Details
Our greatest hits compiled into one bike—just hit play.
If ever a bike resembled your most cherished mix tape compilation, the Hightower is it. Featuring our lower-link mounted shock design, updated, adjustable geometry, this “Engineering Best Of...” assembles some of our biggest design pleasers into one belter of a road-trip companion.
The Hightower has been a does-it-all-well trail bike since its inception. More maneuverable than its longer-travel sibling, the Megatower, and more at home in the steep-and-chunky than its snappy cousin Tallboy, Hightower excels when the route covers ‘all points in between,’ and descents come courtesy of some big-ass climbs. The VPP suspension’s lower-link-mounted shock creates a nearly linear leverage curve, meaning it mops up bumps of all sizes and maintains the kind of progressivity normally reserved for our V10 DH bike!
140mm of rear travel complemented by a 150mm front end gives Hightower just a bit more front and rear travel over the first generation model. Combined with a slacker 65-degree head tube angle, the Hightower still sits squarely in the Goldilocks zone, but with a touch more “Get me out of here!” capability when the porridge gets too hot!
Balancing stiffness and weight savings in all the right places is a hallmark of all Santa Cruz carbon frames and the Hightower flies the flag yet higher. The advanced composite chassis tracks well across all trail surfaces, holds a line, and is reactive to rider directions while isolating pedal-influenced inputs.
The Hightower also has a bonus disc to heighten the experience—the flip chip. In the High setting, the BB height is a little higher for those tricky tech trails and/or when Plus sized tires are required. In the Low position the shock rate is more progressive, to provide additional bottom-out resistance. Whatever mood you’re in, the tone of the Hightower can be adapted to meet your individual taste.
And speaking of taste, there’s a room for a water bottle inside the main frame and a threaded BB for convenience. There’s refined cable routing for better shifting performance, simpler installation, and no cable rub. On top of that, there’s a tailgate shuttle guard, downtube protector, shock fender, and noise-canceling chainstay protector keeping things quiet.
The lifetime frame warranty, lifetime pivot bearing replacement policy, and lifetime guarantee on the optional Reserve carbon wheels assures you that the Hightower will keep delivering the hits for years to come.
The Aluminum D build kit kicks things off with SRAM's dependable 12-speed SX drivetrain, Guide T hydraulic disc brakes, and wide tubeless-ready WTB ST i29 TCS rims wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHR2 tires. Pleasant trail manners from the RockShox 35 Gold RL fork and Fox Float Performance DPS shock will keep you in the game no matter what comes your way, and a Race Face Ride stem paired to an Aeffect R 780mm bar with 35mm clamp ensures superior handling all the way around.
A dropper seatpost allows you to quickly lower and raise your seat to give you an ideal riding position. Dropping your seat creates a lower center of gravity for better control and maneuverability on steep descents, while raising it puts you at normal riding height for efficient pedaling.
Construction can include either hydraulic- or cable-actuated systems and the post’s travel can either be infinitely adjustable or stopped at set intervals, depending on the model.
Dropper seatposts come in standard lengths and diameters and vary by the amount of travel.
Pedals sold separately
Specs
Frame | Hightower A |
---|---|
Fork | RockShox 35 Gold RL 150mm 29" |
Headset | Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset |
Rear Shock | FOX Float Performance DPS |
Axles |
Front: 110 x 15mm Rear: 148 x 12mm |
Rims/Wheels | WTB ST i29 TCS 2.0 29" |
Hubs |
Front: SRAM MTH 716, Torque Cap, 32h Rear: SRAM MTH 746, 32h |
Spokes | DT Competition |
Tires | Maxxis Minion DHR2 29x2.40 3C EXO TR |
Crankset | SRAM SX Eagle 148 DUB - 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL) |
Chainrings | 30T |
Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB |
Chain | SRAM CN SX Eagle 12spd |
Rear Derailleur | SRAM SX Eagle 12spd |
Cassette/Rear Cogs | SRAM CS PG1210 Eagle, 11-50T |
Shifters | SRAM SX Eagle |
Handlebars | Race Face Aeffect R 35x780mm |
Tape/Grips | Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips |
Stem | Race Face Ride 50mm |
Brakes | SRAM Guide T, Avid Centerline rotors, 180mm |
Saddle | WTB Silverado Race Saddle |
Seat Post | Race Face Aeffect 150mm |
Accessories & Extras | Stans Sealant 2oz |
* Subject to change without notice.