A larger size frame will be more stable and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and, conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.

Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.

Suspension System - VPP

Front Derailleur - No Compatibility

Headset/Headtube - Integrated (IS41 Upper/IS52 Lower)

Seat Post - 31.6mm

Seat Clamp - 36.4mm

Eye to Eye Length - 190mm

Stroke - 45mm

Fork Compatibility - 130mm

Fork Offset - 44mm

Max Tyre Size - 2.5”

Max Chainring Size - 36T

Brake Type - Post Mount 180mm

BB Shell - 73mm Threaded

Bottle Mounts - One

Shock Mounting Bushing Front - 30x8

Shock Mounting Bushing Rear - 30x8

There are two geometry charts; a High and a Low?

There is a ‘flip chip’ on the lower link, where the shock mounts. If you remove the lower shock bolt and flip the chip to the setting you desire. Not available on the alloy version of the Tallboy.

What is a ‘flip chip’?

A ‘flip chip’ is a simple mechanism to adjust the geometry and suspension feel on Santa Cruz bikes. The lower-link flip chip sits in the shock mount. This adjusts the bottom bracket height; the low setting makes the suspension more progressive (more bottom-out resistance). The axle flip chip changes the chain stay length by +/- 10mm. Shorter is more playful and lively, whilst longer increases stability while descending and more traction when climbing.

What is the maximum tyre size?

29x2.5” for carbon frames, although you’ll need to flip the axle chip to the long setting to do this. 29x2.5” is the maximum for the alloy Tallboy.

What size are the disc brakes?

The Tallboy uses a 180mm post mount, so you cannot go any smaller is disc size, but you can go bigger with post mount kits.

What is the recommended fork for the Tallboy?

The geometry is based off a 130mm fork with a 44mm offset. We wouldn't recommend less travel than that, as the steering will be too twitchy and the BB will get a bit low. 140mm is the max travel fork we recommend.

Does the Tallboy v5 use the SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH)?

The frame is UDH-compatible, but comes with our own machined aluminum hanger. You can replace it with another Santa Cruz hanger or a SRAM UDH.

What size shock will fit the Tallboy v5?

The Tallboy uses a a 190x45mm shock with 8x30 hardware front and rear.

What’s the difference between the C and CC carbon frames?

CC frames use the very best carbon materials available. C Carbon frames have all the same features but the trade off for a little less £ is a little more weight. Both versions are made in our own factory, are just as strong and stiff as one another. And both feature our lifetime warranty.