Santa Cruz Hightower 4 Review

The new Hightower gets more travel. With 160 mm on the fork and 150 mm in the rear, it is more capable downhill than ever. But it maintains a very distinct character. We were already able to ride it.

While Specialized killed off its Evo models with 160 mm of travel with its new Stumpjumper 15, Santa Cruz is pumping up its Hightower to 160 mm in the front and 150 mm in the rear. This makes the Hightower more downhill-oriented than ever. The use in an enduro race or the occasional trip to a bike park is easily possible.

Compared to its predecessor, not only has the quantity of travel changed, but also the linkage and its characteristics have clearly been altered. The shock is now positioned even lower in the frame. Compared to the Bronson, which we’ve also tested, the rear end works significantly more linearly. The strong end progression is not as extreme here. In general, however, the bike’s suspension tends to be on the sporty and firm side.

When pedaling uphill, the rear end bobs slightly. Santa Cruz consciously accepts this slight bobbing to keep the rear end fully active even under load. Especially for racers sprinting for the last second on an enduro stage through flat sections, this helps. This way, you don’t lose grip when pedaling over roots and can integrate pedal strokes during your descent. On long climbs, we simply eliminated the slight bobbing by using the platform function of the shock.

Just like the Bronson, the new Hightower craves proper trails. Its potential can’t be unlocked in flat terrain, though. Compared to its predecessor, the geometry has once again been significantly changed. The head angle is now even slacker, the reach is minimal, and the wheelbase is substantially longer.

The geometry table suggests what our initial quick field test confirms. The new Hightower has become a full-throttle bruiser for the rough stuff. When the trail heads steeply downhill, this bike feels right at home. Rock gardens, off-camber trail sections, and even bigger jumps do not faze the Hightower. Complementing this are Sram’s robust Maven brakes (even with the smaller 180mm rotors) and a rear tire with EXO+ puncture protection.

As with all our tests, we don’t just provide in-depth insights into the details. Unlike any other media, our innovative and absolutely objective testing system allows us to provide you with information about the entire model family. Generally, the Hightower is available in two frame versions. The high-end CC frames are available from 8799 €. Use our compare function with the arrow symbol to compare the models.