Santa Cruz Chameleon #Chameleonclub

Discussion in 'Bike Reviews' started by Cyclotourist, Mar 3, 2018.


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  1. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    My faith in humanity is restored!

    I was getting this close to selling my Tracer and ordering my Chameleon, assuming it would soon be mandatory.:confused: Kinda like the "No Derailment Thread."

    Welcome back @jaime :thumbsup::cool:
     
  2. Andy

    Andy Well-Known Member

    Location:
    The OC, Calif
    Name:
    Andy
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Chameleon
    Its not overly big (doesn't interfere with access to 1 liter water bottle). For me, its not quite big enough. Right now it has - crankbros hand pump, multitool, spare set of contact lenses, selection of band aids/first aid stuff, Clif bar, small tube of superglue and tubeless repair kit. Ideally I'd like something that would also fit a tube as well. I could probably squish one in, but then it'd make stuff hard to get out. I like to carry a lot of stuff with me...
    I don't see this particular one on ebay right now, but there's something similar for $2.19 inc airmail from Taiwan.
     
    Danmtchl and Cyclotourist like this.
  3. Cornholio

    Cornholio iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    B
    Current Bike:
    Huffy
    Some ideas for your club logo:

    FDA7B162-443C-4569-8B9C-D93BABCFDB24.jpeg

    EAB92EB4-2E94-492C-9124-F5B722A4768D.png

    FFDE647C-3FE9-46D1-BE90-470292F302FE.jpeg
     
    Danimal, DangerDirtyD, mike and 7 others like this.
  4. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Thanks, I went ahead and bought one. For that price, it's worth trying! I won't carry what you do, just a multitool, CO2, and a tube. So sounds like fit won't be a problem.

    I say the third one... it's those colors that pop!
     
    mike, Danmtchl, Cornholio and 3 others like this.
  5. MrGreedom

    MrGreedom Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Name:
    Ryan
    Current Bike:
    BH Lynx6
    3rd one is going on the flag without a doubt. No gears, no squish besides the knobby tires, short chain, long top tube.
     
    mike, herzalot, Danmtchl and 3 others like this.
  6. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.

    I don't know... Bottom bracket looks a little high there... inside the triangle. :p
     
    mike, herzalot, Danmtchl and 2 others like this.
  7. Andy

    Andy Well-Known Member

    Location:
    The OC, Calif
    Name:
    Andy
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Chameleon
  8. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    mike, Danmtchl and Andy like this.
  9. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    Nothing a few mins with a Dremel Tool can’t fix.
     
    mike, Danmtchl and Cyclotourist like this.
  10. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    That thought has crossed my mind as well...
     
    mike, Danmtchl and mtnbikej like this.
  11. Andy

    Andy Well-Known Member

    Location:
    The OC, Calif
    Name:
    Andy
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Chameleon
    Yeah, but this is purple
     
    Danimal, mike, Faust29 and 3 others like this.
  12. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Rain already started drizzling, so I cleaned up the mounts... nothing fancy but looks better IMHO:
    39836077015_ab61204957_b.jpg
     
  13. riiz

    riiz Member

    Location:
    Redlands, CA
    Name:
    Eric
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Heckler/Killmaleon
    Danmtchl, mike, Cyclotourist and 2 others like this.
  14. Andy

    Andy Well-Known Member

    Location:
    The OC, Calif
    Name:
    Andy
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Chameleon
    S&H was $4.99. Item was $6. Hardly twice the price of the item...
    One-up Chainguide might be a better value at $25. But $10.99 for some purple bling isn't gonna break the bank...
     
    Danmtchl, mike, Cyclotourist and 2 others like this.
  15. riiz

    riiz Member

    Location:
    Redlands, CA
    Name:
    Eric
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Heckler/Killmaleon
    You're right, once I selected US shipping, the price was 10.99. It is weird that it costs another 6 US dollars for an item to be shipped to a Canadian address when the item is produced there.
     
    Danmtchl, Faust29 and mike like this.
  16. Andy

    Andy Well-Known Member

    Location:
    The OC, Calif
    Name:
    Andy
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Chameleon
    Danmtchl, Voodoo Tom, Faust29 and 4 others like this.
  17. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    LOL!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:
     
  18. Derek13

    Derek13 Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Costa Mesa
    Name:
    Derek Smith
    Current Bike:
    SC Hightower
    Carbon wheels on our lizards? Contemplating buying new wheel set for my Chameleon or possibly new frame with some squish. Input on quality carbon wheels is appreciated. Thanks
     
  19. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    N+1


    I know a lot of people love their carbon wheels. Me Personally, I tried them was meh. I can build up a set of aluminum wheels for a fraction of the cost of carbon. Close to the same weight.

    I’m also not very hard on wheels. I break a lot of parts....wheels are the exception.

    Plus in the ever changing standards in Mtn biking....i'd hate to be stuck with a high priced set of wheels that don’t work on my new frame.
     
    herzalot, Danmtchl, bvader and 5 others like this.
  20. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    It sounds like you aren't sure what you want... I know the feeling. :D

    As far as wheels, wouldn't carbon make the Chameleon even stiffer and less forgiving? Sort of the opposite result of buying a squishy frame.
     
  21. JordanHMay

    JordanHMay Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Rancho Santa Margarita
    Name:
    Jordan May
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon
    I’m about to put carbon wheels on my Chameleon. I’ll be posting how I feel about that soon. In the past I had carbon wheels on my Hightower and loved them. A good carbon wheel should provide better lateral stiffness resulting in faster cornering and the other obvious advantages of less rotational weight. It shouldn’t make your ride rough though. If it does, it’s probably cheap carbon. I’ve heard this from a lot of knock off Chinese eBay wheels.

    So far I’ve really liked Reynolds Enduro Carbon wheels, ENVE’s and SC Reserves which I am putting on my Chameleon shortly.

    I hope I like them as much on this bike :)
     
    herzalot, Faust29, mtnbikej and 4 others like this.
  22. bvader

    bvader iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    HB
    Name:
    Mr. Brown
    Have these... Stellar.
    We Are One Components, been meaning to do a write up but very busy

    https://weareonecomposites.com

    I have the beefy Agents now the have the Insider for a XC /AM

    Wow their new 2018 lineup is amazing and that is hand-laid carbon in Canada with a lifetime warranty at a great price pretty hard to beat
     
    Danmtchl, Stkx66, Derek13 and 4 others like this.
  23. Derek13

    Derek13 Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Costa Mesa
    Name:
    Derek Smith
    Current Bike:
    SC Hightower
    Riding with stock 29in wheels and want to try 27.5+ without breaking the bank. Any suggestions on a way to just try some from somewhere? Rent-a-wheel... HAHA. I've thought about buying a cheap used set with intentions of riding for short time and then selling again without losing too much. Thanks
     
  24. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    You could try mine if you make it out to the Black Star equinox ride.

    Having two wheel sets is the best of both worlds...
     
  25. muni

    muni Member

    Location:
    Downtown Los Angeles
    Name:
    Mike
    Current Bike:
    17 Yeti SB5
    Here you go for cheep wheelsets. Boost set with inner diameter 35mm.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/WTB-Asymme...253250756169?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

    For carbon with DTSwiss 350 hubs.
    http://www.acebike.com/mountain-bic...gh-end-350m-mountain-bike-mtb-carbon-wheelset
     
    Faust29, Danmtchl and Cyclotourist like this.
  26. UPSed

    UPSed iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Simi Valley
    Name:
    Ed
    Current Bike:
    Niner Jet 9 RDO
    Sometimes. :whistling:
     
  27. Derek13

    Derek13 Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Costa Mesa
    Name:
    Derek Smith
    Current Bike:
    SC Hightower
    Having two wheel sets is the best of both worlds...[/QUOTE]
    That leads to a discussion I bet has been beat to death; what are the good/bad scenarios for both sizes? I'm so new to MTB and my Chameleon that I just want to feel any difference between the two. Maybe I'd like one or the other. Thank you so much @Faust29 for the offer. I'll talk to you as the ride gets closer. Looking forward to it.
     
  28. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    I see a lot of used 27.5 wheelsets on Craigslist. I bought a R+ Chameleon, thinking that a 29er wheelset would be easy/cheap to find. Just the opposite. Lots of 27.5 take off and used wheelsets in Boost size, but not many 29ers.
    Anyway, I like the feel of the 27.5 more than the 29er, but appreciate the weight reduction of the 29er overall as well as rotational mass. But those 27.5 plus tires hook up like something crazy and give an awesome cush ride. I can't say one is objectively better, they're just different.
     
  29. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    I'm waiting for the carbon fiber or titanium version or at least a frame color change before I join the club. ;)
     
  30. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Ti would be pretty spiffy!
     
    SnakeCharmer, Faust29 and UPSed like this.
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As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?