Its important to note that the Hightower is so flexible it will run just about any tire from 27.5x2.3 to 27.5x3.0 plus sized, to 29x2.6. That is a wide range of tires to choose from and sure to satisfy just about every rider's taste and specific style riding & trail. -THAT is why I bought mine. Was I concerned about liking 27.5+ -yes. But I can run the bike just like a 27.5 bike or 29er with any tire I choose.
John, I thank you so much I'm gonna look in to this more but no one has told me this. I did not know that you can run regular 27.5 tires with this bike. Thank yo thank you thank you!!! This changes everything if this is correct, which I'm sure you know what you are talking about
MTBdropIN umm.yeah. mine runs Race Face ARC 40 rims and according to Race Face those rims will run a standard 27.5 x 2.3 just fine. its a 40mm internal width rim. whats great about the plus model HT, is that you get a 150mm pike. so if u choose to go 29er later, youve got the beefier fork.
im a long time 29er rider. love the speed and momentum. never cared for the standard 650b. Just felt slow for overall trail riding. haven't spend a ton of time on one. but just bought a plus bike 4 months ago and put about 1,000 miles on it and completely hooked. I can't go back to skinny tires. for those of us who don't care about racing and just want to have fun they are the best!!! just my opinion thou. nice video! keep em comin!!!
Thank you Dustin, super stoked to have met ya, hope to be seeing you around more!!! welcome!!! I have to agree, now that I have 2.5 and 2.4 in the front I don't think I can ever go back either. Im even thinking about trying the 2.6 minion that maxxis released this year. Cant wait to see what that thing can do!!!
Love plus tires in chunky rocky Appalachian Mountains. So fast over the rough stuff. Roll over like a 29er but maneuver like a regular 27.5, which on twisty turny east coast mountain trails is awesome.
Yeah, I feel like their two different animals both fun in there own way. I felt like I I was able to take the Bronson more seriously as a serious mountain bike that I would cintiplate buying myself. However, I have to say there were things about the Hightower that blew me away on the descending, in some ways you could never experience the same rush and excitement on the bronson that you get from the Hightower. I encourage everyone to try both o you are interested! It will be worth it! Does they help chipaway?
Well, I have a 2017 Bronson and I'm very happy with it. I just like getting other's opinions of the Santa Cruz bikes because they seem to me so close spec-wise on paper, but it's fascinating how one degree here and 10mm there can make such a difference. Is the excitement you talk about because the Bronson is more forgiving on the descents?
I actually feel that the Hightower was more forgiving in the descents. It was fast as hell, and putting that chunky rear wheel in to the turns made the coolest dirt on rubber sound I have ever heard, it just felt like me and the bike were getting down to business!!!
Dude, to be honest it would be tough to find a pro mountain biker who could answer this question for certain. It's very plausible it was just the tires, however the biggest part of a bikes performance is the fram geometrty, so I'm sure the answer is somewhere in the middle. I'm sorry I could not give a better answer than this. Great question, I'm just not that smart lol 😎👍
I think for rocky terrain the plus tires add undampened rebound. however in the mid west or areas with less elevation and more flow the plus size makes a more fun experience because they carry speed
seriously they are very fast, you make a great point, i would highly recommend this bike where elevation is not a huge issue!! thanks colt for the insight that will be very much noted!!
"I almost killed a hedgehog, sorry little hedgehog" Hahaha! I wasn't expecting you to say what you did about the tire size. I'm interested in trying that tire size. I'm rocking 27.5 now but I want to try plus sized.
all i ride is plus tire mtb got a 2016 trek stach 5 and 2016 cannondale beast of the east 2 have had then since fall of 2015 love the tires go over all much with not much effort
I went from a Specialized Epic to a Stumpjumper 6Fattie about six months ago. It's like a monster truck when it comes to rolling over everything. I switched the 1x11 out for a 1x12 eagle with a 28 in the front and 50 in the back. That helps offset the tire weight on the climbs.
Dude that sounds like a very expensive, necessary, and amazing solution!!! Dude, thank you for sharing!!! Im sure others will find your post very useful! Thank you for contributing to the community!
the added weight with plus tires increases the rotating mass of the wheels, so the wheels will have more momentum. I've never ridden + tires but but in theory that means poor acceleration. Also, the increased rotating mass plus the increased static friction from larger contact patch would put more stress on your fork, I would bet the fork would start to feel a lot more bendy when you're really pinning it vs when using the same or similar fork with regular tires
Yes the I really did feel the weight of the rotating mass. However, that being said it was not that bad, I had already been ridding the bronson this very same day for 2 1/2 hours and then to get on this bike i really felt the difference because A. I was tired, and B. you could really feel the added rotating mass. You are very right Brandon, thank you for commenting, super stoked to talk about this stuff, keep them coming!
I ride a 2016 Scott Genius LT Plus and freaking love it. As of now, I don't think I will go back to the skinny tires. It's just a smoother and more fun ride all around.
Dude that is so sick, you should also be ready for new tire sizes that are gonna soon hit the industry, I hear from an extremely reliable source that 2.6 and 2.8 are really going to become a thing!!! I'm super stoked by this I did feel the plus was a tad too big, therefore really stoked to check out these new tires coming. I love the genius plus bike I really wan to try thet out I think I may enjoy it more than the Hightower
Dude anytime man please keep coming back for more!!! Super stoked to see your comments, and get back to you guys who have consistently messaged. The beginning of a community. It's been an awesome experience to hang with you guys!!!
Hey Ryan thank you very much, Im glad that you enjoyed it and got to see a whole new perspective on the bike. Hey do you a lot of trails with longterm descending, how do you feel about the ascending capabilities of the Hightower.
Absolutely, I am enjoying riding my hightower on long rides. Climbing on a Hightower 29er for me is really good, since my fork is still set up stock as 140mm travel it is very capable and I am running 32 chainring which is sometimes a bit of chew on some super steep pitches here in California. Descending on the HT is a breeze specially on a monster truck wheels. It's fast and unbelievably agile thanks to it's short chain stays. I really enjoy riding my HT and there is no need for a bike upgrade/change to a new model anytime soon coz I think Santa Cruz nailed it on this model.
Dude, that is freaken sick I really want to do a review on a scott genius. I used to own the 750 but thats the aluminum bottom line, I hope to be able to get my hands on a higher end one for the channel soon. Way about are you from? I found that the scott genius felt a little too long for me but I want to give her another chance.
Camera is naked in the gimbal you can't have a case on the gimbal, I'm just using virb mic not even wind reducers, yeah man virb sound is excellent I'm super happy with it
Yeah, right, I totally forgot about Gimbal. Friday :D I think that chesty solution is a great for your voice and camera because it's quite close to your head :)
About Gimbal I am thinking for a long time already but you know... it's not a cheap business and my wife doesn't seem to be happy about that :D Sooner or later it will be mine. Birthday in one month! :D
Ooo, I'll have to link into it to see if that company is around here sinwhere not a big name out here but I'm sure someone has it I'll get back to you!!
Maxxis Rekon plus tires weigh less than Maxxis Minion tires. That with the smaller rim (less material) will make a lighter feeling wheelset than a 29er with Maxxis Minion tires.
For going up hill, I would prefer a lighter 29'er wheel / tire setup, but here in SD lots of chunky rocky trails where I prefer the 27.5 plus setup for better grip. All really depends on where you ride. I have three wheelsets for the HT - 27.5 plus with Rekons, 29'er with Minion DHF / DHR, and 29'er with Ardent Race 2.35. The Rekon+ wheels are lighter than the same rims, but 29'er version with the Minion DHF/DHR tire combo. This bike gets as close to the "one bike quiver" I think you get get today. I owned a Mach 429 Trail as well and this bike honestly isn't any harder to pedal uphill (I have the CC X01 build with carbon cranks and carbon rims on all of my wheel sets so maybe that is a difference).
Great information Peter! Thank you for sharing it. I would have to say that carbon cranks and especially carbon wheels will make a world of difference, it would be hard to compare, carbon wheels change so much about a bikes feel.
Its important to note that the Hightower is so flexible it will run just about any tire from 27.5x2.3 to 27.5x3.0 plus sized, to 29x2.6. That is a wide range of tires to choose from and sure to satisfy just about every rider's taste and specific style riding & trail. -THAT is why I bought mine. Was I concerned about liking 27.5+ -yes. But I can run the bike just like a 27.5 bike or 29er with any tire I choose.
John, I thank you so much I'm gonna look in to this more but no one has told me this. I did not know that you can run regular 27.5 tires with this bike. Thank yo thank you thank you!!! This changes everything if this is correct, which I'm sure you know what you are talking about
MTBdropIN umm.yeah. mine runs Race Face ARC 40 rims and according to Race Face those rims will run a standard 27.5 x 2.3 just fine. its a 40mm internal width rim. whats great about the plus model HT, is that you get a 150mm pike. so if u choose to go 29er later, youve got the beefier fork.
Ok sweet man I value greatly good info, if I'm in the dark about this I sure others are too!! Thank you John!!!
do i need to change the rims or keep the stock?
im a long time 29er rider. love the speed and momentum. never cared for the standard 650b. Just felt slow for overall trail riding. haven't spend a ton of time on one. but just bought a plus bike 4 months ago and put about 1,000 miles on it and completely hooked. I can't go back to skinny tires. for those of us who don't care about racing and just want to have fun they are the best!!! just my opinion thou. nice video! keep em comin!!!
Thank you Dustin, super stoked to have met ya, hope to be seeing you around more!!! welcome!!! I have to agree, now that I have 2.5 and 2.4 in the front I don't think I can ever go back either. Im even thinking about trying the 2.6 minion that maxxis released this year. Cant wait to see what that thing can do!!!
DUSTIN JOHNSON Agreed! Got a plus size hardtail. Feel super confident! 29er feels weird now! Love the plus size bikes!
Love plus tires in chunky rocky Appalachian Mountains. So fast over the rough stuff. Roll over like a 29er but maneuver like a regular 27.5, which on twisty turny east coast mountain trails is awesome.
seriously I have to agree there
Great video and thank u. Have u ridden the '17 Trek Fuel EX and if so, how would you compare it to the Hightower?
Oohhh bo I have not I'm in the works to do it hopefully soon
Great, lookin forward to your opinion!
😎🤙🤙🤙
Cool trail, reminds me of 401 in Crested Butte with those bar slappers.
Yeah man trail definitely had some original features!!
how do you compare the overall ride compared to the Bronson you tested a while back? Aside from the plus tires, is there a big difference descending?
Yeah, I feel like their two different animals both fun in there own way. I felt like I I was able to take the Bronson more seriously as a serious mountain bike that I would cintiplate buying myself. However, I have to say there were things about the Hightower that blew me away on the descending, in some ways you could never experience the same rush and excitement on the bronson that you get from the Hightower. I encourage everyone to try both o you are interested! It will be worth it! Does they help chipaway?
Well, I have a 2017 Bronson and I'm very happy with it. I just like getting other's opinions of the Santa Cruz bikes because they seem to me so close spec-wise on paper, but it's fascinating how one degree here and 10mm there can make such a difference.
Is the excitement you talk about because the Bronson is more forgiving on the descents?
I actually feel that the Hightower was more forgiving in the descents. It was fast as hell, and putting that chunky rear wheel in to the turns made the coolest dirt on rubber sound I have ever heard, it just felt like me and the bike were getting down to business!!!
do you think it was all due to tire size, as opposed to geometry and travel?
Dude, to be honest it would be tough to find a pro mountain biker who could answer this question for certain. It's very plausible it was just the tires, however the biggest part of a bikes performance is the fram geometrty, so I'm sure the answer is somewhere in the middle. I'm sorry I could not give a better answer than this. Great question, I'm just not that smart lol 😎👍
I think for rocky terrain the plus tires add undampened rebound. however in the mid west or areas with less elevation and more flow the plus size makes a more fun experience because they carry speed
seriously they are very fast, you make a great point, i would highly recommend this bike where elevation is not a huge issue!! thanks colt for the insight that will be very much noted!!
"I almost killed a hedgehog, sorry little hedgehog" Hahaha! I wasn't expecting you to say what you did about the tire size. I'm interested in trying that tire size. I'm rocking 27.5 now but I want to try plus sized.
What stood out to you good or bad?
all i ride is plus tire mtb got a 2016 trek stach 5 and 2016 cannondale beast of the east 2 have had then since fall of 2015 love the tires go over all much with not much effort
Yeah man it felt like I was 4x4ing bike style, it was awesome! I really like the plus, it was really freaken cool, thinking about it more
I went from a Specialized Epic to a Stumpjumper 6Fattie about six months ago. It's like a monster truck when it comes to rolling over everything. I switched the 1x11 out for a 1x12 eagle with a 28 in the front and 50 in the back. That helps offset the tire weight on the climbs.
Dude that sounds like a very expensive, necessary, and amazing solution!!! Dude, thank you for sharing!!! Im sure others will find your post very useful! Thank you for contributing to the community!
just got my 2016 trek stach 5 to eagle today should be fun
the added weight with plus tires increases the rotating mass of the wheels, so the wheels will have more momentum. I've never ridden + tires but but in theory that means poor acceleration. Also, the increased rotating mass plus the increased static friction from larger contact patch would put more stress on your fork, I would bet the fork would start to feel a lot more bendy when you're really pinning it vs when using the same or similar fork with regular tires
Yes the I really did feel the weight of the rotating mass. However, that being said it was not that bad, I had already been ridding the bronson this very same day for 2 1/2 hours and then to get on this bike i really felt the difference because A. I was tired, and B. you could really feel the added rotating mass. You are very right Brandon, thank you for commenting, super stoked to talk about this stuff, keep them coming!
I ride a 2016 Scott Genius LT Plus and freaking love it. As of now, I don't think I will go back to the skinny tires. It's just a smoother and more fun ride all around.
Dude that is so sick, you should also be ready for new tire sizes that are gonna soon hit the industry, I hear from an extremely reliable source that 2.6 and 2.8 are really going to become a thing!!! I'm super stoked by this I did feel the plus was a tad too big, therefore really stoked to check out these new tires coming. I love the genius plus bike I really wan to try thet out I think I may enjoy it more than the Hightower
Yeah, my tires are 2.8. What were the size on the Hightower?
I'm sorry then it must have been 2.6 and 2.7 josh Patterson was telling me about. The 2.8 should have been standard on the Hightower
Amazing views and great review
Thank you again Michael!!! Always so appreciated!!! Got to work on the edits for the next video tonight, hope you like the next vid.
Ok thanks looking forward to it
What kind of pressures you were running the plus tires?
ooohhh, that will be a good thing to take note of next time, i have no idea I'm sure santa cruz just put standard pressures it was a tubeless setup
plus tires sound like the best of both worlds between mtb and fat. and the 27.5 is the best of both worlds between 26er and 29er
I can totally agree Dylan, Im short thought i'll probably never go 29er
thanks for a good video to watch sir.
Dude anytime man please keep coming back for more!!! Super stoked to see your comments, and get back to you guys who have consistently messaged. The beginning of a community. It's been an awesome experience to hang with you guys!!!
Good to see my bike in your review however mine is a 29er. Nice video bro!
Hey Ryan thank you very much, Im glad that you enjoyed it and got to see a whole new perspective on the bike. Hey do you a lot of trails with longterm descending, how do you feel about the ascending capabilities of the Hightower.
Absolutely, I am enjoying riding my hightower on long rides. Climbing on a Hightower 29er for me is really good, since my fork is still set up stock as 140mm travel it is very capable and I am running 32 chainring which is sometimes a bit of chew on some super steep pitches here in California. Descending on the HT is a breeze specially on a monster truck wheels. It's fast and unbelievably agile thanks to it's short chain stays. I really enjoy riding my HT and there is no need for a bike upgrade/change to a new model anytime soon coz I think Santa Cruz nailed it on this model.
I love California. Many regards from the old continent :)
You used to live here?
I wish! No, I had just been there on holiday last year and will be back sooner or later :)
I just bought a Scott Genius LT tuned 27.5 love it!
Dude, that is freaken sick I really want to do a review on a scott genius. I used to own the 750 but thats the aluminum bottom line, I hope to be able to get my hands on a higher end one for the channel soon. Way about are you from? I found that the scott genius felt a little too long for me but I want to give her another chance.
MTBdropIN check out my youtube channel! helipilot369 D, i have bicycle vids on there
Dude, definitely Ill check it out
You just speak to your camera or you have additional mic? Voice seems very good :) Camera is naked or in transparent case?
Camera is naked in the gimbal you can't have a case on the gimbal, I'm just using virb mic not even wind reducers, yeah man virb sound is excellent I'm super happy with it
Yeah, right, I totally forgot about Gimbal. Friday :D I think that chesty solution is a great for your voice and camera because it's quite close to your head :)
yes it is now that you mention it!! very good point! did you get think gimbal yet ?
About Gimbal I am thinking for a long time already but you know... it's not a cheap business and my wife doesn't seem to be happy about that :D Sooner or later it will be mine. Birthday in one month! :D
Nice, I understand man keeping the wife's tame in the midst of UA-cam business building can be harder than getting 100,000 subs on UA-cam!!!
Can u put regular 27.5 wheelset on the hightower?
damian smith I would double check with the dealer but yes I believe you absolutely can
MTBdropIN cuz what i heard is, its going to change the "feel" of the bike, its gona lower the BB etc..
I'm thinking of buying an.."ORBEA..OCCAM..AM...""...can you please do a review on that bike???please if it's possible..
Ooo, I'll have to link into it to see if that company is around here sinwhere not a big name out here but I'm sure someone has it I'll get back to you!!
Juan don't think I have seen you around welcome to the community!!! Don't ever hesitate to asks anything ever I will get back to you promptly!!!
Thanks..brother..I have an old marin 26" hardtail...I'm looking for a new bike...thanks for responding keep up the great job and keep having fun!!!!
Dude for sure this stuff can get overwhelming just have to renege I started this because I enjoy it so much!! Thank you so much for the compliment!
bro where is there
Maxxis Rekon plus tires weigh less than Maxxis Minion tires. That with the smaller rim (less material) will make a lighter feeling wheelset than a 29er with Maxxis Minion tires.
Ooh, great info Peter, thats going to be really useful to potential buyers of this model, thank you!
For going up hill, I would prefer a lighter 29'er wheel / tire setup, but here in SD lots of chunky rocky trails where I prefer the 27.5 plus setup for better grip. All really depends on where you ride. I have three wheelsets for the HT - 27.5 plus with Rekons, 29'er with Minion DHF / DHR, and 29'er with Ardent Race 2.35. The Rekon+ wheels are lighter than the same rims, but 29'er version with the Minion DHF/DHR tire combo. This bike gets as close to the "one bike quiver" I think you get get today. I owned a Mach 429 Trail as well and this bike honestly isn't any harder to pedal uphill (I have the CC X01 build with carbon cranks and carbon rims on all of my wheel sets so maybe that is a difference).
Great information Peter! Thank you for sharing it. I would have to say that carbon cranks and especially carbon wheels will make a world of difference, it would be hard to compare, carbon wheels change so much about a bikes feel.
loved it, +1 sub. i make mtb vids too and i'm getting my gimbal very soon
Dude, so stoked for the support man it means the world to me. Hey man look forward to chatting with your in the future.
...premature...???
(for mid sentence stop)
Yes king I was so tired I couldn't think of the word I'm glad you caught it lol,
MARIORODAS
Hell yeah!!! 🇨🇱