Find Your Store
Home Page

Cart, contains 0 items

When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures.
Expert Help
Earn Rewards

Santa Cruz Bicycles
Hightower Carbon CC 27.5+ X01 Eagle Mountain Bike - 2017

Be the first to review

Out of Stock

Don't worry though, we have a lot more Complete Trail Full Suspension Bikes in stock than that.

Shop Similar Products

One step ahead.

We’ve got to hand it to Santa Cruz. Somehow, as the now-legendary California brand continuously alters its lineup, it manages to do so without the slightest hint of redundancy. Though every Santa Cruz bike excels on a colossal range of terrain, each new frame the brand creates sits confidently in its own individual niche. In the case of the Hightower, Santa Cruz filled a geometry void created when the Tallboy was redesigned, then added new tech that riders hadn’t even realized they needed. The 2017 Hightower Carbon CC 27.5+ X01 Eagle Complete Mountain Bike arrives with all-mountain versatility that's enhanced by its ability to switch between a 27.5+ or 29er geometry and the added advantage of SRAM’s Eagle drivetrain.


When carving out a space for the Hightower, Santa Cruz turned to the most versatile enduro steed in its stable. The Bronson’s redefinition of the all-mountain/enduro category is the subject of trailhead bonding with strangers to this day, and Santa Cruz wanted to bring the same versatility to the Hightower’s frame. On this Hightower's 27.5+ platform, you’ll enjoy a plusher, more stable ride than 29ers provide, so it's more approachable for beginners and more versatile for seasoned veterans. It also still has the same ravenous appetite as the Bronson for spiny rock gardens, rugged slickrock, and root-laced singletrack. If you want to switch to the firmer, faster feel of a 29er, you can; Santa Cruz’s addition of a flip chip in the upper link now gives you the revolutionary choice to switch between wheel sizes without altering geometry.


Santa Cruz’s beloved VPP suspension connects the Hightower’s two triangles, and the third generation of the revered suspension platform delivers the same responsive, glued-to-the-trail feel that’s earned it such a devoted following. In yet another nod to enduro roots, Santa Cruz took inspiration from the Nomad when positioning the suspension, keeping the link out of the way so that the Hightower’s frame can accommodate both a bottle cage and a piggyback shock without any overcrowding issues—a feature that comes in handy on longer bikepacking trips. The repositioned lower link now shelters above the bottom bracket, which raises clearance to lessen surprise jolts against unseen boulders, and the upper link now sits further up on the frame, lowering standover height and stiffening the back end. This setup will allow you to dance your way through a tight, off-camber rock garden one minute and then pedal straight into the next section of mixed roots and rock without bottoming out or wallowing.


Of course, VPP's updates include changes other than just migrating links. The system's suspension curve now describes a flattened check mark shape rather than the “U” shape of old. Though abstract, this comparison essentially means that you’ll feel less dramatic ramping on either side of the pedal stroke. It remains firm during quick accelerations along tacky hero dirt, and keeps the tires glued to the trail when you’re fighting for traction over deep brake bumps and slick root lattices at the end of a long day.


We continued to be spoiled by Santa Cruz's top-end Carbon CC construction method and materials, which allow the engineers to use less carbon but still hit stiffness targets. The frame is every bit as responsive as the less expensive Carbon C version, but its claimed weight is almost 300g less. Both triangles are constructed as whole, monocoque pieces, which also contributes to keeping weight low because the carbon can be wrapped through junctures and around joints. This continuous wrapping eliminates the artificial weak points of bonded frames and actually requires less material in the process. While it's being cured, the frame is compacted from inside and out. This final step eliminates excess material and resin pooling, resulting in more structural integrity and, of course, additional weight savings.


Finally, a necessary note on tire clearance, which is slightly less straightforward in a frame that can accommodate two separate tire standards. In the present 27.5+ mode, the Hightower easily accepts most 2.8in tires for regular trail riding or bikepacking, but may have trouble with some manufacturers’ snow-ready 3in specimens. If you flip the chip and turn your stable sled into a beastly, barreling 29er, the frame will easily clear tires in the 2.4 and 2.5in range, but going any larger risks compatibility issues, depending on the tire manufacturer.


Details

  • Trail bike bred for all-mountain versatility
  • 5.3in of enduro-inspired VPP suspension
  • Long-and-low geometry also inspired by enduro models
  • Irreproachable, top-tier Carbon CC construction
  • RockShox squish at dropper, fork, and shock
  • Huge bailout gear with SRAM's 12-speed Eagle drivetrain
  • Santa Cruz pushes continuously for innovation across the industry
  • Item #SNZ00BP
Frame Material
Santa Cruz Carbon CC
Suspension
VPP 3
Rear Shock
Rock Shox Monarch RT3
Rear Travel
135 mm
Fork
Rock Shox Pike 29 RCT3
Front Travel
150 mm
Headset
Cane Creek 40 Integrated
Shifters
SRAM X01 Eagle
Rear Derailleur
SRAM X01 Eagle
Crankset
30 t SRAM X01 Eagle Carbon
Bottom Bracket
73mm BSA threaded
Crank Arm Length
175 mm
Cassette
10 - 50 t SRAM Eagle XG-1295
Chain
SRAM X01 Eagle PowerLock
Brakeset
SRAM Guide RSC
Brake Type
hydraulic disc
Rotors
180 / 180 mm Avid Centerline
Handlebar
Santa Cruz AM Flat Bar Carbon
Handlebar Width
780 mm
Grips
Santa Cruz Palmdale
Saddle
WTB Silverado Team
Seatpost
Rock Shox Reverb Stealth
Seatpost Diameter
31.6 mm
Wheelset
Race Face ARC 40
Hubs
DT Swiss 350
Front Axle
15 x 110mm Boost
Rear Axle
12 x 148mm Boost
Tires
[front] Maxxis Rekon EXO 3C TR, [rear] Maxxis Rekon EXO TR
Tire Size
27.5 x 2.8 in
Pedals
not included
Recommended Use
all-mountain, enduro, trail
Manufacturer Warranty
lifetime on frame

What do you think about this product?

View

Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the page

Sorry, we don’t currently have any of those types of reviews for this product.