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!
Complementary DMR Vaults with all Santa Cruz
140mm 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 a 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 keeping things quiet.
The lifetime frame warranty, lifetime pivot bearing replacement policy, and lifetime guarantee on the optional Reserve carbon wheels assures you that the Hightower will keep delivering the hits for years to come
Build Kit | D - Kit | R - Kit | S - Kit |
Frame | Hightower Alloy | Hightower Alloy | Hightower Alloy |
Fork | RockShox 35 Gold RL, 150mm, 29" | RockShox Yari RC, 150mm, 29" | FOX 36 Float Performance, 150mm, 29" |
Shock | FOX Float Performance DPS | FOX Float Performance DPS | RockShox Super Deluxe Select |
Chainguide | None | None | None |
Rear Derailleur | SRAM SX Eagle, 12spd | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd | SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd |
Shifters | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd | SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd |
Crankset | SRAM X1 Eagle DUB, 30t - 170mm (S,M,L) - 175mm (XL) | SRAM Descendant Eagle DUB 30t - 170mm (S,M,L) 175mm (XL,XXL) | SRAM GX Eagle DUB 30t - 170mm (S,M,L) 175mm (XL,XXL) |
Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB | SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB | SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB |
Cassette | SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t | SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t | SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t |
Chain | SRAM SX Eagle, 12spd | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd | SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd |
Brakes | SRAM Guide T | SRAM G2 R | SRAM Code R |
Rotors | Avid Centerline 180mm | Avid Centerline 180mm | Avid Centerline 180mm |
Handlebar | RaceFace Aeffect R | RaceFace Aeffect R | Burgtec Alloy Bar, 800mm, 30mm Rise |
Stem | RaceFace Chester | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm |
Grips | Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar | Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar | Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar |
Headset | Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset | Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset | Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset |
Seatpost | SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.5 | SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.6 | RockShox Reverb Stealth, 31.6 |
Saddle | WTB Silverado Comp Saddle or WTB Volt | WTB Silverado Race Saddle or WTB Volt | WTB Silverado Pro Saddle or WTB Volt |
Front Tyre | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR |
Rear Tyre | Maxxis Minion DHR 29"x2.4", 3C, EXO, MaxxTerra | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR |
Front Wheel | Front Hub - SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race | Front Hub - SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race | Front Hub - DT Swiss 370, 15x110, 6 bolt, 28h or E13 SL, 15x110, 6 bolt, 28h Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race |
Rear Wheel | Rear Hub - SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race | Rear Hub - SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race | Rear Hub - DT Swiss 370, 12x148, XD, 28h or E13 SL, 12x148, XD, 28h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race |
Build Kit | D - Kit |
Frame | Hightower Alloy |
Fork | RockShox 35 Gold RL, 150mm, 29" |
Shock | FOX Float Performance DPS |
Chainguide | None |
Rear Derailleur | SRAM SX Eagle, 12spd |
Shifters | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd |
Crankset | SRAM X1 Eagle DUB, 30t - 170mm (S,M,L) - 175mm (XL) |
Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB |
Cassette | SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t |
Chain | SRAM SX Eagle, 12spd |
Brakes | SRAM Guide T |
Rotors | Avid Centerline 180mm |
Handlebar | RaceFace Aeffect R |
Stem | RaceFace Chester |
Grips | Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar |
Headset | Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset |
Seatpost | SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.5 |
Saddle | WTB Silverado Comp Saddle or WTB Volt |
Front Tyre | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR |
Rear Tyre | Maxxis Minion DHR 29"x2.4", 3C, EXO, MaxxTerra |
Front Wheel | Front Hub - SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race |
Rear Wheel | Rear Hub - SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race |
Build Kit | R - Kit |
Frame | Hightower Alloy |
Fork | RockShox Yari RC, 150mm, 29" |
Shock | FOX Float Performance DPS |
Chainguide | None |
Rear Derailleur | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd |
Shifters | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd |
Crankset | SRAM Descendant Eagle DUB 30t - 170mm (S,M,L) 175mm (XL,XXL) |
Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB |
Cassette | SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t |
Chain | SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd |
Brakes | SRAM G2 R |
Rotors | Avid Centerline 180mm |
Handlebar | RaceFace Aeffect R |
Stem | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm |
Grips | Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar |
Headset | Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset |
Seatpost | SDG Tellis Dropper, 31.6 |
Saddle | WTB Silverado Race Saddle or WTB Volt |
Front Tyre | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR |
Rear Tyre | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR |
Front Wheel | Front Hub - SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race |
Rear Wheel | Rear Hub - SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race |
Build Kit | S - Kit |
Frame | Hightower Alloy |
Fork | FOX 36 Float Performance, 150mm, 29" |
Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Select |
Chainguide | None |
Rear Derailleur | SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd |
Shifters | SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd |
Crankset | SRAM GX Eagle DUB 30t - 170mm (S,M,L) 175mm (XL,XXL) |
Bottom Bracket | SRAM DUB 68/73mm Threaded BB |
Cassette | SRAM XG1275 Eagle, 12spd, 10-50t |
Chain | SRAM GX Eagle, 12spd |
Brakes | SRAM Code R |
Rotors | Avid Centerline 180mm |
Handlebar | Burgtec Alloy Bar, 800mm, 30mm Rise |
Stem | Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm |
Grips | Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar |
Headset | Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset |
Seatpost | RockShox Reverb Stealth, 31.6 |
Saddle | WTB Silverado Pro Saddle or WTB Volt |
Front Tyre | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR |
Rear Tyre | Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGrip, EXO, TR |
Front Wheel | Front Hub - DT Swiss 370, 15x110, 6 bolt, 28h or E13 SL, 15x110, 6 bolt, 28h Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race |
Rear Wheel | Rear Hub - DT Swiss 370, 12x148, XD, 28h or E13 SL, 12x148, XD, 28h, Rims: RaceFace AR Offset 30 29", Spokes: Sapim Race |