2020 Santa Cruz Hightower | Test Ride and Review | Ultimate Dad’s Bike!

#santacruzbikes #hightower2 #quiverkiller

2020 Santa Cruz Hightower:

Location Diamond Hill State Park in Cumberland, RI:

Need new gloves?

[cassandramertens]

*Just an awesome **Latest.Bike** ....well constructed, sturdy, great looking…got me back out on the trails!! Could not be happier!!*

[marklopez]

Great review man! Don't care what any of these haters say, I really enjoy your vids so keep doing what you do! I just ordered the 2021 SC Hightower AR build as my first full squish MTB. I'm super stoked and ready to get after these SoCal trails!

[Music]

Just went from 26er to this bike.
WOW! was falling a lot on the 26er.Felt unstable and unsure.
Santa Cruz HT is truly amazing.
I cannot screw up on this bike.
Efficient stable climbing and crushes flats and down grades here in New England.

[WSTP]

coming from a 2016 CS 5010 I tried out the new HT (CS) and the TB (CS). Both felt great. TB a bit more pop, felt slightly faster. HT felt more planted & forgiving. Both climbed great much better than my old 5010.

[toddtucker]

I was just watching review videos on this bike day dreaming and came across this video. Almost fell out of my chair when you said Diamond Hill. I am from Cumberland. Small small world.

[derekepetersen]

Your friend on his YT was breaking away often, no jab to It would have been interesting to hear your comparison of riding the YT (more bang for the buck bike) compared to the Hightower.

[danballuff]

First of all, a compliment for your style of review. I don't know how you comment so lucidly while riding those trails. Impressive! Secondly, great, detailed information to help me make a decision on a new bike. In my 60's and desire stability without losing the fun factor of riding Boise's and other Western/SW trails. Seems perfect for me since one of my main goals is not to crash as I age but want to keep riding.

[mike]

Biggest bummer with the 2020’s is that throughout the model range they all weight at least 3 lbs more than the 2019’s. A 10% weight penalty over an older design is hard to swallow with today’s tech.

[TheAllEngineering]

That lower link setup is a mud and stone magnet, and it also requires heavier sections in the frame. Also having the bottom bracket hanging outside the frame triangulation in no mans land also requires heavier sections in the frame to make up for its inherent lower strength. You would find it hard to keep up with xc bike on this because of the 30T granny chainring. Going to larger ones will probably have an adverse effect on pedaling efficiency.

[EDCFitnessLoop]

Great review. Just pulled the trigger on the Hightower in the same S build. Delivery next week and I’m pumped to get out there on it.

[gregoryf]

Glad to come across this review, it was a fun one to watch! I have a HT rental waiting for a trip at Whistler/Squamish next month, can’t wait!

[lusenator]

I gotta say you should try the size you normally ride, don’t be scared of the long reach! I’m 5’6” and the medium feels amazing

[projectxcape]

This is Diamond Hill in Cumberland! I really miss this trail. That's a really good bike as well!

[mrrims]

Great ride and review. I demo a 2019 stump jumper st that I loved and really considering purchasing!

[jcmymtb]

It may be the shadows but I couldn’t see the trail once you started going downhill. I may wait for the new Pivot Trail 429

[christinanaomi]

I'm 5'5 and weight 145. I currently ride a Specialized Stump Jumper and on a small frame wheel size 27.5. I'm looking to upgrade to a Santa Cruz, mainly for a better fit. I feel small on my bike if that makes sense. Hightower and Tall Boy might be my next bike. The lower link being tight catching rocks and mud is a big negative for me though.

[LAZERMAC]

I demoed one as well. Did you get the feeling that the bike seemed to be as responsive (in a good way) as a hardtail? I loved that feeling on the trail.

[austinmontgomery]

Love to hear a comparison to the 2019 Jeffsy your buddy is riding. Not very many solid reviews on the new YTs.

[Mish]

I saw a few people asked but no answer so I will ask too. How do you think this compares to your La Sal Peak? BTW they just released 2 new colors. Turqouise and back and black with silver.

[rickcalhoun]

Tallboy vs Hightower. How much difference in the climbing and the playfulness on the trail. Want to know how much I’m giving up for the downhill on the Hightower