Santa Cruz Vala - First Look (Bosch's First Serious Ebike...)

I join Jacopo Spadolini at JS Bike Academy and Probike Shop to talk about the latest Santa Cruz EMTB the Vala. Its light 21kg and has the latest 2025 Bosch Performance CX motor.

For ride clinics and pro training in Tuscany contact...

00:00 Introduction
00:30 WEIGH IN
01:51 Specs
03:34 battery discussion
05:43 cables
07:11 Linkage
07:55 Bosch Motor discussion
09:40 Sound levels...
11:00 End

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[davefreeman]

Absolutely agree with what you say about the battery the amount who say “Aw they should have put the 800w battery in it” and roll back into the car park after their rides with 30% + battery remaining I would wager be pretty high 600w is spot on for me I don’t want to be carrying excess battery around.

[DH]

removable battery is very important for many reasons... therefore, this bike is no go for me. But you have right about battery size and usage. I have Trek Rail with 750 wh battery. Most of my ride consumes roughly 50% of the battery. Smaller capacity lighter battery for gen4 system will be great... never happen I know.

[klassyken]

Should of put the 800wh battery in it, at least as an option, give customers choice. Adding the power more 250wh to get more range makes the total weight with the 600wh more than if you specked it with the 800wh battery to begin with.

[peterw.]

8:25 -> "600KW" 🤔
Fly me to the moon ! 😄

[tonygregg]

To me this pretty much makes the heckler SL redundant, if you drop a 36 on it and change the battery to the 400 it would bring it in at almost exactly the same weight. Then you could add the 250 extender for bigger days out. Not sure why they'd keep the Fazua bike with it's lousy reliability (personal experience) and lack of range extender. I'd have the new CX over the SX if it gets rid of the annoying rattle.

[winters]

You already tryed the radial tyres? they are amazing🤩 i ridden the albert on my bike for 10 riding day in finale ligure

[jaydub]

I'm sure it's a great bike. I think they missed a few things from removable battery and no option for the larger one. Not to mention the prices on these have gotten outrageous.

[porroco]

Not be able to remove battery is a no no, i own 2 ep8 ebike and i can swap battery on long trips, but how fast is the charger? Because we could just recharge battery on the mid trip with an yamaha inverter 30min give me 2 bars on my shimano 630wh

[zakgould]

The 800w and 600w batteries are the same length the 800w is fatter so weight doesn’t go higher up

[glennmorgan]

Awesome vid thank you!!!To bad its a Santa cruz, I remember not that long ago the owner of santa cruz was a purist anti e-bike ass who said that this company will never spend a nickel on developing any type of E-bike that's why I would never spend a nickel on a Sants cruz...Cheers!!!

[MrDaymien]

Cracking bike, SC really do do the best bike people made last year Unfortunately SC bikes are just over priced, , , then pony up for an extender? yes I have had many SC bikes .
Just buy a decoy

[drewsmith]

Dont look right to me, forks look to long and the back end looks way to hill ok but thats it

[barryholt]

Bosch's first serious ebike?

Don't be so wet.