Santa Cruz Stigmata Carbon CC Apex Review

Frame Design

The Stigmata is only offered in the Carbon CC frame construction, which is their premium material. It is a lightweight, stiff frame with some slick vibration dampening engineered into the rear triangle. The frame is paired with a new, taller carbon fork, and both feature internal cable routing, including compatibility with internally routed dropper seat posts. The frame is flat-mount disc-brake compatible, with three water bottle cage mounts and fender mounts front and rear. It is available in five frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, and XXL.

We loved the last generation Stigmata, and the new bike made some big changes. Our large test bike has 420mm of reach with a 592mm effective top tube, significantly longer than the outgoing model. The seat tube angle was cranked up to 74 degrees while the head tube got the trail bike treatment at 69.5 degrees. The wheelbase stretches to 1087mm with 423mm chainstays, and the 280mm bottom bracket height is 5mm lower than the outgoing bike. At the weigh-in, the Stigmata was 20 lbs and 1 oz, set up tubeless and without pedals.

Design Highlights

• Offered in Carbon Fiber “CC” only

• Threaded bottom bracket

• Fender mounts front and rear

• Full-length internal cable routing

• Universal Derailleur Hanger

• Clearance for up to 700 x 50c

• Offered as frame only for $2,699

• Complete builds starting at $3,999 (tested) up to $7,699.

Downhill Performance

The new Stigmata pulls quite a bit of influence from the trail mountain bike market, and you feel that when you point this bike downhill. The 69.5-degree head tube angle feels steady and confident, leaving the rider more relaxed, which is radically different than descending on the outgoing models' 72-degree front end. Whether just spinning gravel miles or going for glory on race day, the stiff but compliant frame, comfortable geometry, and thoughtful component specification combine to enhance the rider's experience. Chunky fire roads, overgrown double track, and even some flowy single-track riding are all on the menu aboard the Stigmata.

The Carbon CC frame of the Stigmata is lightweight and stiff, but the seat stays offer a fair bit of compliance. It's still a rigid frame, but its dampening abilities shine when you put down the power on some rough washboard. This bike's compliance was especially noticeable at higher speeds, where the ride felt composed despite the terrain. We rode all types of roads and trails during testing, even bagging some of our late-season single-track peaks. We pinned this bike on loose gravel roads, rutted double track, and rocky sections of single track, and through it all, it shined. It rides so much more confidently than the old Stigmata, and like their VPP trail bikes, this bike exudes stability.

While the Stigmata has made huge geometry changes, it's just barely outside the range of the other bikes in this test. The seat tube angle has kicked up to 74 degrees, the steepest in our test but within a degree of our other bikes. The head tube angle is where Santa Cruz got progressive by pulling it back to 69.5 degrees, and it pays dividends; we'd be surprised if there isn't the beginning of a trend to make gravel bikes slacker. Since the major elements of the geometries have been so similar, subtle differences become quite noticeable. For example, the Stigmata has the longest wheelbase of all the models we tested, which might foul your switchback, but it sure keeps this bike stable at speed. The reach on this bike has increased to 420mm, so the cockpit feels roomy. The chain stays have tightened to 423mm on all sizes, which gives this bike lively acceleration. The wide and flared Zipp handlebar spec is ergonomic and offroad capable; its shape increases overall comfort and steering leverage for more confident handling. Slackening the head tube angle slowed the steering down, but it made this bike so much faster and more capable.

The Apex components contribute to this bike being a solid descender. The levers have a generous uptilt that keeps your hands secure while riding the hoods. Braking is handled by SRAM flat-mount hydraulic calipers and 160mm rotors. Our testers appreciated the smooth modulation and stopping power, whether in the hoods or drops. Wide, flared handlebars are an obvious plus, and the shape of the Zipp bar is conducive to ripping in the drops. We had no complaints about the WTB wheelset, but more aggressive riders or those looking to line up at the start gate might want to check out the carbon offerings. 45mm Maxxis Rambler tires provide ample traction on dirt roads, and the EXO casing stood up well to our abuse. Riders frequenting pavement or smooth, hard-packed dirt roads might find the Rambler tires overkill.

Climbing Performance

The Stigmata accelerates enthusiastically, and the comfortable rear end feels positively engaged as you power out the climbs. The front-end geometry is relaxed and comfortable, yet power transfer is direct and efficient; this bike eats up the vertical. It's fast, efficient, and comfortable, earning it a 9 out of 10 in this metric.

The Stigmata is also fairly lightweight; our large test bike tipped the scales at just over 20 lbs with the Apex build. It's not the lightest bike we tested, but you'd be hard-pressed to notice the few ounces of difference between it and the Canyon Grail CF SL 7 AXS. The Carbon CC frame is stiff laterally, and our testers couldn't identify any significant loss of power through the small amount of frame compliance. The reach is roomy, giving you room to work out of the saddle, and the stack height brings the handlebar up a little higher than some, so you don't always feel like you're in the peloton. The 74-degree seat tube angle is properly steep and puts you directly above the bottom bracket at most inclines, providing excellent power transfer. A side effect of the longer reach and slacker headtube is that there is no toe overlap with the front wheel.

There is nothing flashy about the Apex build, but it's loaded with trickle-down technology and works quite well. The 1x12-speed Apex drivetrain features a wide range 10-44-tooth cassette paired with a 40-tooth chainring that provides adequate range for most riders. The Apex cranks use the DUB interface in the threaded bottom bracket shell, so they're stiff and low maintenance. Our large bike had 172.5mm crank arms, and we had no problem keeping them off the ground, even with the lower bottom bracket. The WTB Silverado saddle is agreeable and a good pairing for a gravel-getter like this one. Testers found the Maxxis Rambler to have acceptable rolling resistance and a nice bit of cushioning from their volume.

Versatility

Like most gravel bikes, the Stigmata is highly versatile. You can shred some trail and gravel roads, but it can easily double as a road bike with road-plus tires. Throw on some velcro bags, and you quickly have a full-blown bike-packing rig as the bike eschews the many threaded frame mounting points that have become common on gravel bikes. The new Glove Box allows you to pack several things into the bike's downtube, leaving those items secure, dry, and easily accessible. Santa Cruz includes a Tool Wallet and Tube Purse that fit inside and keep your gear from rattling. You can also pack your own gear, like a light rain jacket or water filter. This bike sits exclusively on 700c wheels, and Santa Cruz does not recommend using 27.5" wheels as they did on the previous model.

The Stigmata is lightweight, fast enough to jump right into some gravel races, and, true to its cyclocross roots, ready to tackle the fall CX series. Its confidence and playfulness make it feel like a gravel bike made for mountain bikers. Throw some road-plus tires on it, and you're ready for a road adventure, though the 1x drivetrain may not have enough range for hammering out the flats. There's also no reason it wouldn't make a good adventure riding/bike packing bike, though the lack of rack and accessory mounts limits you to velcro frame, saddle, and handlebar-mounted bags.

Weight

Our size Large test bike weighed in at 20 lbs and 1 oz, set up tubeless and without pedals, which is about average for bikes in this review. With the new Glove box, you can fill the downtube with gear, tools, snacks, a rain jacket, and more weight. The downside to packing all that stuff in your downtube is it increases your weight, so be judicious when packing.

This bike is light enough to race but doesn't ride like a race bike. Importantly, this bike is enjoyable and feels light when you accelerate, wheelie, or bunny hop.

Build

The Stigmata build we tested is their lowest-priced complete bike, but it didn't feel cheap. Nothing distracted from the ride experience or felt in need of an upgrade. Adding some carbon bits in the cockpit would increase its comfort, or adding a dropper and suspension fork would increase its versatility but we loved the performance of this build.

Groupset

If the name didn't already give it away, the Apex build comes with a SRAM Apex 1 x 12-speed drivetrain. This setup includes the crank, bottom bracket, shifter, derailleur, cassette, and chain. The DUB crank and direct mount 40-tooth chainring pull SRAM's new flat-top eagle chain around a wide range 10-44 cassette.

Wheels/Tires

The Stigmata rolls on 28-hole WTB EZR i23p 700c rims laced to DT Swiss 370 hubs. Our test bike came set up tubeless with Maxxis Rambler EXO 45c tires front and rear. The Rambler tires have dense center profile tread and more aggressive side knobs that work well in various conditions and terrain. The volume of these tires provides a comfortable buffer between the rider and the earth.

Cockpit

Testers found the Stigmata cockpit roomy and comfortable. All models use a 70mm stem, and our test bike had a Zipp Service Course stem and seatpost. The Zipp Service Course 70 XPLR aluminum bar has a 70mm reach and a welcoming 115mm drop. The Seatpost is a Zipp Service Course aluminum model with a WTB Silverado saddle up top.

Build Options

The Stigmata is offered in 5 different build kits that range in price from the $3,999 Apex build we tested up to the $7,699 Force AXS RSV. There are two Rival builds with SRAM's Rival drivetrain featuring a single or double chainring offering. These models get AXS wireless shifting, carbon seat posts, and Easton rims. The Force AXS build sells for $7,699 and is available with a Rock Shox Rudy Ultimate, AXS dropper post, and Santa Cruz's Reserve Carbon wheels. A second Force AXS build uses a double crank with a carbon fork and post for $6999.

Should You Buy the Santa Cruz Stigmata Carbon CC Apex?

The Stigmata is our top-rated model for a reason, and whether you're a mountain biker seeking a versatile gravel rig or an aspiring racer, this bike has you covered. For many years and multiple generations, the Stigmata has been a staple in Santa Cruz's lineup, but it's never been this capable. This bike is confidence-inspiring and fun, with just a hint of trail bike attitude. There are many gravel bikes available this year, but the Stigmata is our favorite.

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