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 “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.
We get it, you want to know every configuration, the geometry, and all the parts each of those comes with. So we've got you covered, below are PDFs with the geometry and kits that this bike comes in.
Price
£3099GBP
Weight
15.81kg / 34.85lbs
Material
Aluminum
Fork
RockShox 35 Gold RL 150mm 29"
Shock
FOX Float Performance DPS
Rear Derailleur
SRAM SX Eagle 12spd
Shifters
SRAM SX Eagle
Crankset
SRAM SX Eagle 148 DUB, 30t - 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL)
Cassette
SRAM CS PG1210 Eagle, 11-50t
Chain
SRAM CN SX Eagle 12spd
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Brakes
SRAM Guide T
Brake Rotors
Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset
Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset
Bars
Race Face Aeffect R 35x780
Stem
Race Face Ride 50mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips
Front Hub
SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h
Rear Hub
SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h
Rims
WTB ST i29 TCS 2.0 29" Rims
Rim Options
Spokes
DT Competition (32)
Front Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Rear Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Tubes
Stans Sealant 2oz
Seat Post
Race Face Aeffect 150mm
Saddle
WTB Silverado Race Saddle
Price
£3599GBP
Weight
15.64kg / 34.48lbs
Material
Aluminum
Fork
RockShox Yari RC 150mm 29"
Shock
FOX Float Performance DPS
Rear Derailleur
SRAM NX Eagle
Shifters
SRAM NX Eagle
Crankset
SRAM NX Eagle 148 DUB, 30t - 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL)
Cassette
SRAM PG1230 11-50t
Chain
SRAM NX Eagle
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Brakes
SRAM Guide R
Brake Rotors
Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset
Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset
Bars
Race Face Aeffect R 35x780
Stem
Race Face Ride 50mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips
Front Hub
SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h
Rear Hub
SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h
Rims
WTB ST i29 TCS 2.0 29" Rims
Rim Options
Spokes
DT Competition (32)
Front Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Rear Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Tubes
Stans Sealant 2oz
Seat Post
Race Face Aeffect 150mm
Saddle
WTB Silverado Race Saddle
Price
£4399GBP
Weight
15.43kg / 34.02lbs
Material
Aluminum
Fork
RockShox Lyrik Select+ 150mm 29"
Shock
RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
Rear Derailleur
SRAM GX Eagle
Shifters
SRAM GX Eagle
Crankset
SRAM NX Eagle 148 DUB, 30t - 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL)
Cassette
SRAM XG1275 Eagle 10-50T
Chain
SRAM GX Eagle 12 SPD
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Brakes
SRAM Code R
Brake Rotors
Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset
Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset
Bars
Race Face Aeffect R 35x780
Stem
Race Face Ride 50mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips
Front Hub
DT 370 15x110 32H
Rear Hub
DT 370 12x148 XD 32h
Rims
Race Face AR Offset 30 29" Rims
Rim Options
Spokes
DT Competition (32)
Front Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Rear Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Tubes
Stans Sealant 2oz
Seat Post
RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6
Saddle
WTB Silverado Race Saddle
Price
£4499GBP
Weight
14.56kg / 32.1lbs
Material
Carbon C
Fork
RockShox Yari RC 150mm 29"
Shock
FOX Float Performance DPS
Rear Derailleur
SRAM NX Eagle
Shifters
SRAM NX Eagle
Crankset
SRAM NX Eagle 148 DUB, 30t - 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL)
Cassette
SRAM PG1230 11-50t
Chain
SRAM NX Eagle
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Brakes
SRAM Guide R
Brake Rotors
Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset
Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset
Bars
Race Face Aeffect R 35x780
Stem
Race Face Ride 50mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips
Front Hub
SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h
Rear Hub
SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h
Rims
WTB ST i29 TCS 2.0 29" Rims
Rim Options
Spokes
DT Competition (32)
Front Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Rear Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Tubes
Stans Sealant 2oz
Seat Post
Race Face Aeffect 150mm
Saddle
WTB Silverado Race Saddle
Price
£5399GBP
Weight
14.3kg / 31.53lbs
Material
Carbon C
Fork
RockShox Lyrik Select+ 150mm 29"
Shock
RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
Rear Derailleur
SRAM GX Eagle
Shifters
SRAM GX Eagle
Crankset
SRAM Stylo 7k 148 DUB, 30t - 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL)
Cassette
SRAM XG1275 Eagle 10-50T
Chain
SRAM NX Eagle
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Brakes
SRAM Code R
Brake Rotors
Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset
Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset
Bars
Race Face Aeffect R 35x780
Stem
Race Face Ride 50mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips
Front Hub
DT 370 15x110 32H (28H w/Reserve upgrade)
Rear Hub
DT 370 12x148 32H (28H w/Reserve upgrade)
Rims
Race Face AR Offset 30 29" Rims
Rim Options
Santa Cruz Reserve 30 Carbon Rim
Spokes
DT Competition (32)
Front Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Rear Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Tubes
Stans Sealant 2oz
Seat Post
RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6
Saddle
WTB Silverado Race Saddle
Price
£6599GBP
Weight
13.59kg / 29.96lbs
Material
Carbon CC
Fork
RockShox Lyrik Ultimate 150mm 29"
Shock
RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
Rear Derailleur
SRAM X01 Eagle
Shifters
SRAM X01 Eagle
Crankset
SRAM X1 Eagle 148 DUB, 30t - 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL)
Cassette
SRAM XG1295 Eagle 10-50T
Chain
SRAM X01 Eagle 12 SPD
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Brakes
SRAM Code RSC
Brake Rotors
Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset
Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset
Bars
Santa Cruz Bicycles AM Carbon Bar 35x800
Stem
Race Face Aeffect R 50mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips
Front Hub
DT 350 15x110 28H Torque Cap
Rear Hub
DT 350 148x12 28h XD
Rims
Race Face ARC Offset 30 29" Rims
Rim Options
Santa Cruz Reserve 30 Carbon Rim
Spokes
DT Competition Race (28)
Front Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Rear Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Tubes
Stans Sealant 2oz
Seat Post
RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6
Saddle
WTB Silverado Team Saddle
Price
£8399GBP
Weight
13.34kg / 29.41lbs
Material
Carbon CC
Fork
RockShox Lyrik Ultimate 150mm 29"
Shock
RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
Rear Derailleur
Shimano XTR M9100 SGS, 11/12spd
Shifters
Shimano XTR M9100 SL, 12spd, I-Spec
Crankset
E13 TRSr, 30T, Boost, 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL)
Cassette
Shimano XTR, 12spd, 10-51
Chain
Shimano XTR, 12spd, w/Quick Link
Bottom Bracket
E13 BSA BB
Brakes
Shimano XTR M9120
Brake Rotors
Shimano XTR Ice. Tech Rotors, Centerlock, 180mm
Headset
Chris King DropSet 3 Black
Bars
Santa Cruz Bicycles AM Carbon Bar 35x800
Stem
i9 A35
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips
Front Hub
i9 Hydra, 15x110, Torque Cap, Centerlock, 28h
Rear Hub
i9 Hydra, 12x148, MicroSpline, Centerlock, 28h
Rims
Santa Cruz Reserve 30 Carbon Rim - 29 28h
Rim Options
Spokes
DT Competition Race (28)
Front Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Rear Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Tubes
Stans Sealant 2oz
Seat Post
RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6
Saddle
WTB Silverado Team Saddle
Price
£9399GBP
Weight
13.44kg / 29.63lbs
Material
Carbon CC
Fork
RockShox Lyrik Ultimate 150mm 29"
Shock
RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
Rear Derailleur
SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS 12spd
Shifters
SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS 12spd
Crankset
SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS 148 DUB, 30t - 170mm (S-L), 175mm (XL-XXL)
Cassette
SRAM XG1299 Eagle Rainbow 12spd 10-50t
Chain
SRAM XX1 Eagle 12spd
Bottom Bracket
SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB
Brakes
SRAM Code RSC
Brake Rotors
Avid Centerline 180mm
Headset
Chris King DropSet 3 Black
Bars
Santa Cruz Bicycles AM Carbon Bar 35x800
Stem
i9 A35
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips
Front Hub
i9 Hydra, 15x110, Torque Cap, 28h
Rear Hub
i9 Hydra, 12x148, XD, 28h
Rims
Santa Cruz Reserve 30 Carbon Rim - 29 28h
Rim Options
Spokes
DT Competition Race (28)
Front Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Rear Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR2 29"x2.4" 3C EXO TR
Tubes
Stans Sealant 2oz
Seat Post
RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6
Saddle
WTB Silverado Team Saddle
