More travel and improved geometry ensure the Hightower is ready for everything <\/p>

SQUIRREL_13134917<\/p>

Santa Cruz was keen to build upon the success of its well-established and incredibly popular do-it-all Hightower mountain bike, in a bid to create the one bike it believes everyone needs.<\/p>

To do this, the Californian brand has increased rear-wheel travel, updated the geometry to boost high-speed handling and climbing comfort, and reworked the suspension so it better balances bump absorption and pedalling prowess.<\/p>

The Hightower CC X0 AXS RSV \u2013 the second priciest bike in the Hightower line-up<\/a> \u2013 boasts an impressive spec sheet that you\u2019d struggle to pick holes in. While it might not have quite the same quality of gearing or hubs as the top-flight model, it\u2019s almost identical everywhere else.<\/p>

And it was the top-spec model that I spent three days riding during the Hightower launch out in the Italian Alps, bombing down trails I\u2019d previously raced as part of the Stone King Rally.<\/p>

As soon as I hit the first uphill section, it was apparent the Hightower still climbs with relative ease. But it was when going downhill that it impressed most, handling trails I\u2019d previously ridden on a longer-travel enduro bike<\/a> with composure and poise, never getting flustered or buffeted off-line.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXS RSV frame and suspension<\/h2>
If you don’t like carrying kit on your back, you can stash quite a bit of it in the integrated down tube storage. Max Schumann \/ Santa Cruz Bicycles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
Santa Cruz only offers the Hightower in its \u2018C\u2019 or \u2018CC\u2019 carbon fibre<\/a>, with 29in wheels<\/a>.<\/p>
Both carbon frames have internal routing, but the \u2018CC\u2019 only caters for wireless drivetrains (there\u2019s routing for a dropper post<\/a> and rear brake hose, but that\u2019s it). If you want to run cables, you\u2019ll need the slightly cheaper \u2018C\u2019 frame.<\/p>
Travel has been upped<\/a> to 150mm (from 145mm) at the rear, but is still delivered by Santa Cruz’s Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension platform, which uses two, short, counter-rotating links to attach the front and rear triangles together.<\/p>
$\"Santa$
The shock has been moved lower in the frame and sits within the ‘bird’s nest’, making it easier to access during setup. Max Schumann \/ Santa Cruz Bicycles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
The changes are more than a few extra millimeters of travel, though. The shock now nestles down lower in the frame and thanks to the triangulated section above the bottom-bracket junction, you can see more of it, which should help with setup.<\/p>
Santa Cruz has also reduced anti-squat (how much the suspension design resists bobbing as you pedal) to enable the back end of the bike to move more freely while you pedal your way up or along chunky terrain, where traction is at a premium.<\/p>
Not only this, but the reduction in anti-squat should help reduce unwanted pedal kickback, making things feel a little smoother when you\u2019re really whacking into the bumps.<\/p>
$\"Santa$
There’s now space to fit a coil shock onto the Hightower. Max Schumann \/ Santa Cruz Bicycles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
If air shocks<\/a> aren\u2019t your thing, thanks to a broader shock tunnel through the seat tube, the Hightower will comfortably work with coil-sprung shocks.<\/p>
Santa Cruz has updated its internal down tube storage system (dubbed the \u2018Glovebox\u2019) and says its new latch design offers more security and better sealing than before.<\/p>
Like most other carbon bikes, the Hightower isn\u2019t cheap. But what is nice here is that Santa Cruz offers a lifetime warranty on its carbon frames and bearings (as well as the carbon Reserve rims, which are included on this Hightower build), which is a plus for peace of mind.<\/p><\/div><\/div>
Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXS RSV geometry<\/h2>
$\"Pack$
Along with boosting suspension travel, Santa Cruz has reduced the amount of anti-squat in the VPP suspension system to improve traction and comfort. Max Schumann \/ Santa Cruz Bicycles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
Santa Cruz offers small through to double-extra-large frame sizes, all of which take 29in wheels only.<\/p>
Just as there are changes to the Hightower\u2019s suspension, Santa Cruz has tweaked the geometry, too, in a bid to up the bike’s capabilities and better its all-round performance.<\/p>
That means the head angle is now slacker at 63.9 degrees (in the low setting), while the seat tube angle is steeper, at close to 78 degrees across the size range (the medium bike I rode is claimed to be 77.6 degrees in low).<\/p>
$\"Santa$
British brand Burgtec supplies the trick-looking stem. Max Schumann \/ Santa Cruz Bicycles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
The all-important reach measurement, which gives you some idea as to how roomy (or not) a bike will feel when you\u2019re stood up on the pedals, is 457mm (medium, low setting), while the bottom bracket sits quite close to the ground at 341mm.<\/p>
At the back, the rear-centre (otherwise known as the effective chainstay length) grows across the frame-size range to try to ensure all riders, no matter their height, get the same ride experience and feel on the trail.<\/p>
The medium bike I rode had a rear-centre of 436mm.<\/p>
$\"Santa$
A flip chip provides a choice of two different geometry settings. Max Schumann \/ Santa Cruz Bicycles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>
And, if you\u2019d not guessed yet, there\u2019s some geometry adjustment that comes in the form of a flip chip<\/a> down at the lower shock mount.<\/p>
This gives you the choice of the high or low position, altering the head and seat tube angle by 0.3 degrees, and changes the bottom bracket height and reach by 3mm, and the rear-centre by 1mm.<\/p>
<\/colgroup>

\ufeff<\/th> S<\/b><\/th> M<\/b><\/th> L<\/b><\/th> XL<\/b><\/th> XXL<\/b><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
High \/ Low<\/td> High \/ Low<\/td> High \/ Low<\/td> High \/ Low<\/td> High \/ Low<\/td><\/tr>
Seat tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td> 77.6 \/ 77.3<\/td> 77.9 \/ 77.6<\/td> 78.2 \/ 77.9<\/td> 78.3 \/ 78<\/td> 78.4 \/ 78.1<\/td><\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td> 64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td> 64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td> 64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td> 64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td> 64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td><\/tr>
Rear centre<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 434 \/ 435<\/td> 436 \/ 436<\/td> 439 \/ 439<\/td> 442 \/ 443<\/td> 445 \/ 446<\/td><\/tr>
Front centre<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 742 \/ 742<\/td> 801 \/ 801<\/td> 825 \/ 825<\/td> 854 \/ 854<\/td> 883 \/ 883<\/td><\/tr>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 380 \/ 380<\/td> 405 \/ 405<\/td> 430 \/ 430<\/td> 460 \/ 460<\/td> 500 \/ 500<\/td><\/tr>
Top tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 573 \/ 573<\/td> 596 \/ 596<\/td> 614 \/ 615<\/td> 637 \/ 628<\/td> 663 \/ 664<\/td><\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 110 \/ 110<\/td> 120 \/ 120<\/td> 130 \/ 130<\/td> 150 \/ 150<\/td> 160 \/ 160<\/td><\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 29 \/ 32<\/td> 29 \/ 32<\/td> 29 \/ 32<\/td> 29 \/ 32<\/td> 29 \/ 32<\/td><\/tr>
Bottom bracket height<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 344 \/ 341<\/td> 344 \/ 341<\/td> 344 \/ 341<\/td> 344 \/ 341<\/td> 344 \/ 341<\/td><\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 1176 \/ 1206<\/td> 1237 \/ 1238<\/td> 1265 \/ 1265<\/td> 1296 \/ 1297<\/td> 1329 \/ 1329<\/td><\/tr>
Standover<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 722 \/ 714<\/td> 723 \/ 719<\/td> 726 \/ 722<\/td> 727 \/ 723<\/td> 731 \/ 727<\/td><\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 623 \/ 625<\/td> 632 \/ 634<\/td> 641 \/ 643<\/td> 659 \/ 661<\/td> 668 \/ 670<\/td><\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td> 435 \/ 432<\/td> 460 \/ 458<\/td> 480 \/ 478<\/td> 500 \/ 498<\/td> 525 \/ 523<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody>
<\/p><\/table>

\ufeff<\/th>	S<\/b><\/th>	M<\/b><\/th>	L<\/b><\/th>	XL<\/b><\/th>	XXL<\/b><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
High \/ Low<\/td>	High \/ Low<\/td>	High \/ Low<\/td>	High \/ Low<\/td>	High \/ Low<\/td><\/tr>
Seat tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>	77.6 \/ 77.3<\/td>	77.9 \/ 77.6<\/td>	78.2 \/ 77.9<\/td>	78.3 \/ 78<\/td>	78.4 \/ 78.1<\/td><\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>	64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td>	64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td>	64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td>	64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td>	64.2 \/ 63.9<\/td><\/tr>
Rear centre<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	434 \/ 435<\/td>	436 \/ 436<\/td>	439 \/ 439<\/td>	442 \/ 443<\/td>	445 \/ 446<\/td><\/tr>
Front centre<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	742 \/ 742<\/td>	801 \/ 801<\/td>	825 \/ 825<\/td>	854 \/ 854<\/td>	883 \/ 883<\/td><\/tr>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	380 \/ 380<\/td>	405 \/ 405<\/td>	430 \/ 430<\/td>	460 \/ 460<\/td>	500 \/ 500<\/td><\/tr>
Top tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	573 \/ 573<\/td>	596 \/ 596<\/td>	614 \/ 615<\/td>	637 \/ 628<\/td>	663 \/ 664<\/td><\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	110 \/ 110<\/td>	120 \/ 120<\/td>	130 \/ 130<\/td>	150 \/ 150<\/td>	160 \/ 160<\/td><\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	29 \/ 32<\/td>	29 \/ 32<\/td>	29 \/ 32<\/td>	29 \/ 32<\/td>	29 \/ 32<\/td><\/tr>
Bottom bracket height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	344 \/ 341<\/td>	344 \/ 341<\/td>	344 \/ 341<\/td>	344 \/ 341<\/td>	344 \/ 341<\/td><\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	1176 \/ 1206<\/td>	1237 \/ 1238<\/td>	1265 \/ 1265<\/td>	1296 \/ 1297<\/td>	1329 \/ 1329<\/td><\/tr>
Standover<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	722 \/ 714<\/td>	723 \/ 719<\/td>	726 \/ 722<\/td>	727 \/ 723<\/td>	731 \/ 727<\/td><\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	623 \/ 625<\/td>	632 \/ 634<\/td>	641 \/ 643<\/td>	659 \/ 661<\/td>	668 \/ 670<\/td><\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td>	435 \/ 432<\/td>	460 \/ 458<\/td>	480 \/ 478<\/td>	500 \/ 498<\/td>	525 \/ 523<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody> <\/p><\/table>