When we were travelling on the Heckler for the first time in spring, Santa Cruz's first E-MTBwe brought three thoughts home from the trail. Firstly: Wow! Because the bike left us with an extremely direct, manoeuvrable and fun character. Secondly: Why not a big 29er front wheel? Because on wilder trails, the bike wasn't as potent as we would have expected from a gravity E-MTB. And thirdly: A bike with Shimano E8000 at this point in time? It wasn't just industry insiders who realised that the successor to the three-year-old motor wouldn't be long in coming. Points two and three have been clarified with the new edition. But what about point one? Has the wow remained?
The facts: The Heckler enters the 2021 race with the new Shimano EP8. The Shimano battery with 500 watt hours will be retained. The trail bike will also be available in two versions. One, as usual from 2020, with 27.5 mm wheels and 160/150 millimetres of suspension travel. And once, new for 2021, with an MX wheel mix and 140 millimetres of travel. The second variant has undergone special weight tuning. With success. The top model weighs a slim 20.2 kilos in size L. That's a statement - and worth a wow on its own.
The geometry of the Santa Cruz Heckler and Heckler MX
Both variants are based on the same main frame. The different suspension travel and wheel sizes naturally result in slightly different geometries. Both variants are available in five sizes: S, M, L, XL and XXL. Even really tall riders will find a suitable bike here.
The facts about the Santa Cruz Heckler
- Shimano EP8 motor (85 Nm torque)
- Shimano Intube battery with 500 Wh
- Full carbon frame
- Two variants: Heckler and Heckler MX
- Suspension travel: 160/150 mm (Heckler) or 140 (Heckler MX)
- Wheel size: 27.5" (Heckler), or 29"/27.5" (Heckler MX)
- Weight: from 20.2 kg (EMTB measured value, top model Heckler MX, size L)
- Price: from 7099 euros (with E7000), with EP8 from 8599 euros
- Lifetime warranty on frames and carbon wheels
The Heckler MX in detail
The scales on our test bike of the top model of the Heckler MX show 20.2 kilos. In size L. Sure, the 500cc battery saves weight, but even when 500 was still the standard, there were hardly any enduro eMTBs that could break into this weight class. How does Santa Cruz manage this? In addition to the lightweight full carbon frame, a targeted weight reduction is crucial. It starts with the suspension elements. The Rockshox Pike is now almost obsolete on trail-orientated E-MTBs, but the fork is experiencing a revival on the Santa Cruz, saving a few hundred grams. The shock is also slimmed down, as it has to manage without a reservoir.
The Californians also rely on the lightweight spare carbon wheels. While the reinforced downhill version is used on the rear wheel of the normal Heckler, the Heckler MX relies on the lighter version, which is also at home on non-motorised trail to enduro bikes. All this shows that Santa Cruz is not designing the bike as the ultimate downhill crusher. The Heckler MX is a trail all-rounder that is designed to excel with its light-footed handling.
The Santa Cruz Heckler MX on the trail
The data of the Heckler MX promises real all-round talent. Modern trail geometry for plenty of downhill fun. Low weight for light-footed handling. Moderate chainstays so that you can also reach trails that require bold uphills. But how good is the bike really?
To find out how the newcomer Heckler CC MX Reserve fares in direct comparison to the competition, we tested it in EMTB 6/20 a high-calibre test field. The crème de la crème of trail and all-round eMTBs 2021! No limits, no excuses. The top models from the brands range between € 6799 and € 11499 - the best the market has to offer. If you don't have the value of a small car up your sleeve, you still shouldn't miss out on the summit. After all, dreaming is allowed.
The test also provides plenty of information about the capabilities of the cheaper model variants. So don't miss out: EMTB 6/20 is now available! Best to order directly Secure your subscription and never miss an issue. Of course EMTB is also available in our Online shop or as an app edition for Apple or Android.
Santa Cruz Heckler and Heckler MX: models and prices
We show the Santa Cruz Heckler with 27.5-inch wheels and the Santa Cruz Heckler MX with a 29/27.5-inch mix in its diversity. The Heckler is available in either black or yellow, while the MX version is available in black or grey. The older and weaker Shimano E7000 is still at work in the entry-level Heckler R and Heckler MX R models, while the new EP8 is used in the other models. The Heckler and Heckler MX do not differ in price. The prices are € 8599 (Heckler/Heckler MX S), € 9199 (XT model with aluminium wheels) and € 11199 for the top models with Sram X01 drivetrain and carbon wheels.
