[Closed] Santa Cruz Chameleon?

one of my riding buddies has just bought a Chameleon...and he absolutely loves it. Seems to be a very good, versatile HT. He's running 140mm forks on his but still happily taps out long XC rides and is very quick around the singletrack too.

Nor particularly "on trend" in terms of the slack with steep SA....but it feels just right when you climb onboard.

Very nice bike. I would buy one.

I had one.

XL, 29er with 130mm forks, 50mm stem etc etc.

I liked it but ....... Where I live we lack a lot of technical riding. Its more longer haul XC stuff with the occasional "gnarr to the maxxxxx". I found the bike to be incredibly responsive and agile but for me this was to its detriment - It was just too playful!

I extended the dropouts and that helped a little but by that point I had already decided it was probably too much bike (frame) for me.

There were loads of plusses for the frame - nicely made, "premium" .... little things like a DT axle and a bag of useful "stuff" with the frame.

The frame would also take a 2.6'' tyre which was a nice touch.

If I lived elsewhere I probably would have still had it.

Absolutely love mine, 29er with a 130mm fork. Such a fun bike and really comfy as hardtails go. I'll have mine for quite a while I reckon

It was on my shortlist, went with an 18 bikes No.9 in the end after much head scratching due to the combined factors of it being a bit longer, I like the steel feel and Mat & Si are good dudes.

The Genesis Tarn framesets were also tempting but out of stock at the time.

Love mine - I replaced my nukeproof scout 290 with one. Very lively - feels worlds away from a LLS hardtail but that is what I was after - I don't really like LLS geo on flatter trails. If I'm riding steep/fast/technical stuff I've got a modern full suspension bike, but for trail centre/XC stuff the chameleon is great. I've raced on it with no problem (I've got a 120mm fox 34 on it). I've run it with 29s and 2.8 and 2.6 27.5 tyres. Don't really like 2.8s, but enjoy it on both the others.

Everybody should own a Chameleon at some point. They're like an oversized BMX. They're a ridiculous amount of fun

I wouldn't even contemplate doing an all-day ride on one. It may actually kill you. But for a bike to go out and have a blast on for a couple of hours, they are absolutely unbeatable

I've done fairly long rides on mine with 27.5 x 2.8 and 2.6 with no comfort issues at all. I think the new version, mine is 19, are very comfy.

I had the olive and purple one, then the brown/orange one —a great fun frame with loads of clearance and ss capable. The only thing I didn't like was the headtube height is too low for me, and the internal headset occasionally needed regreasing to avoid creaking.

There is a brilliant review on the Hardtail Party youtube channel by Steve, who had one for a year. He also reviews the Salsa Timberjack, which is very similar to the Chameleon but less cash.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwDvZTTIQ6Qz-xfZ-QXXuSw

I wouldn’t even contemplate doing an all-day ride on one. It may actually kill you.

The latest version (alu) I thought was meant to be a comfy place to spend a day?

In other news there are still plenty of 26" tyres around, can't use that as an excuse just yet 🙂

Splurged out and bought a carbon Chameleon frame last year - absolutely love mine and it's pretty much become my 'go to' bike for just about anything. It's very capable round moderately technical trails and, for me, manages to sit in that sweet spot between responsive and stable where it's fun to throw around in woody singletrack and yet comfy enough to ride on bigger days out and overnight bikepacking trips. The bronze finish on the frame is absolutely gorgeous as well - I've found myself sitting staring at it on more than one occasion, as it's quite mesmerising in the sunshine!

Running mine with 140mm Revs, which I meant to drop down to 120mm, but haven't gotten round to it and it seems to manage fine with the longer fork.

I have one and it's brilliant fun, very versatile and just a great bike to ride on a variety of trails from dirt jumps to singletrack. Can't see me ever selling it and I'm a serial bike changer!

I have one as my singlespeed and am very happy with it. XL, aluminium 2019 Chameleon with 29" wheels, 130 mm fork and a dropper post. I'm 6'4" and really appreciate the long reach compared to the On-One Scandal Swapout I had previously. Its got great mud clearance (with 2.3" tyres) and room for up to 2.5" 29" tyres. The geometry (for me) is firmly in the trail bike category, its not super steep and twitchy and not super slack and sluggish, its in the middle. It handles very well, lively for a fairly long 29er but quite assured when the trail gets more interesting.

It'll carve swoopy single track and although its not an XC bike, it can rack up the miles if you have the legs though it can feel a tad harsh towards the end of longer rides or races. I raced it solo at Bikefest last year and it didn't kill me. Its not that light for an aluminium hardtail (mine weighs 25.6 lbs ) but its not that heavy either.

In short, I think it's a great all round/trail aluminium hardtail. The best bit for me is that it can be run singlespeed!

I have a carbon one with 27.5 plus tyres and a 140mm fork.

Rides very well and feels great in all conditions so far. Like the semi fatties better than 29” wheels on the same frame too. They just seem to take an edge off and make the riding faster.

Great bike.

I wouldn’t even contemplate doing an all-day ride on one. It may actually kill you.

Just rode mine from top to bottom of NZ. 3000km, not dead 🙂

I'm on a 2019 ally frame with 29" wheels. It's not too long or slack, so it's a pretty good compromise for bikepacking with bits of proper offroad riding in.

https://bikepacking.com/bikes/santa-cruz-chameleon-c-review/

I really liked the look of the olive one from a few years back and have been considering a frame for a planned build. Every time I look though I can't get over the price. They just seem so out of step with comparable bikes to the point where I couldn't justify one. Second had they're even worse!

Think best way is to buy your owns parts and buy a frame?

I thought that, then I priced it up and the Stif deal comes out cheaper...

I like the look of them. But for my local trails and advancing years I think I’d be better off with a highball.

I came from a 2013 chameleon I loved, which was the last in a succession of similar 26 hardtails run ss. Have never really gelled with the new one in the same way, though I've had it since 2017 I think?. It's comparatively heavy. Feels ok when up to speed but changing direction, acceleration, and braking just feel like hard work. As I write this I'm starting to wonder why I just bought a new fork for it. Expect I'll run it for another couple of years. 29x2.4 and 27.5 x 2.8.
Sorry. I'm obviously the odd one out here!