Highball Carbon SPX XC Complete Mountain Bike
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Shop Similar ProductsA potent mix.
No Santa Cruz model can match the balance of weight and stiffness of its signature 29er hardtail -- the Highball Carbon. And with those frame credentials matched up to the SPX XC complete mountain bike build, sporting a Shimano XT build with hand-laced, tubeless wheels and a Factory Series FOX 32 FLOAT, it's going to be hard for other 29ers to keep pace with this potent cocktail.
The secret to the feathery weight of the Highball 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 hold lines like a cat on carpet.
Complementing those inherent characteristics is Santa Cruz's performance-oriented SPX XC build. Starting out, a Factory Series FOX 32 FLOAT Fit CTD with a tapered steerer tube and the 15QR thru-axle ensure 29ers’ dreaded steering deflection is a thing of the past. The Fit CTD damper offers distinct settings for climbing, trail, and descending, which makes for a simplified user interface and performance. If you haven’t stood on the pedals of a carbon hardtail with a Fox in the climb setting, you’re in for a g-force surprise.
The meat and potatoes of the SPX XC kit consist of Shimano's reliable, performance-oriented XT components. A stiff, hollow aluminum XT crank spins 26/38 chainrings, which, through a HG 74 chain, twists a M771 11-36T cassette. This offers all the gear ratios a strong rider needs to get around the mountain quickly and efficiently. The XT trigger shifters’ precise actuation quickly directs XT derailleurs to your selected ratio. The Highball’s speed is kept in check with powerful, light XT hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm IceTech rotors.
For wheels, Santa Cruz hand laces WTB Frequency Team i19 TCS rims to DT Swiss 350 hubs with 14/15-gauge double butted spokes. Maxxis Crossmark tires provide an ideal balance of low rolling resistance with traction. Finishing off the build is an Easton EA70 bar and stem, and Thomson seatpost topped with a WTB saddle.
The Santa Cruz Highball Carbon SPX XC Complete Mountain Bike is available in Medium through XX-Large sizes and comes in Black/Green, Black/Black, Matte Carbon/Silver, or Carbon/Red.
- Frame Material
- carbon fiber
- Fork
- FOX 32 FLOAT 29 FIT CTD Trail Adjust Kashima
- Front Travel
- 100 mm
- Headset
- Cane Creek 40 Mixed Tapered
- Shifters
- Shimano XT M780
- Front Derailleur
- Shimano XT M780/781
- Rear Derailleur
- Shimano XT M785 Shadow+
- Crankset
- 26/38 t Shimano XT M780
- Bottom Bracket
- Shimano
- Cassette
- 11-36 t Shimano XT M771
- Chain
- Shimano CN-HG74
- Rotors
- 160 mm Shimano Ice Tech
- Handlebar
- Easton EA70
- Grips
- Lizard Skin "494"
- Stem
- Easton EA70
- Saddle
- WTB Silverardo Team
- Seatpost
- Thomson Elite
- Hubs
- DT Swiss 350
- Tires
- Maxxis CrossMark
- Tire Size
- 29 x 2.1 in
- Pedals
- not included
- Recommended Use
- cross country
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 5 years on frame
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