Santa Cruz Hightower Carbon CC 29 - X01 - Matt Melon - 2022

Our greatest hits compiled into one bike. Just hit play.

If ever a bike resembled your most cherished mix tape compilation, the Hightower is it. Featuring our lower-link mounted shock design, updated, adjustable geometry, this "Engineering Best Of..." assembles some of our biggest design pleasers into one belter of a road-trip companion.

The Hightower has been a does-it-all-well trail bike since its inception. More maneuverable than its longer-travel sibling, the Megatower, and more at home in the steep-and-chunky than its snappy cousin Tallboy, Hightower excels when the route covers 'all points in between,' and descents come courtesy of some big-ass climbs. The VPP suspension's lower-link-mounted shock creates a nearly linear leverage curve, meaning it mops up bumps of all sizes and maintains the kind of progressivity normally reserved for our V10 DH bike!

145mm of rear travel complemented by a 150mm front end gives Hightower just a bit more front and rear travel over the first generation model. Combined with a slacker 65-degree head tube angle, the Hightower still sits squarely in the Goldilocks zone, but with a touch more "Oh sh*t, get me out of here" capability when the porridge gets too hot!

Balancing stiffness and weight savings in all the right places is a hallmark of all Santa Cruz carbon frames, and the Hightower flies the flag yet higher. The advanced composite chassis tracks well across all trail surfaces, holds a line, and is reactive to rider directions while isolating pedal-influenced inputs.

The Hightower also has a bonus disc to heighten the experience: the flip chip. In the High setting, the BB height is a little higher for those tricky tech trails and/or when Plus sized tires are required. In the Low position, the shock rate is more progressive to provide additional bottom-out resistance. Whatever mood you're in, the tone of the Hightower can be adapted to meet your individual taste.

And, speaking of taste, there's room for a water bottle inside the main frame and a threaded BB for convenience. There's refined cable routing for better shifting performance, simpler installation, and no cable rub. On top of that, there's a tailgate shuttle guard, downtube protector, shock fender, and noise-canceling chainstay protector to keep things quiet.

The lifetime frame warranty and lifetime pivot bearing replacement policy assure you that the Hightower will keep delivering the hits for years to come.

• Frame X01
• Fork FOX 36 Float Factory, 150mm, 29"
• Rear Shock RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
• Rims RaceFace ARC Offset 30 29"
• Hubs Front: Industry Nine 1/1, 110x15, 6 Bolt, 28h
• Rear: Industry Nine 1/1, 148x12, XD, 6 Bolt, 28h
• Spokes Sapim Race
• Axles Front: 110 x 15mm
• Rear: 148 x 12mm
• Tires Front: Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGRIP, EXO, TR
• Rear: Maxxis Minion DHR 29"x2.4", 3C, EXO, MaxxTerra
• Bottom Bracket SRAM DUB 68/73mm
• Crankset SRAM X1 Eagle DUB
• Chainrings 30t
• Shifters SRAM X01 Eagle, 12spd
• Rear Derailleur SRAM X01 Eagle, 12spd
• Cassette/Freewheel SRAM XG1295 Eagle, 12spd, 10-52t
• Chain SRAM X01 Eagle, 12spd
• Brakes SRAM Code RSC
• Rotors Avid Centerline 180mm
• Handlebars Santa Cruz 35 Carbon Bar, 800mm, 35mm Rise
• Tape/Grips Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar
• Stem Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm
• Headset Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated
• Seatpost RockShox Reverb Stealth
• Saddle WTB Silverado Team Saddle or WTB Volt
• Pedals Sold separately