Chameleon 8 AL D-Kit
OverviewAbout the Santa Cruz Chameleon 8 AL D-Kit
The Santa Cruz Chameleon 8 AL D-Kit is a mountain bike, built on an aluminium frame, listed at $3,999 RRP. An off-road bike for trails, with grippy tyres and trail-ready geometry.
Our takeWho the Chameleon 8 AL D-Kit suits
Riders who want a tough, playful trail hardtail: a 65 degree head angle, 130 mm fork, 29 x 2.5 inch tyres, room for up to 66 mm tyres and a dropper post.
What you give up
- The RockShox Recon fork is an entry-level unit on a frame built for rough riding; it is the first part owners usually upgrade.
- As a hardtail, it gives a firmer ride than a full-suspension bike at a similar price.
Fit
Four sizes, S to XL. Santa Cruz puts M at 165 to 177 cm. Use the size finder below to check your height against the chart.
Also worth a look
- Trek Roscoe 7 Gen 4: A cheaper trail hardtail with a 150 mm fork and a 170 mm dropper.
- Giant Fathom 29 2: A cheaper trail hardtail with a 130 mm fork and 29 x 2.5 inch tyres.
Desk research by BikeFinder from the published specification and geometry on this page, checked 2 Nov 2026. We have not ridden this bike.
How it comparesThe Chameleon 8 AL D-Kit against similarly priced bikes
- At $3,999 it sits in the upper part of the range: 52% of the 238 mountain bikes we list cost less.
- Head angle: 65.0 degrees, slacker, so steadier on descents than the middle of similarly priced hardtail mountain bikes (67.0 degrees).
- Front travel: 130 mm, more than the middle of similarly priced hardtail mountain bikes (120 mm).
- Reach (size M): 445 mm, about the same as similarly priced hardtail mountain bikes (middle 440 mm).
- Lowest gear ratio: 0.60, about the same as similarly priced hardtail mountain bikes (middle 0.63).
- Gears at the back: 12-speed, about the same as similarly priced hardtail mountain bikes (middle 12-speed).
- Stock tyre width: 64 mm, wider than the middle of similarly priced hardtail mountain bikes (60 mm).
Closest alternatives on price
same price · 140 mm fork vs 130 mm
same price · carbon frame · 120 mm fork vs 130 mm
$299 less · 150 mm fork vs 130 mm
$300 more · 150 mm fork vs 130 mm
Compare the Chameleon 8 AL D-Kit with the two closest side by side
Compared with the 13 similar mountain bikes on BikeFinder priced $2,800 to $5,400, using each bike's published specs and the price shown on its page.
SizingWhat size Chameleon 8 AL D-Kit do I need?
Enter your height to see the size Santa Cruz recommends.
| Size | Rider height | In feet |
|---|---|---|
| S | 152 to 165 cm | 5 ft 0 in to 5 ft 5 in |
| M | 165 to 177 cm | 5 ft 5 in to 5 ft 10 in |
| L | 177 to 185 cm | 5 ft 10 in to 6 ft 1 in |
| XL | 185 to 198 cm | 6 ft 1 in to 6 ft 6 in |
Rider heights from Santa Cruz's size chart. Height is a starting point: arm and leg length, flexibility and riding style all matter, so a test ride beats any chart. How bike sizing works.
SpecificationsWhat we know
- Brand
- Santa Cruz
- Model year
- 2024
- Category
- Mountain
- Frame
- Aluminium
- Wheel size
- 29-inch
- Drivetrain
- SRAM SX Eagle 12-speed
- Brakes
- Disc
- Frame sizes
- S, M, L, XL
- Price
- $3,999, RRP AUD (Jonny Sprockets)
Specs and pricing are listed in AUD and sourced from Australian retail listings. Confirm the current details and availability with the seller before purchase.
GeometrySize M
- Stack
- 629.2 mm
- Reach
- 445 mm
- Stack/reach
- 1.41
- Head angle
- 65 deg
- Seat angle
- 74.3 deg
- Wheelbase
- 1183.6 mm
- Chainstay
- 425 mm
- BB drop
- 56 mm
- Standover
- 682 mm
GearingRatios
Ratios are derived from the chainrings and cassette. They describe the gearing, not any rider's ability.
Drivetrain & buildFull specification
- Groupset
- SRAM SX/NX Eagle
- Shifting
- Mechanical
- Drive
- 1x
- Speeds
- 12
- Crank
- SRAM X1 Eagle 148 DUB
- Chainrings
- 30
- Cassette
- SRAM PG1230
- Rear derailleur
- SRAM SX Eagle
- Brakes
- SRAM Level
- Rotors
- 180/180
- Wheelset
- WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0, SRAM MTH hubs
- Rim internal width
- 30 mm
- Stock tyre
- 29x2.5
- Max tyre clearance
- 66 mm
- Tubeless
- Yes
- Fork material
- RockShox Recon Silver RL
- BB standard
- DUB 68/73mm threaded
- Thru-axle
- 15x110mm front, 12x148mm rear
- Seatpost
- SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.6mm
- Cockpit
- RaceFace Ride bar, Chester stem
- Saddle
- WTB Silverado Comp
- Mounts
- downtube cargo mount, bottle mount
- UDH
- Yes
SuspensionMTB detail
- Front travel
- 130 mm
- Fork
- RockShox Recon RL
- Wheel config
- 29
- Dropper
- SDG Tellis Dropper
- Discipline
- Trail
- Suspension
- hardtail
Bike DNAWhat the numbers say
- Steering
- A 65 deg head angle points to slack, trail and enduro handling.
- Climbing
- Lowest ratio 0.6 is a very low climbing gear for steep or loaded climbs.
Derived from the published geometry and gearing above. It describes the numbers, not a ride test.
BikeFinder Data Profile: geometry and specification researched from published sources (retailer + geometry cross-validated + backfill 2026-09-27: jonnysprockets.au, santacruzbicycles.com + backfill 2026-09-27: santacruzbicycles.com), verified 2026-09-06. This is a specification analysis, not a physical ride review.
Where to buyStockist
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