Santa Cruz

Heckler 2023

Discontinued✎Full Power · TrailLegacy · 0.4/10iFreshness 0.4/10
How current the bike is — newer chassis, motor and battery score higher. 10 = brand-new, 0 = legacy.

Playful mullet carbon enduro with lively VPP suspension

Motor

Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) · 85Nm · 500W↗

Battery

Darfon 720Wh Integrated Battery

Travel F/R

160/150mm

Wheels

MX (29F / 27.5R)✎

Frame

Full carbon

Weight

—

Price

From £7,699

View the Santa Cruz Heckler on Santa Cruz’s site

📋Owners’ report 3,027 posts

Santa Cruz Heckler 2023

From £7,699

The 2023 Santa Cruz Heckler is the brand's full-power, mixed-wheel (29in front, 27.5in rear) carbon all-mountain eMTB. Every UK build runs the same VPP-suspension carbon frame with 160mm of fork travel and 150mm at the rear, the Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) drive unit and a sizeable 720Wh battery that Santa Cruz designed to be fully removable for charging off the bike or carrying a spare. The frame uses a Hi/Lo flip chip at the lower shock mount, and the range spans five sizes from S to XXL, with the Small running 27.5in wheels front and rear.The UK lineup ran four builds. The R (GBP 7,699) is the value entry with a RockShox Lyrik fork, RockShox Super Deluxe Select shock and a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain with SRAM G2 RE brakes. The S (GBP 8,699) steps up to a Fox 36 Float Performance fork, SRAM GX Eagle and Code R brakes. The GX AXS (GBP 10,699) adds a Fox 36 Performance Elite fork, SRAM GX Eagle AXS wireless shifting and Code RS brakes. The flagship X01 AXS RSV (GBP 12,999) is a Carbon CC frame with a Fox 36 Factory fork, SRAM X01 Eagle AXS shifting, Code RSC brakes, SRAM HS2 rotors and Reserve carbon wheels.Geometry is squarely all-mountain to enduro: a 64.5-degree head angle in the Low setting, reach growing from 427mm in S to 517mm in XXL, a 446mm chainstay across the range and a low 342mm bottom bracket. The flip chip raises the bottom bracket to 346mm and steepens the head angle to 64.8 degrees in High. This is a heavy, gravity-leaning bike rather than a lightweight, so the EP8 motor and 720Wh pack are there to do real work on the climbs.This model year is discontinued. Santa Cruz later split the Heckler family, retaining the full-power Heckler 9 (29in / MX) and adding the lighter, smaller-battery Heckler SL as a separate model.

EMTB Forums verdict

The 2023 Santa Cruz Heckler is the brand's full-power, mixed-wheel (29in front, 27.5in rear) carbon all-mountain eMTB. Every UK build runs the same VPP-suspension carbon frame with 160mm of fork travel and 150mm at the rear, the Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) drive unit and a sizeable 720Wh battery that Santa Cruz designed to be fully removable for charging off the bike or carrying a spare. The frame uses a Hi/Lo flip chip at the lower shock mount, and the range spans five sizes from S to XXL, with the Small running 27.5in wheels front and rear.

The UK lineup ran four builds. The R (GBP 7,699) is the value entry with a RockShox Lyrik fork, RockShox Super Deluxe Select shock and a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain with SRAM G2 RE brakes. The S (GBP 8,699) steps up to a Fox 36 Float Performance fork, SRAM GX Eagle and Code R brakes. The GX AXS (GBP 10,699) adds a Fox 36 Performance Elite fork, SRAM GX Eagle AXS wireless shifting and Code RS brakes. The flagship X01 AXS RSV (GBP 12,999) is a Carbon CC frame with a Fox 36 Factory fork, SRAM X01 Eagle AXS shifting, Code RSC brakes, SRAM HS2 rotors and Reserve carbon wheels.

Geometry is squarely all-mountain to enduro: a 64.5-degree head angle in the Low setting, reach growing from 427mm in S to 517mm in XXL, a 446mm chainstay across the range and a low 342mm bottom bracket. The flip chip raises the bottom bracket to 346mm and steepens the head angle to 64.8 degrees in High. This is a heavy, gravity-leaning bike rather than a lightweight, so the EP8 motor and 720Wh pack are there to do real work on the climbs.

This model year is discontinued. Santa Cruz later split the Heckler family, retaining the full-power Heckler 9 (29in / MX) and adding the lighter, smaller-battery Heckler SL as a separate model.

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

Descending

A solid all-round descender (64.5° 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 1.81) — weight sits evenly between the wheels.

Technical climbing

Climbs well — a 76.4° seat keeps the front planted. 500W of peak power and 85Nm of torque — a strong full-power motor.

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 271 bikes in the database)

Battery720 Whabout average capacity

Motor torque85 Nm13 Nm below average

Value for money5/100from £7,699 · most Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) bikes ~£5,610

⚙️ 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.

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💬 Forum discussion

2024 Santa Cruz Heckler SL

424 replies · 147.3k views · last reply 7 days ago

Join the discussion →

“Picked up my Heckler this week. Did 30+ miles at the bike park. Geez this thing is fun. Really loves to jump and pop. Handles rough chatter so well. The FAZUA motor sits right where I expected for a SL, but had plenty of kick. Think all…”

— A Happy Zeebra · ♥ 13 · most-liked post

OWNERS’ REPORT

Santa Cruz Heckler family — what owners actually know

3,027 posts · 617 owners · data through Jul 2026

28FULL-POWER HECKLER (legacy, line ended 2024 model year): battery recalls, 504Wh range and Shimano errors · typical onset: At purchase or first months (recalls and range); any time for errors.

15Heckler SL: Fazua Ride 60 power loss and motor swaps (motor internals in the Fazua Ride 60 report) · typical onset: First months; some after a wet winter.

13Heckler SL: ring controller (mode remote) failures and supply waits · typical onset: Any time for failures; the supply wait ran through 2025.

✓Heckler SL: a 3-year owner called the bike 'solid for 3+ years' and got a free motor and parts swap for a bottom-bracket knock, out of warranty, from Santa…

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

	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Reach	427 mm	452 mm	472 mm	492 mm	517 mm
Stack	609 mm	618 mm	632 mm	650 mm	668 mm
Seattube	390 mm	405 mm	430 mm	460 mm	500 mm
Chainstay	446 mm	446 mm	446 mm	446 mm	446 mm
Headtube Angle	64.5°	64.5°	64.5°	64.5°	64.5°
Seattube Angle (eff)	76.7°	76.6°	76.4°	76.7°	76.8°
Wheelbase	1207 mm	1227 mm	1253 mm	1282 mm	1315 mm
Headtube	130 mm	100 mm	115 mm	135 mm	155 mm
BB Height	342 mm	342 mm	342 mm	342 mm	342 mm
Standover	716 mm	741 mm	740 mm	737 mm	738 mm
Front Centre	761 mm*	781 mm*	807 mm*	836 mm*	869 mm*
FC:RC	1.71	1.75	1.81	1.87	1.95

Trims · 4

	R £7,699	S £8,699	GX AXS £10,699	X01 AXS RSV £12,999
Motor	Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) · 85 Nm · all trims
Battery	Darfon 720Wh Integrated Battery · 720 Wh · all trims
Travel F/R	160/150 mm · all trims
Frame	Carbon C	Carbon C	Carbon C	Carbon CC
Fork	RockShox Lyrik Base, 160mm	FOX 36 Float Performance, 160mm	FOX 36 Float Performance Elite, 160mm	FOX 36 Float Factory, 160mm
Shock	RockShox Super Deluxe Select	RockShox Super Deluxe Select+	RockShox Super Deluxe Select+	RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
Headset	Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset	Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset	Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset	Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset
Stem	e.13 Base, 40mm	Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm	Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm	Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm
Handlebar	e13 TRS Base, 800mm	Santa Cruz e35 Carbon Bar, 800mm, 35mm Rise	Santa Cruz e35 Carbon Bar, 800mm, 35mm Rise	Santa Cruz e35 Carbon Bar, 800mm, 35mm Rise
Grips	Santa Cruz House Grips · all trims
Saddle	WTB Silverado Medium CroMo	WTB Silverado Medium CroMo	WTB Silverado Medium CroMo	WTB Silverado Medium Ti
Seatpost	SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.6	SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.6	FOX Transfer Performance Elite Dropper, 31.6	FOX Transfer Factory Dropper, 31.6
Brakes	SRAM G2 RE; rotors: Avid Centerline 200mm (front and rear)	SRAM Code R; rotors: Avid Centerline 200mm (front and rear)	SRAM Code RS; rotors: Avid Centerline 200mm (front and rear)	SRAM Code RSC; rotors: SRAM HS2 Rotor 200mm (front and rear)
Rear derailleur	SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd	SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd	SRAM GX AXS Eagle, 12spd	SRAM X01 Eagle AXS, 12spd
Crank	Shimano EM600 Crank Arms 165mm	Shimano EM600 Crank Arms 165mm	Shimano EM600 Crank Arms, 165mm	Shimano EM900 HollowTech Crank Arms 165mm
Shifters	SRAM NX Eagle Single Click, 12spd	SRAM GX Eagle Single Click, 12spd	SRAM GX AXS Controller	SRAM GX AXS Controller
Cassette	SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t	SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t	SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t	SRAM XG1295 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t
Chain	SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd	SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd	SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd	SRAM X01 Eagle, 12spd
Drivetrain	SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd; Shimano EM600 Crank Arms 165mm; SRAM NX Eagle Single Click, 12spd; SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t; SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd	SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd; Shimano EM600 Crank Arms 165mm; SRAM GX Eagle Single Click, 12spd; SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t; SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd	SRAM GX AXS Eagle, 12spd; Shimano EM600 Crank Arms, 165mm; SRAM GX AXS Controller; SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t; SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd	SRAM X01 Eagle AXS, 12spd; Shimano EM900 HollowTech Crank Arms 165mm; SRAM GX AXS Controller; SRAM XG1295 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t; SRAM X01 Eagle, 12spd
Wheels	WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0 29" (F), 27.5" (R) (Size Small is 27.5" Front and Rear)	RaceFace ARC HD 30 29" (F), 27.5" (R) (Size Small is 27.5" Front and Rear)	RaceFace ARC HD 30 29" (F), 27.5" (R) (Size Small is 27.5" Front and Rear)	Reserve 30\|HD 29", 28h (f), Reserve 31\|DH 29", 32h (r) (Size Small is 27.5" Front and Rear)
Tyres	Front: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO+, TR (Size Small is 27.5"), Rear: Maxxis Minion DHR II 27.5"x2.4"WT, 3C MaxxTerra, EXO+, TR · all trims
Price	£7,699	£8,699	£10,699	£12,999

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