Beautiful Bicycle: Santa Cruz Tallboy

A Santa Cruz Tallboy dressed in black and orange. Contender’s first custom build on the newest iteration of the Tallboy keeps the overall look clean while adding a little personality through orange accents on the hubs, headset, bottom bracket, and brakes. At 28 pounds, the finished build comes together as a light, well-balanced trail machine.

Frame Detail

Released earlier this year, the Santa Cruz Tallboy 6 looks quite different from what has become familiar across the Santa Cruz lineup. The move away from VPP suspension in favor of a four-bar layout helps shed weight while giving the Tallboy 130mm of rear travel. In Carbon Black, the subtle graphics put more focus on the shape of the frame and new suspension layout, while a full gloss frame protection kit adds an extra layer of durability. A RockShox Deluxe rear shock fits neatly into the compact frame layout.

Color & Finishing Details

Orange anodized parts create the main visual theme across the build. Hope brake hardware, an Industry Nine stem, Chris King headset, Onyx hubs, and the Chris King bottom bracket carry the color from front to rear. Most of the remaining components stay black, gray, or silver. The result keeps the color consistent without making the overall build feel too busy.

Suspension & Braking

A RockShox Pike Ultimate handles suspension duties up front, paired with a RockShox Deluxe out back. Hope XCR Pro E4 brakes bring one of the strongest visual details through orange lever bodies and calipers. Galfer 180mm rotors with a 2mm thickness round out the braking setup with a little extra heat capacity for longer descents.

Drivetrain

SRAM XX Eagle T-Type AXS makes up the drivetrain, including a 170mm SRAM XX power meter crank and 32t chainring. An SRAM XX SL 10-52t cassette helps keep weight down while providing a wide range for the Tallboy. A Chris King bottom bracket adds another small orange detail near the center of the bike.

Wheels & Tires

Berd HAWK30 carbon wheels bring another unique detail through the woven spokes. Orange Onyx hubs continue the accent color while staying relatively subtle within the full wheelset. A 29 x 2.4 Maxxis Forekaster sits up front, paired with a 29 x 2.4 Maxxis Rekon at the rear. The combination keeps the wheel package light and well suited to trail riding.

Cockpit & Contact Points

A OneUp Components V2 carbon bar keeps the cockpit simple, while an orange Industry Nine MT A35 stem adds a strong focal point at the center. The Chris King headset and Hope brake levers continue the same orange detailing across the front of the bike. A Bike Yoke Revive 3 dropper and Selle San Marco Ground Shield saddle complete the contact points. Black finishes across the bar, grips, post, and saddle keep the brighter hardware in focus.

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