This review solidify the fact that I made the right choice!! Thanks Guy for reviewing the bike. So excited for the transluscent purple I ordered!!!😊😊🤙👍
This is one of the no nonsense reviews I have seen and i agree with your poke in the eye comments. I have been a loyal consumer of Santa Cruz since the late 1990's. the focus for SC in my opinion is their balance for quality in profit margin/ profit margin seems more important than in years past.
Good review 👍 I think I'm convinced the Hightower is a great all around mountain bike, Sold my 2018 Hightower and regretted not even a year later and already bought a new one a C/ S-Kit can't wait❤
Great review Guy. Love the detail, also shows where the cheeky manufacturers have cut costs. At this price GX shifter and those hubs, plus rear tyre is a little naughty to be honest.
Realistically, the stock bearings are so well sealed, you can blow and split the tube on the grease gun quite easily! It doesn't really work that well. Best bike I've ever owned the hightower V2. But i couldn't afford to buy one in the UK!
I appreciate appropriate stack height for the larger sizes. I ride an xl and wouldn’t need to add massive rise bars. Vs say the new fuel ex xl. 634 vs 654 stack height. Going to make a difference in comfort and going down steeper trails.
I chuckle listening to Guy get disappointed with how SC charges a premium for not quite the premium components. It’s classic SC. I have an SC and like it, but I’ll probably go a different direction on my next bike as I feel they are charging more for the name.
No one ever mentions the lifetime warranty on SC bars. As someone who has bent or snapped many bars over the years I think this is a big deal and gives me confidence in mine.
Love my Hightower v2, the only thing that bugs me with Santa Cruz is they continually fit really short front brake hoses, I like a high rise/stack and they make it really difficult without replacing the hose
Guy, if you were in the market for a new bike and the Hightower was on the list, is there something else that you would temp you? I’m a 50 year old weekend warrior and want to treat myself to a very nice steed!
Speaking to the suspension designers they were really happy with the results they got from the Super Deluxe rear shock compared to Fox. So they kept with that right through regardless of what fork they stick up front
I will never talk a bunch of crap about Santa Cruz I’ve owned three of them but to say the high tower is more premium than the pivot switchblade I am confused my friend. I wouldn’t say Pivot is more refined but the way that pivot rides is the most refined I’ve ever felt
The changes look good. The wider bottom bracket/downtube protector is welcome. I preferred the feeling of the 180s on the old Hightower v2 but put 203s on there just because those SRAM discs warp really quickly. It absolutely needs to come with Exo+ tyres though.
Got myself a Pivot Switchblade last year, and that's also overpriced in my opinion. It's sad that bikes have gotten this expensive. Personally I've just never owned a high spec bike and I've just been wanting one for so long. 7000 euro is too much to ask, but then again I would have nothing if I never pulled that trigger I will say however that I'm the kind of person who keep my stuff for a long time, and this bike I'm planning to just keep. Bikes drop so quickly in price, so I feel it's better to just keep it. No need to change bikes often anyhow, because what is important is maintaining our bike(s) to keep them performing as intended. Personally I feel I would be more afraid to use a bike like this if I was the kind who changed bikes every year, because then you always have in the back of your mind that you need to consider resell value. Then I'd rather not have anything to be honest. PS: lol the part about bottom bracket is so right. That's the main gripe I have with my bike, given it's got pressfit bs. When the time is due, I'll consider something like threadfit or at least something different than the standard bs lol
Ever wonder why the UA-cam algorithm, promotes videos that show the channel-owner, in-the-video? Yip. UA-cam receives a huge government & marketing profit for such videos. And it's annoying as people show themselves more than the product they're promoting.
I didn’t actually know that was a thing. UA-cam might like seeing more of me, but as you say I always presumed people would prefer to see more of the bike 🤷♂️
This review solidify the fact that I made the right choice!! Thanks Guy for reviewing the bike. So excited for the transluscent purple I ordered!!!😊😊🤙👍
This is one of the no nonsense reviews I have seen and i agree with your poke in the eye comments. I have been a loyal consumer of Santa Cruz since the late 1990's. the focus for SC in my opinion is their balance for quality in profit margin/ profit margin seems more important than in years past.
I'm glad to see this bike on 2nd hand market for under 3 grand
Good review 👍 I think I'm convinced the Hightower is a great all around mountain bike, Sold my 2018 Hightower and regretted not even a year later and already bought a new one a C/ S-Kit can't wait❤
Great review Guy. Love the detail, also shows where the cheeky manufacturers have cut costs. At this price GX shifter and those hubs, plus rear tyre is a little naughty to be honest.
Realistically, the stock bearings are so well sealed, you can blow and split the tube on the grease gun quite easily! It doesn't really work that well. Best bike I've ever owned the hightower V2. But i couldn't afford to buy one in the UK!
I appreciate appropriate stack height for the larger sizes. I ride an xl and wouldn’t need to add massive rise bars. Vs say the new fuel ex xl. 634 vs 654 stack height. Going to make a difference in comfort and going down steeper trails.
I chuckle listening to Guy get disappointed with how SC charges a premium for not quite the premium components. It’s classic SC. I have an SC and like it, but I’ll probably go a different direction on my next bike as I feel they are charging more for the name.
Nice video!!!
No one ever mentions the lifetime warranty on SC bars. As someone who has bent or snapped many bars over the years I think this is a big deal and gives me confidence in mine.
Sorry Dave, you're totally right. Forgot the bars had a lifetime warranty too 🤦♂
No worries mate, every one does. Looking forward to you view on the Chameleon 8. I love mine.
@@davefreeman8244 haha funny you should say that as I was riding it tonight. Rained all evening though so the GoPro never came out of the pack 🙄
Just got the c version today .
Love my Hightower v2, the only thing that bugs me with Santa Cruz is they continually fit really short front brake hoses, I like a high rise/stack and they make it really difficult without replacing the hose
I just wish they'd have made the shock tunnel big enough to accommodate some more shock options
Guy, if you were in the market for a new bike and the Hightower was on the list, is there something else that you would temp you? I’m a 50 year old weekend warrior and want to treat myself to a very nice steed!
I'm also 50 .got the c frame with the s spec today. Join the club
Hi, if we focus on the frame design, which one will you choose between 2023 santa cruz high tower vs trek fuel ex gen 6, as an all round bicycle?
Sorry for delay. It's definitely close but I'd go Hightower. Just feels tighter in the detailing, it's lighter and the suspension is more sorted too.
I wish the gold thing on the front was matched with a gold thing on the rear. I don’t like mixing brands, especially at this price point.
I know what you mean, but that rear shock feels amazing. But the new Lyrik is still glitchy so mix and match is the best option currently.
Not true, the new fox float X fits now , new for 22 . Waaaaay better than the super deluxe . I put one on my V2 , nite & day difference
Isnt exo plus just protection extended over the tread? Exo is sidewall only? Im sure thats the only difference.
I just bought a V2 of this version. The only thing that I’m confused about is why they don’t run the same brand suspension all around.
Speaking to the suspension designers they were really happy with the results they got from the Super Deluxe rear shock compared to Fox. So they kept with that right through regardless of what fork they stick up front
Hi looking at either Hightower or Megatower, have you ridden both and what would you go for?
I will never talk a bunch of crap about Santa Cruz I’ve owned three of them but to say the high tower is more premium than the pivot switchblade I am confused my friend. I wouldn’t say Pivot is more refined but the way that pivot rides is the most refined I’ve ever felt
The changes look good. The wider bottom bracket/downtube protector is welcome. I preferred the feeling of the 180s on the old Hightower v2 but put 203s on there just because those SRAM discs warp really quickly. It absolutely needs to come with Exo+ tyres though.
Totally agree
How long does it take to transform your body from fat to fit?
Seems like the frames run small on the Santa Cruz bikes.. I’m five 10 1/2 I would be on an extra large
I'm pretty much the same size as you but the large fits me very well
How would you compare this as an all-round versatile bike compared to the Stumpy Evo?
It's got much less geom adjust than the SE so in terms of that versatility Spesh wins but Hightower is a tighter, more focused feeling bike in general
@@GuyKesTV What do you mean more focused. How does pedalling compare between the two?
@@GuyKesTV If you had to chose one?
31.8k subscribers. Hope you upgrade to a newer 34.9k soon.
Thanks, You and me both!
Got myself a Pivot Switchblade last year, and that's also overpriced in my opinion. It's sad that bikes have gotten this expensive. Personally I've just never owned a high spec bike and I've just been wanting one for so long. 7000 euro is too much to ask, but then again I would have nothing if I never pulled that trigger
I will say however that I'm the kind of person who keep my stuff for a long time, and this bike I'm planning to just keep. Bikes drop so quickly in price, so I feel it's better to just keep it. No need to change bikes often anyhow, because what is important is maintaining our bike(s) to keep them performing as intended. Personally I feel I would be more afraid to use a bike like this if I was the kind who changed bikes every year, because then you always have in the back of your mind that you need to consider resell value. Then I'd rather not have anything to be honest.
PS: lol the part about bottom bracket is so right. That's the main gripe I have with my bike, given it's got pressfit bs. When the time is due, I'll consider something like threadfit or at least something different than the standard bs lol
Rockshox shock and Fox fork stock... weird.
how tall are you? frame size L ?
I'm 180cm Mati and yes it's a large
Thanks Guy. How do you see about ride this HT3 with 185cm tall?
@@matiagachaelomocom which size did you choose ?
A Proper Weapon, but should be at that price...Ha !!
Ever wonder why the UA-cam algorithm, promotes videos that show the channel-owner, in-the-video? Yip. UA-cam receives a huge government & marketing profit for such videos. And it's annoying as people show themselves more than the product they're promoting.
I didn’t actually know that was a thing. UA-cam might like seeing more of me, but as you say I always presumed people would prefer to see more of the bike 🤷♂️
The price is a joke