Santa Cruz CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum 2023
2023 Mountain
Estimate price |
3,199$
Weight | 13.28 kg 
Bike details
Overview
Key information split into simple groups.
Bike summary
-
-
Frame Aluminum -
Wheels 29" -
Travel Front 130mm -
Fork Fox Rhythm Float 34
-
Groupset NX Eagle, Truvativ Descendant -
Suspension Hardtail -
Drivetrain 1 × 12 -
Brakes Hydraulic Disc
Sizing
Recommended size guide.
SM
152cm - 166cm
MD
164cm - 179cm
LG
177cm - 186cm
XL
184cm - 198cm
Parts list
Components
Main components, grouped by system.
Bike components
Frame
Frame
CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum
Suspension Fork
FOX Rhythm 34, 130mm
Drivetrain
Rear Derailleur
SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Shift Levers
SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Cassette
SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t
Crank
SRAM Descendant Eagle 148 DUB, 30t
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Chain
SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Wheels
Front Hub
SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, 32h
Rear Hub
SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h
Rims
Front: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Rear: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29"
Tires
Front: Maxxis Minion DHF 29"x2.5"WT, 3C MaxxGrip, EXO, TR, Rear: Maxxis Aggressor 29"x2.5"WT, EXO, TR
Brakes
Brakes
SRAM Guide T
Cockpit
Stem
Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm
Handlebar
Burgtec RideWide Alloy Bar, 800mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Bicycles House Grips
Headset
Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset
Seat
Saddle
WTB Silverado Medium CroMo
Seatpost
SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.6
Fit data
Geometry
Numbers for sizing and ride feel.
| Size | SM | MD | LG | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stack Reach Ratio | 1.48 mm | 1.42 mm | 1.37 mm | 1.32 mm |
| Bottom Bracket Height | 315 mm | 315 mm | 315 mm | 315 mm |
| Front Center | 729.4 mm | 758.6 mm | 782.8 mm | 812.1 mm |
| Rake | 45 mm | 45 mm | 45 mm | 45 mm |
| Trail | 125 mm | 125 mm | 125 mm | 125 mm |
| Stack | 617.1 mm | 626.2 mm | 635.2 mm | 644.3 mm |
| Reach | 417 mm | 442 mm | 462 mm | 487 mm |
| Top Tube Length | 593.1 mm | 618.3 mm | 640.4 mm | 665.8 mm |
| Seat Tube Angle | 74.1 ° | 74.3 ° | 74.4 ° | 74.6 ° |
| Seat Tube Length | 380 mm | 405 mm | 430 mm | 460 mm |
| Head Tube Angle | 65 ° | 65 ° | 65 ° | 65 ° |
| Head Tube Length | 100 mm | 110 mm | 120 mm | 130 mm |
| Chainstay Length | 422 mm | 422 mm | 422 mm | 422 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1151 mm | 1180 mm | 1204 mm | 1234 mm |
| Bottom Bracket Drop | 56 mm | 56 mm | 56 mm | 56 mm |
| Standover Height | 679 mm | 679 mm | 683 mm | 705 mm |
| Wheels | 29" | 29" | 29" | 29" |
| Rider Min Height | 152 cm | 164 cm | 177 cm | 184 cm |
| Rider Max Height | 166 cm | 179 cm | 186 cm | 198 cm |
About this model
CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum completes the Santacruz Chameleon model. 57 bikes variations carry this model name so far. Take a sneak peek at all Santacruz Chameleon bikes models from 2023, by clicking here.
Model range prices
Santa Cruz CHAMELEON D MX / Aluminum 2023 is the most economical model, with a starting price of 2599$. Santa Cruz CHAMELEON S 29 / Aluminum 2023 on the other hand costs 3749$, and is the most expensive model.
Safety
When you go for a ride, don’t forget to put your helmet on. Moreover, ride with traffic, not against it. This will help you stay visible to drivers and also makes it easier for them to see you.
Average price for Trail bikes
Our math shows that the average cost of a dependable Trail bike is 2762$. However, even if your budget is less than the average, you might still be able to get a top-quality Trail bike. In short, before purchasing your ideal bike do some research about its components, and also check for reviews online.
When Santa Cruz released this model in 2023, its price was 3199$. In conclusion, this bike price is 15.82% more expensive than the price of the average Trail bike.
Trail bikes average weight
If we make a quick analysis of the average weight of a Trail bike, we get 12.98 kg (28.62 lbs). It is a good advantage to have a lighter bike than the average. However, a heavier bike is more efficient on descents.
Weighing 13.28 kg (29.28 lbs), the CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum model is slightly heavier than average. In conclusion, the average Trail bike weighs 2.31% less than CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum.
CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum components
Fork
The CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum comes factory-installed with the Fox Rhythm Float 34 fork. This has a travel range of 130mm. Bike forks are great for shock absorption and provide you with a smooth ride. To sum up, when buying a bicycle, make sure you get a fork that is capable of delivering decent travel.
Wheels
As for the wheels, Santa Cruz CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum 2023, has a 29″ aluminum model. With 29″ wheels, bumps will feel lighter and you’ll gain more speed on descends, compared to smaller wheel-sized bikes. However, if you’re not a tall person, you might find it difficult to adapt to this wheel size.
Brakes
We ride faster and faster, so a good braking system is essential on a bike nowadays. The CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum comes with Hydraulic Disc brakes. These kinds of brakes are among the most popular models used on bikes. To sum up, your safety is in good hands.
Sizes
CHAMELEON R 29 / Aluminum comes in 4 sizes, that range from 152 cm – 198 cm (4.99 ft – 6.5 ft). In short, it won’t be difficult to find the right one for you.
Dropper post
Every bike should have a dropper post, and this one does. A dropper post is a must-have these days if you’re riding anything remotely technical. The main benefit of a dropper post is increased safety while riding. As mentioned above, the lever system allows you to quickly move the saddle out of the way when approaching descents or trail obstacles.