Cycle to Work vouchers can be used to purchase this bike, however as it's already reduced an admin fee will apply. Please get in touch for a quote for your scheme.
Invisiframe kit and fitting can be added to this bike for £200 extra, get in touch to arrange your frame protection.
About the Vala
The first Santa Cruz E-Bike to be based around their new 4 bar platform, the Vala caused quite a fuss when it originally launched a couple of years ago. Any initial objections rapidly vanished as soon as people started riding the bike, with the Vala picking up rave reviews from shop staff, journalists and the public alike. Light, nimble and easy to ride, yet also stout and stiff it has proved able to turn it's hand to an exceptionally wide range of riding and at 150mm rear travel (with a 160mm fork) it's as close to a goldilocks E-Bike as can be made for many people.
With the latest Gen 5 Bosch motor providing the drive, it's quiet while climbing, silent descending and powerful, with up to 120Nm of torque and 750 watts of sustained power on tap. That's enough raw grunt for almost everyone and with all four power modes able to be fully customised, every rider can retune the system so that they can find their own perfect balance of range vs power. There's also tuneable and highly effective traction control and overrun now available allowing even more personalisation and the Bosch Gen 5 system is by some distance the most reliable E-Bike motor to date, meaning more time riding and less disruption. The lightweight 600W capacity internal battery can also be further boosted by Bosch's 250W Powermore range extender for truly long days in the saddle, creating a hugely flexible system.
A near perfectly balanced geometry set and supportive suspension design make the Vala one of those very rare bikes that's almost never out of place. It's quick feeling, responsive and lively when descending flatter or mellower trails and an easy bike for a beginner to ride, yet it's also brilliant when pushed into steep and technical ground with both some of our staff and customers choosing it as their bike of choice for riding and racing pure enduro terrain. At under 22kg and with excellent weight balance thanks to the 600W internal battery the ride quality is closer to a regular mountain bike than just about any other E-Bike and for those who prefer a bike than can be ridden actively it is very hard to beat. It may not be able to match the Bullit for high speed stability when the going gets really rough, but it's a better rounded bike overall so if your riding takes in a bit of everything, then this could well the best bike for you.
This build, the C 90, combines the now well proven and ultra reliable SRAM 90 mechanical T-Type drivetrain with 2027 Fox Performance suspension, Maven brakes and Reserve Alloy rims to maximise performance without breaking the bank.
Want to demo some bikes before you commit to check sizes or compare models? We've plenty of both Valas and Bullits for you to ride to help you make up your mind, and we'll refund your demo fee in full if you find the bike you like and go for one.
Want to read more technical detail on how the two Santa Cruz E-Bikes compare? Check out our Built vs Vala blog. Got any questions that aren't covered below? Just get in touch and we'll be happy to help.
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FAQ
Who is the Vala for?
Potentially almost anyone, as long as you want a well rounded, high quality full suspension E-Bike. It's totally appropriate for everything from trail centres, cross country riding and natural singletrack to steep enduro trails and at 150mm rear travel the ceiling on how hard it can go before it starts to get overwhelmed is very high. It's a bike that prioritises responsiveness to rider input, so if you prefer to work your bike down the trail rather than charge through the bumps this is likely the one for you. On the other hand, if you mostly ride DH type trails, or just want to smash all the holes, then you'd likely be better to start with the Bullit.
Why pick a Santa Cruz?
Asides from the fact the bikes ride really well, they've built their reputation on quality. Everything is easy to work on, built to last and well put together so their bikes are as easy to own and live with as any in the world. On top of that, their warranty and crash replacement schemes are exceptional, with a true lifetime cover on all Santa Cruz frames and Reserve rims, and they have a reputation for standing by their warranty when it is occasionally needed.
Why only a 600W battery?
This is a deliberate choice taken to improve the ride quality of the bike. Going from a 600W to 800W battery adds around a kilo of weight to a bike, and that extra weight is added at the top of the downtube, which is worst possible place to put it. By sticking with the smaller battery size, the bikes weight is kept more central, which helps when lifting the front wheel, cornering and riding steep terrain.
What Range will I get from the battery on the Vala?
An impossible question to answer unfortunately, as it depends on too many factors. Tire choice, ground conditions, rider weight, steepness of climb and gear selection all make quite a difference to range on any given day. If you're not sure a bike will have the capacity you are looking for then we would always recommend a days demo ride to work whether it's enough for you or not.
How long does a recharge take?
On the stock 4A charger, the bikes top up at around 30% per hour, with charge rate slowing somewhat in the final 10%. There's a super fast 12A charger coming soon, which will more than double that speed.
Should I charge my bike as soon as I get home?
Ideally not. All Lithium Ion batteries are best stored between 30% and 60% for long term health, so if you know you aren't going to ride again for a week or two (and are organised enough to remember) it would ideally be better to leave your bike only partially charged until the day before your next ride. It's not the end of the world, but your battery will keep its full capacity for long if it doesn't sit at 100% charge the whole time.
What's the warranty on the Bosch electrical system?
It's two years for all Bosch parts. Warranty rates on the latest Bosch E-bike motors are actually incredibly low and we've never seen an in warranty period fault refused.
How do I know what size to pick?
Have a look at the charts below, and if you are one of the many people in between sizes, just get in touch and we'll try and either get you on a bike or advise.
Specification
- Frame: Carbon C MX 150mm Travel , 4-Bar
- Fork: FOX 38 Float Performance, Grip 160mm
- Shock: FOX Float X Performance, 205x60
- Wheelset: E13 SL E-Spec with Reserve 30|HD AL 29' Front and 27.5 Rear Rim
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Tyres: Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5", 3C MaxxGrip, EXO+
Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5", 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown - Brakes: SRAM Maven Base
- Rotors: SRAM HS2 200mm
- Cranks: E13 Helix eSpec, 160mm
- Chain: SRAM GX Eagle T-Type, Flattop, 12spd
- Cassette: SRAM XS 1275 Eagle T-Type, 10-52t
- Rear mech: SRAM 90 Eagle T-Type, 12spd
- Shifter: SRAM 90 Eagle T-Type, Single Click, 12spd
- Seatpost: OneUp Dropper Post, 31.6
- Saddle: SDG Bel-Air V3, Max Lux-Alloy
- Handlebar: OneUp Aluminum Bar, 35mm Rise, 800mm
- Stem: OneUp Stem, 42mm or Burgtec Enduro Stem, 42mm
- Grips: Santa Cruz House Grips
- Battery: Bosch PowerTube Battery 600Wh
- Drive Unit: Bosch Performance CX BDU38
