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Santa Cruz Tallboy

The Santa Cruz Tallboy 6 is leaner, meaner, and more capable than ever. A new four-bar suspension platform brings 140mm up front and 130mm out back (10mm more at each end than the Tallboy 5), while the CC carbon frame sheds over 300 grams. The suspension tuning is where the real magic happens: lower anti-squat keeps the bike active and traction-rich under power, while reduced progression keeps it supportive through the full travel range. Glovebox V2, top tube accessory mounts, a geo flip chip, and full XS-XXL sizing round out a package that covers a lot of ground without covering up what made the Tallboy great in the first place.

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BIKING TYPE

Trail

WHEEL SIZE

29"

TRAVEL

140mm Front / 130mm Rear

Tallboy 6 Review

Check out the full deep dive review and follow along as we put the Santa Cruz Tallboy through its paces.

Read Review

Four-Bar Suspension

Four-bar suspension blends geometry and mechanics in a system of interconnected links that ensures the bicycle moves fluidly over any terrain. It allows for superb control, keeping the rear end of your bike planted and responsive, no matter how rough the trail gets. By decoupling the rear suspension movement from the pedaling forces, it maximizes traction and comfort while preserving efficiency.

CC Carbon Frame

One Model, one layup. Everyone gets the lightest frame with performance tuned for every size. And that means mechanical routing for all, too.

The Glovebox V2

Tougher, quieter, and easier to use. There's an all new latch, and a layer of VHB adhesive under the bezel so everything stays rattle-free, smash after smash.

Tallboy 6 Build Kits

Build	Deore	90	GX AXS	XT Di2	XO AXS RSV
Frame	Carbon CC	Carbon CC	Carbon CC	Carbon CC	Carbon CC
Fork	RockShox Pike Base	RockShox Pike Select	RockShox Pike Select+	RockShox Pike Ultimate	RockShox Pike Ultimate
Shock	RockShox Deluxe Select+	RockShox Deluxe Select+	RockShox Deluxe Select+	RockShox Deluxe Ultimate	RockShox Deluxe Ultimate
Drivetrain	Shimano Deore 12spd	SRAM 90 Eagle T-Type	SRAM GX Eagle AXS T-Type	Shimano XT Di2 12spd	SRAM X0 Eagle AXS T-Type
Brakes	SRAM DB8	SRAM DB8	SRAM Motive Bronze	SRAM Motive Silver	SRAM Motive Silver
Rims	Reserve 30\|TR AL	Reserve 30\|TR AL	Reserve 30\|SL AL 6069	Reserve 30\|SL AL 6069	Reserve 30\|SL Carbon
Cost	$	$$	$$$	$$$$	$$$$$
	Call to Special Order	Shop	Shop	Shop	Shop

Tallboy 6 FAQs

Who is the Santa Cruz Tallboy for?

The Tallboy 6 is for riders who want a fast, efficient trail bike that doesn't make them second-guess their choice when the trail gets rough.

With 130mm of rear travel and a 140mm fork, it sits in a sweet spot between XC efficiency and genuine trail capability. Full 29" wheels keep it rolling fast and rolling over obstacles with authority. The new four-bar suspension design is notably more active and traction-rich than the previous generation, which means it climbs well on technical terrain and stays composed on the descent without feeling overbuilt for everyday riding. If you love covering ground, pushing your pace, and still want a bike that handles itself when things get rowdy, the Tallboy 6 is a compelling choice.

Justin from our evo Whistler store reviewed the Tallboy 6 and came away impressed by how aggressively it could be ridden for a bike that pedals this well. Check out his take here: https://www.evo.com/blogs/reviews/santa-cruz-tallboy-6-bike

What's new with the Santa Cruz Tallboy 6? How is it different from the Tallboy 5?

The Tallboy 6 is a ground-up redesign — more travel, less weight, and a fundamentally different suspension platform than the bike it replaces.

The biggest change is the switch from Santa Cruz's long-running VPP suspension to a four-bar linkage. The new design delivers lower anti-squat and anti-rise values, which means better traction on rough climbs, less pedal feedback over square-edge hits, and more controlled braking on steep terrain. It's a notably more composed and planted ride than the Tallboy 5, without losing the lively feel the model is known for.

Travel goes up 10mm on both ends to 140mm front and 130mm rear, moving the Tallboy 6 more firmly into short-travel trail bike territory. The frame also sheds around 300 grams compared to the previous generation, and Santa Cruz now builds every Tallboy 6 in premium CC Carbon — there's no longer a heavier C Carbon option. The Glovebox in-frame storage gets a quieter, more secure latch, and a new accessory mount on the underside of the top tube adds a handy spot for a tube or tool.

What's the difference between the Santa Cruz Tallboy 6 and the Blur?

The Tallboy 6 is a short-travel trail bike; the Blur is a purpose-built XC and downcountry machine. They share DNA, but they're aimed at different kinds of riding.

The Blur runs a Superlight flex-stay suspension design with a 120mm fork and either 100mm (XC) or 115mm (Trail) of rear travel. It's optimized for speed, low weight, and pedaling efficiency — the choice for XC racing, long-distance trail riding, and anyone for whom covering ground fast is the priority. The tradeoff is that it's less capable when trails get rough and technical.

The Tallboy 6 gives up a little of that pure efficiency in exchange for a more confidence-inspiring ride. With its four-bar suspension, additional travel, and trail-focused geometry, it handles choppier terrain and more aggressive lines without breaking a sweat. If your rides are mostly smooth and fast, the Blur makes sense. If you want a bike that keeps up on the climbs but can genuinely handle whatever's on the way down, the Tallboy 6 is the better fit. Check out the Blur here: https://www.evo.com/collections/santa-cruz-blur

What's the difference between the Santa Cruz Tallboy 6 and the Hightower?

The Tallboy 6 is the faster, more efficient option; the Hightower 4 is the bigger, more gravity-capable bike.

The Hightower runs 150mm of rear travel with a 160mm fork — 20mm more on both ends than the Tallboy 6. That extra travel, combined with the Hightower's VPP suspension and more aggressive geometry, gives it a noticeably more planted, confident feel on steep and demanding terrain. It's the bike for riders who spend a lot of time on rowdy trails and want maximum capability on the way down.

The Tallboy 6 climbs more efficiently, is lighter, and feels livelier across a wider range of trail types. It's not a shy bike — the four-bar suspension keeps it composed in rough terrain — but it's built around balance rather than outright descending focus. If your rides involve long climbs, varied terrain, and you want a bike that's genuinely fun everywhere on the mountain, the Tallboy 6 is the call. If you're drawn to steeper, faster terrain and want more margin when things get serious, the Hightower is worth a look. Check out the Hightower here: https://www.evo.com/collections/santa-cruz-hightower

What are the key differences between the Santa Cruz Tallboy 6 build kits?

All Tallboy 6 builds share the same CC Carbon frame, four-bar suspension, and full 29" wheel setup. The differences between builds come down to suspension performance, drivetrain type, and wheel quality as you move up the lineup.

The entry-level Deore build pairs the premium CC frame with Shimano Deore cable shifting and Reserve Alloy wheels — a strong value proposition given the frame underneath it. The 90 build steps up to SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type cable shifting with RockShox Pike suspension, and this is where the complete bike starts to feel more dialed. The GX AXS build makes the jump to wireless electronic shifting, a meaningful upgrade in convenience and shift quality, with Reserve Alloy wheels and RockShox Pike Ultimate suspension.

The X0 AXS RSV is the top of the lineup, adding SRAM X0 T-Type Transmission, RockShox Pike Ultimate, and Reserve carbon wheels. The carbon wheels are the standout upgrade at this tier — less rotating weight translates directly to a snappier, more responsive feel on the trail.