Write a Review

Saving weight means little without retaining an appropriate level of stiffness and responsiveness too. So we've taken all the acceleration and out-of-the-saddle sprint qualities of a carbon XC race rocket and fused them with a rear-end that still rails corners like a hardcore trail bike. This unique XC-trail attitude is also reflected in the geometry. The head tube angle (67.1 degrees) and reach (425mm) are a little steeper and shorter than a Joplin to meet the demands of aggressive climbing, yet the Wilder's seat tube angle is a touch slacker and the chainstays a little longer than a Joplin too in order to retain that familiar Juliana confidence on descents. And talking of chainstays, each chainstay length is specific to the individual frame size; meaning riders of every height enjoy the same handling and performance no matter what. Beyond the details, there are some bigger features that amplify this XC wild child's abilities. Rapid rolling 29-inch wheels are paired with a 120mm fork to tame the feral lines and smooth the sketchiest of passing maneuvers. There's even room for two water bottles within the front triangle for bigger training and racing days.

THE MOUNTAIN BIKE, DISTILLED The newest version of the Hightower remains our greatest hits of engineering - now further refined and bottled into our most all-terrain of bikes. Big on wheels, medium on travel, and 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. Engineering Details: OUR ENGINEERS' GREATEST HITS Not all frames are created equal. Hightower represents Santa Cruz's greatest hits, showcasing our design, engineering, and performance prowess. LOWER LINK ASSEMBLY The highly-sculpted and optimized Lower Link (A) houses a geometry-adjusting Flip Chip (B) and beefy Pivot Axles (C) to virtually eliminate lateral flex. UPPER LINK ASSEMBLY We only use the highest quality Enduro MAX or TPX sealed, radial bearings (A) and premium fasteners (B) for our linkage assemblies. They're easy to properly torque and maintain, plus we offer free replacement bearings for life. ONE-PIECE SWINGARM VPP suspension utilizes a one-piece swingarm that eliminates the need for pivots on the stays, creating a stout, bulletproof rear end for accurate tracking and superior performance. CC CARBON Santa Cruz offers top-end CC Carbon, which is lighter and comes paired with more premium suspension. CARBON MASTERY The Sag Window (A), Glovebox (B), and internal cable tunnels (not shown) demonstrate Santa Cruz's expertise at combining practical function with carbon design and manufacturing artistry. THE SUM OF THE PARTS In isolation, all these things are great—together with fanatical suspension tuning, a premium build spec, and meticulous attention to detail, they're transcendent. SRAM Eagle Transmission - stronger, better shifting, wirelessly The next generation SRAM Eagle Transmission specced on our CC-carbon models is a radically robust, fully integrated, and interdependent wireless transmission. Built around the universal constant of the wheel axle itself, the Full Mount hangerless attachment creates a far stronger connection to the frame and the super strong derailleur provides unprecedented strength. Shifting under load is made possible due to a combination of X-SYNC technology and cassette mapping, creating seamless shifts even during your hardest power output. The new AXS Pods are extremely ergonomic and highly customizable, so shifting gears is light and intuitive. It's simply the most advanced transmission and nearly as tough as the mountain itself. Hightower 3 Highlights: VPP™ VPP™ suspension can be optimized to strike the right balance between pedaling efficiency and all-out bump-chomping prowess. That means wherever you see "VPP" you know it's tuned to perform exactly how it should for the purpose it's designed for. 145mm VPP travel Looking 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. Suspension sensitivity Compared to the last Hightower, we 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. Suspension consistency 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. Glovebox Place 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. Full carbon CC frame Carbon CC frames use the very best materials and production processes available, are made in our own factory, and have a lifetime warranty. Sag window A window allows easier suspension sag and setup. The details are completed by a neat mud flap to protect the rear shock plus tidy cable routing within the frame and swingarm, and rubberized DT protectors to shrug off strikes. Flip chip In 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. Proportional geometry Chainstay 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.