SANTA CRUZ HIGHBALL CARBON/SRAM X9 1X10 COMPLETE BIKE

The brain trust at Santa Cruz have been perfecting their carbon fiber craft with the latest round of full suspension designs, including their podium-tormenting World Cup downhill race bike, the carbon V10. What they’ve learned from optimizing a carbon bike to handle the abuse of gravity racing benefitted their mission to cut weight from XC bikes. When it comes to shaving grams without sacrificing strength or stiffness, no Santa Cruz model can match their signature 29" hardtail, the Santa Cruz Highball Carbon/SRAM X9 1x10 Complete Bike.

The secret to the feathery weight of the Highball (2.45lb frame weight) is a one-piece carbon lay-up and curing process, as opposed to assembling joints that require bonding or wrapping. In structurally important locations like the headtube and bottom bracket, continuous fibers flow around the junctions and spread throughout the frame. The layers are compacted from the inside as they’re applied, which eliminates voids, prevents delamination, and creates a smooth, stress-free interior with no waste – in short, it cuts excess material while making the frame stronger.

The resulting construction distributes lateral, vertical, and torsional loads throughout the frame to boost the Highball’s performance. This design absorbs impact energy, while efficiently and accurately transferring bio-inputs like steering and propulsion. Translated into trail talk, this means the Highball will hit the bricks when you stomp on the pedals, dampen high-speed chatter, and stick to your lines like a dedicated friend. We like those characteristics, so we continued that theme and spec’d a Fox Float F29 RLC with a tapered steerer tube and the 15QR through axle. 29ers’ dreaded steering deflection is a thing of the past with this frame and fork combination, and if you haven’t stood on the pedals of a carbon hardtail with a locked out fork, you’re in for a g-force surprise.

Staying true to the dedicated XC formula and fully expecting this package to see aggressive race service, we decided on a 1x10 drivetrain -- and because a dropped chain is not an option, a guide was must. If you get a chance to stop by our offices, you’re sure to find any number of bikes sporting the e*thirteen XCX Chainguide. It’s light, simple to adjust, and has super-low resistance-- for those reasons you’ll find one keeping things nice and secure here too.

The meat and potatoes of our drivetrain consist of SRAM’s reliable, performance-oriented X9 components. A stiff, hollow aluminum X9 crank spins a 32T chainring which, through a PC-1031 chain, twists a SRAM PG-1050 12-36T cassette. This offers all the gear ratios a strong rider needs to get around the mountain quickly and efficiently. The X9 trigger shifters’ 1:1 actuation precisely and quickly directs a medium-cage X9 derailleur to your selected ratio. The Highball’s speed is kept in check with powerful, light Avid Elixir 9 hydraulic disc brakes.

Finishing off the build is a collection of Easton EA70 components, the most important being the EA70XCT wheels. Tubeless-ready for an instant upgrade (we ship with tubes installed) and featuring a wide 24mm rim, these wheels offer the large, trail-smoothing, traction-enhancing profile 29er fanatics swear by. Wrapped in Schwalbe Performance Rocket Ron 2.25in rubber, you’ll be ready to tackle everything from dusty desert to sloppy forest trails. A Easton EA70 bar, stem, and seatpost topped with a Sella Italia SL Kit Carbonio saddle complete the this 29er package

The Santa Cruz Highball Carbon/SRAM X9 1x10 Complete Bike is available in Medium through XX-Large sizes and comes in Matte Carbon Grey

Highball Carbon/SRAM X9 1x10 Complete Bike Price:  $3799.00