Santa Cruz Chameleon 8 AL 29 D Bike 2022

Built for...whatever

The Chameleon has long been Santa Cruz’s do whatever, go wherever, trail and adventure machine. For 2022 the Chameleon has truly become a genre defying bike. It’s equally at home ripping singletrack, hitting up the local dirt jumps, exploring the backcountry on a bikepacking adventure, or just about anything else you can think of. The all-new frame has stayed true to its no-nonsense aluminum roots and is just as durable and bombproof as ever. Progressive geometry with a 65-degree headtube angle and long reach numbers paired with a 130mm fork and short stem provide a snappy and playful riding experience. Clearance for up to 29”x2.6” or 27.5”x2.8” tires means you can run just about any tire setup under the sun. A triple-bolt cargo mount on the downtube and a double-bolt mount on the seatube let you carry just about anything, making the Chameleon an excellent option for bikepacking-curious mountain bikers. Sliding dropouts let you adjust the geometry of the chameleon, allowing you to make the bike longer and more stable or shorter and snappier. The sliding dropouts also lets riders experiment with singlespeed drivetrains if they so choose. A standard 73mm threaded bottom bracket and integrated headset keeps maintenance simple. The Santa Cruz Chameleon is the bike that’ll always put a smile on your face and is ready for anything you want to throw at it. We implore Chameleon riders to tinker with their bike and make it their own, because it truly is a versatile bike that can adapt to just about any rider's needs.

For the “D” level build, Santa Cruz went with a blend of NX and SX 1x12-speed SRAM Eagle components. The 1x12-speed SRAM Eagle drivetrain offers a massive 11-50t cassette and when paired with the 30t chainring up front ensures you’ll be able to climb a 90-degree wall. Stopping is handled by SRAM’s respectable Level brakes and dual 180mm Avid Centerline rotors. Up front you’ll find 130mm of travel in the form of a reliable RockShox Recon RL fork. Down below we’ll find a set of tubeless ready WTB STi30 TCS 2.0 rims laced to SRAM MTH hubs. The WTB rims feature a wide 30mm internal rim width, making them perfect for the top tier 29x2.5” Maxxis Minion DHF and Maxxis Agressor tires you’ll find wrapped around the rims. SDG’s Tellis Dropper reliably raises and lowers the WTB Silverado Comp saddle. The "D" level build isn’t the flashiest setup but Santa Cruz made sure to pick reliable components that’ll last for years to come and can handle whatever you throw at them.

Features

• All-new aluminum frame is plenty durable and bombproof
• Progressive geometry makes the bike super playful and smile-inducing
• Wide tire clearance lets you run up to 29”x2.6” tires or 27.5”x2.8” tires
• Sliding dropouts let you adjust the geometry of the bike or set up the bike with a singlespeed drivetrain
• 1x12-speed SRAM Eagle drivetrain offers a massive 10-50t cassette for the steepest of climbs
• 29”x2.5” Maxxis Minion DHF and Aggressor tires are perfect for a wide variety of trails and terrains

Note: Components are subject to change without notice.