New Chameleon...

Faust29

Faust29

Moderator
And just like that, the old girl is outdated... Designed in 2016, and released in 2017. That was a pretty long run. :thumbsup:

Looking at the geometry quickly, it seems to be about 2 degrees slacker up front, and 1.5" longer in wheelbase... new dropout system, which was a problem area on the first runs of the old frame, mullet compatible with dropout change. And it's more expensive... $949 frame only.

$3749 gets you an aluminum hardtail that comes with DT 370s. I'm glad I can build my own wheels now... :eek:o_O

https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/bikes/chameleon

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It looks better than ever to me – for an aluminum frame. :geek:

I think I saw a frame-only price of around a grand. Is it worth hundreds more than several other modern hardtails? I guess it’s NBD to Santa Cruz fans that would also drop 3k+ on a FS frame. Is SC taking the lead from Pivot? Smaller brands FTW.
 
mike said:
It looks better than ever to me – for an aluminum frame. :geek:

I think I saw a frame-only price of around a grand. Is it worth hundreds more than several other modern hardtails? I guess it’s NBD to Santa Cruz fans that would also drop 3k+ on a FS frame. Is SC taking the lead from Pivot? Smaller brands FTW.
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I'm sure I'd love the frame as much as my current one, but then I look and see that I can still get the younger less rowdy brother of my current steel steed for $813 shipped from England. o_O If I were buying today, I'd probably go with this one... Thankfully I'm not buying today. :D

https://www.pipedreamcycles.com/shop/sirius/
 
So now the HA is the same as mine with a 140mm fork.

STA is steeper, but I don't really think that was a problem with the previous model.

Mixed wheels.....why?

Would like to see the new SS dropouts/how they work.

I see the dropper cable now enters the ST on the left.

The HT/TT/DT junction is a little different.

I'd take one as a warranty replacement.

I like the Navy Blue.
 
Faust29 said:
I'm sure I'd love the frame as much as my current one, but then I look and see that I can still get the younger less rowdy brother of my current steel steed for $813 shipped from England. o_O If I were buying today, I'd probably go with this one... Thankfully I'm not buying today. :D

https://www.pipedreamcycles.com/shop/sirius/
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I imagine the ride quality of a Sirius would crush that of the Cham. Not trying to rip on the Chameleon…but I did ride the Luge on one ;) and it’s not an experience I would seek to repeat. Maybe the new design is more compliant. Steel and ti only for hardtails here.

It’s a no-brainer IMO. But we all have our tastes and brand allegiances.
 
mtnbikej said:
Gone are the swingers......now they have sliders.

Wonder if you can just pull the hanger out of the DO.

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Not huge... But it seems we're losing 3mm of adjustability. The old Highball only had 5mm of adjustment, so the 15mm (415-430) of the 7th generation lizard was awesome. I can get two different cogs on with the same chain length.

Will that still be possible with 12mm of adjustment? The Sirius I linked above has 16mm of adjustment, which is about the same as the Moxie in the garage.
 
Faust29 said:
Not huge... But it seems we're losing 3mm of adjustability. The old Highball only had 5mm of adjustment, so the 15mm (415-430) of the 7th generation lizard was awesome. I can get two different cogs on with the same chain length.

Will that still be possible with 12mm of adjustment? The Sirius I linked above has 16mm of adjustment, which is about the same as the Moxie in the garage.
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I guess they got tired of people complaining about slipping dropouts.
 
Faust29 said:
Not huge... But it seems we're losing 3mm of adjustability. The old Highball only had 5mm of adjustment, so the 15mm (415-430) of the 7th generation lizard was awesome. I can get two different cogs on with the same chain length.

Will that still be possible with 12mm of adjustment? The Sirius I linked above has 16mm of adjustment, which is about the same as the Moxie in the garage.
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My Hayduke has 15mm of adjustment. Still haven't gotten to really use it yet. My gearing doesn't allow me to slam the dropouts full forward.
 
mtnbikej said:
I guess they got tired of people complaining about slipping dropouts.
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I follow the Chameleon group on Facebook, and I can say for a fact that they have sold many boatloads of 7th generation Chameleons to absolute beginners who have no concept that it needs to be maintained... I wonder if the design is a conscious give-in to that demographic.
 
The frame price is, commensurately, about the same amount overpriced that the builds are.


I don't want to be disingenuous – I am ripping on SC. :geek: The company that lied to you about not developing a motorized contraption. Plenty of fanbois and brand-conscious riders will line up for this bike, still, so good bet on SC's part going with the over-pricing model.
 
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