2012 Santa Cruz Tallboy XC refurb & build

[BrandonH]

Hi all!

So, I was the lucky recipient of a hand me down 2012 Santa Cruz Tallboy 1, the is in roughish shape so I stripped her down last night and dropped the wheels off for new tires and dropped the frame off at BMC for a strip down and clear coat refurb.

The rest of the parts are all working, but extremely grimy and gritty so a few questions for the experienced tinkerers out there:

1. I would like to restore the bike into the best possible condition.

2. It's the XC version and I love my trail riding, any advice on bringing this old beauty into the modern era? 

3. What's the best and safest product to use across all parts to soak/ clean all the grime and grease off everything?

I will post photos of the bits as i progress and breathe a new life into the old girl.

Cheers!

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by BrandonH

[BrandonH]

Update: frame done by Jared at BMC, hub bearing replaced, new tyres, stem changed, forks decals removed and forks cleaned, and awaiting new bars (the carbon Easton bars are broken beyond repair)

[Fred van Vlaanderen]

Great job - looks amazing!

[BrandonH]

Thanks @Fred van Vlaanderen , im excited to get it out on the trail, just need to save now for a dropper, fresh fork decals and she will be good to go.

[Fred van Vlaanderen]

18 minutes ago, BrandonH said:

Thanks @Fred van Vlaanderen , im excited to get it out on the trail, just need to save now for a dropper, fresh fork decals and she will be good to go.

What dropper are you looking at?

[BrandonH]

@Fred van Vlaanderen I have a mate that might have a spare(just awaiting size), but will need to then have a small hole to install an internal, or find someone selling an external one, it’s a 30.9 dropper I’d need.

[Marcv]

That looks amazing well done.

Your question on binging it into the modern age, I would try a 120mm fork (drop the stem a bit after that increase in height) and maybe some wider rims and a wider tire in the front (looks like a 2.2ish)

One of the people in our group has the same bike and when he upgraded to carbon wheels he said it was like a new bike with a massive improvement, not sure that meets your trail riding requirement but something else to consider.

Good Luck

[WIPEOUT 1000]

I owned one of these and mine had a 120mm fork, but if I had to change anything else, it definitely would be installing a Cane Creek Angleset (or equivalent) to slacken the head angle a bit.

[BrandonH]

@Marcv thanks for the input! I'm definitely considering getting a 120mm fork, currently I'm happy with the wheels, both 2.35's. (Don't have the cash for new carbon wheels, although it would be nice Haha)  waiting on a new bar as the stock one is cracked in 2 places from clamps being over tightened so that's next. Hopefully something with a bit of rise, maybe 25mm

[BrandonH]

2 hours ago, WIPEOUT 1000 said:

I owned one of these and mine had a 120mm fork, but if I had to change anything else, it definitely would be installing a Cane Creek Angleset (or equivalent) to slacken the head angle a bit.

@WIPEOUT 1000 thanks! I was wondering about that, any equivalents available off the shelf in SA? i think a 120mm with an angleset would be a winner

Edited February 14, 2023 by BrandonH

[WIPEOUT 1000]

I have not bought one locally but I suspect you should be able to find an Angleset in SA.

You can also also look at these:
https://www.workscomponents.co.uk/
https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/pages/geoshift-angle-headset
https://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/slackerizer-angle-headset.htm