs who want a lighter second bike for training laps or everyday rides without giving up a familiar and modern ride feel.
Conclusions On The Santa Cruz Tallboy 2027
The Tallboy 6 marks a new chapter for one of Santa Cruz’s most important models. By choosing the concept that suits the bike rather than defaulting to VPP, the Californians have arrived at a modern trail bike with highly sensitive suspension, excellent technical climbing efficiency, and greater descending reserves. Is four-bar inherently better than VPP? There’s no blanket answer. But on the Tallboy, the advantages of the new approach speak for themselves.
Tops
- Sensitive and very balanced suspension with plenty of reserves
- High-quality finish and well-thought-out details
- Well-considered specs across the entire range
Flops
- Increased noise levels on the trail
- Tight tire clearance at the seatstay bridge
For more info, visit the Santa Cruz website.
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Words: Reynaldo Ilagan Photos: Max Schumann