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    Home > Bikes > Maintenance

    Karma Karma Karma Chameleon

    Oct 4, 2019 by Ian Carruthers | This post may contain affiliate links.

    Santa Cruz Chameleon

    Building a Santa Cruz Chameleon

    So if you have read my Charles (Bronson) build you'll know I built up my Santa Cruz Bronson, from a bare frame choosing the components and specification I wanted. I'd taken this route as the off the shelf builds weren't to my liking, my Chameleon build would be no different.

    So I decided I needed a hardtail, when I say needed I might mean wanted. However after and especially hard winter my beloved Charles (Bonson) had taken a bit of a beating, the sticky Cotswold clay getting places it wasn't wanted if I was to keep the Charles from away form the winter mud.

    Before committing to the Chameleon I had looked into other options, including Orange and Whyte. None of the other option met my requirements which were principally all components must be cross compatible with the Bronson.

    So the build again was going to be a Shimano, Hope with a Rockshox Pike up front. To some this might be a little overkill for a winter bike, but I like to be able to ride. Having compatible components means that I can generally ride the bike I want / need to ie when racing.

    So despite my best endeavours not to buy another Santa Cruz an offer at 18 Bikes found me with a shiny new hardtail to build. I already had a number of components that had been spares or emergency replacements for the Bronson. The Chameleon was getting hand me down parts while Charles was getting new components.

    The initial saw the chameleon sharing the Bronson 27.5" wheels, despite having a 29" fork and dropouts. A set of 29" wheels would be built by myself later.

    Santa Cruz Chameleon

    When I first build up the Chameleon sharing the Bronson wheels, whilst its was an acceptable bike, I didn't feel the love. That was until I built him some 29" wheels, the transformation was amazing. The Chameleon went from winter bike to all round trail fun bike, I was able to shred the local trails faster than I was on the Bronson. It became such a capable bike taking everything that I could throw at it. I still switch back to Full Suspension when the trails get jumpy or rocky, Cwmcarn being an example. While the Chameleon can ride the trails, the final descent on Twrch on a hardtail destroys my legs.

    Both bikes now have there place and I'll happily ride either, now I'm able to switch it up and pick the most appropriate for the trails and conditions.

    Specification

    FrameChameleon Ali
    ForkPike RCT3 Boost
    WheelsHope Pro 4 hub, Stans no Tubes Arch, DT Swiss Spokes
    TyresSchwalbe Magic Mary / Hans Dampf
    Seat postReverb stealth 150mm 31.6mm
    SaddleWTB volt race
    HeadsetHope ZS44/30, EC 49/40, Head Doctor, Space Doctor
    StemKore Repute
    BarsRaceface SIXC carbon riser
    GripsSanta Cruz Palmdale
    ShifterShimano XTM8000
    Rear MechShimano XTM8000+
    CassetteSunrace 40-11
    ChainKMC x11-EL
    CranksetHope
    ChainringSuperstar 30T oval
    Bottom BracketHope
    PeddlesDMR V12
    BrakesShimano XT M8000
    AdaptorShimano XTR Front/Rear 180mm
    RotorsShimano XT RT86 ICE TECH 180mm
    Santa Cruz Chameleon
    « Borz Racing Round Four
    Triscombe Enduro trails »

    About MTB Foodie

    MTB Foodie is a UK mountain biking blog covering routes, maintenance, travel and food. Ian can be found chasing awesome trails and thrills around the South West and beyond.

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    I’m Ian aka MTB Foodie… have bike, will ride! Found chasing awesome trails and thrills around the South West. Addicted to mud, gravel and hills, with a healthy balance of travel and food.

    Hit me up with any questions, enquiries or new trails to ride at: blog [AT] mtbfoodie.com

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    I’m Ian aka MTB Foodie… have bike, will ride! Found chasing awesome trails and thrills around the South West. Addicted to mud, gravel and hills, with a healthy balance of travel and food.

    Hit me up with any questions, enquiries or new trails to ride at: blog [AT] mtbfoodie.com

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