Santa Cruz Tallboy vs PYGA Stage Max?

[matthewproctor]

Hi all,

 

Sold my Specialized Camber (loved that bike), and was looking for a PYGA. As luck would have it I came across a Santa Cruz Tallboy3 and jumped on it (always loved Santa's, never thought i'd own one.)

 

Being a bit pedantic, I put in a brand new Eagle XX1 black full groupset, brand new fox factory float rear shock, serviced and upgraded fox 34 factory fork, and I took the frame to Carbon Bike Repair for a custom respray (matte black with gloss black decals).

The bike of my dreams, so why on earth am I still itching for a PYGA?

 

[100Tours]

The itch knows..

[Danger Dassie]

Sounds like an N+1 itch to me ..... 

[Kranswurm]

As an ex owner of a Santa Cruz and a Pyga the SC is a far better bike

[DR ◣◢]

Pyga is cool but not carbon boutique brand cool. 

 

You chose well.

[Headshot]

Stick with the SC. That said I'm interested to know why people are dissing the Pyga. Is it the frame, the suspension or pure pretentiousness? 

[Kranswurm]

Stick with the SC. That said I'm interested to know why people are dissing the Pyga. Is it the frame, the suspension or pure pretentiousness? 

Not dissing the Pyga

The SC is light on its feet whereas the Pyga is the heavier feel,like a Giant

[NGM]

Stick with the SC. That said I'm interested to know why people are dissing the Pyga. Is it the frame, the suspension or pure pretentiousness? 

The pretentiousness of Pyga or the people dissing the pyga? 

 

This could be a slippery slope. 

[DR ◣◢]

Stick with the SC. That said I'm interested to know why people are dissing the Pyga. Is it the frame, the suspension or pure pretentiousness? 

 

Pure pretentiousness from my side. I'm a boutique brand riding snob. 

[CAAD4]

Get some powder, as you have the right bike.

[Jewbacca]

I like the SC brand and the way they move as a team. Having some free riders on their books and making really cool, pretty out there movies for a 'big brand'.

 

I don't like how their brand gets portrayed in SA. It's supposed to be fun, but instead gets snotty. So many brand images are really different in SA than elsewhere. 

 

Pyga? Well, I didn't like the original floating pivot Alu frames. I did like the redesigned carbon Hyrax, I always thought their paint and colour schemes were poor and the 27 year wait for the Mobu just killed any enthusiasm I had left.

 

I'd sell either and buy a Titan..... 

[splat]

If you really wanted to scratch the itch, and couldn't make up your mind - get the Tallboy 4 

[Cunning-Stunt]

Both beautiful bikes!

 

My two cents though:

 

The thing that irritates me about the SC is the fact that you can only fit one bottle cage within the frame and with a dropper post you cant have one on the seatpost. The Pyga stage frame is really well thought out to allow for two.

 

Another thing that drives me mad are those cables that exit the frame around the bottle cage. wtf!!!??! Those should've been hidden better within the frame?

 

Both are small things but would swing my pick to the Pyga.

Also, i'm a sucker to support a SA company like Pyga. Patrick and the team have outdone themselves. 

[Wayne pudding Mol]

easy fix, find someone with a stage max and go ride it and then see how you feel

 

I had the stage, incredible bike.  I chose it over the Santa Cruz after riding both.  No proper reason, I like one word branding.  Thats why I don't like Special Ised

[Ramrod]

This was my predicament about a year ago. Toss up between the Blur and the Pyga Stage Max. I did ride both. My problem is I am setup sensitive and can feel when my bike is just a few mm out. When test riding a bike for a day I don't believe you get your setup 100% and that can impact the feel of the bike. I just couldn't get the Pyga to feel right under me in the short time I had and the Blur felt more comfortable. That being said the rear suspension felt squishy for me coming from an EPIC S Works (we all have our faults) but I took the gamble and now love my Blur.  

 

My problem now is I am considering N+1 in the form of a longer travel bike and the Hyrax is starting to make me itch!

[stefmeister]

Pyga is cool but not carbon boutique brand cool.

 

You chose well.

Pyga is more boutique than SC, which is anything but boutique.