Crazy coincidence, was googling to check out this bike and swore I recognised the trails, looks like you’re a St Ives local! What are the odds hey. Good to know this bike is suited to our very unique local geography, my biggest concern when considering how much travel I get in a new bike was matching it to the local riding. Seems like we have quite punishing trails compared to the smooth stuff I see in most UA-cam MTB content. Brilliant channel mate.
Hey Clinton, appreciate your message mate 🙏🙏 Well spotted, I ride St Ives/Belrose all the time 😁 The HT handles 99% of what I am game enough to ride brilliantly, have since thrown an extra token in the front forks from stock (3 in total) seems to work well for me and much less bottom out on the 150mm travel. You’re right, there are certainly a lot of UA-cam videos showing the bike on mostly flowy smooth trails rather than techy chunk.
I was interested in getting a Mullet like the new Bronson to avoid the Butt buzz and better handling, as opposed to getting a Hightower. Any chance you may go Mullet with a cascade link in the rear?
I don’t often find butt buzz to be as much of a problem as I initially thought it would be… doesn’t happen often. I’ve invested to much in the Enve’s to contemplate mullet, but it’s not desirable for me personally anyway… could be fun though!
How is the front end on tight switchbacks (both up and downhill)? Slow techy rock garden and root mob sections? Bike seems to suit my riding perfectly but I'm not sure how that long wheelbase and slack front end works with the trials type natural features where I am. Thanks!
Tight switchbacks are generally fine, although if they are techy steep switchbacks I do tend to struggle a little but think it’s probably my skill limitation more so then the bike. Also, not sure what size you’re riding but I’ve heard a lot of ppl say they would choose a smaller size if they are in-between sizes to make the tight stuff more manageable.
@@gilbertinni4018 congrats mate, I’m loving my bike even more 6 months later 😁 Glad you’re loving it, the mineral grey looks awesome I would have loved one in that colour!
If you haven't checked it out already, my "first impressions" video of the 2021 Santa Cruz Hightower can be found here: ua-cam.com/video/gPaPDZo5bTA/v-deo.html
@@kevomtb3542 cool! One of my complaints about now bikes these days is you have to be willing to pay $USD8000+ to get a good wheel set. DT370 LN are decent. I9 hydra are awesome. I’ve been pondering if it’s smarter to buy an S build and upgrade the wheels or to buy the X01 to get the I9 1:1 and the slightly more adjustable fork. $8k is a lot of bones. Did you have custom wheels built with the hydra ? If not what wheelset? Did you ride the stock ones before the hydra came and if so what difference did you notice?
@@rogerb3927 I didn’t have the luxury to choose anything but the S build as there was nothing else available (although I do think that the S build is best value anyway). I knew I wanted carbon rims mainly due the lifetime warranty more so than anything else, the bike was sitting around for a week whilst I waited for the frameskin to arrive, so was itching to get it out there asap, swapped the alloy out without riding on them on the trail so I could potentially sell them as “brand new”. Have since decided to just keep the stock wheelset as spares in case I do need to send the Enve’s back for warranty claim. Rode the alloys on the road only for a few hundred metres, I did notice how bad the engagement of the DT 370 Hubs were when trying to prop the bike up for photos though compared to the i9. The wheelset was not custom, bought it already built.
@@kevomtb3542 thanks! Quite a few people seem to be doing same as you. Also they keep the factory rims to put back on the bike when they want to upgrade the bike. Put the Env on your next bike. I suspect there’s a fair difference in ride between the two. Here in the US we have access to either the R build, the S build or the Xxs Axis for twice the $$. Nutty. Thanks again. Looks like great trails there
@@rogerb3927 yeah that’s also the plan when I eventually upgrade to a new bike :) we also have those options (except R builld) however Covid has caused availability issues, not sure if the US is experiencing the same for new SC bikes?
There was a couple of tough months with 5-10km restrictions on travel for exercise, and with only 1 other person for a while (with a $5k fine if breach), but thankfully things are starting to ease up now.
Hey man, great video! Thanks for the quality content! Those trails look like a ton of fun, and got to learn about the bike a ton!
Hey man thanks glad you liked it and found it useful, happy shredding 🤙
P.s. Please subscribe to see more 😉
Crazy coincidence, was googling to check out this bike and swore I recognised the trails, looks like you’re a St Ives local! What are the odds hey. Good to know this bike is suited to our very unique local geography, my biggest concern when considering how much travel I get in a new bike was matching it to the local riding. Seems like we have quite punishing trails compared to the smooth stuff I see in most UA-cam MTB content. Brilliant channel mate.
Hey Clinton, appreciate your message mate 🙏🙏
Well spotted, I ride St Ives/Belrose all the time 😁
The HT handles 99% of what I am game enough to ride brilliantly, have since thrown an extra token in the front forks from stock (3 in total) seems to work well for me and much less bottom out on the 150mm travel. You’re right, there are certainly a lot of UA-cam videos showing the bike on mostly flowy smooth trails rather than techy chunk.
I was interested in getting a Mullet like the new Bronson to avoid the Butt buzz and better handling, as opposed to getting a Hightower. Any chance you may go Mullet with a cascade link in the rear?
I don’t often find butt buzz to be as much of a problem as I initially thought it would be… doesn’t happen often. I’ve invested to much in the Enve’s to contemplate mullet, but it’s not desirable for me personally anyway… could be fun though!
How is the front end on tight switchbacks (both up and downhill)? Slow techy rock garden and root mob sections? Bike seems to suit my riding perfectly but I'm not sure how that long wheelbase and slack front end works with the trials type natural features where I am. Thanks!
Tight switchbacks are generally fine, although if they are techy steep switchbacks I do tend to struggle a little but think it’s probably my skill limitation more so then the bike. Also, not sure what size you’re riding but I’ve heard a lot of ppl say they would choose a smaller size if they are in-between sizes to make the tight stuff more manageable.
Nice video! I have the Tallboy 18 and love the bike. I want to get a new bike and I’m freaking confused between the Hightower or Tallboy 22 🤔
Cheers mate, that’s a good problem to have, just think about what trails you ride 90% of the time and lean in that direction to help choose.
@@kevomtb3542 I got the Hightower 2022 and 😱 what a Bike! I got the mineral color in Large 🙌
@@gilbertinni4018 congrats mate, I’m loving my bike even more 6 months later 😁
Glad you’re loving it, the mineral grey looks awesome I would have loved one in that colour!
hey i was wondering what size of bike you were riding and you're height
@@snowboard-bg1dn hi there, 174cm and medium… it’s perfect for me.
thanks for the mention :)
If you haven't checked it out already, my "first impressions" video of the 2021 Santa Cruz Hightower can be found here: ua-cam.com/video/gPaPDZo5bTA/v-deo.html
Nice video! You mentioned i9 hydra hub. Was that an upgrade? Good fun
Thanks mate!! Yeah the whole wheelset was an upgrade from the standard S build, cheers!
@@kevomtb3542 cool! One of my complaints about now bikes these days is you have to be willing to pay $USD8000+ to get a good wheel set. DT370 LN are decent. I9 hydra are awesome. I’ve been pondering if it’s smarter to buy an S build and upgrade the wheels or to buy the X01 to get the I9 1:1 and the slightly more adjustable fork. $8k is a lot of bones. Did you have custom wheels built with the hydra ? If not what wheelset? Did you ride the stock ones before the hydra came and if so what difference did you notice?
@@rogerb3927 I didn’t have the luxury to choose anything but the S build as there was nothing else available (although I do think that the S build is best value anyway). I knew I wanted carbon rims mainly due the lifetime warranty more so than anything else, the bike was sitting around for a week whilst I waited for the frameskin to arrive, so was itching to get it out there asap, swapped the alloy out without riding on them on the trail so I could potentially sell them as “brand new”. Have since decided to just keep the stock wheelset as spares in case I do need to send the Enve’s back for warranty claim. Rode the alloys on the road only for a few hundred metres, I did notice how bad the engagement of the DT 370 Hubs were when trying to prop the bike up for photos though compared to the i9. The wheelset was not custom, bought it already built.
@@kevomtb3542 thanks! Quite a few people seem to be doing same as you. Also they keep the factory rims to put back on the bike when they want to upgrade the bike. Put the Env on your next bike. I suspect there’s a fair difference in ride between the two. Here in the US we have access to either the R build, the S build or the Xxs Axis for twice the $$. Nutty. Thanks again. Looks like great trails there
@@rogerb3927 yeah that’s also the plan when I eventually upgrade to a new bike :) we also have those options (except R builld) however Covid has caused availability issues, not sure if the US is experiencing the same for new SC bikes?
Enjoying your videos man. Are you guys running Industry 9 hubs?
Thanks man glad you’re enjoying them ☺️, yep spot on… i9 Hydra on mine
*Great frame and lightweight. **Latest.Bike** components were well adjusted out of the box. Great entry level bike for light off road use.*
Good stuff mate
idol ang ganda ng bike mo mamahalin .
Thanks for the great video. NOW, I want that bike, which I can't find anywhere or afford even more. 🙄
Yeah there is long wait for them, I am lucky to have got one… 2nd hand may be a good option!
How are the COVID police with MTB down under/
There was a couple of tough months with 5-10km restrictions on travel for exercise, and with only 1 other person for a while (with a $5k fine if breach), but thankfully things are starting to ease up now.
Sic Bike 🤙
TOUGH TRAILS
Quad lock
Yes I rate them! Just got a quad lock out front mount… much better than this one.