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In recent years, the Santa Cruz Hightower has sold like a VW bus in the Munich mountain sports community. With a strong image and a wide range of applications, the Hightower courted the favour of all-mountain bikers. A few weeks ago, Santa Cruz presented the fourth generation of the Hightower.
The iconic US label wants to appeal to an even larger target group with the update. According to Santa Cruz, everyone should have a Hightower in their garage to go on extended trail tours and other bike adventures. In this test, we take apart the success strategy of the top-selling bike, which is in remarkably high demand.
>> You can get an overview of the 4 top-selling MTBs in the test here: Cube, Canyon, Santa Cruz & Scott: top-selling MTBs on test
Top seller with sensible features & wide range of applications
However, it is a little surprising that you regularly see a Santa Cruz on the trails. After all, the Californians are not exactly known for their bargain prices. Our test bike at least partially resolves the contradiction, as the carbon frame is the cheaper of the two layup options and in terms of equipment, the sensible package was specified with Fox Performance Elite suspension and aluminium wheels.
Considering the wireless shifting and a lifetime warranty on the frame and bearings, the sales figures are easier to explain. Especially as the Hightower promises a particularly wide range of uses as a classic all-mountain bike. For the 2025 model year, the rear triangle comes with revised kinematics and five millimetres more travel. At the front, Santa Cruz has doubled the travel, i.e. ten millimetres more. And how good is the deal now?
Details of the Santa Cruz Hightower 4 GX AXS
- Range of use: All Mountain
- Suspension travel: 160 / 150 mm
- Wheel size: 29"
- Frame material: Carbon
- Weight: 15.0 kg
- Price: 7399 Euro >> available here
- Distribution channel: specialised trade
- Guarantee: for life
- Maximum system weight: 150 kilos
- Special features: Flip chip, storage compartment
Equipment
- Fork: Fox Float 36
- Damper: Float X Performance Elite
- Gearing / Bandwidth: Sram GX Eagle AXS Transmission / 520 %
- Brakes: Sram Maven Bronze / 180/180 mm
- Wheels: Race Face ARC 30 / DT Swiss 370
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II 3C Maxxgrip/Maxxterra Exo TR, 29 x 2.50/2.40
- Seatpost / Stroke: Rockshox Reverb / 150 mm
A practical test of the Santa Cruz Hightower 2025
The harmonious carbon cockpit and the cleanly finished frame of the Santa Cruz Hightower 4 make a good impression as soon as you sit on it. Thanks to a steep seat angle and a short and high control centre, the rider sits upright and far forward on the bike. On long rides, however, a more equalised position would be more comfortable.
On technical uphills, the bike can be placed in the ideal line without much effort. The front wheel starts to climb surprisingly late. The rear end generates a lot of traction, doesn't bottom out even on steps and also provides excellent control uphill. At the same time, the rear shock bobs only slightly even when pedalling in open mode and is noticeably powerful.
Admittedly: Our expectations of the new Santa Cruz Hightower were high, as the tried and tested VPP rear suspension system has delivered regularly in the past. Unfortunately, the renovated kinematics can't take all the credit. Whilst the fork has no weaknesses and leads the bike with confidence, the rear end reacts to small, fast hits less casually than we would expect from an all-mountain bike. Under braking, the rear end stiffens further and provides a lot of feedback.
The Hightower lacks traction on steep descents. In view of the sporty counterweight, you are literally surprised by the available suspension travel on big hits. The handling is more harmonious. Free of geometry extremes, the Pilot is balanced in the centre of the frame and enjoys a pleasant weight distribution. The bike is easy on the rear wheel and in the bunny hop.
However, the variable seatpost with only 150 millimetres of travel gets in the way of the gimmicks. With the short seat tube, it has to be ridden with a lot of extension. There's no need to discuss the brakes, the Sram Maven stoppers are powerful anchors.
The spider diagram
The new BIKE spider diagram provides an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the Santa Cruz Hightower 4 C GX AXS. Uphill, playfulness and downhill refer to the riding behaviour: The greater the deflection, the better the suitability. Equipment: is made up of different points such as quality/workmanship, usability, bottle cage volume, seat drop. Propulsion: Influence of total weight and wheel inertia.
From the test lab
BIKE goes to unprecedented lengths to measure mountain bikes. In the test laboratory, we not only carry out our own geometry measurements, but also determine the lateral stiffness of the frame separately for the front frame triangle including the fork (front) and the rear triangle (rear). The total weight is without pedals, the wheel weight per set with tyres, cassette and brake discs. The following applies to the measured value of the wheel inertia: the lower, the easier it is to accelerate.
- Total weight: 15.00 kg without pedals
- Weight of wheels: 5078 g
- Impeller inertia: 4030 kg x cm²
Conclusion on the Santa Cruz Hightower 4 C GX AXS
While the new Santa Cruz Hightower climbs better than ever before, the suspension reveals weaknesses on the descents. The renovated rear suspension provides plenty of reserves but too little definition. With its uncomplicated handling, the Santa Cruz should still make a lot of friends. The Californians leave nothing to be desired when it comes to quality and warranty services.- Jan Timmermann, BIKE test editor
Pro
- drive-neutral, strong climbing rear triangle
- Pleasant handling up- and downhill
Contra
- little rear suspension traction and comfort downhill
Jan Timmermann
Editor
