![]() The sticky terrain made the climbing significantly harder compared to my usual dry and dusty Utah trails, but the fact that I didn’t have to walk up every climb is a testament to the Hightower’s pedaling prowess. Though the trails in Oakridge are mostly downhill, there were steep, sodden inclines to reach most of the trails from the drop off points as well as punchy climbs throughout the descents. Ride Impressions Climbing / UphillĮvo’s Danielle Vilaplana rides the V3 Santa Cruz Hightower at Oakridge, Oregon. Knowing where all your stuff is, that it’s clean and dry, and that it’s staying put: that’s worth its weight in gold. A tensioned aluminum latch keeps everything secure without rattling, and internal routing is kept separate. ![]() The new Glovebox™ gives access to the space inside a rather impressive downtube, where a Tool Purse and a Tube Wallet organize whatever you’d rather carry inside your bike than out. This is the second Santa Cruz bike to feature integrated storage, following the Megatower release a few months ago. The Hightower also features smart cable routing to help out your local mechanic and I’ve heard that the design on the top tube says “this is a mountain bike” in morse code, which is the kind of insignificant but affectionate design feature that I love to see. For example, the addition of a small window that makes it easier to check your sag will be extremely useful for those who need to dial their suspension for every ride. The build quality is par for the course, with attention to the tiniest details that definitely inspire faith in the brand. I can’t say that I enjoy SRAM’s rocker paddle shifter and would gladly reach for the regular GX models, but more discerning and technologically-inclined riders will appreciate the snappy shifting of the AXS drivetrain. I had the privilege of riding the Hightower CC X01 AXS RSV and it was truly excellent, even though it features a level of components I have no business riding. The not-yet-released aluminum builds are significantly more budget-friendly and Santa Cruz didn’t slap on SRAM SX components and call it a day, so there seems to be a solid level of thought and respect that went into each build for the aluminum framers out there. ![]() The carbon models feature some frame variation, as you can choose between Santa Cruz’s C or CC frames for a slight difference in weight and price. The Hightower comes in six carbon and two aluminum models in sizes S-XXL, so there’s a whopping variety and price discrepancy in the lineup. If that sounds like marketing jargon and you’re tired of reading it, rest assured that I’m tired of writing it, and only through personal riding experience can I say that statement holds some water. Together, these changes make for a more comfortable ride that is a little more efficient on the climb and solid on the descent. Reach stayed just about the same, growing just a mere 2mm, and the bottom bracket dropped another 2mm. The seat tube angle continues to vary by size but hovers between 76.7 and 77-degrees, and the stack saw a significant increase by up to 15mm. The 64.5-degree headtube angle is slacker than its V2 predecessor and the wheelbase increased by 5-10mm, making the Hightower even more stable and speedy on the descents. These changes allow smaller riders and bigger riders to all experience the same feel and ride characteristics that Santa Cruz intended for the Hightower, a move that is a little more inclusive to bikers of every height and weight. Santa Cruz also created new stiffness standards for each size by tailoring the front triangle flex proportionally to frame size. Few bike brands had varying chainstays lengths in 2021 so the change is refreshing. One of the bigger changes to the Hightower is in the size-specific measurements. But several features distinguish the Hightower from the list of long and low bikes, and many of the standard features remain, like the 29” wheels, 150mm fork and 145mm rear travel, LO/HI Flip Chip, and the VPP suspension. The glamor of mountain biking is in the fast descents and stylish airtime that make up for the unflattering inseams and tanlines, so the trend makes sense. “Refined, not redefined,” as Santa Cruz puts it. Here’s a bomb that no one predicted so hold on to your seat – the new Hightower is longer, slacker, and lower. 145mm Lower Link Driven VPP Rear Travel / 150mm ForkĬhainstay Length and Seat Tube Angle Matched to Frame Size
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