Santa Cruz's Hightower Is The Planet's Most Versatile Mountain Bike
"May your trails be crooked, winding, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds" - Edward Abbey
Chris Schralp's 2017 Bike Quest
For the 2017 mountain biking season, I am planning to purchase a new bike. What am I looking for in a new bike? Quality. Versatility. Design. Geometry. Fun.
My current carbon stallion 'Penelope' has served me well - a 2011 Santa Cruz Tallboy. I'm looking for a modern, maybe even futuristic, adaptable bike. XC is my preferred riding style, but I'd like the option of more travel to build more confidence on downhill sections.
The Swiss Army Knife of Mountain Bikes
Santa Cruz's Hightower has the flexibility to take on whatever your trails may throw at you.
As Santa Cruz describes, "Hightower has the versatility to deal with whatever appears on the horizon. Running either proven 29" wheels or the new monster-truck 27.5”+ standard, Hightower seamlessly adapts to the trails and style you ride, no matter where you are in the world."
Bike Mag had this to say in their review of this all-purpose mountain bike: "We loved how the Hightower made easy work of rough, high-speed descents, and found its ride characteristics to be much more planted and stable than agile or playful."
Josh Kissner, product manager at Santa Cruz, was asked by Bike Mag for what conditions the Hightower would be ideal for - he replied: "The geometry, suspension, and weight really straddle the line between trail and enduro, making for a bike that is fun and agile on easier trails, but certainly has no problem with fast and scary stuff too. It’s the bike you can take on pretty much any trail and be happy."
Pink Bike's Mike Kazimer's breakdown included this gem: "The faster you go the more it comes alive, urging you to let off the brakes and see just how hard you can push the rear wheel into a turn. 135mm may not seem like much travel, but don't be fooled – this is a lot of bike, and that travel combined with the big wheels goes a long way towards taking the edge off big hits and forgiving line choice mistakes."
Bike Radar's Josh Patterson summed up the Hightower this way: "If you’re looking for an efficient and capable companion for long days on rugged trails the Hightower is a willing accomplice."
What's In A Name?
This model is named after Eric Highlander (aka Hightower), Santa Cruz's demo tour coordinator. No offence Eric (he's one tall human after all), but think I would have actually preferred if Santa Cruz would have named this bike Highlander. Seems even more fitting and futuristic...
The Future Of Mountain Bikes Has Arrived
While I have an pre-existing affinity for the Santa Cruz brand, I have been considering all options. Yeti, Giant, Rocky Mountain, amongst others all present viable options for what I'm looking for, but one bike keeps rising to the top.
Outside's article Santa Cruz Is Future of MTBs especially caught my attention. As Aaron Gulley notes in his verdict: "This is the first and best iteration of the modern trail bike that we’ve seen, featuring an adjustable geometry that allows it to be ridden—and ridden well—with both 29er and 27.5+ wheels. It’s best suited to skilled riders who push hard and live in areas with challenging terrain."
Given I'm already used to 29er format, Outside keeps convincing me with statements like:"if you are a 29er fan, you will be hard-pressed to find a machine that’s more all-around capable than this one."
Dirt Rag mag might have said it best: "Think James Bond with wheels and a carbon frame, and you might be getting close the personality of this bike."
Geometry
As MTB Mag notes:
"Geometry is relatively modern, with shorter chainstays made possible by the updated positioning of the VPP system, which has also been utilized by the latest iterations of the Bronson and Nomad. The head tube angle is rather slack 67."
Pink Bike states:
"It wouldn't be a stretch to call it a big wheeled Bronson, and it shares many of the same frame design features as its sibling, including a low slung top tube, a 150mm dropper post, 12 x 148mm rear spacing, and a VPP suspension layout."
"The standout geometry change is that the head angle now comes in at 67 degrees—that’s a whopping 2.5 degrees more relaxed than the Tallboy LT. Another significant change is the bike’s 15mm shorter chainstays that now measure at 435mm."
"Together with the spot-on geometry, Santa Cruz designed a bike with fantastic steering, and with the excellent rider position on the handlebars you will simply dominate the turns. Incidentally, said extra-low bottom bracket will also ensure that you will bang your pedals on the boulders during technical climbs, or will just have to remain wary all the time."
Luckily, with the Hightower, while you do have to choose, you can change your mind. I'll likely prefer the 29er version from the get go, but love the flexibility.
The Radavist felt different in his review: "While the 29r handled like a champ, the 27.5+’s ride quality really resonated with me. I liked the lower stance, the added traction and the bike just felt more whippier."
Vernon Felton at the Adventure Journal prefers the 29er setup: "I still prefer the Hightower when shod with the 29 x 2.3 wheel and tire combination. I find the cornering bite to be better with the 29er tires and the Hightower simply feels more nimble, more ready to dance and get loose in its traditional 29er configuration."
Video Review
Hightower Details
• Travel: 135mm • 29" or 27.5+ wheels • Carbon frame • 67° head angle • 433mm chainstays • 12 x 148mm rear spacing • Threaded bottom bracket • Sizes M, L, XL • Weight approximately 26.9 pounds. Frame only: 5.88 pounds. • Colors: Sriracha red, matte carbon & mint • Price: $4599 - $7799 USD (ENVE wheel upgrade available) • via Santa Cruz website
Dirt Rag mag suggests: "There is an ENVE wheel upgrade for $2,000. Personally, I’d save that cash, buy the 27plus bike with the 150 mm fork and a set of 29er wheels."
Verdict
Will the Hightower (if I get one, I'll name mine "Highlander") be my new ride for the 2017 season and beyond? When a bike get's called everything from "the future" to "James Bond on wheels", it remains at the top of wish list. Stay tuned!
Keep schralping.