Tech

The all new Santa Cruz Hightower 29 or 27.5+, 135mm VPP travel bike

· By Press Office · 56 comments

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.

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29

If straight-line speed, rallying through rock gardens and sprinting out of turns is your bag, then 29” wheels are the big ticket.

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27.5+

When conditions get loose and the traction just ain’t there, you’ll want to reach for bigger tires (above). 27.5+ elevates Hightower to a whole different level, enabling you to rail the soft spots and carry momentum where standard tires bog down.

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No matter what wheel size you run, geometry remains optimized thanks to a neat little “High/Low” setting on the upper link that flips to adjust bottom bracket height. Hightower’s 67-degree head angle, longer reach, and trim chainstays combine to create an altogether different class of dreadnought in any configuration. Meanwhile, 150mm of seat dropper, a water bottle mount, and internal routing reflect an armada of killer details.

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135mm of VPP travel is reinforced by a 148 axle spacing and the kind of Nomad-style linkage arrangement and swingarm design we reserve for the heaviest hitters in our model line-up. The resulting package leaves Hightower standing head and shoulders above anything else out there.

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Features

  • 135mm (5.3″) VPP™ suspension
  • 148mm Rear Axle Spacing
  • 15mm thru-axle fork
  • 27.5 Plus-Compatible
  • 29″ wheels
  • Bottle cage mount within front triangle fits piggyback shocks
  • Carbon C and Carbon CC frame options
  • Double sealed pivots for long bearing life
  • Integrated Headset (IS41; IS52)
  • Internal carbon tubes ensure precise and hassle-free routing of derailleur and seat post cables
  • ISCG-05 tabs for chainguide compatibility
  • Sizes: M, L, XL
  • Threaded Bottom Bracket

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Tech info

Suspension System: VPP
Front Derailleur: No compatibility
Headset/Headtube: Integrated; IS41 upper, IS52 lower
Seat Post: 31.6mm
Seat Clamp: 36.4mm
Eye to Eye length: 200mm
Fork Compatibility: 140mm, 150mm
BB Shell: Standard
Max Tire Size: 3.0″
Brake Types: IS-mount disc
Water Bottle Mounts: 1 main triangle

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Geometry

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For more details, head over to the Santa Cruz Hightower website.

Comments

Guest

Feb 2, 2016, 9:57 AM

The new kits are also only making use of the new front 110mm hub width now.

Mathieu_Schneuwly

Feb 2, 2016, 10:07 AM

My new favourite bike.

This just looks magic!

arendoog

Feb 2, 2016, 10:20 AM

Just as i was starting to look at other brands ,they do this to me .Direct competition for the pyga stage .This SC fan just got a bit more" fanner "

nonky

Feb 2, 2016, 10:23 AM

I LIKE.  Very much.

.

If I wasn't such a Spez Ho, this would be my next bike.

rouxtjie

Feb 2, 2016, 10:25 AM

yoh yoh yoh...someone cut my credit card please

Juddy

Feb 2, 2016, 10:27 AM

Any ideas of the Price Tag ?

rouxtjie

Feb 2, 2016, 10:45 AM

looks like its between 110 and 130k

 

phooooar 

rock

Feb 2, 2016, 10:50 AM

Hightower!

 

wpid-article-1312444842595-0d496edf00000

JXV

Feb 2, 2016, 11:10 AM

So this is the new Tallboy LT. Very much like the option of 27.5+ or 29.

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Feb 2, 2016, 11:13 AM

Any ideas of the Price Tag ?

 

 

looks like its between 110 and 130k

 

phooooar 

starting at full bike price of $4,599 according to the article here: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/santa-cruz-hightower-first-ride-2016.html

 

Tell me again why SC aren't bringing in full bikes!? 

 

Oh yeah - Dragons Sports hold the agency. LOL. 

 

But still - at that price, it's cheaper than the respective Giant Trance at the same kit spec. Killer. Giant Trance Advanced 1 is $ 5,000. Full XT & Fox 34 vs GX & Pike, but the Giant has their composite wheelset. 

 

But - we'll likely get the frame only, for $ 2,899. Which still makes it a "boutique" item. 

 

Come on, Dragons. Bring the full bikes in. You'll se a LOT more sales!

Stellies_gaz

Feb 2, 2016, 11:58 AM

Would love to see a shootout between this, the Remedy 29er and Evil's The Following.

Iwan Kemp

Feb 2, 2016, 1:34 PM

Would love to see a shootout between this, the Remedy 29er and Evil's The Following.

 

The Following and this would be high on my list of bikes. We'll have some thoughts on The Following soon.

Bizkit031

Feb 2, 2016, 2:09 PM

So this is the new Tallboy LT. Very much like the option of 27.5+ or 29.

No far from it.
Skott5

Feb 2, 2016, 2:18 PM

No far from it.

 

You think they will bring out another TB LT as well as this bike ?

I cant see it.

JXV

Feb 2, 2016, 2:56 PM

You think they will bring out another TB LT as well as this bike ?

I cant see it.

Between this and the 5010 they got 130-135mm trail bikes all wrapped up. I don't see a new Tallboy LT as well.

 

This one has the same shock layout as TBLT...but obviously revised with new geo and links.

 

Big plus = water bottle mount inside frame at last

 

Hightower is also 1x specific which I don't like but if the new 12 spd groups come in with 5x cassette range then current 2x and 3x have nothing to offer anymore so its OK.

 

Myles will like the new longer top tube 'cos the bike can take a short stem now [emoji12] . The TBLT was quite short and felt a bit crowded for me with a short stem so I went back to the standard 70mm.

JXV

Feb 2, 2016, 2:58 PM

No far from it.

Disagree. Same niche just better.
KingTJ

Feb 2, 2016, 6:11 PM

You think they will bring out another TB LT as well as this bike ?

I cant see it.

tb lt discontinued
slime25

Feb 2, 2016, 7:39 PM

Does anyone know if anyone is bringing " evil" bikes into SA

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Feb 2, 2016, 7:43 PM

Does anyone know if anyone is bringing " evil" bikes into SA

How did you miss it!? Trailtech cycles is the agent. Zion Bikes is stocking them as well. Check out Facebook!

slime25

Feb 2, 2016, 7:45 PM

Thanks, I had chatted to them directly to get the following but it became to much of a mission. Hopefully the have stock

ichnusa

Feb 2, 2016, 8:04 PM

starting at full bike price of $4,599 according to the article here: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/santa-cruz-hightower-first-ride-2016.html

 

Tell me again why SC aren't bringing in full bikes!? 

 

Oh yeah - Dragons Sports hold the agency. LOL. 

 

But still - at that price, it's cheaper than the respective Giant Trance at the same kit spec. Killer. Giant Trance Advanced 1 is $ 5,000. Full XT & Fox 34 vs GX & Pike, but the Giant has their composite wheelset. 

 

But - we'll likely get the frame only, for $ 2,899. Which still makes it a "boutique" item. 

 

Come on, Dragons. Bring the full bikes in. You'll se a LOT more sales!

 

Greg Minnaar Cycles bring in full bikes - you might just have to wait for the next shipment.  Contact Craig Paul at 033 347 2775

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Feb 2, 2016, 8:06 PM

Greg Minnaar Cycles bring in full bikes - you might just have to wait for the next shipment. Contact Craig Paul at 033 347 2775

Of course! Should have remembered the obvious...

Bizkit031

Feb 3, 2016, 3:53 AM

You think they will bring out another TB LT as well as this bike ?

I cant see it.

The Lt was discontinued in July last year already and they say that this is not a replacement for the LT.
Bizkit031

Feb 3, 2016, 3:55 AM

Disagree. Same niche just better.

They say that it is not the replacement for the LT but it fills the void left by it with a added plus to change it to a very different bike. But I have now read a couple of reviews from different mags and some say it's a replacement and some say it's not so they seem to be a bit stumped as to what it really is.

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