Santa Cruz

Vala 2027

Current✎Full Power · Trail🔥 Hot · 9.2/10iFreshness 9.2/10
How current the bike is — newer chassis, motor and battery score higher. 10 = brand-new, 0 = legacy.

Motor

Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 · 120Nm · 750W↗

Battery

Bosch PowerTube 600 · 600Wh

Travel F/R

160/150mm

Wheels

MX (29F / 27.5R)✎

Frame

Full carbon

Weight

20.64 kg

Price

From £6,899

View the Santa Cruz Vala on Santa Cruz’s site

📋Owners’ report 1,516 posts

Santa Cruz Vala 2027

From £6,899

The MY27 carbon Vala keeps the formula that made the platform popular: 150mm of four-bar rear travel with a 160mm fork, MX wheels, and Bosch's Gen 5 Performance CX (BDU38) Smart System drive unit paired with a 600Wh PowerTube that Santa Cruz designs to be charged in the frame, with a 250Wh PowerMore extender for bigger days. All three 2027 builds use the top-tier CC carbon frame, come in five sizes from S to XXL, and carry Reserve 30|HD carbon wheels with lifetime warranty.The news for 2027 is the Lite pair. The XT Di2 Lite RSV (£9,499, claimed 20.87kg) and XX AXS Lite RSV (claimed 20.64kg) swap the Fox 38 for a Fox 36 Factory and run a lighter EXO+ rear tyre in place of the DoubleDown, trading outright smash resistance for a claimed weight saving. The XT Di2 RSV (£9,999, claimed 21.37kg) remains the heavy-duty option with the 38, DoubleDown rear casing and SRAM Maven Silver brakes; all builds run 200mm rotors front and rear.Spec-wise the XX AXS Lite RSV is the flagship: SRAM XX Eagle AXS T-Type, Maven Ultimate Carbon brakes, DT Swiss 240 hubs and a Chris King DropSet 3 headset, though no UK price has been published yet ($13,999 in the US). Between the two XT Di2 builds, £500 separates a burlier bike from a lighter one with otherwise identical drivetrain, shock, wheels and cockpit, so the choice is largely about terrain rather than value.Geometry is shared with the existing carbon Vala: 64.2 or 63.9 degree head angle via the HI/LO geo chip (which also moves the BB 4mm), a separate progression chip (26-29%), and reach from 435mm (S) to 525mm (XXL) in HI. These 2027 builds are newly released, so there is no owner feedback on them yet; the underlying frame and motor platform carries over from the well-received 2025-26 Vala.

EMTB Forums verdict

The MY27 carbon Vala keeps the formula that made the platform popular: 150mm of four-bar rear travel with a 160mm fork, MX wheels, and Bosch's Gen 5 Performance CX (BDU38) Smart System drive unit paired with a 600Wh PowerTube that Santa Cruz designs to be charged in the frame, with a 250Wh PowerMore extender for bigger days. All three 2027 builds use the top-tier CC carbon frame, come in five sizes from S to XXL, and carry Reserve 30|HD carbon wheels with lifetime warranty.

The news for 2027 is the Lite pair. The XT Di2 Lite RSV (£9,499, claimed 20.87kg) and XX AXS Lite RSV (claimed 20.64kg) swap the Fox 38 for a Fox 36 Factory and run a lighter EXO+ rear tyre in place of the DoubleDown, trading outright smash resistance for a claimed weight saving. The XT Di2 RSV (£9,999, claimed 21.37kg) remains the heavy-duty option with the 38, DoubleDown rear casing and SRAM Maven Silver brakes; all builds run 200mm rotors front and rear.

Spec-wise the XX AXS Lite RSV is the flagship: SRAM XX Eagle AXS T-Type, Maven Ultimate Carbon brakes, DT Swiss 240 hubs and a Chris King DropSet 3 headset, though no UK price has been published yet ($13,999 in the US). Between the two XT Di2 builds, £500 separates a burlier bike from a lighter one with otherwise identical drivetrain, shock, wheels and cockpit, so the choice is largely about terrain rather than value.

Geometry is shared with the existing carbon Vala: 64.2 or 63.9 degree head angle via the HI/LO geo chip (which also moves the BB 4mm), a separate progression chip (26-29%), and reach from 435mm (S) to 525mm (XXL) in HI. These 2027 builds are newly released, so there is no owner feedback on them yet; the underlying frame and motor platform carries over from the well-received 2025-26 Vala.

Geometry read

What the numbers mean on the trail

Computed from this bike's geometry, spec and build kit — reach, wheelbase, chainstay, head and seat angles, travel, motor, weight and the fork/tyre/brake spec — and worked out per size, because a fixed chainstay can make an S and an XL feel very different.

Size

Setting

Descending

A solid all-round descender (63.9° head angle, 150mm) — capable in the rough and steep without being an all-out bruiser.

Playfulness

A fair bit of pop, but happiest on flowing trail rather than trials moves.

Size balance

Balanced front-to-rear in L (FC:RC 1.86) — weight sits evenly between the wheels.

Technical climbing

Climbs well — a 77.2° seat keeps the front planted, with 120Nm on tap. That's 5.8 Nm/kg and ~33 W/kg of bike weight.

Best suited toAll-round trail riding across mixed terrain.

No single standout trait — a balanced, versatile bike.

Watch out forNo major red flags in the L geometry.

The numbers are well balanced for its category.

How it stacks up vs other Full Power · Trail bikes (from 217 bikes in the database)

Weight20.64 kg2.4 kg lighter than average

Battery600 Wh105 Wh below average

Motor torque120 Nm21 Nm above average

Value for money27/100from £6,899 · most Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 bikes ~£5,999

⚙️ Adjustable geometry: this frame has a high/low setting — low drops the BB and slackens the head angle for more descending stability; high lifts the BB and steepens slightly for clearance and a perkier, more playful feel.

Computed from geometry + spec, not a paid review. Scores are guidance, not gospel.

💬 Forum discussion

Santa Cruz Vala

853 replies · 205.7k views · last reply 4 days ago

Join the discussion →

“Got mine last week switched the cranks to raceface era, have a trail cushcore in the front and a emtb one on the rear with pedals, sealant and cushcore comes in at 22kg rides like a dream and the new motors superb and so quiet on descents”

— Davidh218 · ♥ 14 · most-liked post

OWNERS’ REPORT

Santa Cruz Vala — what owners actually know

1,516 posts · 314 owners · data through Jun 2026

3Motor-mount bushing/bolt play and creak (early production - the Vala chapter of the Gen 5 mount issue) · typical onset: First rides to first months (2024-mid 2025 production)

2SRAM Maven feel/maintenance complaints (spec-level) · typical onset: Ongoing maintenance pattern

2Stock radial tyres fold for heavier/harder riders · typical onset: First hard cornering

✓'The Vala is the superior bicycle, especially in XL/XXL sizes' - from a rider who left Orbea and Transition over build-quality frustrations and 'went back to…

Inside: the community setup plate · numbered field notes · the used-buyer checklist.

Read the full owners’ report →

Geometry · hover a row to highlight the measurement on the bike

Flip-chip position

geometry changes with the chip

	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Reach	435 mm	460 mm	480 mm	500 mm	525 mm
Stack	623 mm	632 mm	641 mm	655 mm	668 mm
Seattube	380 mm	400 mm	420 mm	460 mm	500 mm
Chainstay	439 mm	440 mm	443 mm	446 mm	450 mm
Headtube Angle	64.2°	64.2°	64.2°	64.2°	64.2°
Seattube Angle (eff)	77.5°	77.5°	77.5°	77.5°	77.5°
Wheelbase	1210 mm	1240 mm	1268 mm	1297 mm	1333 mm
Headtube	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm	145 mm	160 mm
BB Height	344 mm	344 mm	344 mm	344 mm	344 mm
Standover	741 mm	735 mm	734 mm	734 mm	728 mm
Front Centre	771 mm*	800 mm*	825 mm*	851 mm*	883 mm*
FC:RC	1.76	1.82	1.86	1.91	1.96

Trims · 8

	70 £6,899	90 £7,799	GX AXS £8,749	XT Di2 Lite RSV £9,499	XT Di2 RSV £9,999	X0 AXS RSV £10,199	XX AXS RSV £11,799	XX AXS Lite RSV
Motor	Bosch Performance Line CX Gen 5 · 120 Nm · all trims
Battery	Bosch PowerTube 600 · 600 Wh · all trims
Travel F/R	160/150 mm · all trims
Frame	Carbon C	Carbon C	Carbon C	Carbon C	Carbon C	Carbon CC	Carbon CC	Carbon CC
Fork	RockShox Zeb Base, 160mm	Fox 38 Float Performance, Grip, 160mm	Fox 38 Float Performance Elite, Grip X2, 160mm	Fox 36 Float Factory, Grip X2, 160mm	Fox 38 Factory, Grip X2, 160mm	Fox 38 Factory, Grip X2, 160mm	Fox 38 Factory, Grip X2, 160mm	Fox 36 Float Factory, Grip X2, 160mm
Shock	Fox Float X Performance, 205x60	Fox Float X Performance, 205x60	Fox Float X Performance Elite, 205x60	Fox Float X Factory, 205x60	Fox Float X Factory, 205x60	Fox Float X Factory, 205x60	Fox Float X Factory, 205x60	Fox Float X Factory, 205x60
Headset	Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated	Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated	Cane Creek 50 IS Integrated	Cane Creek 50 IS Integrated	Cane Creek 50 IS Integrated	Cane Creek 50 IS Integrated	Cane Creek 50 IS Integrated	Cane Creek 50 IS Integrated
Stem	OneUp Enduro Stem, 42mm	OneUp Enduro Stem, 42mm	OneUp Enduro Stem, 42mm	Santa Cruz CNC, 40mm	Santa Cruz CNC, 40mm	OneUp Enduro Stem, 42mm	Burgtec Enduro MK3 Machined, 42mm	Industry Nine A35, 40mm
Handlebar	Burgtec Alloy Bar	OneUp Aluminum Bar	OneUp Aluminum Bar, 35mm rise, 800mm	OneUp Carbon Bar, 35mm	OneUp Carbon Bar, 35mm	Santa Cruz Carbon Bar	Santa Cruz Carbon Bar	OneUp Carbon Bar, 35mm
Grips	Santa Cruz House · all trims
Saddle	SDG Bel-Air V3 Max	SDG Bel-Air V3 Max	SDG Bel-Air V3 Max	WTB Silverado	WTB Silverado	SDG Bel-Air V3 Max	SDG Bel-Air V3 Max	WTB Silverado
Seatpost	SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.6	OneUp Dropper Post, 31.6	OneUp Dropper Post, 31.6	OneUp Dropper Post, 31.6	OneUp Dropper Post, 31.6	OneUp Dropper Post, 31.6	RockShox Reverb AXS	OneUp Dropper Post, 31.6
Brakes	SRAM DB8	SRAM Maven Base	SRAM Maven Bronze	Shimano XT M8220	SRAM Maven Silver	SRAM Maven Silver	SRAM Maven Ultimate	SRAM Maven Ultimate Carbon
Rear derailleur	SRAM 70 Eagle T-Type, 12spd	SRAM 90 Eagle T-Type, 12spd	SRAM GX Eagle AXS T-Type, 12spd	Shimano Deore XT Di2 M8260 SGS, 12spd	Shimano Deore XT Di2 M8260 SGS, 12spd	SRAM X0 Eagle AXS T-Type, 12spd	SRAM XX Eagle AXS T-Type, 12spd	SRAM XX Eagle AXS T-Type, 12spd
Crank	ethirteen Helix espec, 160mm	ethirteen Helix espec, 160mm	SRAM GX Eagle, 160mm	ethirteen Helix Race Alloy espec, 160mm	ethirteen Helix Race Alloy espec, 160mm	SRAM X0 Eagle, 160mm	SRAM X0 Eagle, 160mm	ethirteen Helix Race Carbon espec, 160mm
Shifters	SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission shifter (single-click)	SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission mechanical trigger	SRAM Eagle AXS Pod Controller	Shimano XT M8250 Shift Switch	Shimano XT M8250 Shift Switch (w/ Wolf Tooth Shiftmount)	SRAM Eagle AXS Pod Controller	SRAM Eagle AXS Pod Controller	SRAM Eagle AXS Pod Controller
Cassette	SRAM XS-1270 Eagle T-Type, 10-52t	SRAM XS-1275 Eagle T-Type, 10-52t	SRAM GX-1275 Eagle T-Type, 10-52t	Shimano XT M8200, 10-51t	Shimano XT M8200, 10-51t	SRAM X0-1295 Eagle T-Type, 10-52t	SRAM XX-1297 Eagle T-Type, 10-52t	SRAM XX-1297 Eagle T-Type, 10-52t
Chain	SRAM 70 Eagle T-Type Flattop, 12spd	SRAM GX Eagle T-Type Flattop, 12spd	SRAM GX Eagle T-Type Flattop, 12spd	Shimano XT M8100, 12spd	Shimano XT M8100, 12spd	SRAM X0 Eagle T-Type Flattop, 12spd	SRAM XX Eagle T-Type Flattop, 12spd	SRAM XX Eagle T-Type Flattop, 12spd
Drivetrain	SRAM Eagle 70 Transmission (cable)	SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission (cable)	SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission	Shimano XT Di2 M8260	Shimano XT Di2 M8260	SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission	SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission	SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission
Wheels	Reserve 30\|HD AL	Reserve 30\|HD AL	Reserve 30\|HD AL 6069	Reserve 30\|HD Carbon	Reserve 30\|HD Carbon	Reserve 30\|HD Carbon	Reserve 30\|HD Carbon	Reserve 30\|HD Carbon
Tyres	Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5" 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ / Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5" 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown	Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5" 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ / Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5" 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown	Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5" 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ / Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5" 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown	Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5" 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ / Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5" 3C MaxxTerra EXO+	Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5" 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ / Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5" 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown	Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5" 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ / Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5" 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown	Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5" 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ / Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5" 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown	Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5" 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ / Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5" 3C MaxxTerra EXO+
Weight	—	—	—	20.87 kg	21.37 kg	—	—	20.64 kg
Price	£6,899	£7,799	£8,749	£9,499	£9,999	£10,199	£11,799	—

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