The 2027 Santa Cruz Tallboy drops weight and gets increased rear travel with an all-new four-bar suspension layout. Santa Cruz claims it climbs with less compromise and delivers more composure and traction when the trail points down. To mark the launch, Ben Hildred and Ruth Holcomb took it deep into New Zealand’s iconic Old Ghost Road. Watch the video and find details here…

In case you missed it earlier this week, Santa Cruz released its latest Tallboy, aimed at blending lightweight efficiency and modern trail-bike capability. The updated 2027 Santa Cruz Tallboy carbon frame is built for a 140mm fork and 29-inch wheels and sheds approximately 300 grams compared to the previous generation while increasing rear travel to 130mm. Santa Cruz claims to have maintained complete bike weights below 30 pounds. The result is a platform aimed at riders who want a bike that climbs efficiently but remains composed and capable when trails get steeper and more demanding.

A major change comes in the suspension design, which now uses a four-bar layout. According to Santa Cruz, this configuration allows for lower anti-squat and anti-rise values, reducing pedal feedback over square-edge impacts and helping the suspension remain active while climbing through rough terrain. Under braking, the system is designed to maintain traction and reduce harshness, creating a more controlled ride feel. According to Santa Cruz, the revised kinematics were developed to produce a moderately progressive suspension character that balances bump absorption with a more responsive and energetic ride quality, while also contributing to weight savings.

The 2027 Tallboy comes in a full range of sizes from XS to XXL, accommodating riders from 5’0” to 6’6” tall. Santa Cruz also states that the Tallboy has proportional geometry and stiffness, so every rider gets the same ride feel and performance across the size range. The new suspension layout also delivers more seatpost insertion, enabling longer droppers.

2027 Santa Cruz Tallboy Geometry

The 2027 Tallboy includes several refinements to improve ride quality and overall usability. Every frame is built using Santa Cruz’s premium CC Carbon layup to keep weight low. Each frame also supports mechanical drivetrains with tube-in-tube internal routing, making cable installation and maintenance more straightforward. Storage also gets an update with the latest Glovebox V2 design, which features a more secure latch, quieter operation, and improved durability. Riders can further tweak the bike’s handling with a flip chip that toggles between a higher setting for efficient pedaling and a lower position for steeper, rougher descents. Borrowed from Santa Cruz’s e-bike lineup, a pair of cage mounts on the underside of the top tube also provides a convenient spot to carry a spare tube or multi-tool, or you can use it for a custom bolt-on frame bag.

Santa Cruz Tallboy on The Old Ghost Road

To showcase the new Tallboy in action, Santa Cruz athletes Ben Hildred and Ruth Holcomb headed to The Old Ghost Road, an 85-kilometer backcountry route on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Built along historic mining corridors, the trail traverses a mix of alpine terrain, dense forest, and dramatic geological features, making it notable for its landscape as much as for the riding itself.

Complete Tallboy builds start at $4,999 USD and weigh as little as 29.2 pounds (13.2 kilograms). The frame comes in Gloss Midnight Violet or Gloss Carbon. Find more details in the video below and at SantaCruzBicycles.com.

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