MEATengines Musings
In 2007, Rocky Mountain Bicycles hit their peak number of unique suspension designs and frame silhouettes, at five. Element 3D-Link, Slayer SXC LC2R*, ETSX**, plus the different Switch and RMX linkage-driven-single-pivot designs. There was some consolidation the following year with the introduction of the LC2R Flatline bikes, but the true about-face came with the introduction of the 2009 Altitude and its nearly-Horst chainstay pivot position, which only escaped the patent police thanks to an orientation that was slightly above the rear axle. It also featured new ‘Straight-Up’*** geometry with an ultra-steep, at the time, 76° STA.
The Altitude spawned two excellent riding rigs in the 2011 Slayer and {carbon} 2011 Element RSL/MSL platforms. And while these bikes did not yet share a similar aesthetic, the folks at Rocky Mountain were clear that having a different suspension design for every application was not. It’s why I was surprised when they released the latest Altitude, in 2024, with its lack of chainstay pivot, solid rear triangle, and bottom-bracket eccentric pivot, but not at all surprised to see the new Santa Cruz Tallboy is a harbinger of that brand’s Horst-Link mountain bicycle transition. Matching the change previously seen with their MTeeBs. Tell a story, right?
*{Super Cross-Country / Low Centre Counter Rotating.}
**{Energy Transfer Suspension eXtended.}
***{Noteworthy? As far as I know, they were the first brand pushing steeper pedaling positions most riders enjoy today.}
{Photos: Rocky Mountain Bikes & Santa Cruz Bikes}
With or without an idler, depending on how high the main pivot is oriented for a given application, the versatility of a Horst-Link four-bar is, pardon the pun, epic. Suspension characteristics are highly tuneable, QC/QA tolerances are simpler and loads smaller than dual-link designs, strength to weight to performance ratios are high, and packaging e-bike motors and larger 32″ wheels without resorting to long-bike chainstay lengths is a benefit as well. Oh, it’s also more flexible around changing hub standards; I’m still convinced a second look at SB-157 will accompany 32″ wheels.
Including well designed flex-stay-pivot bikes, Horst configurations are proven excellent, for riding and racing, for every mountain bike application. And, I think it’s fair to wonder if designs like the various DW-Link arrangements, VPP/JS, KS-Link, etc., as good they are, would have come to market if Specialized hadn’t fought so hard to enforce their Horst-FSR patent. It’s easy to imagine a market where every suspension design either looks like the new Tallboy or a 1999 Super Light 1.
You’re a big fan of frame bearings being housed in linkages and rigs that can’t be described as belly button bikes? You can’t understand, from a marketing perspective, why any brand would give up their signature look? I hear you, but the thing that makes less sense than any of that is selling bikes with multiple different suspension systems.
For that reason alone, I don’t think it’s a bold claim to say that the Syndicate‘s next bike will look more like a 2025 GT Fury {or Force} than a Gen.8 V10.
{Photo: Santa Cruz Bikes}
Aside from reinforcing an aesthetic realignment to match their full line to their Vala MTeeB model, there’s a myriad of good news, great news even, in the launch of the fresh Santa Cruz Tallboy. For those in the market for a brand new bike, we can assume that the new Tallboy is excellent. Even if the suspension geometry is indeed a Luis Arraiz package previously developed for GT, that the PON Stars have already paid for, doesn’t mean it’s free. There’s a significant potential brand recognition cost to ditching a shape that’s recognizable from significantly further away than your, large, down tube decal is readable. Clearly SCB thinks the TB is worth the investment/risk.
For those in the market for a used bike, Santa Cruz has an awesome reputation for after-sale parts support, and their previous generation bicycles are excellent. Tallboy 4 {2019-2022}* is still my pick for best SCB bike of all time {that I’ve ridden}. But there’s value in the new-new looking like the old-new and a transition to Horst-Link bikes should drive down the resale value of what’s already out there in a moderately depressed second hand market. A better deal on one of the better brands to buy used.
*{If you have a Tallboy 4, carbon or aluminum, that you love, that’s a bike for which I’d love to read a Bicycle Valentine.}
{Photos: GT Bicycles & Santa Cruz Bicycles}
Yeah, so. I have no insider knowledge whatsoever {this is MEATengines, after all} but based on past SCB bikesitions my money’s on a two year cycle before every full-suspension rig this side of the Blur has a chainstay pivot in front of, and below, the rear wheel axle. I’m also positive that they won’t be the last bicycle company to split from their current pivot setup and improve braking performance and ride tuneability while dropping weight at the same time. In other words, I think it’s a question of which brand will be next as opposed to whether another brand will follow suit.
Is it possible that VPP and the new Four-Bar design will coexist long term? Based on what Rocky Mountain, and many other brands, learned in the noughts, I’m going with a hard no.
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