The New Santa Cruz Hightower Bites Back

The Santa Cruz Hightower is no stranger to the trail bike market. Launched in 2016 as an evolution from the Tallboy LT, the Hightower is the 135mm, do-it-all trail bike for the discerning mountain biker. We reviewed the Santa Cruz Hightower in 2017. In 2025, Santa Cruz revised this crowd favourite to accommodate more aggressive geometry with 160/150mm of travel.

At the top end of the Santa Cruz Hightower family, I tested the Hightower XO AXS model. The Hightower continues to evolve as a true all-round trail bike, with its latest design further emphasising its versatility. The updated geometry has been carefully refined to improve descending performance, giving riders more confidence and control on steeper, more technical terrain – all while staying true to the Hightower’s roots as a do-it-all trail machine. This bike compares directly to the Forbidden Druid in terms of a high-end trail bike designed to be both confident and fun descending and efficient climbing. The Santa Cruz, however, has more travel but is similar in price.

One of the most notable changes in the latest generation of the Santa Cruz Hightower is the relocated rear shock. The shock now sits lower in the downtube than its first two generations, recessed within the frame, opening up space above the bottom bracket. The lowered shock blends smoothly into the overall design and allows responsiveness in the rear, without compromising the Hightower’s pedalling efficiency. While the lowered shock was present on the last generation of the HIghtower, Santa Cruz has again modified the horizontal placement slightly. This new layout gives the frame a sleek, integrated look and serves a functional purpose in the bike’s performance, while retaining Santa Cruz’s time-tested VPP platform. This isn’t just about aesthetics – Santa Cruz has engineered this update to improve the way the bike rides. The revised setup claims to reduce pedal kickback, boost traction, and optimise the suspension’s responsiveness.

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Adding to its capabilities, the rear travel has been bumped up to 150mm, giving the bike more ability for rough trails and more technical descents. Despite all the changes to the frame, Santa Cruz has stuck with their much-loved in-frame storage compartment, the Glovebox, providing riders with convenient space for tools, snacks, or spares without needing to strap anything to the frame.

Initial Impressions

I was especially impressed by the build of the Santa Cruz Hightower, which meant the overall weight of the bike was feathery at 14.01kg. This is in part thanks to the SRAM XO AXS groupset, SRAM Maven brakes, and a carbon frame and handlebar setup, the bike felt impressively light without compromising performance. The Reserve alloy wheels deserve special mention – they held their compliance through the rough, rocky terrain on my local Jubilee trails, and gave the ride a stable, confident feel.

Bike Specs – Santa Cruz Hightower XO AXS

Brand: Santa Cruz
Model: Hightower XO AXS
RRP: $12,499 AUD
Weight: 14.01kg (as tested)
Website: santacruzbicycles.com/en-au

Available Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Frame Material: CC Carbon Fibre

Suspension

– Fork: Fox 36 Float Factory, 160mm
– Shock: Fox Float X Factory, 150mm

Drivetrain

– Shifters: SRAM AXS pod
– Derailleur: SRAM XO Eagle AXS 12-speed
– Crank: SRAM XO Eagle DUB 32T
– Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB
– Chain: SRAM XO Eagle T-Type
– Cassette: SRAM XO Eagle 10–52T

Wheels

– Hubs: Industry Nine 28h
– Rims: Reserve 30ISL alloy
– Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF (front) & DHR II (rear)

Cockpit

– Model: SRAM Maven Silver Stealth
– Stem: Burgtec Enduro, 42mm
– Handlebars: Santa Cruz 35.0 Carbon Bar, 800mm
– Seatpost: OneUp, 31.6mm
– Saddle: WTB Silverado Medium

Although the SRAM Maven Silver brakes and XO AXS drivetrain are only marginally better on paper than their lower-tier counterparts, on the trail they delivered a noticeably smoother, more refined experience. Shifting felt effortless, and the braking with the Mavens was robust and consistent – no complaints here.

As someone who typically rides a size small, I often find that manufacturers lower the top tube to accommodate shorter standover heights, which can mess with the geometry and aesthetics. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the standover height on this model – it felt well-balanced and didn’t compromise the bike’s overall look or feel.

One detail I picked up on quickly during descents was how high my feet felt off the ground. This could be due to the bottom bracket height or overall frame layout, and while it took some getting used to, it didn’t take away from the bike’s descending performance. Overall, the Santa Cruz Hightower delivers a lively, well-rounded trail experience that’s made for riders who love to ride hard, climb efficiently, and keep things fun.

As far as set-up went, I made no changes out of the box. It is worth mentioning that the Santa Cruz Hightower has a high/low geometry flip chip, which comes set up in the low setting that equates to a head tube angle of 63.9. Flipping to the high setting steepens things up to 64.2, and also brings the seat tube angle to 77.6 from 77.3 in the low setting. While this seat tube angle may seem a little on the slack side, Santa Cruz have ensured longer riders won’t be off the back, with the angles tightening up to 78.4 in high setting in the XXL sizing.

Suspension-wise, I settled on 67psi, 8 clicks low speed and 7 clicks high speed compression in the Fox 36 Float Factory fork, and 145 psi with 7 clicks rebound in the rear shock.

On the Trail with Santa Cruz Hightower

I’d describe this bike as an enduro–trail hybrid. The slack head tube angle gives aggressive enduro-rig vibes, while its light overall weight and pedalling efficiency means it retains the agility of a trail bike. These characteristics make it a versatile choice for riders who want to push hard on descents without sacrificing too much on the climbs.

One of the standout features for me was the pedalling efficiency. I was genuinely impressed – I never felt the need to reach for the suspension lockout. Even on long, sustained climbs, the bike maintained a firm and responsive feel under power, which speaks volumes about the suspension design and overall setup.

On technical climbs, the bike really came into its own. It charged over roots, rocks, and step-ups with ease, delivering plenty of traction and stability when things got tricky. Even on flatter, more gradual ascents, it rolled smoothly and held its momentum well, making it a strong performer in a variety of climbing scenarios.

Another point worth highlighting is the comfort factor on longer rides. After pushing past the four-hour mark on several rides, I found the bike continued to feel comfortable and efficient. When set up correctly, it does a great job at reducing fatigue, allowing you to stay fresh and focused on the trail.

In terms of handling, I’d call the Santa Cruz Hightower optimally balanced. When giving the beans it responds well to rider input, holds lines nicely, and feels predictable through corners. However, at very high speed it tends to lose some composure in rough terrain. While it’s still capable, riders who frequently ride rough and janky downhill-style descents might notice things can tend to get a little too loose in those moments.

Another thing to note, I absolutely struggled on tight sections of track. As a smaller rider, I grappled as to whether it is due to the Hightower’s 29” wheels, 1205mm wheelbase, or both. Normally I don’t experience this at all on small bikes so I was a bit surprised when I had this problem. Notably, the wheelbase is on par with others in this category, a little longer than the Forbidden Druid but by only a few millimetres.

Despite this minor quibble, this bike was impressively poppy and responsive for a full 29er with 160mm of travel. It felt light off the ground and climbed with surprising efficiency – traits you don’t always expect from something with this much travel. It’s designed for riders who want to get the most out of every section of trail while having an absolute blast doing it.

What stood out was how much fun this bike was on flowy singletracks. It’s fast, playful, and tuned for that style of riding. While it could feel a bit too lively, requiring a bit more input to stay grounded on rougher terrain, the trade-off was a bike that felt engaging and energetic in the right conditions.

Our Take on the Santa Cruz Hightower

Suppose you’re after a mountain bike that can handle almost everything. In that case, the latest version of the Santa Cruz Hightower proves its worth as an extremely capable, efficient, and versatile trail bike. It’s the kind of bike that could efficiently serve as your only ride, no matter the terrain or type of trail…as long as you understand its limits when the going gets very rough and technical. That all-around ability is where its real value lies.

Yes, the price tag is higher on Santa Cruz bikes, but that comes with some solid justification. This Hightower isn’t just another trail bike – it’s a unique product. You can see the attention to detail and thoughtful design choices that went into the new Hightower, and for riders who care about performance, those considerations make a big difference.

For anyone in the market for a high-end, do-it-all mountain bike with robust and reliable components, this one stands out. It’s packed with quality parts and built for riders who want confidence in their gear across a wide range of riding types and trail conditions.

It’s worth remembering that this is a trail bike, not an enduro bike. While it might reach its limits on the most aggressive descents, that’s not what it was designed for. And honestly, within its intended purpose of general trail riding, fast flow trails and less aggressive gravity trails, Santa Cruz has nailed it. The Santa Cruz Hightower delivers exactly what a trail bike should: versatility, balance, and capability in a finely tuned package.