2020 Santa Cruz Hightower Carbon CC X01

(discontinued)

Inits debut, the Santa Cruz Hightower developed a bit of a reputation for being a “dad bike.” It was a pretty good all-rounder that just seemed to lack a certain amount of excitement surrounding its geometry and capability. Fast forward to now… dad grows a beard, gets some neck tats and starts running drugs for the cartel. Santa Cruz made sure dad’s bike is getting all the high-speed rowdiness he needs for his fresh persona with the newly updated Hightower.

Hightower Highlights

• 29-inch wheels
• 150mm (5.9-inches) front and 140mm (5.5-inches) rear wheel travel
• Aluminum, CC and C carbon frame options
• Lower-link mounted Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension system
• 27.5+ compatible with flip chip in “Hi” setting
• 29x2.4" or 27.5x2.8” max tire clearance
• Hi/Lo flip chip in lower shock mount
• Metric 210x52.5mm shock size with rear bearing mount
• Internal cable routing with hose guides
• Threaded 73mm bottom bracket with ISCG05 mounts
• Boost 12x148mm rear axle spacing
• Fits 36-tooth boost chainring (52mm chainline) or smaller
• Integrated 41/52mm headset
• 180mm post brake mount
• Water bottle mount inside front triangle
• Shock fender, shuttle guard, downtube protector, and ribbed chainstay protector
• Lifetime warranty on frame and Reserve wheels
• Lifetime bearing replacement
• Weight: 29.8-pounds (13.5kg, as tested)

Updates & Geometry

Along with the new cool-guy dad-itude, the Hightower gets some major geometry updates. Following suit with the recently debuted Megatower, the Hightower goes almost a size up with around a 20mm increase in reach across the board.It also features a 65.2-degree head angle – a significant 1.8-degrees slacker than the previous version and just half a degree steeper than the Megatower.

Along with the updated lower-link VPP suspension design, the Hightower now features a Hi/Lo flip chip in the lower shock mount which allows riders to raise the bottom bracket up 4mm from the Lo to the Hi setting based on preference or to accommodate a 27.5+ tire. Flipping the chip from the Lo to the Hi setting also steepens the head angle by about 0.3-degrees. Similar to the Megatower, keeping the bike in the Lo setting also provides a slightly more progressive leverage curve which gives riders another way to fine-tune their suspension.

Another major update to the Hightower's geometry is a 3-degree steeper effective seat tube angle which allows riders to get a little more over the front end for a more comfortable climbing position.

One interesting feature introduced with the Megatower, but notably left out on the Hightower, was the ability to adjust the chainstay length by 10mm with a flip chip located in the rear axle. Although the Hightower does not have this feature, it’s important to note that the XXL does have a 6mm longer chainstay length which is accomplished by moving the pivot locations relative to the bottom bracket on the front triangle.

Compared to the Previous Version, the New Hightower Features

• A slight increase in rear wheel travel from 135mm to 140mm and the front end bumps up to 150mm from 140mm.
• Much longer reach measurements (10-20mm) and wheelbases across the board. For example, what was a large Hightower before is now comparable to a medium with a 450mm reach.
• 1.5 to 1.8-degree slacker headtube angle, depending on the geometry setting
• 3-degree steeper effective seat tube angle
• Shorter seat tubes for added dropper post compatibility
• Improved standover
• Slightly higher bottom bracket height
• Comparable chainstay length at 434mm, except the XXL with 440mm.

No longer a dad bike, the longer, slacker geometry and lower-link updates bring a little extra party to the do-it-all Hightower.

Build Kits & Pricing

Santa Cruz offers an impressive list of 10 complete Hightower models from $2,899 to $10,499 USD. This range covers high-end CC carbon bikes, more budget-friendly C carbon bikes, aluminum bikes, plus those with and without Santa Cruz Reserve carbon wheels. View complete Hightower build kit and pricing details.

Aluminum frames are also available for $1,999 and CC Carbon frames for $3,299.

Also New: 2020 Juliana Maverick

The women's version, dubbed the Juliana Maverik, is available in four C and CC models ranging from $4,299 to $8,299 in sizes small through large. View complete Maverick build kit and pricing details.

In Action

What's the Bottom Line?

No longer a dad bike, the longer, slacker geometry and lower-link updates bring a little extra party to the do-it-all Hightower. Although the added length took a few rides and adjustments to get used to, the extra stability and slacker head angle really helps the Hightower come through when navigating steep rock rolls and plowing full speed into the holes at the bottom. The lower-link VPP design brings an extra element of smoothness to the rear end where previous versions would sometimes hang up. Even with all these changes, the latest VPP design stays true to its renowned pedaling efficiency. The Hightower's nearly 3-degree steeper seat tube angle keeps the weight over the front of the bike when climbing, complimenting efficiency with a comfortable body position.

Visit www.santacruzbicycles.com for more details.

Vital MTB First Ride Rating

• Climbing: 4.5 stars - Outstanding
• Descending: 4 stars - Excellent
• Fun Factor: 4 stars - Excellent
• Value: 4 stars - Excellent
• Overall Impression: 4 stars - Excellent

About the Tester

Dylan Stucki - Age: 30 // Years Riding: 19 // Height: 6'5" (1.96m) // Weight: 180-pounds (81.6kg)

When he's not busy ripping the Colorado high country singletrack with friends, you're likely to find Dylan battling it out on the enduro race circuit. Since he's a big guy and charges hard, he breaks a lot of stuff. With a broad riding and racing history, he's naturally a perceptive and particular rider who picks up on subtleties.

Video by Rhoddy Jensen // Photos by Dylan Stucki, Gary Perkin and Santa Cruz