Jackal
Origin
Santa Cruz Bicycles has built its name on trail and downtown mountain bikes out of Santa Cruz, California since 1993, but the Jackal is its long-running answer to the dirt-jump and pump-track corner of the sport. The nameplate has a deep history in the brand's alloy line, and the modern Jackal as most riders know it landed in 2017 as the '4.1' generation: a stout 26"-wheeled aluminium hardtail frame sold on its own for riders to build up exactly how they want. Rather than chase trends, Santa Cruz froze the geometry and simply rolled out a fresh colourway most years, so a 2018 Jackal and a 2024 Jackal are essentially the same frame in a different coat of paint. It stayed in the catalogue for the better part of a decade before being discontinued after the 2025 model year, ending its run as one of the last mainstream 26" dirt-jump frames from a major brand.
Specifications
- Frame
- 6000-series aluminium alloy, 26" dirt-jump hardtail (sold frame-only)
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- 1x-specific / single-speed capable via sliding dropout (no front derailleur); ISCG-05 tabs for chainguard
- Brakes
- Frame is disc-only (post-mount rear); build-dependent — owners commonly run a single rear hydraulic disc
- Wheels
- 26" only (not 27.5/29); 142x12mm thru-axle dropouts ship stock, 135x10mm QR dropouts also available
The verdict
- Spot-on dirt-jump geometry — short 15.25" stays and low BB make it nimble, easy to manual, bunny-hop and whip
- Tank-tough overbuilt alloy frame with a lifetime warranty; built to survive years of hard landings
- Genuinely versatile: sliding dropout runs single-speed or geared and swaps 142x12 thru-axle for 135x10 QR
- Frame-only and premium-priced (~$1,099 late-life) — a full build gets expensive, so it is not the value pick for a first DJ bike
- Rigid alloy hardtail transmits every bump; harsh if you over-inflate tyres or ride rough terrain
- 26"-only with just two sizes (M/L) — taller/faster riders may want the L reach, and the platform is niche now that it is discontinued
Generations
Jackal 4.0
- Earlier frame; identical geometry to 4.1 apart from the straight head tube and QR-only rear.
- Frame
- Alloy 26" DJ hardtail
Jackal 4.1 (2017-2025)
- The definitive modern Jackal. Geometry frozen since 2017; only colourways changed year to year until discontinuation after 2025.
- Frame
- Alloy 26" DJ hardtail
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | Jackal 4.0 (frame) | Jackal 4.1 (frame) | Jackal 4.1 (frame, late) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2024 |
| Frame | Alloy, straight 1-1/8" head tube | Alloy, tapered 'mixed' head tube (44/49mm) | Alloy, tapered 'mixed' head tube (44/49mm) |
| Drivetrain | 1x / single-speed, sliding dropout | 1x / single-speed, sliding dropout | 1x / single-speed, sliding dropout, ISCG-05 |
| MSRP | — | €800 | €1,100 |
| Purpose | Value | Balanced | Balanced |
Tags
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