THE MOUNTAIN BIKE, DISTILLEDThe newest version of the Hightower remains the greatest hits of engineering from Santa Cruz - now further refined and bottled into their most all-terrain of bikes. Big on wheels, medium on travel, short on fuss, this is the do-it-all model that does it over and over again thanks to a versatile balance of geo, spec and durability. If you’re not looking for extremes, just something extremely good, the Hightower is your elevator.
145mm VPP travelLooking for something good at climbing, and downhill, and going round and round your local trails? Say hello to Hightower. 145mm in the rear paired with 150mm up front is your perfect combo.
Carbon MasteryThe Sag Window, Glovebox and internal cable tunnels demonstrate Santa Cruz’s expertise at combining practical function with carbon design and manufacturing artistry.
Flip ChipIn the Low position, the shock rate becomes more progressive, particularly at the end of the stroke, and there’s some bottom-out resistance to be gained. In the High setting, the bike rides a little higher in its travel and supplies the rider with more mid-stroke support. Tweakers and finicky shredders can adapt the suspension feel to their needs and desire.
Suspension Sensitivity & ConsistencyCompared to the last Hightower, Santa Cruz reduced the anti-squat in the first 40% of travel. This noticeably improves suspension sensitivity in both climbing and descending scenarios due to reduced chain influence on the suspension. Hightower's leverage curve is relatively straight, with added progression towards the end of the travel. This provides improved bottom-out resistance with more consistent damping and support.
GloveboxPlace your ride essentials securely beneath a new high-quality latch and panel in the Hightower's downtube. The Glovebox comes with a fitted Tool Wallet and Tube Purse, tailored for the frame to keep your tools close to hand.
Proportional GeometryChainstay length and seat angle is matched to the frame size so every rider, no matter their height, gets the same balanced geometry. Across all sizes however, the headtube angle has been slackened to help stability at speed, lowered the bottom bracket to compliment the better supported suspension, and increased stack in favor of modern handlebar setups.
Key Features:- Frame Material: Carbon C
- Fork travel: 150mm
- Rear Travel: 145mm
- Wheel Size: 29"