Huge range of downhill and full suspension mountain bikes from all the leading brands
Built for big days in big terrain.
Hightower LT is designed for maximum speed in the biggest mountains. It’s truly race-bred, its design the result of the demands of racing at the EWS, Crankworx, and Andes Pacifico.
Midway through 2016, Mark Scott came to Santa Cruz with a request to eke more travel out of the bike. The stock 135mm wasn’t quite enough to maintain his speed on some of the rougher tracks. Santa Cruz's engineering team designed a new set of links that pushed travel to 146mm at the expense of some compatibility, but because Mark’s setup was a known variable, Santa Cruz could be very precise. Santa Cruz machined two sets on site, gave one to Mark, and the other to Iago Garay, a racer much more likely to take the fun line than tuck for speed.
The links went through a few iterations to find a balance of spring rate, travel, and shock compatibility. Toward the end of 2016, it became apparent that the best way to get the performance and travel required was to design a new swingarm to pair with the links, like Santa Cruz did with the V10. At this point the bike got a name—Hightower LT—and Santa Cruz pushed the travel to a full 150mm.
Starting from the Enduro World Series in Wicklow, the Santa Cruz | SRAM team have been racing on Wicklow Green production bikes—savvy internet commenters noticed the post-mount rear brake straightaway, and it's also been seen under the elusive Ratboy at Peaty's Steel City DH, Crankworx, and Megavalanche.
Features
148mm Rear Axle Spacing
150mm (6") VPP™ suspension
15mm thru-axle fork
29" wheels
Bottle cage mount within front triangle fits piggyback shocks
Carbon C and Carbon CC frame options
Double sealed pivots for long bearing life
Integrated Headset (IS41; IS52)
Internal carbon tubes ensure precise and hassle-free routing of derailleur and seat post cables
ISCG-05 tabs for chainguide compatibility
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Threaded Bottom Bracket
Specifications
Kit |
R |
S |
XE |
Price |
$2566USD |
$2566USD |
$2566USD |
Fork |
RockShox Revalation RC 150 |
FOX 36 F150 Performance |
FOX 36 Float Performance Elite 150 |
Shock |
FOX Float Performance DPS |
FOX Float Performance DPS |
FOX Float Performance Elite DPX |
Rear Derailleur |
SRAM NX Long Cage |
SRAM GX Eagle |
Shimano XT M8000 |
Shifters |
SRAM NX |
SRAM GX Eagle |
Shimano XT M8000 |
Crankset |
Race Face Aeffect 30T |
SRAM GX Eagle 30T |
Race Face Turbine 30T |
Cassette |
SRAM XG1150 CS 10-42T |
SRAM XG1275 Eagle 10-50T |
E13 TRS Race 11SPD Cassette 9-46T |
Chain |
SRAM PC1110 |
SRAM GX Eagle 12 SPD |
Shimano SLX M7000 |
Bottom Bracket |
|
SRAM GXP Team BB |
|
Brakes |
SRAM Level T |
SRAM Guide R |
Shimano XT M8000 |
Brake Rotors |
Avid Centerline 180mm |
Avid Centerline 180mm |
Shimano RT86 Ice Tech 180mm |
Headset |
Cane Creek 10 IS Integrated Headset |
Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset |
Cane Creek 40 IS Integrated Headset |
Bars |
Race Face Aeffect R 35x780 20mm Rise |
Race Face Aeffect R 35x780 20mm Rise |
Santa Cruz Bicycles AM Carbon Bar 35x800 |
Stem |
Race Face Ride 50mm |
Race Face Aeffect R 50mm |
Race Face Aeffect R 50mm |
Grips |
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips |
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips |
Santa Cruz Palmdale Grips |
Front Hub |
Novatec D711 Front Hub 15x110 |
Novatec D641 Front Disc Hub 15x110 |
Novatec D641 Front Disc Hub 15x110 |
Rear Hub |
Novatec D462 Rear Disc Hub 12x148 (XD) |
Novatec D642 Rear Hub 12x148 (XD) |
Novatec D642 Rear Hub 12x148 (XD) |
Rims |
WTB STP i29 TCS 29 |
E13 TRS 27.5 32h 30mm |
E13 TRS 27.5 32h 30mm |
Spokes |
DT Competition (28) |
DT Competition (32) |
DT Competition (32) |
Nipples |
Sapim Secure Lock Brass Nipples 14mm (28) |
Sapim Secure Lock AL Silver Nipples (32) |
Sapim Secure Lock AL Silver Nipples (32) |
Front Tire |
Maxxis Minion DHR 29x2.4 3c EXO TR |
Maxxis Minion DHR 29x2.4 3c EXO TR |
Maxxis Minion DHR 29x2.4 3c EXO TR |
Rear Tire |
Maxxis Minion DHR 29x2.4 3c EXO TR |
Maxxis Minion DHR 29x2.4 3c EXO TR |
Maxxis Minion DHR 29x2.4 3c EXO TR |
Tubes |
Stans Sealant 2oz |
Stans Sealant 2oz |
Stans Sealant 2oz |
Seat Post |
RF Aeffect 31.6 Dropper |
RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6 |
RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6 |
Saddle |
WTB Volt Race |
WTB Volt Race |
WTB Silverado Pro |