Santa Cruz Bicycles

Megatower Carbon XT Air Mountain Bike

If you live for speed and have a tendency to seek out the rowdiest descents you can find, a long travel 29er is the bike to have. With the way geometry and suspension have evolved over the past couple of years, these machines have have become unstoppable enduro weapons that are still comfortable and efficient enough to pedal all day on big rides. For quite some time the Hightower LT was Santa Cruz's most aggressive offering—a fantastic and versatile bike that excels on any terrain. But considering that it's essentially a beefed-up Hightower, the geometry wasn't exactly on par with the direction other heavy-hitting 29ers were going. Enter the Megatower, a bike that's built solely for going fast on steep and rugged terrain, providing the most aggressive riders with a brawler of a big wheel bike. This version of the Megatower frame comes with a Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate Air shock for a lively ride with a high degree of tunability, as well as Shimano's tried-and-true XT 12-speed drivetrain that'll get you up and down any mountain with stellar shifting performance.

The Megatower started life as an enduro weapon built from the ground up and represents a two-year project to address the needs of the modern enduro racer and big hit trail rider. Part of this has to do with its transition to a lower-link driven VPP design like the one found on the Nomad, Bronson, and V10. Besides it generous 160mm of rear travel, the lower-link VPP allows for a more linear suspension curve for increased sensitivity off the top of the stroke, more traction and better small-bump absorption, especially under braking, while retaining good mid-stroke support and smooth bottom out progression. The revised suspension maintains the same efficient pedaling and climbing performance of previous generations while offering unprecedented, glued to the trail grip, letting you push your limits with more confidence than ever. As an added bonus, the revised suspension design lets the bike play well with a bunch of different shocks from various brands as well as air or coil springs.

We would slot the Megatower in right between the DH World Cup winning V10 and its venerable Nomad as far as its capability on demanding trails, however, that's only part of the story. It's pretty damn versatile too. Sure, it likes to go fast and provides the security of a safety net at high speeds on technical trails, however, unlike the V10, and to a lesser extent, the Nomad, we would whole-heartily throw a leg over the Megatower at almost any trailhead we've visited as it can simply devour almost any terrain without hardly a weight or, thanks to its steep seat tube angle (76-76.8 degrees depending on size), pedaling penalty.

The frame features include the now industry standard Boost spacing that improves wheel stiffness as well as frame strength. It's designed for 1x drivetrains only with a max chainring size of 36 teeth and has ISCG-05 mounts for a bash guard and chain guide use. It only fits 29in wheels with a tire clearance up to 2.5-inches wide. Returning Santa Cruz frame favorites include the simple-to-install and easy-to-keep-quiet 73mm threaded bottom bracket shell and tough frame protection pieces including a lower downtube protector, downtube shuttle guard, and the new, V10-derived chainstay protector that keeps your investment safe, looking like new, and quiet on the trails.

*Due to unprecedented demand in the global supply chain and the bike industry over the last 18 months, material weight and exact components are subject to change. We are working diligently to keep tech specs updated, and any adjustments will be minor. If you have any questions, reach out to a Gearhead by chatting online or calling 1-888-276-7130.