The Tazmon Topic

[Remko]

A few weeks ago I saw this Santa Cruz Tazmon advertised. The seller and his dad had built two new Tazmon's back in 1997/1998. One of the bikes was sold a few years ago, and this wasn't used anymore in the last few years and came for sale now also.

I did't really know much about the Tazmon but I liked it's appearance and it's Californian roots. So I bought it.

The frame is in great condition. It's number 52 of 1997. The suspension needed some attention and I didn't like the RockShox front and rear shocks.
So I've swapped the 1997 Judy SL for a 2002 Marzocchi Bomber Atom 80. Not original but it's quite low key and suits the blue frame well.
I'll probably swap the rear SID for a original Risse Genesis or Risse Astro 5 shock. Both have the typical Tazmon third frame clamp.

So that's the story so far.

To gather some Tazmon knowledge here I'd like to invite Tazmon riders to post their bikes and stories here.
Thanks


2002 Marzocchi Bomber Atom 80 as a replacement for the original 1997 Judy SL

Originally Santa Cruz mounted a Risse Genesis damper with an extra mounting clamp. That clamp is missing on the SID damper. Idea is to mount the original Risse damper again

 

[Remko]

Re:

v-brakes only
Very well built rear triangle
Missing frame clamp for Risse damper
9 speed Shimano xt 760 shifters and Avid Speed Dial brakelevers
1.1/8 inch Cane Creek 40 threadless headset

 

[yeti_bomb]

Re:

I built one a few years ago and loved it, though it was too small. Great fun retro bike. Quick acceleration. Would consider building another if I found the right size. Built my a few different ways. Ran it as a single chainring 7 speed.

If you need a rear shock mounting bracket I may have another one.

 

[Remko]

Re: Re:

If you need a rear shock mounting bracket I may have another one.

Nice one! I see you've mounted a Bomber also.

I'm definitely interested in the clamp
If you're willing to part with it please let me know.

 

[yeti_bomb]

I liked the Z2 a lot. Very smooth fork.

 

[Huelse]

I rode the clamp-version about one year. I remember the damper made always problems and leaked because of that third clamp. After some big roots, my knees always got a warm shower from the damper oil. I would recommend not using the third clamp as I think it is the weakness in the design. The SC Superlight uses a "normal" damper.
Also, the third clamp requires the excentric link for the rear damper eyelet.

 

[firedfromthecircus]

I'm sure you will have seen it but I'll throw the link in for completeness.

http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-GB/ ... ike/tazmon

I've got a Heckler and a Chameleon but no Tazmon as yet.

 

[Remko]

I rode the clamp-version about one year. I remember the damper made always problems and leaked because of that third clamp. After some big roots, my knees always got a warm shower from the damper oil. I would recommend not using the third clamp as I think it is the weakness in the design. The SC Superlight uses a "normal" damper.
Also, the third clamp requires the excentric link for the rear damper eyelet.

Thanks for posting. Are you sure the reason was the extra clamp mounting? If the eccentric bolt is mounted right and there's sufficient "play" this should work.
The clamp delivers an addition to the needed rigidness in the rear construction. I'd really like to use that extra mounting point.

 

[Remko]

I'm sure you will have seen it but I'll throw the link in for completeness.

http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-GB/ ... ike/tazmon

I've got a Heckler and a Chameleon but no Tazmon as yet.

I must say I like the geometry of the Chameleon I and II.
What's the Heckler like on the trails?

 

[old_coyote_pedaller]

I rode the clamp-version about one year. I remember the damper made always problems and leaked because of that third clamp. After some big roots, my knees always got a warm shower from the damper oil. I would recommend not using the third clamp as I think it is the weakness in the design. The SC Superlight uses a "normal" damper.
Also, the third clamp requires the excentric link for the rear damper eyelet.

Thanks for posting. Are you sure the reason was the extra clamp mounting? If the eccentric bolt is mounted right and there's sufficient "play" this should work.
The clamp delivers an addition to the needed rigidness in the rear construction. I'd really like to use that extra mounting point.

As has been said the Superlight and Heckler don't use a 3rd mount and they function fine. As do many other single pivot swing-arm bikes. If the 3rd mount adds rigidity to rear end it can only do so by resisting sideways movement of the top of swing-arm. Shocks are designed for linear movement, any sideways movement has to be increasing the load on the internal bushings and seals of shock which they are not designed or intended to do. Push the centre of a shock while the 2 ends are held will result in seals compressing and leaking, imagine this happening as shock moves when suspension is working. Not a good design.