Hightower 2
- Overview
- Details
- Bike Builder
- Geometry and Sizing
- Technical Support
- Warranty
THE MOUNTAIN BIKE, DISTILLED
The Hightower is our compilation of engineering’s greatest hits. Big on wheels, medium on travel, short on fuss, this is the do-it-all model that does it over and over again thanks to a versatile balance of geo, spec and durability. If you’re not looking for extremes, just something extremely good, the Hightower is your elevator.
- Need more travel in a big wheel package? Try the Megatower.
- Want to race XC whippets on the climbs but still charge the downs? Try the Tallboy.
- Proud owner of a new Hightower? Register your bike here.
Key Features:
| Available in: | Aluminum, Carbon C & Carbon CC |
| Wheel Size: | 29er |
| Front Travel: | 150mm |
| Rear Travel: | 145mm |
Design Details
Design Details
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VPP™
VPP™ suspension strikes the right balance between pedaling efficiency and bump capability. 145mm in the rear paired with a 150mm fork is the perfect combo for just about anything".
Geometry
With 65-degree head tube angle, the Hightower sits squarely in the Goldilocks zone, but with a touch more “Oh sh*t get me out of here” capability when the porridge gets too hot!
Carbon and aluminium
Balancing stiffness and weight savings in all the right places is a hallmark of all Santa Cruz carbon frames. The second-generation Hightower also comes in aluminium.
Flip Chip
The Hightower also has a bonus disc to heighten the experience—the flip chip. In the High setting, the BB height is a little higher for those tricky tech trails and/or when Plus sized tires are required. In the Low position the shock rate is more progressive.
Water, protection, refinement
There’s a room for a water bottle inside the main frame and a threaded BB for convenience. There’s refined cable routing for better shifting performance, simpler installation, and no cable rub. On top of that, there’s a tailgate shuttle guard, downtube protector, shock fender, and noise-cancelling chainstay protector keeping things quiet.
Built Right
The lifetime frame warranty, lifetime pivot bearing replacement policy, and lifetime guarantee on the optional Reserve carbon wheels assures you that the Hightower will keep delivering the hits for years to come.
D $3,799 USD $3,049 35.10 lbs / 15.92 kg | R $4,299 USD $3,449 34.13 lbs / 15.48 kg | S $5,249 USD $4,199 34.15 lbs / 14.49 kg |
|---|
Material | Material | Material | ||
Rear Shock | Rear Shock | Rear Shock | ||
Fork | Fork | Fork | ||
Rear Derailleur | Rear Derailleur | Rear Derailleur | ||
Shifters | Shifters | Shifters | ||
Cassette | Cassette | Cassette | ||
Chain | Chain | Chain | ||
Bottom Bracket | Bottom Bracket | Bottom Bracket | ||
Headset | Headset | Headset | ||
Rear Tire | Rear Tire | Rear Tire | ||
Front Tire | Front Tire | Front Tire | ||
Sealant | Sealant | Sealant | ||
Front Hub | Front Hub | Front Hub | ||
Front Rim | Front Rim | Front Rim | ||
Rear Hub | Rear Hub | Rear Hub | ||
Rear Rim | Rear Rim | Rear Rim | ||
Front Rotor | Front Rotor | Front Rotor | ||
Rear Rotor | Rear Rotor | Rear Rotor | ||
Brakes | Brakes | Brakes | ||
Crankset | Crankset | Crankset | ||
Handlebars | Handlebars | Handlebars | ||
Stem | Stem | Stem | ||
Saddle | Saddle | Saddle | ||
Seatpost | Seatpost | Seatpost | ||
Grips | Grips | Grips | ||
Travel | Travel | Travel | ||
Wheel Size | Wheel Size | Wheel Size |
Geometry
All units are in millimeters or degrees.
| S | M | L | XL | XXL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 428 | 453 | 473 | 493 | 518 |
| Stack | 601 | 610 | 619 | 637 | 660 |
| Head Tube Angle | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° |
| Seat Tube Length | 380 | 405 | 430 | 460 | 500 |
| Front Center | 745 | 774 | 798 | 827 | 862 |
| BB Height | 344 | 344 | 344 | 344 | 344 |
| BB Drop | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Wheelbase | 1178 | 1207 | 1231 | 1260 | 1301 |
| Rear Center | 433 | 433 | 433 | 433 | 439 |
| Head Tube Length | 90 | 100 | 110 | 130 | 155 |
| Top Tube Length | 566 | 594 | 618 | 645 | 679 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 77.1° | 77.0° | 76.8° | 76.6° | 76.3° |
| Standover Height | 704 | 718 | 717 | 718 | 709 |
Units
cm
Frame Sizing
If you're on the cusp between the recommended height range of two sizes, the absolute best thing is to try to ride them both. At a minimum, check the stack/reach measurements on your current bike and compare it to the new model you are looking at to get an idea of a fit you are already comfortable with. If riding the bike is not an option, consider the following.
Personal Preference
A larger size frame will be more stable, and will give you more room to move without upsetting the weight-balance of the bike. The larger size will put the front wheel further in front of you, which gives the feeling of security and conversely, it will require more significant body movements when you WANT to shift the weight-bias of the bike. Think hard about your riding style and how active/intuitive you want it to be vs stable and speedy. You'll need to work a bit harder to muscle the larger bike around.
Body Dimension
Not all bodies at a given height are the same. If you have longer legs and a shorter torso than the average person your height, that may push you towards the smaller of the recommended sizes. If you're all torso and arms, most likely you'll want to size up.
Units
cm
S
M
L
XL
XXL
Maintenance Information
How to find your serial number
Something not right? Use our warranty claim form to file a claim. We'll do everything we can to get you back to riding as fast as possible.
File a claim for a Santa Cruz product
If you have any other questions or would like to follow up on a warranty claim, contact our Warranty Department.
Hightower Tech Support
| Suspension System | VPP |
| Front Derailleur | No compatibility |
| Headset/Headtube | Integrated (IS41/52) |
| Seat Post | 31.6mm |
| Seat Clamp | 36.4mm |
| Eye to Eye length | 210mm |
| Stroke | 55mm |
| Fork Compatibility | 150-160mm |
| BB Shell | 73mm Threaded |
| Max Tire Size | 2.4" (29"), 2.8" (27.5") |
| Max Chainring Size | 36t |
| Water Bottle Mounts | 1 |
| Shock Mounting Bushing Front | 20x8 |
| Shock Mounting Bushing Rear | 30x8 (bearing compatible) |
Download the shock setup PDF for this bike and get even more detailed sag, high/low rebound, and high/low compression recommendations for shocks below and get recommendations for the fork in each build.
Fox Float Performance
| Rider Weight | Air Pressure | Shock Sag |
|---|---|---|
| 100lbs (45.5kg) | 95 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 120lbs (54.4kg) | 120 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 140lbs (63.5kg) | 145 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 160lbs (72.6kg) | 170 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 180lbs (81.8kg) | 195 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 200lbs (90.7kg) | 220 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 220lbs (99.8kg) | 245 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 240lbs (108.8kg) | 270 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 260lbs (117.9kg) | 295 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
| Rider Weight | Air Pressure | Shock Sag |
|---|---|---|
| 100lbs (45.5kg) | 95 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 120lbs (54.4kg) | 115 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 140lbs (63.5kg) | 140 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 160lbs (72.6kg) | 160 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 180lbs (81.8kg) | 180 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 200lbs (90.7kg) | 205 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 220lbs (99.8kg) | 225 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 240lbs (108.8kg) | 245 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
| 260lbs (117.9kg) | 270 psi | 16-17.5 mm |
Can I install a Chris King bottom bracket on my bike?
No, there's a chance that the bike's rear triangle will contact the outer section of the bottom bracket. If this happens, damage to the rear triangle may occur.
Can I put 27.5" wheels on my Hightower?
The Hightower is compatible with 27.5x 2.8" tires in addition to our typical 29x2.4 spec. If you go this route, you'll most likely want the Hi BB setting and a 160mm fork, to keep the BB height in the right range.
Can I fit a chainguide to my bike?
Yes, this bike is equipped with ISCG-05 tabs for easy chainguide mounting. Most chainguides on the market that are made for this standard should work.
I see the XXL has a longer chainstay length than the other sizes. Is that a different swingarm? Can I swap them out for different sizes?
The 6mm longer chainstay length is built into the front triangle of the XXL- all other parts are identical to other sizes. So there's no unique parts necessary to accomplish the geometry change, or possible adjustments to be made.
Should I ride in High or Low setting?
You should definitely try both, but we typically recommend starting in Lo on the Hightower. If you find yourself hitting your pedals too much, give Hi a try!
The geometry chart shows two settings- how do I adjust that?
There's a "flip chip" on the link where the shock mounts. Just remove the lower shock bolt and flip the chips to the setting you desire.
What is the recommended fork?
Our geometry is based off of a 150mm fork with a 42 or 44mm offset. We wouldn't recommend less travel than that, as the BB will get a bit low. 160mm is fine if that's your preference.
What kind of headset does this bike use?
This bike uses integrated headset cups. The upper is 41mm and the lower is 52mm. The SHIS name is IS 41/28.6 IS 52/40.
What size tire will fit?
This varies greatly depending on tire make and model, but 29x2.4" is generally the max you'd want in there. Some 2.5" tires will be fine as well, but not all.
I want to change my rear shock. Any limitations?
The Hightower fits most shocks on the market, with some exceptions. Fox Float X2, Cane Creek DB Air, and all coil shocks are not compatible. We recommend the Rockshox Super Deluxe, Deluxe, Fox DPX2, Fox Float DPS.
We design our bikes to last, to be easy to work on and we make sure to provide the parts and information so you can make your bike last for many lifetimes.
