You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
As a serial frame swapper and seeing the Santa Cruz Chameleon frame now back in stock as got me thinking about a .... well .... Frame swap 😀
With the exception of a back wheel I have, I think, everything from my Sherpa build.
Being a Luddite though do I need/ would I need a boost chainset?
Any thoughts good/bad/indifferent? They seem to get a good write up and the XL looks not to be a such a gate being a sub 20" ST ......
So ..... All info much appreciated 👍🏻👍🏻
No Boost chainset required, just a Boost chainring to get a 'nice' chainline.
I've a 28t chainring, 6mm offset, it's about 1mm from the chainstay. If you want to run anything bigger than 28t, you will need to run a boost chainline.
I'm really enjoying mine, has the shape of a proper bike so you feel in it like a fs.
I’m really enjoying mine too. Light enough to pedal and climb well, but low and slack enough to be fun going downhill. Surprisingly comfy and compliant for an aluminium frame as well. My only current doubt is whether a 130mm fork might be better suited than the 120mm it came with, but I’m probably just splitting hairs
Hmm ..... So an oval 32t non boost chainring and zee crank set up is unlikely to work.
May not be the next frame after all 🤔🙄
Xl frame with Raceface aeffect non-boost crank and a 32t chainring which clears the chainstay, I'm running 140mm fox performance forks & it is a great all rounder, well recommended 👍
What size are people around 5'10"riding? I'd normally go large in SC but these are very long!
I'm using an old, non-boost SLX chainset and 32t ring. Works fine with an extra spacer on the drive side to bump the chainline across a bit. The chainring fouls the frame without it. This is a round ring though, not sure how oval would work.
Re. sizing. I'm 5ft 7" and the medium fits me perfectly. I'm running a 40mm stem but could stretch to 50mm without a problem.
For what it’s worth, I’m 6ft and borrowed a friends Chamelion set up as standard 29er at BPW. It was either XL or possibly XXL. Possibly one of the best days riding I have ever had, and the bike was just fantastic. Cannot praise it enough. Handled like a dream. Made me feel like I was a really good rider.
Two very nice Chameleons just listed on eBay today - one frame, one built. Nothing to do with me but a heads up for anyone on this topic:
£480 posted for the frame, not enough discount over RRP for me, I’d rather warranty and brand new!
Good grief! Good luck seller, that's a chunk of change for second hand.
Marginally over 5-10 on a large here fwiw. It's longer than my 2013 ( which was a medium, but 17", unusually for SC ), and also has a wider bar - 760. I notice that it's not so easy to wrangle down some very tight switchbacks we have, but how much that's down to the bar, the wheelbase, or what, I don't know. Nice bike though. Pleased with it.
5.10 on a large with 29” wheels, very happy, bog standard at the moment base model with rochshock fork, full suss bike not used since.
I’m on a XL with a 35mm stem and 800mm bars. At 6’2” it’s spot on with super fast steering. Running 27.5+ with the chainstays all the way in feels great jumping off stuff. 130mm fork fitted as well.