The fourth-generation Santa Cruz Hightower continues to embody the do-it-all ethos of the original Hightower, launched in 2016, but gets a significant overhaul for 2025 in a bid to make it even more capable and versatile.Although the new bike also runs on 29in wheels at the front and rear, theres now 150mm of rear-suspension travel on tap and a focus on a smoother, more traction-rich ride thanks to tweaks in how that travel is delivered.The geometry has been updated too, boasting a slacker head angle, steeper seat tube angle and a marginally longer rear centre.Santa Cruz is offering six builds (three using its 'C carbon frames and three with the pricier CC carbon frames), starting at $4,799 / 4,899 and topping out at $10,899 / 9,999 for the all-singing, all-dancing XX AXS RSV build.Five things you need to know about the new Santa Cruz HightowerRear-wheel travel upped to 150mm, while the fork is bumped up to 160mmNew, lower shock position and revised pivot placements result in less anti-squat, which is said to remain active while climbing and reduce pedal kickbackHead angle has been slackened to 63.9 degrees (in the low setting), while seat tube angle has been steepened to around 78 degreesOnly available in C or CC carbon, the latter of which will only accept wireless drivetrainsFive sizes (29in wheels on all sizes) and six build options available, starting at $4,799 / 4899 for the C R spec, all the way up to $10,899 / 9,999 for the top-end XX AXS RSV bikeMore travel, traction and composureRob had the chance to ride the Hightower in the Italian Alps during the launch. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesSanta Cruz claims the Hightower is probably the bike that most people need. But why?As many brands with a bike like the Hightower will claim, this could be the one bike to rule them all, the quiver killer or even the best do-it-all machine out there.Its a proper all-rounder and Santa Cruz has done its utmost to keep it that way, despite a few changes that might make you think it could be treading on the longer-travel Megatowers toes.Elaborately shaped chainstay protection helps to quieten chain slap while riding. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesWhat hasnt changed is the wheel size. The Hightower continues to run on 29in wheels and is designed specifically to do so. Take a look at the revised Bronson if you prefer a mixed-wheel setup with broadly similar intentions.For 2025, the Hightower gets 150mm of rear-wheel travel a bump of 5mm over the outgoing third-generation frame. This is paired with a longer-travel 160mm fork up front.Not only has Santa Cruz upped the travel at the back, it has also altered how its delivered.While the Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) system is still used, the feel of that 150mm of travel should be different.Reconfigured pivot positioning and a new, lower mounting place for the shock help alter how the 150mm of rear-wheel travel is delivered. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesSanta Cruz has moved the shock deeper into the frame and rotated the lower of the two links further forward and down.Like the Bronson, the shock now sits low in the frames bird's nest a triangulated structure above the bottom bracket junction, which provides easier access to the shock.The resulting change to the pivot placements has reduced the anti-squat (the measure of how much the suspension design resists bobbing as you pedal).There's now more room around the shock where it pierces the seat tube, meaning the new Hightower can accommodate a coil shock. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesIts said this change has been made to help keep the rear suspension more active while pedalling up rough, technical terrain, as well as reducing pedal kickback when the rear wheel smashes into square-edge impacts, reducing any harshness.According to the graph shared by Santa Cruz, though, anti-squat should still be well over 100 per cent at sag and provide a fairly efficient ride.Should you wish to switch from an air-sprung to coil-sprung shock, theres now more room around the shock where it pierces the seat tube, making this a possible aftermarket upgrade option.Top-end frames cut out the cablesKeep an eye out for a full review coming soon. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesAt present, Santa Cruz is only offering the fourth-generation Hightower frames in its C or more expensive CC carbon.While that isnt outside the norm, what is more newsworthy is that, just like the Bronson and carbon Specialized Stumpjumper 15 that launched earlier this year, the pricier CC frame wont have internal routing for cable-actuated drivetrains.The higher-end carbon frame will only work with wireless gear systems, which will limit what owners can switch to later down the line should they destroy a derailleur.Whether this is a good or bad thing is certainly up for debate.The slightly more wallet-friendly C version of the bike does, however, come with internal routing for cable-actuated systems, which many riders will appreciate.Longer, slacker and more capable geometrySanta Cruz is offering six build kits on the new Hightower three using the 'C' carbon frame and three using the more expensive 'CC' carbon frame. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesThe changes to the suspension werent the only thing in store for the Hightower, which now gets a slacker head angle, steeper seat tube angle and slightly longer rear centres.Like the previous version of the bike, the new Hightower features a flip chip at the lower shock mount, which enables you to alter between two geometry settings, high and low.This gives you 0.3 degrees of adjustment at the head and seat tube angles, 1mm difference at the chainstay, and alters the reach and bottom bracket height by 3mm.The Californian brand continues to use a high and low flip chip to alter the geometry. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesIn the low setting, Santa Cruz says the head angle is a slack 63.9 degrees (thats 0.6 degrees slacker than the outgoing model), while the seat tube angle is now closer to 78 degrees nearly a full degree steeper than the third-generation Hightower.Why am I being a little vaguer with this figure? Well, it varies across the size range, so while the small should measure 77.3 degrees in the low setting, the XXL frame should be steeper at 78.1 degrees in a bid to give riders of all sizes a similar position between the wheels when seated.Reach figures range from 432mm on the small to 523mm on the XXL (again, in the low setting), while the rear centres (otherwise known as effective chainstay lengths) vary from 435mm up to 446mm. SMLXLXXL High / LowHigh / LowHigh / LowHigh / LowHigh / Low Seat tube angle (degrees)77.6 / 77.377.9 / 77.678.2 / 77.978.3 / 7878.4 / 78.1 Head tube angle (degrees)64.2 / 63.964.2 / 63.964.2 / 63.964.2 / 63.964.2 / 63.9 Rear centre (mm)434 / 435436 / 436439 / 439442 / 443445 / 446 Front centre (mm)742 / 742801 / 801825 / 825854 / 854883 / 883 Seat tube (mm)380 / 380405 / 405430 / 430460 / 460500 / 500 Top tube (mm)573 / 573596 / 596614 / 615637 / 628663 / 664 Head tube (mm)110 / 110120 / 120130 / 130150 / 150160 / 160 Bottom bracket drop (mm)29 / 3229 / 3229 / 3229 / 3229 / 32 Bottom bracket height (mm)344 / 341344 / 341344 / 341344 / 341344 / 341 Wheelbase (mm)1176 / 12061237 / 12381265 / 12651296 / 12971329 / 1329 Standover (mm)722 / 714723 / 719726 / 722727 / 723731 / 727 Stack (mm)623 / 625632 / 634641 / 643659 / 661668 / 670 Reach (mm)435 / 432460 / 458480 / 478500 / 498525 / 523 Edit Table Devil in the detailAll Hightower bikes will come with Maxxis Minion DHF and Minion DHR II tyres. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesSanta Cruz offers a lifetime warranty on its carbon frames, bearings and carbon wheels.While theres no doubt all of the bikes Im about to list here cost a lot of cash, it is reassuring to know theres some form of back-up available should things go wrong.Onto the details, and if youre not a fan of wearing a cycling backpack, like other bikes in the Santa Cruz range, the new Hightower comes with integrated down tube storage (dubbed the Glovebox).Santa Cruz has updated the Glovebox design and altered the latch on the access door. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesThis has been updated and features a new latch design, which should keep it nice and secure once youve stuffed all the spares and snacks you could possibly ever need inside.Maximum rear tyre width is 29x2.5in, there are ISCG 05 tabs around the bottom bracket should you feel the need to bolt a chain guide in place, a Universal Derailleur Hanger that will be easy to replace and a threaded bottom bracket.Santa Cruz Hightower range overviewHubs will vary across the builds and include offerings from Industry Nine. - Max Schumann / Santa Cruz BikesWhile all Hightowers get the same Maxxis Minion DHF and Minion DHR II tyre combo, its only the SRAM AXS-equipped bikes that will also feature the mighty SRAM Maven brakes.Theres also only one bike in the range to feature a RockShox fork (the C R model), while the remaining five use Fox suspension at the front and rear.Santa Cruz Hightower C RThe base Hightower model is the only bike to feature a RockShox fork. - Santa Cruz BikesFrame: C carbon, 150mm travelShock: Fox RhythmFork: RockShox Lyrik Base, 160mm travelDrivetrain: SRAM NX EagleBrakes: SRAM DB8Wheels: Reserve 30 TR 6061 rims and SRAM MTH hubsPrice: 4,899 / $4,799Santa Cruz Hightower C SSpend a little more and you get Fox suspension front and rear. - Santa Cruz BikesFrame: C carbon, 150mm travelShock: Fox Float X PerformanceFork: Fox 36 Performance, 160mm travelDrivetrain: SRAM GX EagleBrakes: SRAM DB8Wheels: Reserve 30 TR 6061 rims and DT Swiss 370Price: 5,699 / $5,999Santa Cruz Hightower GX AXSThe GX AXS build uses the cheaper 'C' frame, but comes with wireless gearing from SRAM. - Santa Cruz BikesFrame: C carbon, 150mm travelShock: Fox Float X Performance EliteFork: Fox 36 Performance Elite, 160mm travelDrivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXSBrakes: SRAM Maven BronzeWheels: Reserve 30 SL 6069 rims and DT Swiss 370 hubsPrice: 6,599 / $6,999 Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXSThis is the cheapest of the builds to use the 'CC' carbon frame. - Santa Cruz BikesFrame: CC carbon, 150mm travelShock: Fox Float X FactoryFork: Fox 36 Factory, 160mm travelDrivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle AXSBrakes: SRAM Maven SilverWheels: Reserve 30 SL 6069 rims and i9 1/1 hubsPrice: 7,799 / $7,999 Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXS RSVFor a little more, you'll get Reserve carbon wheels but the same spec otherwise. - Santa Cruz BikesFrame: CC carbon, 150mm travelShock: Fox Float X FactoryFork: Fox 36 Factory, 160mm travelDrivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle AXSBrakes: SRAM Maven SilverWheels: Reserve 30 HD and i9 1/1 hubsPrice: 8,799 / $8,999 Santa Cruz Hightower XX AXS RSVThe top-end build costs an eye-watering amount of money, but comes with some of the flashiest kit on the market. - Santa Cruz BikesFrame: C carbon, 150mm travelShock: Fox Float X FactoryFork: Fox 36 Factory, 160mm travelDrivetrain: SRAM XX Eagle AXSBrakes: SRAM Maven UltimateWheels: Reserve 30 HD and i9 Hydra hubsPrice: 9,999 / $10,899

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