Santa Cruz Vala: suspension setup & specs

Manufacturer data retrieved on 26 September 2026 · 13 builds · RRP €5,299 – €12,999 · Bike type: Full-suspension e-MTB

The Santa Cruz Vala is an e-MTB for trail and touring with 160 mm of fork travel and 150–151 mm at the rear. It is powered by Bosch Performance CX BDU38. Below you will find all 13 current builds with fork, shock and shock size, plus SAG values in millimetres and a tyre pressure table.

Calculate the setup for your Santa Cruz Vala →

All builds

Fork, shock, shock size (eye-to-eye length × stroke) and rear travel, motor, weight and price according to the manufacturer. Wheel size: 29" / 27.5" (Mullet).

Build	Fork	Shock	Shock size	Rear travel	Motor	Weight	RRP	Calculator
AL Deore 2026	RockShox Psylo Gold RC, 160mm (160 mm)	RockShox Deluxe Select	205x60	150 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	24.1 kg	€5,299	Setup →
AL Deore 6200 2027	RockShox Psylo Gold RC, 160mm (160 mm)	RockShox Deluxe Select	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	23.8 kg	€5,299	Setup →
AL 70 2026	RockShox Zeb Base, 160mm (160 mm)	RockShox Super Deluxe Base	205x60	150 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	24.4 kg	€6,299	Setup →
70 2026	RockShox Zeb Base, 160mm (160 mm)	FOX Float X Performance	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	22.3 kg	€7,699	Setup →
C Deore 2027	RockShox Zeb Base, 160mm (160 mm)	RockShox Deluxe	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	21.9 kg	€7,699	Setup →
90 2026	FOX 38 Float Performance, Grip, 160mm (160 mm)	FOX Float X Performance	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	22.2 kg	€8,699	Setup →
90 2027	FOX 38 Float Performance, Grip, 160mm (160 mm)	FOX Float X Performance	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	21.9 kg	€8,699	Setup →
XT Lite 2027	FOX 36 Float Performance, Grip, 160mm (160 mm)	FOX Float X Performance	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	21.0 kg	€8,999	Setup →
GX AXS 2026	FOX 38 Float Performance Elite, Grip X2, 160mm (160 mm)	FOX Float X Performance Elite	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	22.0 kg	€9,799	Setup →
GX AXS 2027	FOX 38 Float Performance Elite, Grip X2, 160mm (160 mm)	FOX Float X Performance Elite	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	21.7 kg	€9,799	Setup →
XT Di2 RSV 2027	FOX 38 Factory, Grip X2, 160mm (160 mm)	FOX Float X Factory	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	21.4 kg	€10,999	Setup →
X0 AXS RSV 2026	FOX 38 Factory, Grip X2, 160mm (160 mm)	FOX Float X Factory	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	21.1 kg	€11,499	Setup →
XX AXS RSV 2026	FOX 38 Factory, Grip X2, 160mm (160 mm)	FOX Float X Factory	205x60	151 mm	Bosch Performance CX BDU38 600 Wh	21.1 kg	€12,999	Setup →

How it compares

With 160 mm at the fork, the Santa Cruz Vala sits above average: across the 101 bikes in the “e-MTB for trail and touring” category in our database, the median is 150 mm. Of Santa Cruz’s e-mountain bikes, the Santa Cruz Vala offers the least travel up front. The frame is available in aluminium or carbon.

The Santa Cruz Vala does well on weight: 21.0 kg for the XT Lite 2027 build is 2.4 kg below the median of comparable bikes (23.4 kg). Within the range, weight varies by 3.4 kg. At €5,299 for the AL Deore 2026 build, pricing is typical for the category (median €5,500). The top build, XX AXS RSV 2026, costs €12,999. For suspension, Santa Cruz combines components from FOX and RockShox. The fork line-up ranges from the RockShox Psylo Gold RC, 160mm to the FOX 38 Factory, Grip X2, 160mm. It is powered by Bosch Performance CX BDU38 with a 600 Wh battery.

Setup notes for this spec

Fork (RockShox Psylo Gold RC, 160mm): air goes in through the valve on top of the left leg. After every change, compress the fork firmly a few times before measuring SAG.
Rebound: on FOX and RockShox suspension the rebound adjuster is red. Always count clicks from fully closed (clockwise to the stop) so you can return to any setting.
Shock (RockShox Deluxe Select): get on the bike in your normal riding position, step off carefully and read the O-ring. Always cycle the shock a few times after pumping.
e-MTB: the extra weight mainly affects tyre pressure, which is why the table below already includes a surcharge. SAG is measured just as on a bike without a motor.

Target SAG for the Santa Cruz Vala

SAG is the share of travel your weight already uses in the riding position. The table gives it straight in millimetres – read the O-ring on the stanchion and on the shock shaft and adjust the air pressure until it matches. Any figures from Santa Cruz take priority.

160 mm fork, 60.0 mm shock stroke (all builds)

Riding style	Fork SAG	Shock SAG
XC / touring	17 % = 27 mm	24 % = 14.4 mm on the shock shaft
Trail	20 % = 32 mm	28 % = 16.8 mm on the shock shaft
Enduro / rough	22 % = 35 mm	30 % = 18.0 mm on the shock shaft
Bike park	20 % = 32 mm	27 % = 16.2 mm on the shock shaft

How to measure SAG is explained in our guide SAG setup.

Tyre pressure starting values

The values apply to 2.50″ wide tubeless tyres with a trail casing, including the e-MTB surcharge. With an inner tube add about 0.2 bar (2.9 psi), with an insert take off about 0.1 bar (1.5 psi). Stock tyres: Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5", 3C MaxxGrip, EXO+ / Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5", 3C MaxxTerra DoubleDown; Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5", 3C MaxxGrip, EXO+ / Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5"x2.5", 3C MaxxTerra, DoubleDown; Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5", 3C MaxxGrip, EXO+ / Maxxis Minion DHRII 27.5x2.5, 3C MaxxTerra, EXO+; Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5", 3C MaxxGrip, EXO+ / Maxxis Minion DHRII, 27.5"x2.5", DoubleDown; Maxxis Assegai 29"x2.5", EXO+ / Maxxis Minion DHRII, 27.5"x2.5", DoubleDown; Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5", EXO+ / Maxxis Minion DHRII, 27.5"x2.5", DoubleDown.

Ready-to-ride weight	Front	Rear
60 kg	1.48 bar (21 psi)	1.68 bar (24 psi)
70 kg	1.60 bar (23 psi)	1.80 bar (26 psi)
80 kg	1.72 bar (25 psi)	1.92 bar (28 psi)
90 kg	1.84 bar (27 psi)	2.04 bar (30 psi)
100 kg	1.96 bar (28 psi)	2.16 bar (31 psi)
110 kg	2.08 bar (30 psi)	2.28 bar (33 psi)
120 kg	2.20 bar (32 psi)	2.40 bar (35 psi)

Air pressure in the fork and shock

You will find a guide value for air pressure on the fork sticker (or on the shock) or in the suspension makers’ charts. Our calculator also takes riding style and rebound into account. In the end, measured SAG is what counts.

Note: all values without guarantee. Specification can vary by model year, frame size and market – if in doubt, the type plate, the manual and Santa Cruz’s information apply. Never exceed maximum pressures.