Santa Cruz Heckler SL C GX AXS on test: Lightweight trail e-bike with Fazua Ride 60
Florentin Vesenbeckh
· 16.12.2023
Hardly any other brand focusses on the trail characteristics of its bikes as publicly as Santa Cruz. It is therefore almost surprising that the Californians are entering the market with a relatively light eMTB. The choice of Fazua motor, on the other hand, is less surprising. After all, the PON Group, to which Santa Cruz belongs, is also affiliated with Porsche, the parent company of Fazua (You can read the background to the corporate network here). The orientation of the Heckler SL is just as logical. With 160/150 mm suspension travel and mullet wheels, it is designed to inspire on descents of all kinds. Just like its "big" brother, the Heckler with Shimano motor (to the test of the Santa Cruz Heckler), the SL also plays on the border between trail bike and enduro.
At 19.3 kilos with a permanently installed battery and full carbon frame, the check on the scales does not trigger any enthusiasm. On the other hand, the Heckler SL has implemented the rear suspension with the popular VPP kinematics. Thanks to the compact motor, the engineers were able to place the pivot points even lower on the SL than on the Heckler with Shimano drivetrain. This brings the kinematics even closer to the ideal of the Californians' non-motorised bikes. Top: The Heckler SL is available in five sizes from S to XXL, and the system weight rating of up to 156 kg is also impressive.
The facts about the Santa Cruz Heckler SL C GX AXS
- Motor: Fazua Ride 60, 60 Nm max. torque
- Battery: Fazua, 430 Wh (non-removable)
- Frame material: Carbon
- Suspension travel: 160 / 150 mm
- Wheel size: 29 / 27.5 inch
- Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Price: 9799 Euro
- Weight: 19.3 kg (EMTB measurement, test bike in size L, without pedals)
- Permissible total weight: 156 kg (manufacturer's specification)
- Reach altitude¹: 1298 (+14)hm / 12.1 km/h
The e-bike drive in the Heckler SL
The Ride 60 from Fazua (Click here for the detailed test of the Ride 60 from Fazua) is powerful by light standards, but remains light, compact and quiet. It therefore skilfully bridges the gap between the minimalists, such as the TQ HPR 50, and the classic power motors of the Bosch CX league. If you are looking for a light and slim e-MTB, but still want a portion of power, the Ride 60 is the right choice. Especially with the short-term boost function (450 watts peak power), it clearly sets itself apart from the more minimalist light motors. It is also pleasing that the background noise remains pleasantly discreet.
In keeping with this, the battery is also larger than average compared to other light systems at 430 watt hours. This also gives the Heckler SL a pinch of power e-bike. According to our tests, the Fazua motor also uses energy very efficiently. However, this is also necessary, as Santa Cruz has installed the battery firmly in the down tube. There is therefore no second battery to boost the range or for charging outside the bike. Unfortunately, there is still no range extender for the Fazua Ride 60, although it is an open secret that one is in the works. But there is no sign of when the Ottobrunn-based motor manufacturer will finally bring the additional battery to the shops.
The biggest criticism of the Fazua system is the controls. Although the ring control on the handlebars works well, its operation is not very defined. In addition, the wobbly plastic lever doesn't look very high-quality. The LED hub is slimly integrated into the top tube, but only provides a minimal amount of information via coloured LEDs. Other manufacturers offer more information and a higher quality appearance. This results in deductions in the B grade.
Santa Cruz Heckler SL: the geometry
The very slack steering angle is striking, which would also look good on a full-blown enduro bike. The wheelbase is quite long for the light category. The chainstays are short in an e-bike comparison, but other light e-MTBs, above all the Levo SL from Specialized, rely on even shorter dimensions. The bottom bracket is low. The geometry can be adjusted using the flip chip on the shock mount. If you set it to the "High" position, the steering and seat angle become 0.3 degrees steeper and the kinematics more linear. Top: The Heckler SL is available in five sizes from S to XXL. With a reach of 525 mm in the largest size, even really tall riders should find a suitable chassis.
EMTB measurements at a glance (frame size L, flip chip "Low")
- Seat tube length: 427 mm
- Wheelbase: 1265 mm
- Reach: 471 mm
- Stack: 641 mm
- Steering angle: 63.6 degrees
- Seat angle: 76 degrees
- Chainstay length: 441 mm
The features of the Santa Cruz Heckler SL C GX AXS
- Fork / shock: Rockshox Pike Select+ / Superdeluxe Select+
- Gear system: Sram GX Eagle Transmission, 12-speed
- Brakes: Sram Code Bronze, 200/200 mm
- Wheels: Reserve Aluminium 30 SL
- Tyres: Maxxis DHF Exo MaxxGrip, 29 x 2.5" / Minion DHR II Exo+, 27.5 x 2.4"
- Special features: Lifetime warranty on frame and wheels; telescopic seat post with 180 mm stroke
Practical test: How the Santa Cruz Heckler SL C GX AXS rides
The modern riding position places the rider very centrally on the bike. This is pleasing and feels almost like a modern enduro bike. The rear suspension greedily absorbs even the smallest bumps and remains fully active even when pedalling. You don't have to worry about traction on the climbs. On top of this, you have great control over the bike and the powerful Fazua thrust. In short: for a light bike, the Heckler SL climbs excellently. You hardly need to worry about the front wheel climbing, despite the rather short rear triangle. A small drawback for technical climbs: the low bottom bracket quickly provokes crank contact.
But this bike is actually about the other direction; downhill trail fun. This is where the feel-good character continues. Thanks to the low bottom bracket, you can relax behind the high front end. The plush, plush rear suspension smoothes out small bumps and big hits with ease and also offers plenty of support and pop. Especially in the flat and progressive flip-chip setting, the rear suspension has a strong end progression. This means that there are always reserves for botched landings or harsh impacts. The grippy front tyre and good brakes provide additional safety. When the trail throws the Heckler SL from left to right, the balanced position is pleasing, and the low weight also makes it clear that this is a light eMTB.
However, the Heckler SL with its longer and slacker geometry is not quite as light-footed and agile as the Specialized Levo SL. The flip chip on the shock mount offers potential for customisation. Even though the geometry only changes minimally by 0.3 degrees in the "High" position, the Heckler feels a little more like a trail bike in this position, while it could easily pass for an enduro bike in the "Low" setting. In addition to the extremely slack head angle, this is also due to the kinematics, which are more progressive and can therefore be tuned even more precisely.
EMTB review of the Santa Cruz Heckler SL C GX AXS
Strengths
- Outstanding rear suspension
- Powerful uphill and downhill driving
- High weight release
- Many sizes
- Lots of power and range in a light comparison
Weaknesses
- No exchangeable battery
- Not ultimately light
- Cable rattling on the trail
The EMTB conclusion
The Heckler SL is extremely powerful downhill and manages a great balancing act between manoeuvrability and smoothness. The bike is far from a weight record, but it skilfully combines a light feeling with e-bike punch. An absolutely successful light e-MTB for fans of trails and challenging downhill metres! - Florentin Vesenbeckh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief EMTB Magazine
¹ The reach height was determined during standardised test rides on an asphalt climb with a gradient of 12.2 percent. Highest support level, 150 watts pedalling power of the rider, rider weight including equipment 89 kg. The altitude metres in clearly reduced emergency mode are shown in brackets. The average speed refers to the journey with full assistance.
Florentin Vesenbeckh
Editor CvD
