Mountain Biking - Santa Cruz Chameleon?

Anyone own/ride one? I'm considering building one up this summer since I'd like to go back to HT for the efficency and to keep my skills sharp.

I would build it up as a trail bike/heavy XC (so no Z1 freeride etc. type gear) so I'm interested in what you all think of this frame for that use. I would also like to consider using this rig for the VT 50 this fall, so this definetly would not be a FR/DJ type bike for me.

Thanks

In my opinion, the frame looks too steep for a trail bike. I know of a local rider here that has one. Im not a big fan of horizontal dropouts but from what Ive seen, SC makes killer stuff regardless of the setup.

Want me to ask him how it handles the trails and how he has it setup?

If you get a Chameleon, try to find a 2004 Z1 SL.

It handles great as an XC bike... several people including one of my team mates had them at the 2004 Collegiate Nationals in Angelfire, NM. Its very agressive geometry but with a 80-100mm fork handles nicely for XC in my opinion. Be aware its an EXTREMELY stiff frame. Its very short on comfort and high on strenght.

I used to have one and I absolutely loved it. I have regretted selling it for over a year now and I am actually considering building up another one. The bike was pretty stiff and a little heavy but it instilled a level of confidence in me that has been unmatched. I had more confidence on that bike than any dually that I have owned.

I sold the chameleon frame to get an S-works hardtail frame. That was a big mistake on my part. I never did really enjoy riding the S-works.

http://gallery.consumerreview.com/mtbr/gallery/pictures/Chameleonforest.jpg

Want me to ask him how it handles the trails and how he has it setup?

If you get a chance that'd be great :D. I'm just trying to collect as much feedback as possible.

Its very agressive geometry but with a 80-100mm fork handles nicely for XC in my opinion. Be aware its an EXTREMELY stiff frame. Its very short on comfort and high on strenght.

Stiff frame would be good for me, I'm gravitationally challenged anyway :p and I'm used to riding C'dale AL frames so shouldn't be to much of an issue to me personally.

As for a fork I'd probably go with a TALAS if I had my way, so I can crank it down for climbs and faster riding.

I had more confidence on that bike than any dually that I have owned.

I sold the chameleon frame to get an S-works hardtail frame. That was a big mistake on my part. I never did really enjoy riding the S-works.

That's a pretty strong endorsement which I like. Especially since my intial thoughts would put a S-works or your Truth ahead of a Chameleon in terms of overall quality of riding.

I'm definetly looking for something confidence inspiring compared to my current rig. Trying to take it to the next level I guess. Thanks for the response.

That's a pretty strong endorsement which I like. Especially since my intial thoughts would put a S-works or your Truth ahead of a Chameleon in terms of overall quality of riding.

I'm definetly looking for something confidence inspiring compared to my current rig. Trying to take it to the next level I guess. Thanks for the response.


Now don't get me wrong, I'm not planning on getting rid of my Truth for a while. I like the Chameleon better as a play bike but for me the Truth is a much better race bike. I also get less fatigue from the Truth, on longer rides the stiffness of the Chameleon eventually wears my back down a little.

They are really two completely different bikes, pretty hard to make a real comparison between the two.

I can help you get rid of that terrible, worthless S-works. I'll send you my address.. i'll even pay for shipping ;)

lol, I got rid of it over a year ago. It was a very nice bike, just not for me. Some bikes just don't work for some people.

If you get a chance that'd be great :D. I'm just trying to collect as much feedback as possible.

Here ya go:

Re: You own a Chameleon right?

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Quote:
Originally Posted by phoeneous
A green one if I remember correctly. Someone in another forum is interested in one as a trail bike. Told them Id ask you. So, is it a good trail bike? Are the horizontal dropouts a pro or con? How do you have it setup? Pics? Thanks again James.

Reply:

It's a gloss primer gray, very cool color. It's a great bike. If you run it geared, it's a good idea to have a knurled skewer so the wheel doesn't **** in the dropouts. Mine is a 2004 with the prefered disc mount on the seat stay (above). I set it up as a freeride/trail bike. It's a medium, with Vanilla 125RLC, XT hubs, Rhyno lite rims (I build all my wheels), avid mech disc brakes 160 rear / 185 front, X9 shifters and rear derailleur, LX cranks, XT front der, minion 2.35 tires. That's the basics. No pics because I do not have a digital camera. You might see it in a couple post back in January, I think you might see it in a post titled something like "doing hard time" by KRob in passion forum. I have thought about changing out the frame for a full suspension, so I might be willing to sell it.

Here is the pic:

http://forums.mtbr.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=54607&stc=1

Whoa, that was quick. Thank you and thanks to your buddy for the info.

lol, I got rid of it over a year ago. It was a very nice bike, just not for me. Some bikes just don't work for some people.

What specifically did you NOT like about the S-Works? I have an 05' Stumpjumper on the way sometime in the next week or two .... can't wait as i'm coming off a 10 yr old lower-end GT.

For some reason I couldn't ride that bike without my lower back throbbing. I don't know what it was exactly but I was miserable on it. I found myself tensing up every time I came to a rock or a root. It just wasn't for me.

I had it built up right around 21 pounds, had a good bit of money in it. I lost my arse on that bike.

It was a very light frame. It came in at 3.07 pounds on my scale.
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/sworksscale.jpg
http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/LowCelsSWorks.jpg

It is an extremely long top tube with a very long stem, you were probably over extended on the bike. The SC by comparison has a very short top tube with a pretty high head tube.

Actually on the S-Works the stem was a 110 and the top tube was 23.0 inches. The top tube on the Chameleon was actually longer, it was 23.3 inches and I used the same 110 stem.

I have ridden quite a few hardtails including race hardtails. I was more uncomfortable on the S-works frame than any other I have ridden.

Keep in mind, I have nothing bad to say about the S-works hardtail. It is a great frame. I know a lot of racers that love it. It just didn't work out for me.

The tt on my '04 Stumpie in a 19" is 24.3" virtuall TT (i believe) and has a 120mm stem stock. I think if you measure the virtual TT, the Stumpie will be quite a bit longer than the SC which has a very angled TT because of the higher headtube. I'm not trying to make you like the bike, but just pointing out the differences in geometry that probably contributed to your being uncomfortable.

This was a 17" frame. I'm taking the measurements from the Specialized site, the measurements are supposed to be virtual (straight across). I understand your point but if the bike would not have fit I would have made adjustments to it. It felt great on short rides, wasn't stretched out too much. If I had the bike now I may love it, I have lost close to 50 pounds since I owned that bike and have a much stronger core now. I believe the weight contributed as much to my back hurting as the bike did. However that was the only bike that has caused me back problems on a regular basis.