Santa Cruz Bicycles

Hightower C Eagle 70 Mountain Bike

What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:

"If I had to build one bike to handle it all, it’d look a lot like the Hightower 70. It pedals great for how much travel you get, and I’ve found the new SRAM T-Type transmission incredibly durable. The aluminum Reserve wheels give it a tanky feel on descents, and the Maxxis rubber hooks up everywhere."

The Santa Cruz Hightower 70 blends the confidence of a big-wheeled bruiser with the efficiency of a well-honed trail machine. With 150mm of rear travel via the VPP™ suspension platform, and a 160mm RockShox Lyrik Base fork up front, this all-mountain 29er is built to handle a wide variety of terrain—from bike park laps to remote backcountry loops. The geometry gives us a stable yet responsive ride with excellent pedaling posture for long climbs and lively, composed handling on fast, technical descents.

At the core of this build is SRAM’s 70 Eagle T-Type drivetrain, offering next-gen wireless shifting and incredible chain retention. A 10–52t range and Flattop chain bring a quiet, ultra-smooth feel that performs even under load. It’s matched with SRAM’s DB8 4-piston brakes and 200mm rotors front and rear for consistent stopping power. FOX’s Float Rhythm shock handles the rear end with plenty of mid-stroke support, and the Reserve 30|TR alloy wheels offer the strength of carbon without the price tag.

Trail-ready tires come in the form of Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR II in a tacky compound and burly EXO casing—perfect for loose corners, off-camber roots, and long, technical descents. A 31.6mm SDG Tellis dropper and modern 800mm alloy bar finish off a cockpit that’s ready to go hard from day one. With lifetime frame and bearing support from Santa Cruz, the Hightower 70 is an incredibly capable, confidence-inspiring platform for any rider looking to ride harder, longer, and farther.

Heads up — We do our best to keep bike specs and images current, but occasional component changes can happen without warning—and sometimes the photos might not show the exact build you’ll receive. If you want to double-check the details, our Gearheads are always here to help.