Mountain Biking - Anyone own a '06 Santa Cruz Heckler D?

How do you like it and what's the up and downs about it? I have a Trek 8500 and now want to ride a FS for certain trails.

Shown w/optional equipment
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8333/hecklerlargesmallit6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It lists at about $1580 and I read a good review on it in MBAction magazine saying it's the best deal in the mountain biking world.

oh yeah ive heard nothing bad about it... it supposidly pedals really well... hmm wheres mtnbiker66 when you need him.

mtnbiker66 has a bullit if I remember.

You mean that Heckler is 1500!? Damn thats good.

You mean that Heckler is 1500!? Damn thats good.

Here's what it has and what www.cyclepaths.com is selling it for..

frame Custom butted 6069 Aluminum
sizes S, M, L, XL
rear shock Fox Float R - 150mm
fork Rockshox Tora 320
wheelset Mavic XM317 rims/ Shimano M535 hubs
tires Kenda Nevegal 2.35 wire
brakes Shimano M535 w/ 180mm/ 160mm rotors
shifters Shimano Deore
front der Shimano LX
rear der Shimano XT
crankset Shimano Deore
bb Shimano Deore
cassette Shimano Deore
chain Shimano LX
headset Dia Compe HS 0218
handlebar Truvativ XR riser
stem Truvativ XR 3D - 31.8mm
saddle WTB Pure V Comp
seatpost Truvativ XR double clamp
pedals none
extras Lizard Skin lock-on grips
price $1599

There's an article about it actually in the Sept. issue of MBAction.

They seem to think it's the greatest "cheap" trailbike ever. The old spec Heckler was only available for $3000. Even @ that price, they seemed to love it to death. It's one of their favorite trail bikes. It supposedly pedals very efficiently and still handles small to big hits with ease.

If I wanted to get a "trail bike" and only had around $1500, that'd probably be the one for me. I'd have to ride it of course to make sure it's all it's cracked up to be.

That pic shows it with a Fox Fork not a RS Tora.?

Go for it!

One of my friends has a Heckler he built up himself. It's an excellent trail bike and from the short time I've stolen on it, I highly recommend. I was torn between the Heckler and the Kona Dawg (fortunately the Blur LT was out of my price range or the decision would've been even harder) when I was shopping for a FS to complement my Trek hardtail. I went with the Dawg, which has a few different strengths, but I personally would not recommend either one over the other. Best deal? If not it's pretty darn close. Santa Cruz really knows how to make mountain bikes.

I would say, however, look at some of the other build kits and see if you're willing to stretch your budget a little. Few people ever regret going for the next step up over what they originally planned.

oh yeah ive heard nothing bad about it... it supposidly pedals really well... hmm wheres mtnbiker66 when you need him.

He was out riding....:D I have a Bullit but I have spent some time on the Heckler. It's a solid bike trail bike that will take some abuse. It's not gonna climb like a HT or a race bike but it decends really well.One thing I noticed in the spec list is you get the Fox shock,the one I rode had the 5th coil and that will make a difference in the ride. If you can snag it for around 1600 new.......get it.

Ha, I'm currently saving for the heckler myself...one more paycheck should do it. Ive been riding the trek 4300 comp with disks for a while and it is awesome but doesnt inspire the full confidence on the really fast DH's around my town. I read that article in mbaction as well and asked at all the lbs's about it and i cant find anyone who has anything bad to say about it. Do you guys think its worth it to throw that fox fork on it or will the tora do the same thing, if so what would be the price difference, I guess that would be a question for my shop though. I'm also moving clear across this great country of mine after the summer to Vancouver, BC and plan to ride as many trails as humanly possible, which leads me to another question, if anyone on here lives in Van or near it, how much of the year can you ride places like grouse or seymour as I will be living and working in north Van.

Well, as far as forks go...the Fox you see pictured is on a very high end build. (at least $3000)

A Fox 36RC2 is going to run you in the neighbeehoo of $750, the Tora is going to run you about $250. It's not just a decision of "throwing the Fox on there" like you might think.

The Tora should do ya just fine for a while. I'd ride it until you either break it or feel it to be inadequate. Then go out and buy a Fox Vanilla 130 RLC for $450. It's the plushest 5" single crown for on the planet according to several reviewers as well as Fox. (marketing, hehe) I have one and love it.

If you're going to spend that much extra money on the 36RC2...you may as well just get another credit card or save your $$$ and get the $3000 build.

I read the same article in MBA and am equally as interested. Its going a bit beyond my "budget" but it maybe worth it.



Fuserchris

Well.. I talked to a LBS and they said the Heckler starts at like $2599. And the Blur LT starts at $2499. The pricing in MBA is wrong and not current. Oh wells.. I guess I'll be saving up for the Blur LT then.

Wrong.

Try another shop or talk to SC direct for a dealer.

$1500 is the real deal.

I've seen that bike at a bike shop on the sales floor, one of the most beautiful (yet rugged) looking bike's I've seen yet.

there is nothing bad to say about the heckler. its a damn good bike. i also would try to save a little more and get the package with a fox vanilla rlc 140 (07's have 140 mm of travel).

the heckler is a very dependable ride. i probably would have gotten it if i hadn't bought a nomad first.