2020 Field Test: Santa Cruz Stigmata CC gravel bike review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- Santa Cruz apparently had a crystal ball when it introduced the original Stigmata in 2007. Although billed as a cyclocross bike at the time, its more generous tire clearance and longer-and-lower geometry basically made it a gravel bike - just more than ten years or so before we were actually using that label. The third-generation Stigmata is now made of carbon fiber instead of aluminum, and while it’s still an excellent interpretation of the genre with lots of versatility and fun on tap, it’s not quite the groundbreaker that it once was.
Join CyclingTips tech editors James Huang and Dave Rome as they share their experience of testing the new Santa Cruz Stigmata CC on the roads, paths and rocky trails of Sedona, Arizona.
For a more detailed look, see our full review at CyclingTips.com: cyclingtips.co...
I have one and love it! As a mountain biker with a Bronson, this bike is set for anything. Weekend bike camping, long days in the saddle and perfect for single track. I am running both 29er and 27.5 wheelsets. After hearing your comparison to very good vanilla, it hit. That's the versatility I'm enjoying about the bike. My favorite setup is the 650bx2.2 Ikons, frame bag and front bagsxbird. I've put 520mm Coast drop bars and a dropper pot on it. I handles very well and is a blast on tight singletrack, and quite capable of backcountry camping! Appreciate the feedback on this very conservative do everything bike!
How's the clearance with the Ikons? Been looking at tire options and really like Maxxis but worried about the clearance with 2.2's given the stated clearance is 2.1
I was looking for a true All Road bike. One bike. Two wheel sets. Presently using 32 Conti 5000 tubeless and the stock 40 Maxxis tubeless knobs. Been riding this bike for about 9 months. Lots of paved but bumpy country roads. Your "it does everything well", not enough "mountain bike" verdict is accurate and not a negative for me. As far as the "stiff" ride, at 6'4" 225, the size 60 frame is right in the sweet spot. BB doesn't flex. Relatlively smooth on the rough stuff. I used to tweak alum chainstays regularly because of my size. SC has a great rep for durability. For a big rider, worth the $.
Saying a gravel bike is really nice vanilla is actually a pretty great compliment. The variables of riding style and terrain are so, well, varied, that a bike that can work well across a wide spectrum of situations and preferences is a good value. in the PNW, this bike will be super popular just for having fenders mounts and a threaded bb.
I still think companies are trying to figure out what exactly a gravel bike is. For some it’s massive tires and suspension, for others it’s crazy geometry. I think we will look back on this era of gravel bikes and people will appreciate the stigmata for it’s simplicity and lack of proprietary nonsense that some companies use. I’ve really enjoyed y’all’s reviews and this whole gravel test!
Best bike I have ever owned great power transfer and very comfortable with 37c tires. Still feels fast like a road bike and nimble with "middle" width tires. Road , trails, and CX races approved.
Guys I'm pretty confused. I understand that Santa Cruz lead the way with this bike but now it's quite an average gravel bike in your opinion. I also understand that you are not super blown-away by it. However, the only really negative thing you've commented on is the price. If the price is huge but nothing else could be improved, then that's fair in my book. I think you could have done better to be clear on what you disliked about this bike rather than just vaguely saying it's "vanilla". (For the record, I've never owned a Santa Cruz)
Very nice summary of their "vague" comments. Listening to them, I felt they never really said anything definitive about the bike. Here's what the manager of my local bike shop had to say about Santa Cruz bikes in general... "We do the fewest warranty repairs on SC bikes. They're designed and built to be strong in all the critical places." I'll gladly go with well designed, very good vanilla. PLUS, that threaded BB!
FYI the original stigmata was not supposed to be a road/gravel bike for mountainbikers it was a cyclocross bike first and foremost. Mike Ferrentino worked at Santa Cruz and pushed for a cyclocross bike.
Cue the "middle of the road" drinking game.
I definitely liked the stigmata much better then the Warbird, also felt for price it’s better spec’d the Warbird with cheap aluminum seat post and cheap dt Swiss non upgradable dt Swiss 370 hubs verse the stigmata with ec70 carbon seat post and dt Swiss 350 hubs which are reliable and upgradable for an even quieter, quicker engaging ride. The Warbird is specd poorly with nice shimano group set but all other components more bottom of barrel. The Warbird would require over a grand in upgrades to have equivalent specs to the stigmata.
middle of the road and not mountain bike influenced are positives IMO
Just doesn't deserve a premium price tag.
Kranq Aus Anything made in California will have a premium price due to the premium cost of living and doing business in Cali.
The Stigmata is not made in California. It’s made in Taiwan. The only thing that takes part in California is the final assembly of the drivetrain, wheels, etc…. Price is a joke for a cookie cutter mass produced Far Eastern made CF frameset bike.
@@rcg9573 The manager of my local bike shop told me they do the fewest amount of warranty repairs onm SC bikes.
Let me help you since you won’t say it. The Stigmata is a CX (cyclocross) bike. They changed it a bit to accept wider tires to also call it their gravel bike. Sure, any bike can be a gravel bike but when you’re getting down to the details in reviews like this it’s important to call things like this out. Hope this helps.
The Stigmata has always had more tire clearance than whatever as the norm at the time for traditional cyclocross bikes, and in my opinion, has always been more compromised as a true cyclocross race bike.
I think Santa Cruz has just continued to market their products remaining completely in-line with who they are as a bike brand- Performance Race.
do your run fenders when you race cross lol
$3600 for the Rival build, not $2600.
You guys are great politicians
But lousy bike reviewers. I’ve never heard so much waffling in a bike review. Make up your mind guys. This is painful to listen to.
Dear Cycling Tips, do I have to buy earthy colored baggy kit to ride my new gravel bike?
Finally, a threaded bottom bracket in a carbon frame. Why cant other companies figure this out? (Nice review, btw!)
J G
The threaded bb is part of the reason I bought a Santa Cruz Tallboy a few years ago. No press fit bb’s for me.
@@johnwolff1043 Viathon do that, too. Unfortunately, that's about all.
All the Specialized CF bikes have threaded bottom brackets. So do a number of other CF bike makers.
@@rcg9573 Canyon seems wedded to press fit BBs. Amazing how many of their bikes have them. No thanks.
Can you open each review by going "the name's Huang......James Huang" please. Ta xx
These videos aren't coming out fast enough.
Impressive tire clearance though!
Are those dura ace c40's with terra 40mm tires? I thought the maximum tires for those wheelset are only 32mm tires
Any idea where i can get those green cycling shorts?
How does this compare to the Specialized Crux? I think this bike looks more timeless.
I’m pretty sure this bike can take more tire than 700x41...
700x41 was for Gen 2, 700x45 for Gen 3 according to Santa Cruz.
@@driventomadness117 Did I say 41mm in the video? Oops! Got it right in the written review: cyclingtips.com/2020/03/santa-cruz-stigmata-gravel-bike-review-a-solid-choice-for-everyday-groading/
Has there been any changes to the stigmata In 22/23 bikes? I’ve been looking at this and the diverge but can get a better deal on the stigmata with rival axs build, so leaning that way!
Which one did you choose?
Guys, which carbon gravel whould you recommend in 2020? (Greetings from mother Russia).
Raleigh burner
Great Review.
Do you think I can use Maxxis Rambler 700x45 tires on Stigmata?
Saw one in the lbs today, yes you can and probably a little more...
Review request: ibis hakka mx!
Guys! Forget 650B!! it should be max 36mm and you shouldn't ride it on too rocky places. It's gravel not XC !!!!
Nether got why they have a separate brand for women. Any explanations?
A lovely bike, but the dropped, splaying seat stays are a little ugly. In my opinion, no extant bike outcompetes the Salsa WarBird 2019/2020/2021 on aesthetics. And it's a very pleasant and fast ride, too, particularly on tarmac.
AU 9K that is a joke,there is a huge margin of profit built into this bike,also the AU to US$ exchange rate is not 50% of US$ FFS!!
The 2022 prices are an even bigger joke. $6,100 for a 1X Rival AXS drivetrain, a cheap alloy stem and bar, and a cheap non aero alloy wheelset that pushes 1,800 grams. Combine that with a non custom Taiwanese cookie cutter made CF frame set, and it’s laughable the prices these and other similar cookie cutter CF bike makers are charging.
And anyone who claims these CF frame sets are super expensive to fabricate is lying. Most of these framesets, even the so called “top of the line” models cost well under $500/frame to make.
I’m searching for a ‘middle of the road’ gravel bike, any recommendations?
You'll have to wait a bit longer! 😋
Yes, check out the Vitus Energie series.
@CyclingTips 4:00 What are you doing cross-chaining???? James, you know better than that!!!
It’s normal photo style
I’ve paid for all 22 gears and I’m gonna use all of it
Is it’s fast bike?
will there be a 2023 update released later in 2022? What's the SC Stigmata upgrade cycle? Thanks
Its sorta like this bike but no really mostly like that bike, Kinda - well at least you determined It is a bike.
MSRP $9k AUD? You know you can actually get a really damn good Honda/Yamaha/etc dirt bike for that sort of cash --- which has nearly infinite more engineering than a dumb carbon frame.
sabamacx after the global economy crashes these over priced bikes won’t exist. These over priced bike manufacturers will fold because people will come to their senses and stop pissing money away.
sabamacx it’s not the engineering of the carbon frame, it’s the manufacturing of said frame that’s time consuming. Cyclists aren’t wanting to pay for the engineering of a motor, THEY are the motor.
Yep...how much do Honda/Yamaha/etc dirt bikes that professional racers ride?
If you guessed over $100k, you'd be right.....
How much does a gravel/CX bike for a professional cyclist cost? $9k AUD with some variants.
The difference is that you're getting a complete pro bike for the $9k.
For the $10k you spend on a Honda/Yamaha etc. dirt bike, you're getting the base model...not anywhere in the same ballpark cost as a professional race dirt bike from any manufacture.
The prices that the US CF bike makers are currently charging for these cookie cutter framed bikes are a total joke. Anyone stupid enough to buy into their insane pricing has only proven with their purchase how gullible and easily duped as a consumer they are. 😆
Dan Angeles - Total bullshit!
These cookie cutter CF frames are all mass produced in Taiwan in the same 3 factories. And there is nothing overly time consuming about fabricating them. The average cost of even so called “top of the line” US manufacturer frames built in Taiwan is well under $500. Even the mold cost per bike is only about $10-15/bike made. A CF mold costs typically between $30-40K, and a factory building batch non custom cookie cutter bikes for SC or Specialized like this bike can easily get several thousand bikes made out of that one mold.
None of these mass produced CF bikes involve serious hands on craftsmanship during their fabrication. CF material and matrix resin are put in a mold, and the rest of the fab is pretty much all automated including the painting of the frame and fork.
dear CT team!! i need ur guidance n i hope u will guide me!! i have a giant escape 3 n i want to transform it into a gravel adventure bike is it possible??
Is it possible you coukd spell out your words? This ain't a text msg.
It doesn't show mtb influence because Santa Cruz just put their logo on a generic OEM frame and calls it NEW for 2020.
Pretty agree...But which gravel to choose in 2020??
This SC CF Taiwanese made cookie cutter bike is like all the other similar US company Taiwanese made CF bikes. The owners of these companies are laughing all the way to the bank at the plethora of gullible fools gladly paying nutty prices for cheaply fabricated non custom cookie cutter CF bikes. LOL
Infinitesimal judgements, comparisons...will need a month's "total immersion" in Gravelbike vocab 101 to begin to grasp this conversation...tech sophistication disappearing up its own ....
If you want a mountain bike influenced gravel bike get yourself a Fargo or a cutthroat even .
you talk super fast bruv
Weird review, yr both very confusing
Because they're both very confused,
Social distance guys! Great bike.
We recorded these in mid-February.
That's Santa Cruz to a tee. Average. Underwhelming. Overpriced.
Ha this is a great comment. I never understood the hype around Santa Cruz. So overpriced.
@@chrismikstas2871 the price is worth it imo for the top notch quality, a proper warranty, great customer service, and free replacement bearings (for bikes with linkage). No doubt they are more expensive than other brands when comparing spec apples to apples, but there is more to consider when looking at value than what groupset is on it etc.
@@DasRightfortyforfo If you like their product and they treat you well then I think it's great you support them with your dollar. To say that the higher cost is what provides a better warranty, better customer experience, or even a better product is usually more marketing than truth, especially in the the world of cycling. I've had ridiculously accommodating warranty and customer service from companies that charge much less for their product (even Chinese companies like Light Bicycle). Santa Cruz makes cool looking product and if people are willing to pay what they charge, then that obviously means Santa Cruz is doing it's job, so more power to them.
@Ostzonenrevival from personal experience cannondales customer service/warranty isn't as good. It is good but not great.
If they are selling them it isn't over priced. It may be a worse value, but that is subjective.
Yep, spot on. Another generic cookie cutter non custom Taiwanese CF framed bike being sold for thousands of $ more than it cost to make to gullible fools. That’s the Stigmata in a nutshell.
#PlasticFantastic
This build looks far too stiff for enjoyable off road miles. The component choice is unusual.
You can pretty much kiss the bike industry as we know it good by after the global economy crashes and I can’t wait. Time to hit the reset button.
Another wildly overpriced cheaply made Taiwanese fabricated cookie cutter CF framed bike. LOL
Wrong. Very wrong.