Update: Santa Cruz Hightower 3
Santa Cruz offers six downhill-orientated models with suspension travel from 120 to 170 millimetres, which also look confusingly similar. It's easy to lose track. With 29-inch wheels and 145 millimetres of rear suspension travel, the Hightower 3 pretty much in the centre of the model range. The third-generation update is limited to slight changes to the geometry, the kinematics and a boot.
Santa Cruz Hightower 3 - Overview:
- Frame material: Carbon
- Wheel size: 29 inch
- Spring travel: 145 millimetres (rear) / 150 millimetres (front)
- Frame sizes: SM / MD / LG / XL / XXL
- Colours: Translucent Purple / Matte Evergreen
- Models and prices: 6 models between 5499 Euro until 10 999 Euro; Framekit for 3799 Euro
- Lifetime warranty on frame, bearings and wheels (reserve)
- New details: glovebox, recess in the frame for reading the negative spring travel (SAG window)
- Available: expected from the end of July 2022
Sophisticated: Third Hightower generation with changes in detail
The Hightower is already in its third generation, but the basic key data of its predecessor have remained the same. 145 millimetres spring travel at the rear, 150 at the front. 29-inch-wheels and the proven rear triangle with virtual pivot point VPP (virtual pivot point). According to the motto "Never change a running system", the changes to the Hightower are only minor.
The glovebox storage space in the down tube hides the most important things you need on a long day in the saddle with its tool and tube pouches, while the peephole on the seat tube makes it easier to adjust the shock. The kinematics of the VPP rear triangle have also been slightly modified. It should now respond even more sensitively and at the same time be less affected by the pull of the chain.
Santa Cruz offers a choice of two colours, six equipment variants and a frame kit. The most affordable version, the Hightower C R, starts at 5499 Euro. Twice as much (10 999 Euro) is due for the top model Hightower CC XO AXS RSV with CC frame, wireless shifting and the finest components. Like all Santa Cruz models, the Hightower also comes with Lifetime warranty on Reserve frames, bearings and wheels.
Fine-tuned: Santa Cruz Hightower 3 geometry
In line with the trend: the reach has been minimally extended by 2 millimetres and the head angle has been slackened by 0.7 degrees. This should make the bike even smoother. According to Santa Cruz, the chainstay length, seat angle and even the stiffness of the front frame triangle have also been adapted to the respective frame size. To integrate the rider even better into the bike and lower the centre of gravity, the bottom bracket has been lowered by 2 millimetres. The stack has been raised more significantly, by 12 millimetres, to accommodate modern, flat cockpits.
