Talk to me about the Santa Cruz Chameleon

[MadDad]

I'm usually a roadie but at this time of year mix things up with a handful of XC rides each week (generally because I can't be arsed to keep washing my road bikes). I've currently ride a Ragley Blue Pig or Giant Trance, both running 26" wheels, great for trail centres but wearing for 40-60 miles of XC.

I'm in the market for a 29-er to make my XC rides a bit quicker and a bit more enjoyable, majority of my XC riding is on bridleways, towpaths and occasionally on the Ridgeway. I've been offered a well spec'd Santa Cruz Chameleon for a decent price but am not too sure if it's the right geometry for longer XC rides, or if I'll be buying something similar to the Trance/Blue Pig but with bigger wheels, anyone on here have a Chameleon and have first hand experience of how they ride?

[smifffymoto]

Guy Kesteven has a good review on Youtube.
I have always wanted a Cameleon but the price puts me off.

[river_rat]

One of my mates has a Chameleon,we regularly do XC rides like you describe of anything up to 100 miles and he is very complimentary of it.

Also took it to Southern Spain last year and did a week up in the Mijas Hills on some pretty tough rocky downhill trails and the bike took it in its stride.

[Fetchez la vache]

smifffymoto said:

I have always wanted a Cameleon but the price puts me off.

This sums up my feelings on it too. The people that I know who have them swear by them. I've not ridden one to be able to compare to my 2018 BFe.

If you have the chance to get one for a good price I'd absolutely go for it, personally...

[MadDad]

Thanks guys, just watched the youtube review (along with a couple of others over all sorts of terrain). Really seems to tick the boxes for the sort of riding I'm looking to do plus a few more - thanks for the feedback and pointers, time to negotiate.....!

[sjg]

How recent a chameleon? It got changed quite a bit a couple of years ago.

If it’s a bit pricey, worth looking at the new Voodoo Bizango carbon for a grand - spec not great but you could strip and resell the bits you don’t want. Geometry looks very very similar to the Chameleon.

[vwsurfbum]

I love mine, I use it for long XC days on 29er guise or +size when i'm hooning around in the woods. I've smashed it around all the trail centres as well, which leaves me wondering do i need my 160mm travel carbon enduro weapon?

[MadDad]

Think I'm convinced, it's a 2018 bike so the current geo etc.