The Chameleon's shreddy spirit and renowned versatility has captured the hearts of riders for over two decades. Originally conceived as a do-it-all bike that spanned the gap between freeride hardtail and XC race rig, over time the Chameleon has evolved into a more trail-focused machine. The versatility has not been lost though, as the aluminum-framed Chameleon released by Santa Cruz in 2017 expanded the bike's capabilities into the realm of bikepacking adventures. Now, much to our liking, Santa Cruz bestows us with a carbon fiber version of the Chameleon that delivers a snappier, more responsive ride while shedding 250-grams of weight compared to the aluminum version. And while the geometry remains largely the same as the aluminum version, this carbon fiber Chameleon Carbon 27. 5 Plus SE Reserve Complete Mountain Bike comes with a few features that help this reptile stand out from the crowd. In addition to the lighter and faster carbon fiber frame, the new Chameleon comes with triple-bolt cargo cage mounts under the downtube for enhanced carrying capacity on multi-day adventures. This is a huge plus for bikepacking enthusiasts or those that prefer to ride without a hydration pack. This top-end build also comes with guaranteed-for-life Santa Cruz Reserve carbon rims laced to trusty Hope Pro4 hubs, as well as a matching Hope headset. Not only do these bits add some color-matching awesomeness, but they might just make your bike last forever.From backcountry epics to backyard jump sessions, the Chameleon is easily adaptable to suit its environment. With a low-slung bottom bracket and moderately slack geometry, this bike handles tricky descents and the occasional day at the bike park, but is happy to rack up miles on an all-day sufferfest too. It's offered here as a 27. 5+ trail bike for voluminous traction and greater compliance over rugged trails with its plus-sized tires, but it can be run as a fast-rolling 29er with its interchangeable dropouts. Also, these inter...