Like most modern mountain bikes, the Santa Cruz Hightower has adjustable geometry, although we left the bike in the Low mode for most of our testing. If you’re so inclined to spend $10,499 you can buy yourself the CC version, which comes with Rock Shox Lyrik Ultimate and Rock Shox Super Deluxe Ultimate suspension and SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS electronic drivetrain. Santa Cruz’s entry level R Aluminum build comes in at $3,499 with their entry level R Carbon C build retailing for $4,299.
Framesets are also available if you prefer to build your own. Sporting 140mm of rear wheel travel and 150mm up front, Santa Cruz offers the Hightower in five carbon build kits and three aluminum builds, so that riders of varying budgets can keep their bank accounts, and significant others, from turning red.
