2020 Santa Cruz Megatower review: Is it too big?

[billblake]

That was really a great review and perspective on things. I appreciate your time and efforts.

[certainperfectratio]

As a Tallboy owner considering more travel for Front Range trails, this is a dangerous video to watch. I think your written review of the Tallboy was among the reasons I got one some years ago. Great job on this video.

[victorrafa]

I moved from a giant trance 27.5 to the megatower. Small difference on steep long climbs but more than makes up on anything slopping downward. Has also increased my confidence going down. 8 months in and 1200 miles thus far of pure bliss with the SC. Great video.

[MudslingerSCO]

love my Megatower, but as you point out, sometimes on cross county sections it feels like im towing an anchor, but when things get rowdy this bike just excels, i love it, its so confidence inspiring, when funds allow i plan on getting myself a Bullit, but noway im parting with my MT

[harveycasey]

I rode the 2018 Hightower LT for a few years & just loved it. That is until I bought the 2020 MEGATOWER a few months ago. Now I have a new love😚

[danielmolinero]

I replaced my 120 mm Canyon Neuron 27, 5er by a Megatower and I am super happy. It felt quite heavy in the beginning. However, after some weeks of riding, I feel that it is more about setting the right tempo than the real cons. The right tempo for me is to apply the right efforts at any time. I need to face the very steep slopes with a bit more of power. The Mega doesn't like very low speeds uphill, if you do so, you risk to step off the bike (speed recovery at low paces requires powerful pedalling). So you need to adjust your tempo in order to recover some oxygen before approaching the steepest climbs.
But who cares about a couple of secs more? I always ask myself why I ride. Today I can say that I ride to have fun, to feel strong and to feel fast. With the Mega I have more fun, I feel I am getting stronger and I am really reaching higher speeds in tricky terrains with much more confidence than before. No more excuses hehe. Could the same have been possible with a Hightower? I think so, but if I had acquired a Hightower, I am sure, I would be wondering how a Mega would feel like ... Is the Mega too big? It depends on how much you wanna grow :)

[dam]

Been riding a Megatower since May 2019 and absolutely love it. A monster of a bike, just absolutely rips downhill and can handle just about anything you can throw at it

[joahsprenger]

Still think hightower is the way to go, almost as good on the downs and as he basically said himself he enjoys the ups less on the mega, hightower seems like the win win option

[brandonmoore]

Can I put a 170 front fork on my 22 mega tower ?

[docspuddin]

Did you make this video for me ? After two years of Mega riding Ive found myself looking at the hightower and thinking what if ? But then remembering the ridiculous climbs ive cleaned on the Mega and the fun when I point it back down .. I guess I end up coming to the same conclusion as you .... Still the best bike ive every ridden please dont let me demo a hightower ;)

[Californiastrat]

I got a hightower and realized I wanted more travel and a smaller wheel, so it's now a mullet bike, with a cascade link increasing rear travel to 160mm, and a 170mm fox 38 up front. Still in the process of changing things over but i'm stoked to get out on it

[jakobvendelbo]

have the same bike and i love it....! Great fun - a little less up hill.... but damn...

[jongusta]

Best of both worlds..Hightower “mini-Mega” with Cascade Components HTLT link and bigger fork for 160/150 ripper than can climb anytime and not hold you back at all on most any DH.

[ABHORRANCE]

I have a Tallboy 4 (aluminum build, EX511 wheels, on the heavier side anyway), and am under-biked when it gets steeper and chunkier, and am looking to upgrade. It's great uphill and on the XC single track. I'm no gravity rider, and doubt I'll ever get there, but I'd consider my style aggressive trail with enduro ambitions. As you say between Rider "A" and Rider "B", most of us are somewhere in between, which is me! I took out a Hightower (and probably should again for a second opinion), and thought it was great, but not quite different enough to justify the switch. In fall fairness, what I didn't like was the suspension felt far too stiff and bouncy like my Tallboy, where I want more rock-erasing plushness (but that largely could have been due setup, sag, tokens, etc). The Megatower looks really attractive, so the great debate is Megatower vs Hightower (unfortunately, I can't find a Megatower to demo currently to answer that question).

[SjoerdSchippers]

hi has anyone some info about thesizing of the megatower because im 1, 89 and I'm unsure between the sizes L or XL wich one should i get?

[FenrirFerocity]

Traded My 2019 Turbo Levo C.C for a 19/20 Megatower CC X01 Build
Wanted something for travel, water crossing and the ability to fly with the bike
Hope to do a video on it here soon

[paulsouders]

I can't decide on this one or the specialized enduro

[johnnybravo]

Iv noticed everyone who buys a Hightower just turns it into a mega with a cascade link and over forking it. So just go with the Mega.

[WISCOMTB]

Awesome bike, I’ve got an Ibis Ripmo. You sure know a lot about this bike.

[RR-drpi]

I own a 2021 Hightower. I am thinking about getting the the cascade components linkage and adding 10mm of travel to the fork. In effect making it a Megatower. I wonder how it will affect the climbing. I doubt I will notice it. From what I understand the linkage makes the shock even more progressive and the extra 10mm of travel up front is due to the fact that I do bottom out more than I used to on my previous bike. In fairness my previous bike was a bit more burly, a Transition Patrol. Any thoughts on what those changes might do to the bike?