Santa Cruz Vala AL Deore
Class 1
Legal class
20 mph
Top speed
600 Wh
Battery
53.11 lb
Weight
Full-power Bosch trail eMTB, the aluminum version of the Vala and the successor to the full-power Heckler. Mixed wheels, 150mm four-bar rear travel, RockShox Psylo Gold RC 160mm fork, RockShox Deluxe Select shock, Shimano Deore M6120 brakes on 220/203mm rotors, SDG Tellis dropper. Price read on sale at $4,949 against a listed regular price of $6,199. Torque and wattage for the Bosch Performance CX are not published on this page. The battery is charged in the frame and only removed for service. The FAQ calls it Class 1, 20 mph in North America, and certified to UL 2849. The 53.11 lb weight is the page's single figure for this build, size not stated. Carbon Vala builds run from $7,849 to $13,999.
Full specification
| Headline | |
| Price | $4,949 |
|---|---|
| Category | eMTB |
| Price per Wh | $8.25 per Wh |
| Model year | 2026 |
| Motor | |
| Drive | Mid-drive |
| Motor make | Bosch Performance CX (BDU38) |
| Drive system | Bosch |
| Battery & range | |
| Battery | 600 Wh |
| Removable battery | No |
| Est. real range | 38 mi |
| Estimate assumes | 16 Wh per mile |
| Weight & capacity | |
| Weight | 53.11 lb |
| Class & speed | |
| Ships as | Class 1: pedal assist to 20 mph, no throttle |
| Unlocks to | Class 1 |
| Class | Class 1 |
| Throttle | No |
| Top assisted speed | 20 mph |
| Build | |
| Gears | 12-speed |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Deore M6100 (10-51T) |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc |
| Front rotor | 220 mm |
| Rear rotor | 203 mm |
| Suspension | Full suspension |
| Fork travel | 160 mm |
| Rear travel | 150 mm |
| Front suspension | Yes |
| Suspension seatpost | No |
| Tires | 29 x 2.5 Maxxis Assegai front, 27.5 x 2.5 Maxxis Minion DHRII rear |
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Sizes | S-XL |
| Step-through option | No |
| Included | |
| Lights | No |
| Fenders | No |
| Rack | No |
| Kickstand | No |
| Safety | UL 2849 |
| Safety certification | UL 2849: full system |
| As the maker states it | UL 2849: Yes, the Bullit is certified to the UL 2849 requirements (same wording on the Vala page; the Heckler SL page states no certification) |
| Warranty terms | Lifetime frame warranty for the original owner; paint and decals three years; lifetime bearing replacement (brand policy) |
Safety certification: UL 2849: full system. Santa Cruz states: “UL 2849: Yes, the Bullit is certified to the UL 2849 requirements (same wording on the Vala page; the Heckler SL page states no certification)” (source). That is the manufacturer’s own claim, not something we verified, you can check a specific model in UL’s Product iQ database. Why this matters.
Specs transcribed from www.santacruzbicycles.com on 09/29/2026. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are shown as “—” rather than estimated. Manufacturers revise specs without notice: confirm before buying.
Compared with
Head to head against the emtb & road bikes closest to it on price.