Santa Cruz Hightower 2 AL 29 R

In-Store Pickup Only

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 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. 

Fork         
RockShox Yari RC, 150mm, 29"

Shock      
FOX Float Performance DPS

Rear Derailleur          
SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd

Shifters    
SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd

Crankset  
SRAM Descendant Eagle DUB 30t

Cassette   
SRAM PG1230, 12spd, 11-50t

Chain       
SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd

Bottom Bracket         
SRAM DUB 68/73mm

Brakes     
SRAM G2 R

Brake Rotors  
Avid Centerline 180mm

Headset   
Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset

Bars         
RaceFace Aeffect R

Stem        
Burgtec Enduro MK3, 42.5mm

Grips        
Santa Cruz House Grips or Burgtec Bartender Pro Grip Minnaar

Front Hub
SRAM MTH 716, 15x110, Torque Cap, 32h

Rear Hub 
SRAM MTH 746, 12x148, 32h

Rims        
RaceFace AR Offset 30 29" Rims

Spokes     
Sapim Race

Front Tire
Maxxis Minion DHR II 29"x2.4", 3C, MaxxGRIP, EXO, TR

Rear Tire 
Maxxis Minion DHR 29"x2.4", 3C, EXO, MaxxTerra

Tubes      
Stan's Sealant

Seat Post 
SDG Tellis

Saddle     
WTB Silverado Race Saddle or WTB Volt

* Specifications are subject to change without notice