Bike Feature: Santa Cruz Hightower

If you’re seeking a mountain bike that excels in both climbing and descending, the Santa Cruz Hightower stands out as a top contender. This versatile 29er trail bike is designed to handle a wide range of trails, making it a favourite among riders who demand performance and adaptability.

Hightower Details

The Santa Cruz Hightower is equipped with a 160mm front fork and 150mm rear travel, and features Santa Cruz’s VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) System. This setup offers a plush ride with excellent traction, allowing the bike to handle both technical climbs and rugged descents with ease. The geometry features a 64 degree head tube angle, providing a balanced and confident ride on all trail conditions.

Santa Cruz offers the Hightower in multiple builds to cater to different preferences and budgets. From their top tier CC X0 AXS RSV model featuring Sram’s X0 Eagle AXS drivetrain and carbon Reserve wheels, to the more accessible C 70 build with quality components, there’s a Hightower for every rider.

The Hightower’s frame includes thoughtful features like the Glovebox, an in-frame storage system keeping your essentials secure and easily accessible. The bike also has internal cable routing for a clean look and reduced maintenance.

Riders have praised the Hightower for its exceptional performance on trails of all kinds. It’s VPP suspension system provides a lively and responsive feel, making it adept at handling both flowy singletrack and challenging technical sections. The bike’s stability at high speeds and agility in tight corners make the Hightower a reliable choice for all riders.

Santa Cruz’s commitment to quality is evident in the Hightower’s construction. The Hightower is available in both Carbon C and the lighter, premium Carbon CC frames, each backed by a lifetime warranty. The Hightower’s VPP system uses single-sided bearings in the lower link, so when it’s time or a service, squeeze in some fresh grease through the Zerk-fitting grease port and out comes the dirty grease. The Zerk grease ports help make it super easy so your bike can last a lifetime with easy maintenance.  

Who's the Hightower for?

The one bike believers: In search of the do-it-all bike. Whether you're thinking about racing the annual local enduro, taking a road trip, maybe hit the bike park, or get out on the weekends to your favourite trails, the Hightower can handle it all.

The realists: If you like the idea of owning a bike like the Megatower but realize it might be overkill for the terrain you ride, the Hightower is for you. You just want to have a good time on the trails, good on the climbs, fast on the downs, reliable, and reputable.

The get out and get after it: If you're looking for a great, simple access to the best that biking has to offer, the Hightower is great option. Get a robust warranty, no fuss, no gimmicks, just get out there and ride. 

Tech Info

• Max tire width: 29 x 2.5"
• Boost 148mm spacing
• Post mount brakes with 180mm rotors
• ISCG05 chain guide mounts
• Threaded BB
• Santa Cruz UDH
• IS headset
• Available in SM-XXL frame size

Bronson or Hightower?

The Santa Cruz Hightower and Bronson are both versatile trail bikes with 160mm front travel and 150mm rear travel. What differs between the two models is their wheel size. The Hightower has 29 inch wheels, offering rollover capability and stability, making it well-suited or long climbs and technical descents. It includes the updated VPP suspension providing efficient pedaling and improved traction, ideal for riders seeking a balanced all-mountain experience.

In contrast, the Bronson has a mixed-wheel setup (29 inch front and 27.5 inch rear), delivering a more playful and agile feel. The MX setup allows for quick maneuverability and a lively feel on descents, appealing to riders who prioritize descending performance and looking for a playful ride.

When comparing the two, it depends on your riding preferences, the Hightower for it’s 29 inch wheels, speed, stability, and climbing efficiency, or the Bronson for it’s responsive, lively, and playful ride quality. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of bike is the Santa Cruz Hightower? The Santa Cruz Hightower is a full suspension trail/all-mountain bike designed for versatility. It combines efficient climbing capabilities with confident descending performance, making it ideal for long trail rides, enduro-style terrain, and technical descents

How much travel does the Hightower have? The Hightower has 160mm of front travel, and 150mm of rear travel, delivered through Santa Cruz's updated VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) suspension platform.

What wheel size does the Hightower have? The Hightower uses 29 inch wheels fronts and rear, which help it roll efficiently over obstacles and maintain stability at speed

What frame materials are available for the Hightower The Hightower is available in two carbon frame options: Carbon C and Carbon CC (lighter, on the highest end build).

Does the Hightower climb well? Yes, thanks to it's efficient VPP suspension, geometry, and 29 inch wheels, the Hightower climbs well, especially for a bike with 150mm of travel.

What sizes are the Hightower available in? The Hightower is available in sizes S through XXL, with size-specific frame and geometry adjustments to improve fit and handling across the range.