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!
145mm 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 “Oh sh*t 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.
S-Kit C Build Specs
Fork: 14.54kg / 32.04lbs
Weight: Carbon C
Material: FOX 36 Float Performance, 150mm, 29"
Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
Rear Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
Crankset: SRAM GX Eagle 148 DUB, 30t
Cassette: SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t
Chain: SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB 68/73mm
Brakes: SRAM Code R
Brake Rotors: Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset: Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated
Bars: Burgtec Alloy Bar, 800mm, 30mm Rise
Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm
Grips: Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar
Front Hub: DT Swiss 370, 15x110, 6 bolt, 28h or E13 SL, 15x110, 6 bolt, 28h
Please Note: Price, Weight and Parts Spec information is subject to change.
Frame Sizing
If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, consider the following.
Personal Preference A larger size frame will be more stable, and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.
Body Dimension Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.
R-Kit AL Build Specs
Weight: 15.48kg / 34.13lbs
Material: Aluminum
Fork: RockShox Yari RC, 150mm, 29"
Shock: FOX Float Performance DPS
Rear Derailleur: SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Crankset: SRAM Descendant Eagle DUB 30t
Cassette: SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t
Chain: SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB 68/73mm
Brakes: SRAM G2 R
Brake Rotors: Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset: Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset
Bars: RaceFace Aeffect R
Stem: Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm
Grips: Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar
Front Hub: SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h
Rear Hub: SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h
Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29" Rims
Spokes: Sapim Race
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGRIP, EXO, TR
Please Note: Price, Weight and Parts Spec information is subject to change.
Frame Sizing
If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, consider the following.
Personal Preference A larger size frame will be more stable, and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.
Body Dimension Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.
D-Kit AL Build Specs
Weight: 15.92kg / 35.1lbs
Material: Aluminum
Fork: RockShox 35 Gold RL, 150mm, 29"
Shock: FOX Float Performance DPS
Rear Derailleur: SRAM SX Eagle, 12spd
Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
Crankset: SRAM X1 Eagle DUB, 30t
Cassette: SRAM PG1210, 12spd, 11-50t
Chain: SRAM SX Eagle, 12spd
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB 68/73mm
Brakes: SRAM Guide T
Brake Rotors: Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset: Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset
Bars: RaceFace Aeffect R
Stem: RaceFace Ride
Grips: Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar
Front Hub: SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h
Rear Hub: SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h
Rims: WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0 29"
Spokes: Sapim Race
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGRIP, EXO, TR
Please Note: Price, Weight and Parts Spec information is subject to change.
Frame Sizing
If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, consider the following.
Personal Preference A larger size frame will be more stable, and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.
Body Dimension Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.
