Santa Cruz Hightower: New 29″ and 27.5+ Trail Bike
Santa Cruz launched the successor of the popular 29er trail bike Tallboy LT: the Santa Cruz Hightower. The new bike is inspired by the technology of current Santa Cruz bikes like the Nomad and Bronson and is designed to be run with either 29″ or 27.5+ wheels. We took a look at the new machine and summed up all the information for you here:
The new Hightower fits snuggly in Santa Cruz’s lineup, filling the gap that the Tallboy LT left. The 135mm 29″ chassis uses a similar VPP suspension design as their 27.5 Bronson but also takes some design features from the Nomad, most noticeably the lack of a front derailleur mount. The ability to switch between 29″ and 27.5+ could be very appealing for those who fancy the new plus size bikes but are not willing to fully commit to the new wheel standard.
The big question, 27.5+ or 29?
The new Boost standard (12 x 148mm rear, 15 x 110 front) allows riders to swap between 29″ and 27.5+ wheels. No matter what size you run, geometry remains optimized thanks to a neat little “High/Low” setting on the upper link that flips to adjust bottom bracket height. Although you can run 29″ wheels in the high setting, Santa Cruz believes that the low setting is the sweet spot for the big wheels and the high setting is intended for the 27.5+ setup. The 29″ version comes with a 140mm fork while the 27.5″ features 150mm of front suspension. Luckily RockShox’s Pike can be modified relatively easily to either configuration.
Santa Cruz suggests sticking with the 29″ wheel if straight line speed, rallying through rock gardens and sprinting out of turns is your thing. On the other hand, the company recommends the 27.5+ version whenever conditions get loose and the traction just isn’t there. Santa Cruz claims that the 27.5+ wheels elevate the Hightower to a whole different level, enabling you to rise above the pow, rail the soft spots and carry momentum where standard tires bog down.
135mm of VPP travel is reinforced by a 148 rear axle spacing and the kind of Nomad-syle linkage arrangement and swingarm design. This has the effect that the Hightower can only be run with a one-by drivetrain but allowed the designers to keep the chainstay length at short 435mm, promising snappy handling characteristics. Together with modestly long reach, a 67° head angle and low standover height, the geometry of the Hightower appears up to date.
Geometry Santa Cruz Hightower 29″
| Size | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube horizontal | 601 mm | 622 mm | 650 mm |
| Chainstays | 435 mm | 435 mm | 435 mm |
| Head angle | 67° | 67° | 67° |
| Seat angle | 74.3° | 74.3° | 74.3° |
| Bottom bracket height | 337 mm | 337 mm | 337 mm |
| Seat tube length | 420 mm | 450 mm | 490 mm |
| Reach | 430 mm | 450 mm | 475 mm |
| Stack | 604 mm | 613 mm | 619 mm |
Geometry Santa Cruz Hightower 650B+
| Size | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube horizontal | 602 mm | 623 mm | 651 mm |
| Chainstays | 434 mm | 434 mm | 434 mm |
| Head angle | 66.8° | 66.8° | 66.8° |
| Seat angle | 74.1° | 74.1° | 74.1° |
| Bottom bracket height | 335 mm | 335 mm | 335 mm |
| Seat tube length | 420 mm | 450 mm | 490 mm |
| Reach | 428 mm | 448 mm | 473 mm |
| Stack | 610 mm | 615 mm | 624 mm |
Specification
Both the 29″ and the 27.5+ Hightower come in 3 build kits. The base model Hightower C S AM comes with a RockShox Monarch RT shock, Pike RC fork, SRAM GX drivetrain and Shimano SLX brakes for $ 4599. Further up the scale, the $ 6499 Hightower CC X01 AM offers a RockShox Monarch RT3 shock, Pike RT3 fork, SRAM X01 drivetrain and SRAM Guide RSC brakes. While the top of the line Hightower CC XX1 AM shares the suspension with the X01 AM, the $ 7799 build adds SRAM’s XX1 drivetrain with Raceface Next SL cranks and SRAM Guide Ultimate brakes. All builds come with a 150mm RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post. Both CC models can be upgraded with ENVE carbon wheels for an additional $ 2000.
The CC-level carbon frame is said to be every bit as stiff and strong as the C-level frame, but weighs about 230 grams less, due to the use of some lighter, stronger, and more expensive carbon fiber. Using this material in key places allowed Santa Cruz to use less material overall, which is what shaves off half a pound from the frame. The Hightower CC Frameset with RockShox Monarch RT3 is available for $ 2899.
Specification: Santa Cruz Hightower 29″
| Model | Hightower C | Hightower CC | Hightower CC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build-Kit | S AM 29 | X01 AM 29 | XX1 AM 29 |
| Rear Shock | Rock Shox Monarch RT | Rock Shox Monarch RT3 | Rock Shox Monarch RT3 |
| Fork | Rock Shox Pike RC 140 | Rock Shox Pike RCT3 140 | Rock Shox Pike RCT3 140 |
| Rear Mech & Shifter | SRAM GX 1×11 RD | SRAM X01 Carbon 11sp RD | SRAM XX1 RD Black |
| Crankset | Raceface Aeffect SL 30t 175mm | Raceface Turbine Crank 30t 175mm | Raceface Next SL 30t 175mm |
| Cassette | SRAM XG1150 CS 10-42 | SRAM XG-1180 Cassette 10-42 | SRAM XG-1195 Cassette 10-42 |
| Chain | SRAM PC1130 | SRAM PC1131 | SRAM XX1 |
| Brakes | Shimano SLX M675 w/180mm disc | SRAM Guide RSC w/180mm disc | SRAM Guide Ultimate w/180mm disc |
| Cockpit | Raceface Ride 35×760 Lo-Rise Bar with Raceface Turbine Basic 35 | SCB 16 AM Flat Bar Carbon 31.8 x 780 with Raceface Turbine Basic Stem 31.8x50mm | SCB 16 AM Flat Bar Carbon 31.8 x 780 with Easton Haven 31.8x55mm Stem |
| Seatpost | Rock Shox Reverb Stealth 150mm | Rock Shox Reverb Stealth 150mm | Rock Shox Reverb Stealth 150mm |
| Tyres | Maxxis Minion 29×2.3 DHR2 TR 3c | Maxxis Minion 29×2.3 DHR2 TR 3c | Maxxis Minion 29×2.3 DHR2 TR 3c |
| Hubs | SRAM MTH 716 15X110 Torque Cap & SRAM MTH 746 148×12 | DT 350 15/110mm 28H Torque Cap & DT 350 148×12 28h Rear hub XD | Industry Nine 15/110mm 28H Torque Cap & Industry Nine 148×12 28h |
| Rims | Easton AR 27 29″ 32H | Easton ARC 27 29″ 28H / ENVE Option | Easton ARC 27 29″ 28H / ENVE Option |
| Weight | 13,489 kg | 12,721 kg / ENVE: 12,573 kg | 12,365 kg / ENVE: 12,217g |
| Price | $ 4599 | $ 6499/+ $ 2000 | $ 7799/+ $ 2000 |
Specification: Santa Cruz Hightower 650B+
| Model | Hightower C | Hightower CC | Hightower CC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build-Kit | S AM 27.5+ | X01 AM 27.5+ | XX1 AM 27.5+ |
| Rear Shock | Rock Shox Monarch RT | Rock Shox Monarch RT3 | Rock Shox Monarch RT3 |
| Fork | Rock Shox Pike RC 150 | Rock Shox Pike RCT3 150 | Rock Shox Pike RCT3 150 |
| Rear Mech & Shifter | SRAM GX 1×11 RD | SRAM X01 Carbon 11sp RD | SRAM XX1 RD Black |
| Crankset | Raceface Aeffect SL 30t 175mm | Raceface Turbine Crank 30t 175mm | Raceface Next SL 30t 175mm |
| Cassette | SRAM XG1150 CS 10-42 | SRAM XG-1180 Cassette 10-42 | SRAM XG-1195 Cassette 10-42 |
| Chain | SRAM PC1130 | SRAM PC1131 | SRAM XX1 |
| Brakes | Shimano SLX M675 w/180mm disc | SRAM Guide RSC w/180mm disc | SRAM Guide Ultimate w/180mm disc |
| Cockpit | Raceface Ride 35×760 Lo-Rise Bar with Raceface Turbine Basic 35 | SCB 16 AM Flat Bar Carbon 31.8 x 780 with Raceface Turbine Basic Stem 31.8x50mm | SCB 16 AM Flat Bar Carbon 31.8 x 780 with Easton Haven 31.8x55mm Stem |
| Seatpost | Rock Shox Reverb Stealth 150mm | Rock Shox Reverb Stealth 150mm | Rock Shox Reverb Stealth 150mm |
| Tyres | Maxxis Rekon 27.5×2.8 EXO 3C Tubeless Ready | Maxxis Rekon 27.5×2.8 EXO 3C Tubeless Ready | Maxxis Rekon 27.5×2.8 EXO 3C Tubeless Ready |
| Hubs | SRAM MTH 716 15X110 Torque Cap & SRAM MTH 746 148×12 | DT 350 15/110mm 28H Torque Cap & DT 350 148×12 28h Rear hub XD | Industry Nine 15/110mm 28H Torque Cap & Industry Nine 148×12 28h |
| Rims | Easton AR 40 27.5″ Rim 32h | Easton ARC 40 27.5″ 28H | Easton ARC 40 27.5″ 28H |
| Weight | 13,460 kg | 12,686 kg | 12,330g |
| Price | $ 4599 | $ 6499 | $ 7799 |
For more information on the Santa Cruz Hightower head to the Santa Cruz website.
You prefer a standard 27.5 bike? Check out our Santa Cruz Nomad C X01 Review.
Words: Moritz Dittmar/Santa Cruz PR Photos: Gary Perkin/Santa Cruz PR
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