Bolstering its e-mountain bike offering, Santa Cruz has added another bike to the range. The Vala gets a vastly different silhouette compared to its range-mates as the brand has forgone the classic VPP suspension layout in favour of something a little different. And as a huge theme of the many e-bike releases we've seen this week, it dons the latest Bosch drive system.

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The new Vala from Santa Cruz is an e-mountain bike designed to pair big range with great handling and to do so the brand has kitted the bike with a 600Wh battery. While that's certainly not the largest capacity unit around, the brand reckons it's all that's needed for most people's average ride. Of course, it can be boosted thanks to the 250Wh PowerMore range extender from Bosch.

Speaking of Bosch, this new e-MTB is driven by the brand new Performance Line CX motor that brings everything we know and love about it but packs a handful of updates, including weight savings, low noise and 600 watts of peak power.

2024 santa cruz vala motor.jpg, by Liam Mercer

However, the biggest shock is that the Vala uses a different suspension layout from the usual VPP that now synonymous with Santa Cruz bikes. The brand suggests that the move to a four-bar linkage allows for the fitment of the Bosch motor. But with that said, Santa Cruz reckons it managed to build the new features of the latest Bronson and Hightower into this linkage. So anti-squat is low to reduce pedal kickback and retain grip in technical terrain.

The brand has also shaped the progression to be low and the four-bar linkage has allowed Santa Cruz to fit a long stroke shock at 60mm that we're told provides better damping quality and consistency over long descents. However, much like the Trek Rail+ launched yesterday, it gets a progression-adjusting flip-chip.

2024 santa cruz vala progression.jpg, by Liam Mercer

The Vala has the longest seatpost insertion depth of any Santa Cruz bike, which allows a large frame to boast a 210mm dropper post. As we're on the subject of the frame, its strength has been prioritised in certain areas, and carbon has been scraped away where it's not. The downtube is enclosed and the battery is placed as low as possible. The brand also promises larger pivot bearings and a bridge at the seat-stay to increase stiffness towards the rear end.

As for geometry, a large Vala, for example, gets a 477mm reach, a 64.9-degree head angle and a 77.2-degree effective seat tube angle. The rear centre measures 444mm and there's a wheelbase of 1,269mm. Of course, that's all adjustable thanks to a flip chip that steepens the angles by .3 of a fairly minimal degree.

2024 santa cruz vala riding.jpg, by Liam Mercer

As standard, the bike rocks a mullet wheel set-up as Santa Cruz believes it provides better handling for heavier e-bikes and it opens up options with the chainstay length. There's then 150mm of suspension travel at the rear and 160mm up front. Of course, that's all bolted to a carbon frame on each model.

The new Santa Cruz Vala is available in five build kits that all feature SRAM drivetrains and Fox suspension components, apart from the R which gets a RockShox ZEB Base fork. Prices start at £6,699 and go up to £11,999.

• www.santacruzbicycles.com

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