New Santa Cruz Hightower 4: One all-mountain bike with the best of everything, please!
Jan Timmermann
· 17.09.2024
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The Santa Cruz Hightower is the latest flowering of the Californians' ongoing renovation project. The product designers are constantly optimising the bike range. Very similar innovations like the Santa Cruz BronsonThe 29er All Mountain model Hightower has now been given a new look. All in all, the updates are intended to make the bestseller even more versatile and, above all, better. The new Santa Cruz Hightower is aimed at bikers looking for the one MTB for everything. In other words, people who attach great importance to strong performance, who want to rely on a well-functioning chassis, positive test results and a strong brand image.
However, the Santa Cruz Hightower 4 also wants to appeal to realists who are perhaps flirting with an even more radical mega-tower, but don't want to shoot sparrows with cannons on the trails either. The new all-mountain bike promises them good-natured climbing and confident downhill characteristics thanks to its proven geometry and high reliability. Last but not least, the new Hightower is also intended to appeal to bikers who simply enjoy cycling and don't want to pore over instruction manuals, but are simply looking for a powerful fully without the frippery.
Details of the Santa Cruz Hightower 2025
- Application: All Mountain
- Suspension travel: 160 / 150 mm
- Wheel size: 29"
- Frame material: Carbon (C / CC)
- Prices: 5499 to 11,499 euros >> available here
- Special features: More suspension travel, storage compartment in the down tube, customised kinematics, geometry and equipment options
The Santa Cruz Hightower gets more reserves for the descent
In keeping with the ongoing trend of new all-mountain launches, Santa Cruz has injected the Hightower with more suspension travel for extra reserves. While 145 millimetres at the rear used to remove obstacles from the trail, the fourth generation now has 150 millimetres. At the front, there is twice the increase in the crumple zone, namely 160 millimetres instead of the previous 150 millimetres. In line with this, the revised rear triangle provides sufficient space for large-volume shock absorbers. The new Santa Cruz Hightower 4 is also approved for coil spring shocks. In addition, a steering angle flattened to 64 degrees promises even smoother running at high speeds. In the new model year, the Californians are sticking to the size-specific chainstay lengths and large 29-inch wheels.
In order to get even more out of the Hightower's all-mountain suspension, Santa Cruz has once again tackled the kinematics of the rear triangle. A revised layout should contribute to an optimised positioning of the bearings as well as a better spring and damping effect. More specifically, the engineers at Santa Cruz have reduced the anti-squat values to minimise pedal kickback when hitting edges. The lower values should also keep the suspension active when the bike is pedalled over demanding terrain. The new kinematics were realised by slightly shifting the virtual pivot points. The lower VPP link now sits lower, which should result in a smoother ride.
Practical features on the new Santa Cruz Hightower 4
The glovebox already familiar from other Santa Cruz models is finally making its way onto the Hightower. This is a storage compartment in the down tube that can hold spare parts and tools as well as trail food or a light jacket. As before, carbon is the only material chosen for the Hightower. The carbon frame is available in two layup grades, C and CC.
While C frames are prepared for the internal routing of the rear brake cable, dropper post cable and shift cable, the CC version does without a cable entry for the drivetrain and is only compatible with radio-controlled electric derailleurs. Accordingly, a Sram UDH derailleur hanger is also on board. The tyre clearance in the rear triangle is 2.5 inches and the post mount brake mount is designed for 180 millimetre brake discs. Wrenchers can look forward to a BSA bottom bracket and an ISCG05 chain guide mount. As you would expect from Santa Cruz, the new Hightower carbon frame also comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Models and prices
In addition to a CC frameset for 3899 euros, Santa Cruz offers six equipment variants as complete bikes. Two different colours and five sizes from S to XXL are available:
- Santa Cruz Hightower 4 R: 5499 Euro
- Santa Cruz Hightower 4 S: 6399 Euro
- Santa Cruz Hightower 4 GX AXS T Type: 7399 Euro
- Santa Cruz Hightower 4 XO AXS: 8799 Euro
- Santa Cruz Hightower 4 XO AXS RSV: 9999 euros
- Santa Cruz Hightower 4 XX AXS RSV: 11,499 euros
To do justice to the increased downhill potential, Santa Cruz specifies powerful brakes such as the Sram Maven or Sram DB8. Almost all variants come with Fox Float X shocks and Fox 36 suspension forks. Dropper posts from One Up ensure that the saddle can be lowered a long way. The more expensive bikes are fitted with in-house Santa Cruz Reserve wheels with carbon rims.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
