Sorry Jim Lacey I think I accidentally wiped your comment somehow but you're right I did get it wrong about it taking a Fox X2 shock, it will on take a DPX2. Official list from SC here: "The Tallboy is compatible with most air shocks, with the exception of the Fox Float X2 and Cane Creek shocks. Coil shocks are not compatible. For the best performance, we recommend sticking to the following: Fox Float DPS, Fox Float DPX2, Rockshox Deluxe or Rockshox Super Deluxe."
This is my second bike. My first is a 2007 Giant Reign 1. I'm in the process of paying for a 2020 Large Tallboy CC. It'll be the ride for the next 5 years. I like earning the ride down by the climb up and I LOVE to Decend!
I love this bike and am definitely considering it as a new steed. They missed the mark with that yellow though. The other colour is way nicer. Maybe it looks better in person.
I'm looking to buy a 2nd hand TB v3 or v4 and can't decide. Would you say the v3 is better for cross country and the v4 better for trail riding? Basically, is the v4 worth the extra £1000?
Tough choice there. I looked at those two bike and ended up on the Tallboy. Ripley a little better climber and the TB a little better descender. Both are great can make a bad choice. Im a 6 footer so, I went for the TB since it is has a beefier stiffer frame.
I also went for the Tallboy, it pedals just fine and it descends amazing! Since I’m not a professional rider I choose the Tallboy because it’s much more forgiving when you mess up a line, while the Ripley is a little sensitive if you land sideways. Also the lifetime warranty on the rims really eases my mind when I hit it hard on a rock or the mentioned sidewas landings happen.
Hey Guy, thanks for the awesome videos. Currently trying to determine whether the Top Fuel, Blur TR, or new Tallboy would be right for me. I'm in the mid-atlantic and have access to all types of trails, and am interested in possibly racing some XC and XC marathon events in the future...but for the moment at least I'd be stuck with having only one mountain bike. Cheers!
Must agree that SC have changed the TB a fair bit to differentiate between the Blur TR and the TB4 - as a Blur TR owner I can heartily recommend the TR version and it is a very capable bike
Im in the market for a new bike im debating between the tallboy and trek fuel ex 8, i see the fuel ex has better components on the drive traing for the same price and im talking about the alloy edition on both bikes if it was you what would you choose based on your professional experience, please advise
Guy, I have a Tallboy 3 that I absolute love. I love the fact that i can do XC/XM races with 29er wheels and fit the 27+ and head down to Malaga with the lads for the more enduroish trails. Was thinking in getting a bike with more travel but I love short travel. So my question is Hightower 2 or Tallboy 4?
Pedro Assunção if you love your bike, keep it. It’s not necessary to buy a new one every time a new one comes out. I don’t think the new ones are any better. They just make changes to get you to buy a new one. Marketing 101.
Pedro Assunção if I had to pick then I’d say Tallboy but it’s a bit heavy for XC/XM. It won’t take 27+ either. What wheels do you currently have for your TB3
John Panozzo The TB is a great bike. Improvements over the original HT are climbing traction, efficiency and reduced pedal kickback. The HT is plusher and a little more stable on downhills.
@@billw_mtb3220 Thanks for the reply. Your comment makes perfect sense. Thinking about a new bike, one concern about TB is that with my old HT I can plow through rock gardens at speed and the bike handles it easily. Those trade-offs we make in mtb (e.g., uphill vs downhill capabilities) and elsewhere are difficult. Bottom line, even though we anguish over the decision, once it's made it's done and were happy. Thanks again.
Sup guys, thx for the video. Currently fighting a dilemma on which bike to choose bewtween the new Tallboy 4 or a Blur TR. Me and my friends cycling routine basically consists in dirt roads and single tracks, but I'm aiming in adding a few jumps and drops to my routine (ofc nothing big like seen in the Red Bull commercials, just some rock gards with dropable big rocks and 1meter jumps. Anyway, my biggest issue is the Tallboy weight and pedalling efficiency...considering I`m not willing to race, ever, for this case would you recommend a Tallboy or the Blur TR ? obs.: I dont need to be the first to get uphill, but I dont want to be the last always haha. Thank you, best regards m8.
Hey Guy, how would you compare this to the Canyon Neuron you rode previously? Where I'm from the Canyon Neuron 9.0 SL build is $3000USD cheaper than the Tallboy in this spec...
Timothy Wee I’ve just got the Neuron SLX too, lighter and faster again. A lot flexier though both in handling and pedalling. Have a look at Whyte S-120 and Norco Optic for a ‘cheap Tallboy’ or the new YT Izzo looks very promising.
Been riding a Santa Cruz Blur classic they call it now for sixteen years. waited 8 months on a waiting list for the first ones to be built I knew what they had in the VPP system But my boys thought i was crazy.. And now I'm shopping for a new ride. Guy what's the difference you noticed between this TallBoy & the Hightower besides the travel of course. For a cross country / trail rider not the big drops. Help me obi wan !
I was thinking in the cheaper model,aluminum D do you know is much difference I'm not concern about the wheight I'm more in the general performance I see the fork is rock shox deacon but I don't know the stanctions diameters
Seems like lighter wheels and rubber would make it snap up to speed better. I love DHF/DHR for grip but not so much for rotational weight. I have a gen 3 Tallboy with trail wheels/tires and race wheels/tires. There is nearly a 500 gram difference between the 2 and trust me I can feel it.
For a day at BPW it'd be ace fun if you've got the skills to handle the stuff it can't filter out. By the end of a week in Morzine you'll have had the crap kicked out of you by all the braking bumps though. If you were doing Epic singletrack descents then TB would love it but for the rougher stuff Hightower would always be my choice and you're barely losing anything in terms of pedalling or weight. In fact I reckon it's actually a better technical climber as it's more sensitive in the start stroke.
Thanks for the corrections Collin, just checked that spec on the wheels and it's a 300g difference according to the Santa Cruz site. That's a noticeable chunk for sure.
arlingtonguy54 don’t mean to be talking shit about the TB3 at all. Still a brilliant bike and very different to the TB4, particularly in pedalling character. Couple of the guys I tested the TB4 with still preferred the TB3. If you wanted a new bike the Blur TR would be the closest equivalent.
This Guy scared me the way he was whipping that Tallboy through the woods. I’d love to see a more weekend warrior opinion. Great review as always.
Sorry Jim Lacey I think I accidentally wiped your comment somehow but you're right I did get it wrong about it taking a Fox X2 shock, it will on take a DPX2. Official list from SC here: "The Tallboy is compatible with most air shocks, with the exception of the Fox Float X2 and Cane Creek shocks. Coil shocks are not compatible. For the best performance, we recommend sticking to the following: Fox Float DPS, Fox Float DPX2, Rockshox Deluxe or Rockshox Super Deluxe."
This is my second bike. My first is a 2007 Giant Reign 1.
I'm in the process of paying for a 2020 Large Tallboy CC. It'll be the ride for the next 5 years.
I like earning the ride down by the climb up and I LOVE to Decend!
I love this bike and am definitely considering it as a new steed. They missed the mark with that yellow though. The other colour is way nicer. Maybe it looks better in person.
I'm looking to buy a 2nd hand TB v3 or v4 and can't decide. Would you say the v3 is better for cross country and the v4 better for trail riding? Basically, is the v4 worth the extra £1000?
I’m trying to decide between the Ripley and the Tallboy. Any thoughts?
Tough choice there. I looked at those two bike and ended up on the Tallboy. Ripley a little better climber and the TB a little better descender. Both are great can make a bad choice. Im a 6 footer so, I went for the TB since it is has a beefier stiffer frame.
I also went for the Tallboy, it pedals just fine and it descends amazing!
Since I’m not a professional rider I choose the Tallboy because it’s much more forgiving when you mess up a line, while the Ripley is a little sensitive if you land sideways.
Also the lifetime warranty on the rims really eases my mind when I hit it hard on a rock or the mentioned sidewas landings happen.
Hey Guy, thanks for the awesome videos. Currently trying to determine whether the Top Fuel, Blur TR, or new Tallboy would be right for me. I'm in the mid-atlantic and have access to all types of trails, and am interested in possibly racing some XC and XC marathon events in the future...but for the moment at least I'd be stuck with having only one mountain bike. Cheers!
Hey George, what bike do you have at the moment? Also what's the biggest drop you'd intentionally do?
Must agree that SC have changed the TB a fair bit to differentiate between the Blur TR and the TB4 - as a Blur TR owner I can heartily recommend the TR version and it is a very capable bike
Im in the market for a new bike im debating between the tallboy and trek fuel ex 8, i see the fuel ex has better components on the drive traing for the same price and im talking about the alloy edition on both bikes if it was you what would you choose based on your professional experience, please advise
Guy, I have a Tallboy 3 that I absolute love. I love the fact that i can do XC/XM races with 29er wheels and fit the 27+ and head down to Malaga with the lads for the more enduroish trails. Was thinking in getting a bike with more travel but I love short travel. So my question is Hightower 2 or Tallboy 4?
Pedro Assunção if you love your bike, keep it. It’s not necessary to buy a new one every time a new one comes out. I don’t think the new ones are any better. They just make changes to get you to buy a new one. Marketing 101.
Pedro Assunção if I had to pick then I’d say Tallboy but it’s a bit heavy for XC/XM. It won’t take 27+ either. What wheels do you currently have for your TB3
@@GuyKesTV 29er wheels I have a set of DT swiss XM1501 25mm (plus an older set of stan's crest mk3) and the stock raceface 27+
Just picked up the purple one, coming off of the old Hightower. Great review!
Bill W. Awesome work. Hope you enjoy it mate 👊🏻
I have a 2017 Hightower which I love but thinking about the new Tallboy. Are you pleased with the switch?
John Panozzo The TB is a great bike. Improvements over the original HT are climbing traction, efficiency and reduced pedal kickback. The HT is plusher and a little more stable on downhills.
@@billw_mtb3220 Thanks for the reply. Your comment makes perfect sense. Thinking about a new bike, one concern about TB is that with my old HT I can plow through rock gardens at speed and the bike handles it easily. Those trade-offs we make in mtb (e.g., uphill vs downhill capabilities) and elsewhere are difficult. Bottom line, even though we anguish over the decision, once it's made it's done and were happy. Thanks again.
Sup guys, thx for the video. Currently fighting a dilemma on which bike to choose bewtween the new Tallboy 4 or a Blur TR. Me and my friends cycling routine basically consists in dirt roads and single tracks, but I'm aiming in adding a few jumps and drops to my routine (ofc nothing big like seen in the Red Bull commercials, just some rock gards with dropable big rocks and 1meter jumps. Anyway, my biggest issue is the Tallboy weight and pedalling efficiency...considering I`m not willing to race, ever, for this case would you recommend a Tallboy or the Blur TR ? obs.: I dont need to be the first to get uphill, but I dont want to be the last always haha.
Thank you, best regards m8.
I´m there as well, riding a lot single track, riding a 120 mm bike now, I´m between Tallboy and the new Blur TR? Cant choose!
Hey Guy, how would you compare this to the Canyon Neuron you rode previously? Where I'm from the Canyon Neuron 9.0 SL build is $3000USD cheaper than the Tallboy in this spec...
Timothy Wee I’ve just got the Neuron SLX too, lighter and faster again. A lot flexier though both in handling and pedalling. Have a look at Whyte S-120 and Norco Optic for a ‘cheap Tallboy’ or the new YT Izzo looks very promising.
@@GuyKesTV Thanks guy! Appreciate your input :) How do you find the climbing performance between the Tallboy and the Neuron? Thanks!
What would be a more forgiving bike for a less skilled rider. Thanks for the great video. very informative.
Walter Kasper Merida one twenty, Specialized FSR ST and Giant Trance have less radical geometry and smoother suspension
Also ua-cam.com/video/CV700FjGZMI/v-deo.html
Been riding a Santa Cruz Blur classic they call it now for sixteen years. waited 8 months on a waiting list for the first ones to be built I knew what they had in the VPP system But my boys thought i was crazy.. And now I'm shopping for a new ride. Guy what's the difference you noticed between this TallBoy & the Hightower besides the travel of course. For a cross country / trail rider not the big drops. Help me obi wan !
Mark Johnston if you’re rarely hitting drops I’d look at Tallboy and Blur Trail chap
I was thinking in the cheaper model,aluminum D do you know is much difference I'm not concern about the wheight I'm more in the general performance I see the fork is rock shox deacon but I don't know the stanctions diameters
They are fitted with sub standard components
im at 6'1.. size up or down? sick video btw
I'm 5'9.5 and have a large. SC are usually small
Seems like lighter wheels and rubber would make it snap up to speed better. I love DHF/DHR for grip but not so much for rotational weight. I have a gen 3 Tallboy with trail wheels/tires and race wheels/tires. There is nearly a 500 gram difference between the 2 and trust me I can feel it.
Do you think the new Tallboy is enough bike for a BPW or a week in morzine?
For a day at BPW it'd be ace fun if you've got the skills to handle the stuff it can't filter out. By the end of a week in Morzine you'll have had the crap kicked out of you by all the braking bumps though. If you were doing Epic singletrack descents then TB would love it but for the rougher stuff Hightower would always be my choice and you're barely losing anything in terms of pedalling or weight. In fact I reckon it's actually a better technical climber as it's more sensitive in the start stroke.
Guy Kesteven what’s your height and thoughts on the XL?
Guy Kesteven no way dude the new Hightower is awful at climbing
@@GuyKesTV glad to see this reply. Have got BPW booked. Going to add some Cushcore and a chain guide. Cant wait!
Great review Guy 🚴😉👌
The hubs keep going all day long?
Americus Maximus what have I said now 🤦♂️ give me a time on the video and I’ll check it out.
Sweet bike!
Note:
Reserve wheels are heavier than the other option race face arc27 😂😉
Safe riding!
Thanks for the corrections Collin, just checked that spec on the wheels and it's a 300g difference according to the Santa Cruz site. That's a noticeable chunk for sure.
@@GuyKesTV right!! Crazy, but worth it for sure! Safe riding 😎
Great review! Cheers mate.
Why is it that every new bike gets brilliant reviews but when they are replaced reviewers talk shit about them? I’m very happy with my TB3.
arlingtonguy54 don’t mean to be talking shit about the TB3 at all. Still a brilliant bike and very different to the TB4, particularly in pedalling character. Couple of the guys I tested the TB4 with still preferred the TB3. If you wanted a new bike the Blur TR would be the closest equivalent.
Love that bike .. Santa Cruz hit the nail
Suicide brake setup?! Wowza.
Moto is standard issue in the UK. Last time I tried it the other way round I split my leg and knee in half in the desert outside Las Vegas 🤦♂️
I've got a red tallboy
Following the industry's new paradigm we now have a Santa Cruz XC/Trail bike with slow Downhill steering angles.
Keeping my 2017
Don't knock it till you try it buds
There's more going on than just HT angles on these new bikes. They steer great!