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Santa Cruz Bicycles
Hightower Carbon 27.5+ S Complete Mountain Bike - 2016

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Bomb drop.

Some people may dismiss SRAM's GX one-by group as so much start line slop. Some may believe that anything under six inches of travel is an XC bike. Who are these people? Certainly not us. Or Santa Cruz. And it's obvious that the Hightower Carbon 27.5+ S Complete Mountain Bike doesn’t care. It's a bike for people who ride, not people who read catalogues, and its long, low geometry with the added stiffness of Boost axles mean that, though it climbs like an XC machine, the Hightower drops in like an enduro bomb. It's also got a 66.8-degree head tube, which sits on the moderate end of slack, so it pairs well with the bike's long, enduro-minded reach and the latest generation of 5.3in Virtual Pivot Point travel. When discretion is the better part of not bailing, the stubby chainstays mean it can also dice through techy sections like a bike with smaller wheels, so whether you're into taking the direct route over the crux or the big line when dropping in, the Hightower can handle it.


The Hightower's mid-range travel belies its true nature. Though its travel and wheel clearance may inspire initial comparisons with Mr. Moderate (the 5010) or SC's equivalent of a center in basketball (the Tallboy LT), Santa Cruz instead encourages us to "think of it as the Bronson's taller brother." Yep, that Bronson. Given the implied big-hit aggression of this comparison, we're compelled to dip into the lore of North American ball sports again for another analogy: the Hightower isn't a gangly hoopster so much as a two-wheeled version of a predatory linebacker.


SC is so intent on proving the Hightower's outsized merit over rock gardens that it actually bypassed the Bronson and went straight to the 6.5in Nomad for suspension inspiration. The result is that the link stays out of the way, which may be why the Hightower can accommodate a piggyback shock and a bottle cage — yet one more indication that the Hightower isn't just for XC hardpack or enduro shuttle loops. Instead, it's designed to be the engine on the way up and the sled on the way down.


Despite all the differences between it and the rest of Santa Cruz's line, the Hightower S build retains the signature Carbon C frame construction, so it enjoys the same durability and stiffness we've come to expect from the brand. Santa Cruz uses a single layup for both triangles instead of a jigsaw puzzle of individually-cured carbon tubes, allowing the engineers to wrap the fibers continuously around structurally important junctures like the head tube and bottom bracket. This continuous wrapping strengthens the frame, dissipates the force from impacts, and more efficiently channels 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 the more expensive Carbon CC models.


The Hightower's two triangles are joined by the latest generation of VPP suspension. SC refers to it in-house as VPP3, but it's essentially the same VPP we know and love with the Nomad-inspired updates mentioned above. A repositioned lower link now shelters above the bottom bracket, increasing ground clearance to decrease the chance of rock strikes while indulging the Hightower's desire to masticate scree fields and dice through the rooty, rocky, techy stuff. The upper link has also wandered up and forward, which makes for a more accommodating standover height for smaller riders wanting a huge ride, and it also stiffens the back end.


The latest VPP's changes aren't limited to wandering links, though; the system's tuning has also been tweaked. Where the old suspension curve described a deep "U," the new VPP's curve resembles a flattened check mark, with less dramatic ramping on either end of the arc. The results are that, during the initial and mid stroke, it boasts increased bump compliance to keep the tires glued to the trail for more traction across lumpy trails and root latticed climbs. It also maintains its predecessor's firm feel during accelerations while jockeying for position in a mass start or a finishing sprint. The RockShox Monarch's ramp-up arc doesn't dramatically alter as the shock compresses, so the pedaling platform stays consistent across travel, with less wallowing, bob, and bottom-outs — even while the Boost axle's path turns rearward to absorb big hits deep in its travel.


Of all the elements of Santa Cruz genius that underwrite the Hightower's versatility, the most notable inclusion is the little flip chip niblet that sits in the upper link and allows the shock mount to migrate. Being able to reposition the shock attachment point effectively accounts for the 9mm difference in radii between 27.5+ and 29in tires, keeping the geometry as static as possible across wheel sizes.


Frame Material
Carbon C
Suspension
VPP
Rear Shock
RockShox Monarch RT
Rear Travel
135 mm
Fork
RockShox Pike RC
Front Travel
150 mm
Headset
Cane Creek 40 IS
Shifters
SRAM GX (right only)
Front Derailleur
n/a
Rear Derailleur
SRAM GX
ISCG Tabs
yes, ISCG 05
Crankset
30 t Race Face Aeffect SL
Crank Arm Length
175 mm
Cassette
10 - 42 t SRAM XG1150
Brakeset
SRAM Guide R
Brake Type
hydraulic disc
Rotors
180 mm Shimano 66
Handlebar
Race Face Ride Lo-Rise
Handlebar Rise
25 mm
Handlebar Width
760 mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale lock-on
Stem
Race Face Turbine Basic
Saddle
WTB Volt Race
Seatpost
RockShox Reverb Stealth 150mm
Wheelset
[rims] Race Face AR27
Hubs
[front] Novatec D541, [rear] Novatec D542
Front Axle
15 x 110mm Boost
Rear Axle
12 x 148mm Boost
Tires
[front] Maxxis Rekon EXO 3C, [rear] Maxxis Ikon EXO
Tire Size
27.5 x 2.8 in
Pedals
not included
Claimed Weight
29.67 lbs
Recommended Use
all-mountain, enduro, trail
Manufacturer Warranty
lifetime on frame

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