Article number: | S23E4P1HT3LGC0138 |
Availability: | In stock |
DESCRIPTION
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, 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
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OUR ENGINEERS’ GREATEST HITSNot all frames are created equal. Hightower represents Santa Cruz’s greatest hits, showcasing our design, engineering, and performance prowess. |
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LOWER LINK ASSEMBLYThe highly-sculpted and optimized Lower Link (A) houses a geometry adjusting Flip Chip (B) and beefy Pivot Axles (C) to virtually eliminate lateral flex. |
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UPPER LINK ASSEMBLYWe 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. |
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ONE-PIECE SWINGARMVPP 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. |
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C AND CC CARBONSanta Cruz offers two grades of carbon—top-end CC Carbon and value-minded C Carbon. Though they have the same stiffness and performance, CC is lighter and comes paired with more premium suspension. |
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CARBON MASTERYThe 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. |
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THE SUM OF THE PARTSIn isolation, all these things are great—together with fanatical suspension tuning, a premium build spec, and a meticulous attention-to-detail, they’re transcendent. |
SPECIFICATIONS
R | Kit | S |
Carbon C | Material | Carbon C |
145mm | Travel | 145mm |
29 | Wheel Size | 29 |
FOX Float Performance, 210x55 | Rear Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Select+, 210x55 |
RockShox Lyrik Base, 150mm | Fork | FOX 36 Float Performance, 150mm |
SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd | Rear Derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd |
SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd | Right Shifter | SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd |
SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t | Cassette | SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t |
SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd | Chain | SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd |
SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB | Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB |
FSA IS-2/47/42 ACB or Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated | Headset | Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset |
Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C MaxxTerra, EXO | Rear Tire | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C MaxxTerra, EXO |
Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C MaxxGrip, EXO | Front Tire | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C MaxxGrip, EXO |
SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 6-Bolt 32h | Front Hub | DT Swiss 370, 15x110, 6-Bolt, 28h |
RaceFace AR Offset 30, 29" | Front Rim | RaceFace AR Offset 30, 29" |
SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, HG, 6-Bolt, 32h | Rear Hub | DT Swis 370, 12x148, XD, 6-Bolt, 36t, 28h |
RaceFace AR Offset 30, 29" | Rear Rim | RaceFace AR Offset 30, 29" |
Avid Centerline, 200mm | Front Rotor | Avid Centerline, 180mm |
Avid Centerline, 180mm | Rear Rotor | Avid Centerline, 180mm |
SRAM G2 R | Breaks | SRAM Code R |
SRAM Descendant Eagle 148 DUB 32t | Crankset | SRAM GX Eagle 148 DUB 32t |
RaceFace Aeffect R | Handlebars | Burgtec RideWide Alloy |
Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm | Stem | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42mm |
WTB Silverado, CroMo | Saddle | WTB Silverado, CroMo |
SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.6 | Seatpost | OneUp V2 Dropper Post, 31.6 or RockShox Reverb, 31.6 |
Santa Cruz Bicycles House Grips* | Grips | Santa Cruz Bicycles House Grips* |
*Our House Grips have an aggressive knurl pattern for all-weather grip, finger ridges for added control and soft, yet durable rubber compound. They come in either 30 or 32mm width and have an inboard snap-on lock ring to keep them tight but no ring on the outboard side so they’re super comfortable. And they’ll do your taxes* *not true. But they are really good.
HIGHLIGHTS
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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. |
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145mm VPP travelLooking 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. |
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Suspension sensitivityCompared 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. |
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Suspension consistencyHightower'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. |
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GloveboxPlace 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. |
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Full carbon C and CC frameCC frames use the very best materials and production processes available. Our size-specific frame stiffness standards help tie together our ride quality goals by achieving a tailored front triangle flex characteristic for every size. |
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Sag windowA 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 strike |
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Flip chipIn 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. |
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Proportional geometryChainstay 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. |
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29-inch wheelsHightower features fast-rolling, bump-easing 29-inch wheels front and rear. On high-end builds we spec Reserve 30|HD carbon rims laced to premium hubs, which are built and hand-tuned in our Santa Cruz, Calif. factory. |
GEOMETRY
S | M | L | XL | XXL | |
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Reach | hi/lo | 430/427 | 455/452 | 475/472 | 495/492 | 520/517 |
Stack | hi/lo | 611/613 | 625/627 | 634/636 | 652/654 | 665/668 |
Head Tube Angle | hi/lo | 64.8°/64.5° | 64.8°/64.5° | 64.8°/64.5° | 64.8°/64.5° | 64.8°/64.5° |
Seat Tube Length | 380 | 405 | 430 | 460 | 500 |
Front Center | hi/lo | 752/752 | 783/783 | 807/807 | 836/836 | 867/867 |
BB Height | hi/lo | 342/339 | 342/338 | 342/338 | 342/338 | 342/338 |
BB Drop | hi/lo | 31/34 | 31/34 | 31/34 | 31/34 | 31/34 |
Wheelbase | hi/lo | 1183/1183 | 1217/1218 | 1244/1245 | 1276/1276 | 1310/1311 |
Rear Center | hi/lo | 431/432 | 434/435 | 437/438 | 440/441 | 443/444 |
Head Tube Length | 100 | 115 | 125 | 145 | 160 |
Top Tube Length | hi/lo | 571/572 | 599/600 | 626/627 | 647/648 | 674/675 |
Seat Tube Angle | hi/lo | 77°/76.7° | 77°/76.7° | 76.7°/76.4° | 76.9°/76.6° | 76.9°/76.7° |
Standover Height | hi/lo | 706/701 | 708/703 | 711/706 | 714/709 | 719/714 |
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.
The Hightower is available in sizes small - extra extra large (S-XXL).
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.