Santa Cruz Hightower 2025 first ride review

The brand-new 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower was redesigned from the ground up and is more capable than its predecessor, generating 160/150 mm of travel front and rear. Santa Cruz market their new 29er trail rocket as a do-it-all bike – much like the latest iteration of the Bronson. But what sets them apart, and which bike truly delivers on its promises?

The Santa Cruz name alone sparks many dreams. For some, it evokes memories of endless beaches and the gentle breeze of the ocean, for others, it represents the untamed energy of skate culture. But for mountain bikers, Santa Cruz means one thing above all: top-tier, premium bikes. About 30 years ago, a group of friends began their ascent in the industry from a garage, nestled between a bakery and a hot sauce company, eventually becoming one of the most relevant bike brands in the business.

Santa Cruz’s portfolio has grown steadily over the past decades, and the developers and designers haven’t been lulled into complacency by the sound of the ocean waves. Most recently, they introduced the 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower, which was conceived as a versatile all-rounder that is capable of tackling everything from fast bike park tracks to epic backcountry expeditions with steep climbs. Sounds familiar? That’s precisely the same claim Santa Cruz made when they released the new Bronson not too long ago. However, the Hightower takes a different approach: while the Bronson sports a smaller 27.5″ rear wheel, the Hightower sticks to its roots with 29″ wheels for improved stability and more efficient climbing. Both bikes offer 160/150 mm (f/r) of suspension travel. One of the most noticeable changes to the Hightower, compared to its predecessor, is the redesigned frame surrounding the shock.

In our test version, the Santa Cruz Hightower CC XO AXS RSV goes for € 9,999 over the counter – or rather, with its 14.56 kg, through the open counter flap. Depending on the spec, the bike is available for between € 5,499 and € 11,499.

The new Santa Cruz Hightower 2025 in detail

With its unmistakable frame silhouette, the Hightower is distinctly recognisable as a Santa Cruz, even without the bold logo on the down tube. Like all Santa Cruz full suspension bikes, the Hightower features the manufacturer’s typical VPP rear suspension system, which is mainly responsible for the bike’s unmistakable look. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice a small yet radical change: the frame has a new shape, which aims to improve the rear suspension’s performance. In a nutshell, it’s meant to reduce anti-squat and pedal kickback. Moreover, the shock is now positioned slightly further forward in the frame, which makes it easier to access for setup.

As usual, the frame is available in two different versions, C and CC, where by the high-end CC frame relies on a larger proportion of higher strength fibres, ensuring the same stiffness values at a lower weight – and of course, this comes at a price. For the original owner, Santa Cruz offer a lifetime warranty for the frame, Reserve wheels and rear suspension bearings.

One of the standout features of the Hightower is the Glovebox, a storage compartment in the downtube. The compartment’s lid can be opened easily even with gloves, and the bottle cage is neatly integrated into the cover. The storage compartment is well-constructed, and there’s no rattling noise on the trail, even with a full water bottle in the bottle cage. To prevent you from scraping your fingers, Santa Cruz lined the sharp edges of the opening with plastic. The storage compartment come standard with two pouches – a tube bag and a tool bag – which hold everything in place inside the frame. In addition, the indentation of the shock mount in the down tube prevents the bags from slipping down. And there’s more for all those riders who like to be organised! The tool bag is divided into smaller compartments, which makes it perfect to carry a repair kit and multi-tool on one side and some cash in the waterproof side.cash and insurance documents dry. The second pouch is longer and undivided, which makes it ideal for a spare inner tube.

The new Hightower features a downtube protector and an additional shuttle guard, which prevents chafing when you throw your bike on the back of a truck.

The cockpit of the Hightower is reminiscent of a Tesla: clean and tidy. Thanks to the Matchmakers and wireless AXS remote, there are only three cables, which disappear neatly into the frame just behind the head tube. The ports aren’t clamped, but able guides inside the frame effectively prevent rattling noises, keeping everything securely in place. By the way, the CC frame doesn’t have any cable ports for cable-operated drivetrains, making it impossible to downgrade if you’re not into wireless shifting.

The Hightower features a generously sized chainstay protector, which is divided into two sections: the first, thinly-ribbed portion wraps around the chainstay, while the second part covers the bottom of the seat stay. This combination effectively prevents chain slap, ensuring a quiet ride on the trail.

Another highlight: Santa Cruz redesigned the head tube badge with the brand’s iconic logo. This is now elegantly integrated into the frame with smoothed edges to prevent the paint from chipping – nice!

The spec of the 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXS RSV

The 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXS RSV variant we tested relies on the lighter CC carbon frame and wireless SRAM X0 Eagle AXS drivetrain. Compared to the SRAM XX Eagle AXS, the X0 forgoes carbon parts, but still delivers smooth shifting performance. Our test bike rolls on Santa Cruz’s in-houseReserve 30 HD (Heavy Duty) carbon rims, which are laced on Industry Nine 1/1 hubs.

FOX supply the suspension of the 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXS RSV, adding a touch of bling with the fancy Kashima coating. The FOX 36 Factory fork generates 160 mm of travel and relies on the new Grip X2 damper, which provides a more defined response and sits higher in its travel than its GRIP2 counterpart, while still offering the same extensive adjustment options. The VPP rear suspension is paired with a FOX FLOAT X Factory shock with piggyback reservoir, which prevents the shock from overheating on long descents, thus ensuring consistent performance. Additionally, the shock offers tool-free low-speed compression and rebound adjustments, along with a climb switch that stiffens up the shock on long climbs to prevent pedal bob.

SRAM MAVEN Silver brakes ensure reliable, powerful deceleration. The Silver edition is essentially the same as the Ultimate version but without the lighter titanium and carbon parts – though honestly, those few grams hardly matter, right? Despite running on small 180 mm rotors front and rear, the MAVEN brakes pack a punch, and we didn’t notice any brake fade, even on long descents.

The Reserve 30 HD carbon wheelset is combined with MAXXIS tires, with a Minion DHF in the thin EXO casing and soft MaxxGrip compound at the front and Minion DHR II in the slightly tougher EXO+ casing and harder MaxxTerra compound at the rear. This combination offers solid protection against punctures and reliable grip. Heavy, aggressive riders should upgrade to more robust tires, for example with the tough Doubledown casing at the rear and EXO+ at the front.

Our test bike in size L comes with a 180 mm OneUp V3 dropper post. The remote on the Santa Cruz 35 handlebars operates smoothly and offers countless mounting options, making it easy to adapt its position to your ergonomic requirements. With 180 mm of travel, you get plenty of room to move on the trail, though we would have preferred the 200 mm variant for even more freedom.

The 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXS RSV retails at € 9,999 and tips the scales at 14.56 kg. For your money, you’ll get a well-specced 29” trail bike that leaves very little to be desired. By the way, despite its larger wheels, the Hightower is actually lighter than the Santa Cruz Bronson!

Other spec variants of the 2025 New Santa Cruz Hightower

Santa Cruz offer the 2025 Hightower 2025 in a total of six. The model we tested is number 5, and just one below the flagship model. All variants come standard with a Reserve wheelset MAXXIS tire combo. Like with the Santa Cruz Bronson, the wheelset model differs depending on the spec, ranging from the more affordable Reserve 30 TR 6061 alloy wheels with SRAM MTH hubs of the C R model, to the top-tier Reserve 30 HD carbon wheels with Industry Nine Hydra hubs of the CC XX AXS RSV.

Important note: the R, S, and GX AXS spec variants feature the slightly heavier C frame, which still has cable ports for conventional drivetrains. However, all spec variants – except for the entry-level R version – come with a OneUp V3 dropper post.

The main difference between our test bike and the flagship model is in the drivetrain and brakes, with the top-tier Hightower CC XX AXS RSV spec variant featuring a SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission rear derailleur and SRAM MAVEN Ultimate stoppers. The Reserve 30 HD carbon wheels with Industry Nine Hydra hubs provide the proverbial icing on the cake – if you close your eyes and listen carefully, you can hear them buzzing in your head!

The slightly cheaper Hightower CC X0 AXS retails at € 8,799 and is identical to our test model, except for the wheels. This version relies on a Reserve 30 SL 6069 alloy wheelset and Industry Nine 1/1 hubs.

The € 7,399 C GX AXS version features the heavier C frame and more affordable FOX Performance Elite suspension consisting of a 36 fork and FLOAT X shock. This offers the same countless adjustment options as the top-tier Factory model and delivers the same tremendous performance on the trail. Shifting is taken care of by a SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission drivetrain, while SRAM MAVEN Bronze brakes do stopping duties. The MAVEN Bronze edition delivers the same powerful deceleration as the Silver and Ultimate variants but lacks the tool-free bite point adjustment. The C GX AXS model rolls on a Reserve 30 SL 6069 alloy wheelset with DT Swiss 370 hubs.

Retailing at € 6,399, the S variant features the heavierC frame, FOX 36 Performance fork and a FOX FLOAT X Performance shock, which offers fewer adjustment options. Shifting is taken care of by a conventional, cable-operated SRAM Eagle GX drivetrain. SRAM supply the DB8 Stealth brakes, which deliver slightly less brake power than the SRAM MAVEN, though this is compensated by the bigger 200 mm brake rotors front and rear. The S model rolls on a Reserve 30 TR 6061 alloy wheelset with DT 370 hubs. The rims are not available for purchase as aftermarket parts.

The € 5,499 R model features a RockShox Lyrik Base fork and FOX Rhythm shock. Shifting is taken care of by a conventional SRAM Eagle NX drivetrain, while SRAM DB8 brakes do stopping duties. SDG supply the TELLIS dropper post. Like the S version, the R model rolls on Reserve 30 TR 6061 aluminium rims, though these are laced onto SRAM MTH hubs.

The geometry of the 2025 New Santa Cruz Hightower

The 29″ Hightower is available in five sizes, S to XXL, all of which roll on 29” wheels. Compared to its predecessor, the latest iteration of the Hightower has 5 mm more reach and stack height. A flip-chip in the shock mount allows you to adjusts the geometry of the Hightower between a low and high setting. The changes that affect trail performance the most are the head angle, bottom bracket height and reach. We rode our test bike in size L mainly in the low setting, which results in 478 mm reach and a relatively high 643 mm stack height – the exact same figures as the new Santa Cruz Bronson. The flip-chip alters the head angle by 0.3° and the reach and stack by 2 mm respectively. To ensure consistent handling across the board, Santa Cruz also adapt the chainstay length to the respective frame size, with lengths ranging from 435 mm in size S to 446 mm in size XXL (low setting).
The new Hightower is also 0.6° slacker than its predecessor, with the head tube angle now measuring 63.9° in the low setting and 64.2° in the high setting. The seat angle was altered even more radically, increasing from 76.4° to 77.9°, and thus ensuring an even more efficient pedalling performance. At 430 mm, the seat tube is pleasantly short, ensuring plenty of freedom of movement on the trail.

The new Hightower can’t be converted to a mullet bike, simply because the geometry a mixed wheel setup. If you’re looking for a mullet bike, in this travel category, the Santa Cruz Bronson is the better option. This clearly shows that Santa Cruz didn’t cut corners, and instead designed two different bikes, each optimised for its respective wheel size.

Size (low)	SM	MD	LG	XL	XXL
Top tube	573 mm	596 mm	615 mm	638 mm	664 mm
Seat tube	380 mm	405 mm	430 mm	460 mm	500 mm
Head tube	110 mm	120 mm	130 mm	150 mm	160 mm
Head angle	63.9°	63.9°	63.9°	63.9°	63.9°
Seat angle	77.3°	77.6°	77.9°	78°	78.1°
Chainstay	XXX mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm
BB Drop	32 mm	32 mm	32 mm	32 mm	32 mm
Wheelbase	1,206 mm	1,238 mm	1,265 mm	1,297 mm	1,329 mm
Reach	432 mm	458 mm	478 mm	498 mm	523 mm
Stack	625 mm	634 mm	643 mm	661 mm	570 mm

The new 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower X0 AXS RSV on the trail

The 29” Hightower hits the market about a month after its nearly identical sibling, the Santa Cruz Bronson, which rolls on a mixed wheel setup with 29” wheel at the front and smaller 27.5” wheel at the rear. Santa Cruz promote both bikes as versatile “do-it-all” rigs. Given their nearly identical specifications, one question arises spontaneously: which bike truly lives up to this promise?

Riding uphill, the Hightower places you in a sporty, slightly front-heavy yet well-balanced pedalling position. This allows for efficient pedalling, and although the rear suspension bobs slightly on fire roads, provides the necessary traction on technical climbs, allowing you to confidently tackle even challenging ascents. The slightly front-heavy pedalling position ensures extra traction up front, ensuring good manoeuvrability at all times. On level ground and flat fire roads, we recommend using the climb switch to save energy and time. Compared to the new Bronson, which places you in a more upright, relaxed pedalling position, the Hightower is without a doubt the more efficient climber.

As the name suggests, the Hightower places you in a more dominant, integrating you less deeply into the frame as the Bronson, which is mainly due to the bigger 29” wheels and increased anti-squat values of the Hightower. The bigger wheels ensure excellent composure downhill, but also make the bike slightly less agile and playful in tight, twisty sections compared to the Bronson. The slightly front-heavy position helps generate traction on the front wheel, thus ensuring precise handling, even in corners where little rider input is required. The stiff frame and wheels also contribute to the precise, sharp handling.
Despite the slightly front-heavy position, the high front end inspires huge amounts of confidence. However, there’s a noticeable lack of pressure on the already firm rear suspension, which comes at the expense of traction, especially on rough terrain. Additionally, the powerful SRAM MAVEN brakes tend to lock up at an early stage, so it takes some time to adjust to their brute braking force – even with the small 180 mm rotors.

The FOX suspension performs reliably, effortlessly absorbing small obstacles while providing plenty of support when pumping through rollers and berms. However, it leans towards the firmer side, which, in combination with the stiff frame, can make the bike feel slightly nervous on very rough trails. Unlike the Bronson, the Hightower places you on top of the bike rather than integrating you between its wheels. Additionally, the Hightower provides more direct feedback from the ground, thus requiring a more precise line choice but at the same time allowing you to build up speed by pumping through rollers and berms.

Who should take a closer look at the 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower?

The 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower shines above all on long tours and flowy trails, while also handling technical uphill sections with great efficiency. It strikes an excellent balance between climbing efficiency and precise handling, which makes it the ideal choice for riders who value uphill performance just as much as downhill capabilities. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a bike that excels in fast rides, where both climbs and descents play an equal role. However, if you’re looking for a trusted companion for fun descents and enjoy the occasional shuttle lap, you should take a closer look at the Bronson.
Retailing at nearly €10,000, the Hightower variant falls into the premium category, which comes as no surprise given the fancy Santa Cruz decals.

Our conclusions about the 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower 2025

The new 2025 Santa Cruz Hightower stays true to its character: in a nutshell, it’s a trail bike that focuses on efficiency – as long as you remember to use the climb switch on fire road climbs. The sporty pedalling position excels on technical climbs, and always ensures good traction up front. Riding downhill, the Hightower impresses with direct handling, though there’s still room for improvement in terms of traction. Overall, the Hightower provides a solid combination of technical uphill performance and precise handling downhill, which makes it suitable for sporty tours and flowing trails.

More info at santacruzbikes.com

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Words: Robin Ulbrich Photos: Peter Walker