Santa Cruz has continued to employ size-specific seat tube angles and has now added size-specific chain stay lengths (rear center) to create a balanced geometry package in each size. Combining the taller stack with a slacker 64.5 degree head tube angle (Lo position) and a 2mm lower bottom bracket across all sizes, the new Hightower has a more ‘sat in the bike’ feel. Reach has only grown a marginal 2mm for each size, while stack has increased by a noticeable 15mm in size medium through X-large (10mm for size small, 5mm for size XXL). The changes are subtle, but they all lean towards giving riders an extra boost in confidence when riding demanding trails. Leave a comment if you could have guessed this, but the Hightower now flaunts longer-lower-slacker geometry than before. Santa Cruz tends to roll out updates to existing models more often than most brands, and the Hightower receives nuanced but necessary tweaks to keep up with the times. Usually, we avoid regurgitating marketing phrases, but in the case of the Hightower, ‘refined, not redefined’ perfectly describes what the new version entails. The correct answer is yes the Hightower will put a smile on your face across the most diverse trail conditions and prides itself on not being confined to a one-trick pony. We would call the Hightower a Grade A trail bike, while some might say it’s simply a mountain bike. With 145mm of travel rear wheel travel paired with a 150mm fork, there is enough cushion to maintain composure charging through chunky gnar, matched with pedal-friendly geometry and a light, responsive frame that promotes long days in the saddle. ![]() Landing in the middle of the Santa Cruz lineup, the Hightower has historically been the bike best suited for most situations. The Third Generation Hightower - Refined, Not Re-Defined
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