I’m happy with pedal power. Summer bike (Cinelli) had new pads, chain and headset adjust. £20 Labour and £27.50 parts. Bike has done 6000 miles in 18 months.
Well it’s been an eye watering time since last up date To pick up, DT Swiss front wheel was installed and flawless, should provide serviceability in the future as opposed to replace, with new bearings sitting in wait. Last Year, saw TCU & motor replacement, covered under Specializeds flawless warranty Since last update 4 sets of brake pads, using Shimano OEM pads though ultimately the SLX system, whilst good is not offering my desired modulation on the downhills, moreso they’re not offering much of slowing down either due to pad glazing and fade. Hummed and had since November on what brake to fit and missed out on the January discounts, so called in a favour and have a set of Magura MT7’s coming next month from Romania I’ve a set of Shimano XT ice tech rotors to install 220mm front & 203mm rear, had planned an XT upgrade, I’ll either sell on or use through the winter, I’m thinking keep the brakes same manufacturer so may replace the Magura rotors (heavy clean up needed…) 4 chains, since last update, averaging 800miles from an XT chain, where as the SLX would give 500-600miles Replacement Freehub for Back wheel, surprisingly difficult to attain though realised I’d the alloy unit fitted so upgraded to the easily attainable steal driver, sticking with Microspline Chain gets a wipe and lube after every ride and deep clean once per month sticking with dry lube squirt as it keeps cassette and jockey wheels relative clean and doesn’t turn to grinding paste. Rear Tyre replaced before winter - Schwalbe Big Betty 1 cassette on standby for spring service when the winter slop has evaporated That shall be a fully service, chain, cassette jockey wheel and chain ring With the service will be front & rear tyres sticking with schwalbe girls Dropper post (have replacement in sight) fork and rear shock service on list of things to do Though likely convert front with a smashpot or Fox 38….. Annoyingly my Stamp 7 pedals started the I’ve been neglected clicking, many failed attempts to remove from crank arm proved I’d exaggerated my own strength when installing, rounded the hex…. Much swearing and fear of losing a crank arm, I was fortunate to engineer removal New set of One up pedals ordered Though the peseta la resistance I manage to break another motor, probably from pedal strikes causing removal near impossible… nevertheless 16th January saw motor replacement 2 (Torque sensor fault giving excessive and dangerous over run, I’m just trying to justify the pedals) on replacement the TCU Battery and motor wouldn’t speak to each other, so Battery replacement was made under warranty also Think I’m nearing 8500k+ going to have to tally up mileage (or kilometerage) in regards to real man maths cost of ownership it blows the budget, inexcess of £3.73p/km (holistic figure to make it sound bad though likely factually correct or near enough) I’d suggest it shall even out the more it’s used but frankly - it won’t ! The Specialized warranty is worth its weight in bike bits, Frame has lifetime of original owner. Motor & Electrics has 2 year Some would say why’s it breaking, others find peace in the quick turnaround, sadly the rest of the bike has warranty outwith Specialized 2 motors, Circa £1k a piece 1 Battery, Circa £1.2k 1 TCU & Power Lead £400 Cost of service items - Giving up counting! I could likely run a fast sport car cheaper…….. Eyeing up a 2023 Expert though every time I mention to wife, she pokes me in the eye to stop me looking, one side of me says let’s surprise her, the other says Let’s not poke the bear…. Ps - Bikes covered in clay, otherwise I’d picture!
Bit of a thread resurrection this, but I'm about to jump into the land of the EV......bike, too. Having always been an mtber (gave up the road a long time ago), I've been on and off the bike for various reasons over the last 5yrs. When I did head back to it in 2021, I ended up with concussion, a broken hand and dislocated finger (avoided lots of nappies and night feeds for a while though!). Then I had a super summer or two, before general life, small kids, court cases and god knows what put a bit of a stop to riding at all, let alone regularly. As a result, I'm now a good few kilos heavier and although I'm desperate to get out, the thought of being that low on condition has actually got the better of me. The wife has been trying to inspire me back out by buying me a subscription to MBUK which has somewhat done the trick but my brain is in self-defense mode; not able to deal with the idea of being a porker trying to ride stuff I used to get up easily. The MBUK subscription and a chance conversation in the office to find out that we have an unlimited (well, actually £10k) budget for Cycle to Work scheme means that I've just put in an order for a brand new Santa Cruz Heckler SL. I did look at the Heckler and Bullit but a mixture of low stock and the fact I want something still light enough to ride if the battery goes flat or have some fun with, had me research the SL and found it appears to be exactly the kind of bike I want and will perfectly complement my Santa Cruz 5010c I've had for the last 7yrs and adore. Here it is in XO AXS Reserve Kit (MX) form: Providing HR pull their fingers out and get me the Certificate tomorrow, I should have the bike by the end of the week and clear enough of Covid to get out riding it!
Very exciting times @Spuffington Just when you think the land of cars is confusing, the motor choice and frame is every bit a concern with Emtb’s Emtb forum is an excellent resource for review I would advise, the stand back approach - Emtb are notorious depending on review and usage, for ultimate closure your result should focus on Warranty & proximity to the dealer I advocate the purchase and the sl market has boomed this past year, though like cars it’s worth a test drive so your not left wanting & filled with range anxiety In reality, I’ve looked at sl’s but keep my full fat, having replaced almost the entire bike, an ownership thread would be exhausting, erm! Axle bolts stem, front triangle & dropper post is my only OEM part…… My preference is Specialized for the Geometry & no 5 hit warranty, but love the look of the Santa Cruz’s however my body shape adores the longer reach and higher stand over….. One of those ickle things that pop up and give buyers remorse but worthy and only found on the test ride don’t know why I’m pushing this - we all know your traits…. The Heckler, was built on the Bronson which is different to the 5010 (sure I’m correct) whereas the Bullit was Hightower whilst much and muchness it may not be a straight jump across! Beautiful bike but different m never the less all the best with your choice, there is some fantastic deals on just now!
Thanks for your help on this, Sean. Indeed, you know me too well! Of course I've jumped in feet first and up to my waist! In all honesty, however, there isn't an awful lot of choice locally to me in terms of dealers and those with demo bikes; Santa Cruz, certainly. The reason I feel relaxed on this is due to having ridden a very early Heckler (1997) and nearly buying that a few years later, then buying a Heckler Superlight, which I absolutely adored (which took me up Helvellyn) but got nicked 24m after buying it. And then buying my 5010c on an unseen basis. I also like something more in terms of reach and being 179cm, I've always been smack bang between a Medium and a Large with SC. I originally had a Medium for the Superlight but was persuaded to go Large on the 5010c and the bike feels perfect. You're right on the read across between Bronson & Heckler SL and Bullit & Hightower. The 5010c is a smaller travel bike. It's perfect for the trails locally to me, Thetford Forest, Epping Forest and Icknield Way but can get a bit out of shape up in the Lakes, so a bit more travel will be welcome. The other reason I've settled on an SL bike is that I'm not doing anything gnarly enough to warrant carrying the additional weight around plus just need enough assistance to deal with the hills and get be back out there, rather than needing to shred everything all the time. At least that's where my head has landed it. I may of course get completely addicted to the speed in which case, I'll be back in the market next year for a full fat on a new Cycle Scheme certificate once this one is paid off. I'm still amazed to be getting 47% off!! I have to say, getting up to speed on all the various motor combos, torque figures and cadence was a bit mind-blowing. The other bike I had in the mix was the Whyte E-150 Works but the idea of needing to pedal at 105rpm to keep the bike zipping with its 55NM of torque kind of missed the point for me. That's a hoop load of fast pedalling, whereas I'd tend to deploy the slower but heavier pedal approach. The Heckler with it's Fazua motor seems to be 60NM torque peak at around 70rpm. Watch this space - I'll do a quick report when I get it, although doubtful now this week given HR still haven't provided the certificate.
I'm going for the Gloss Magenta in the picture. I like the bold colours on SantaCruz - I've got a Rescue Orange 5010c. My wife like the Matt Silver but when speaking to the dealer, he suggested they look great for the first year but then all the battle scars get show up really quickly on the matt finishes.
Apologies - Lost my post but some good reading here Some bed time https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/2024-santa-cruz-heckler-sl.26085/
Thanks for this @snrbrtsn. Some of that reading was scary with tales of woe regarding the Fazua motor. But then I dug around elsewhere and found a similar number of stories about Shimano and Bosch motors too. It did send me slightly off on a different path for a while, thinking it should look at Bronson or Heckler but upon more research, I’m settled again on the SL which I think suits my riding style and terrain best. Certificate was issued on Monday. Bike being built today/tomorrow. Now in two minds whether I collect from Stif outside Harrogate or just have it posted. I’m heading up to Ullswater this weekend with my daughter and heading back Monday afternoon via our fave Fish & Chip shop in Yeadon. Although it would only add another 30mins or so to the driving, I’m conscious that if I stopped there, it’ll probably add another 2hrs overall to the return journey. It I were in my own it would be a no brainer. But she found the return trip last time (5hrs of travel) a little challenging last time. Let’s see. Will probably need to decide on Friday. Getting excited now though. Must’ve watched every possible video on the SL on YouTube and have been back on the Peloton in preparation! Easier said than done after a spell with Covid last week though
Congrats At least your going in with no disillusioned thoughts as reliability is not their strong point regardless of manufacturer Likewise, routine replacement of chain, brake pads & tyres shall become a habit Enjoy They are very addictive, they are most definitely “cheating”, though you quickly learn your cheating only, to get to the good bits! Switching between bikes gives a sense of realism Can’t wait for your review as I’m sorely tempted with either the magenta or grey……
Well - it's arrived! Good job I didn't plan a Harrogate trip - the bike was built and dispatched from their Bristol store in the end! Annoyingly, it's arrived about 6hrs ahead of me heading up to the Lakes. I did consider briefly taking it with me and taking my daughter over to Whinlatter for the day, but when I read up on the Blue runs there, it still says it requires some decent offroad ability and sadly, in spite of my best intentions, that's not her. I thought it was fairly plain when I last rode them but I have to acknowledge I'd just come off the reds & blacks. Bike arrived just after school runs but before work. Bolted it all together (handlebars, pedals, front wheel) and gave it an initial testride up and down the close a few times plus a fairly steep track/footpath near the house. What can I say.....blown away!! I'm so glad I went for this rather than a full fat one. It feels heavy enough already and these are supposed to be the lightweight ones so can only imagine what the full fat ones feel like. First impressions - headtube feels very high when initially standing over, but once you get the saddle up to riding position, it all feels very natural like my Santa Cruz 5010c. Bars are perhaps a little wider than I'd like, but that can be changed. Otherwise suspension feels plush. Not spent much time on a 29er and front wheel and I can feel a bit of a gyroscope effect off of that which I'm not used to. But otherwise feels great on the short runs I did. They were curtailed partly through needing to start work, but also because this is like setting up a new car! Had to pair the phone with the drivetrain (rear derailleur & bike motor / energy management system) then charge both SRAM AXS battery and Fazua batteries. On the little wriggle I did up and down the road, I tried all modes. Off, it just feels like a heavy version of my 5010c. Breeze mode (lightest) adds a little assistance but very difficult to spot. River mode actually I can see myself using a lot as it's a nice bit of assistance but not overly intrusive. Rocket is exactly that and makes me wonder what Turbo on full fat bikes feels like. It's properly rapid and feels like you're being flung using an elastic band! Boost mode adds to it. Unfortunately I'm now not going to be riding it until Monday earliest. But I have got the sense that this is going to be exactly what I wanted - a bike to get me out and about, enough assistance to not feel overwhelmed on the days when I'm not totally up for it, but then being able to dial it back and feel natural about riding when I want to push myself too. So much more setting up to do - need to set up shocks for my weight and check torque settings of all the bits I bolted on this morning before I go for a proper shake-down ride, but I absolutely cannot wait!
Update incoming on this.. I’m now c 150km in on the Heckler SL and just about beginning to bond with it. I’ll admit, as much as it was a cracker out of the box, it was also a bit overwhelming in terms of its weight and size relative to the 5010c I’ve been riding for nearly 10yrs. After some fettling of fork & rear shock pressures, it felt a bit more useable but the real test has been a blat today around Cannock Chase (first time ever here) - I’ll write up more in my motorhoming blog. Being here has taught me a lot about the bike. How it responds on fast, flowing but technical singletrack, drop offs and very steep uphills and switchbacks. Interestingly, aside from an almost over the bar moment in the first mile where I didn’t pick up the front wheel over a rock (down to a mixture of fear, lack of confidence in the bike and myself and strength), the worst that befell me today over 35km of quite hard riding, was nearly coming off during a slow, tight switchback where the bike “took over” and rode away with me due to a tiny pedal input which triggered the assistance much quicker than I wanted! On today’s rides, I’ve let more air out of the tyres and front fork and gradually now feel really able to lean on it in corners and berms. I guess for such a different machine it was always going to take a while. Challenges aside, what it’s delivered upon is getting me out. I no longer fear riding - whether I’m in good enough condition, whether I can get around or whether I’m going to have a coronary. I plan to go and I go - no excuses. I can also manipulate the assistance to keep me in a low HR zone if that’s my target, or just go hell for leather (as I did today). It’s so versatile. It’s also reignited my passion for both exercise and MTBing overall which has come at a good time for both my mental and physical health - both of which have been suboptimal of late. It’s inspired me to get my 5010c refurbed with new Hope X2 brakes being fitted currently and I’m aiming to do one non-assisted ride a week going forwards. Although I was only one of only a handful on e-bikes today and felt a bit guilty on some of the uphills, my HR trace shows I was putting in max effort and there was no shirking. Conclusion - they’re super machines and really do facilitate more adventure. I don’t see it as cheating but motivating.
So glad your enjoying it! Though in reality, I knew you would, e-bikes are great motivational tools, I shall stress, the switch back to your 5010 shall be fruitless (don’t waste monies on the refurb/upgrade) As addictive as they are, muscle memory takes over and they become gleefully normalised. I manage circa 40/50km per day on e-bike but after developing a holiday beer belly im back on the gravel bike puffing and pecking out the rear tyre. The easy option is to pull the e-bike but too stubborn! Bike setup shall take several weeks, the best money I spent was on a bike fit , certainly negated the many adjustment trial & errors! Finding the best posture, sag & rebound, likely worth checking with your bike shop Another point of note is factory supplied forks are often over/under greased internally - worth finding a good service centre, with equal merit, dropping tyre pressure to the late teens shall give full use of the tread pattern The motor overrun appears to have caught you out, don’t think it’s adjustable on the Fauza motor, though several track stands in a car park should have you mastered the trait, time well spent…… even though onlooker may look on oddly!