Home Page

Cart, contains 0 items

When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures.
Expert Help
Earn Rewards
  • Just In
  • Learn

Santa Cruz Bicycles
Highball Carbon 27.5 S Complete Mountain Bike - 2016

Be the first to review

Out of Stock

Don't worry though, we have a lot more Hardtail in stock than that.

Shop Similar Products

High-tech on a budget.

As you've probably noticed by now, we love new tech. We degenerate to wide-eyed, slobbering geeks over things like SRAM's revolutionary one-by drivetrains and Santa Cruz's nutty obsession with constantly reshaping industry expectations for carbon frames. Given these proclivities toward nerdery, it's little wonder that we're unreasonably stoked on Santa Cruz's Highball Carbon 27.5 S Complete Mountain Bike. It comprises our favorite innovations in frames and component manufacturing over the past several years, bringing it all to a price that the non-sponsored tech enthusiasts among us can swing.


This Highball features a less-expensive, slightly heavier version of the price-is-no-object Carbon CC frames. The loss of dollar signs doesn't equate to a loss of stiffness or durability, though, as the Carbon C is just as ready to get up and go during sprints, on climbs, or after a crash as the Carbon CC models. Carbon C is less expensive because it's a lower-modulus material, so more material is required to net the same stiffness and durability of Carbon CC frames. This brings the weight up by a claimed 280 grams, so while it may not feature on World Cup podiums, it's certainly well represented in races between those of us more interested in the ride than the scale.


As with the 2015 Highball Carbon C, the 2016 model still enjoys Santa Cruz's meticulous construction practices, featuring a single layup instead of a jigsaw puzzle of individually-cured carbon tubes. This allows Santa Cruz to wrap the fibers continuously around structurally important junctures like the head tube and bottom bracket, strengthening the frame, dissipating the force from impacts, and more efficiently channeling pedal input. Efficiency, durability, and even a touch of weight loss compared to building with individual tubes — the advantages of Santa Cruz's construction methods go some way toward eliding the differences between Carbon C and Carbon CC.


Santa Cruz justifies retaining the 69-degree head tube angle for the new model year by citing the line-holding benefits of high rake combined with mid-sized wheels. Compared to the original 29er Highball, the 27.5-inch model has a lower, longer geometry, so it's tethered to lines both on the way up and the way down. Despite its long wheelbase, the Highball 27.5 has shorter chainstays than the 29er, so it capitalizes on the stiff, carbon hardtail and 12x142mm rear axle for efficient power transfer that lends itself to pushing through grades and carrying speed out of switchbacks.


As hinted at non-too-subtly above, the Highball S's drivetrain is just as exciting as the frame. It's a SRAM one-by setup mated to a Race Face Aeffect crank. While the idea is familiar, the GX branding on the rear shifter and derailleur is not. GX is SRAM's one-by-for-the-masses offering, bringing the simple, race-friendly effectiveness of an uncluttered drivetrain to a non-racing price. The Easton ARC 24 rims are another new offering from a venerable manufacturer that Santa Cruz is showcasing here, and the result is — again — a bike that'll make even the most stoic of tech geeks' eyes sparkle.


Frame Material
Carbon C
Fork
FOX Racing Shox Float Performance
Front Travel
100 mm
Headset
Cane Creek 40
Shifters
SRAM GX (right only)
Front Derailleur
n/a
Rear Derailleur
SRAM GX
Crankset
32 t Race Face Aeffect SL
Bottom Bracket
BSA threaded
Crank Arm Length
175 mm
Cassette
10 - 42 t SRAM XG1150
Chain
SRAM PC1130
Brakeset
Shimano SLX M675
Brake Type
hydraulic disc
Rotors
160 mm Shimano RT66
Handlebar
Race Face Evolve
Handlebar Width
720 mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale Lock-On
Stem
Race Face Turbine
Saddle
WTB Volt Race
Seatpost
Race Face Ride
Wheelset
[rims] Easton ARC 24
Hubs
SRAM MTH 716/746
Front Axle
15x100mm
Rear Axle
12x142mm
Tires
Maxxis Ikon
Tire Size
27.5 x 2.2 in
Pedals
not included
Recommended Use
cross-country
Manufacturer Warranty
lifetime on frame

What do you think about this product?

View

Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the page

Sorry, we don’t currently have any of those types of reviews for this product.