I love it that you took the trouble of finding out what the morse code meant. Always appreciate details like that both on the product itself and in a narrative about it. Way to go!

I'm really impressed by your comments on how it climbs. In my opinion, Santa Cruz bikes have always had an intangible fun factor but with some sacrifice on sheer pedaling efficiency and climbing performance (eg, compared with Yeti). If they have the climbing dialed now, then it sounds like they made the perfect mountain bike.

Hi Conner, Great review as always. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to answer so many people's questions. I really respect and appreciate that. Also, I picked up a Mondraker Raze and wow is that an awesome bike. Good luck finding an extra-large to test though. Thanks again. 👊

Loved your review! Just got my Hightower this week and love it! Thanks for the great video.

Great insight.. Thank you for the helpful info 🙂👍

Hey man great content ! I recently came to Moab with my Megatower V1 and that bike loved the rocks and grip :) Santacruz are worth the money and the warranty - great company

Great review! I've been riding a Ripmo AF since March and I've loved it so far. Thanks for throwing in a brief comparison at the end!

Lol I appreciate the one liner at the end, definitely something I would say in a review as well; minus knowing anything technical at all

As always, great review Connor! You and Zach are hitting it out of the park. Glad I am within walking distance of your shop! What bikes are in your stable this year? If I remember correctly you parted with both of your Transitions?

Great review!

Haha damn. You’re so good at these reviews. Wow thank you

I have a Ripmo V2 and love it! I'm sure the HT is great but i'm all Ripmo all day!

I was on those trails today! Its lovely up there.

nice review . Thanks :)

Great review! With its geometry updates on paper and review, the Hightower v3 is probably perfect for me (my daily rides include a lot of climbing, single track pedaling, with a final descent similar to your demo trails in this video). However, after demoing the HT2 twice AND the Megatower 2, I hands down preferred the Megatower2 so much, that I bought one!! What I liked better wasn't just the plush, yet very responsive and supportive extra travel, but was the updated geometry, especially pointed downhill. I just feel so centered, stable, and confident on the MT2, where I could even appreciate it at my modest riding style. First rides out on the Megatower (coming from a Tallboy), I was riding down sections I would get off and hike. I don't feel disadvantaged on technical climbs, or by any suspension wallow with the MT2. The downside is that I am over-biked with an unnecessary weight penalty (super burly frame, heavier Fox 38 over Fox 36, etc), so while it climbs great for a big enduro bike, I'd still like a little lighter speed for multi-mile uphill grinds. Honestly, had I waited, I would have at least been able to demo the updated HT3 vs MT2 for a more direct comparison. Who knows, I may have stuck with the Megatower 2, or maybe I would have snatched up the lighter do-it-all Hightower v3. Note: my wife demoed the Hightower 3 and her experience was similar to my Megatower 2 experience, so she might have to upgrade from her Stumpy.

I was going to say, looks like you're in my backyard Connor! LOL Come to Bellingham with your next trial. Cheers!!

Great review as always. Any plans to do a comparison with the updated Tallboy? I'm trying to decide between the two.

Great review as always! How does this compare to the Instinct?

Great review as usual. With the new updated geo/longer wheelbase, should I still go large? I'm about 5'10" with a 30" inseam. Thanks and keep rockin' these reviews!

For 3 years the Hightower related FB groups, PB and MTBR forums have been full of HT owners frustrated with the limited shock fitment. I'm honestly surprised they chose to stay that course. Otherwise, love the colors, glovebox and sag window.

So did they basicly fix the suspension issues, that the Cascade components link could fix on the V2? I ride a V2 and absolutely love it, and don’t really feel the downs that others do with the suspension, but I’m also a pretty light rider

I loved how my last gen 2 HT handled. But I had terrible sag on mine unless I used too much pressure. Then it sacrificed travel and I still got peddle slaps on rocky terrain even in elevated mode, some turned painful. There wasn’t enough clearance for my tastes. Spoke to shops and they said it wasn’t a bad shock, it just had low clearance when landing off a jump. I sold it, and now I’m on a stumpy evo. And no peddle slaps on the same trails. I hope this newer HT model fixes those issues.

Nice review! I like the colors of the HT3 way more than the HT2 ones. I ride a 22' Tallboy and it's an awesome bike but I wouldn't mind upgrading someday to this HT. Did you ride this HT in an XL? I'm also 6'2" so I was just curious.

Excellent video. How much better can these bikes possibly get ?

Excellent 12 minute Commercial you made here Santa Cruz !

I'd love to hear how this compares to a recent Pivot Switchblade as that was often reviewed as the livelier all-mountain bike!

Great video ! What would you recommend for trails and climb mountains ? The new 2022 Hightower 3 or the sb130 2022 ?

Nice! It has SWAT box too!

Hey Connor! How would you compare the new HT to the sj evo? I currently own the evo but I am tempted to switching over!

Hi! Will be this V3 much much better on the descents than a Spur? Probably Spur better climber? Or at least better in all day long ride, but my question is if will compensate this a bit more travel with probably more than 1 kilo between this to bikes. Do you know if Transition will launch any improve over the Spur? Like 130 front..then the gap between HT will be less and still lighter and pedalling all day bike. Thanks again

Putting geo of the HT3 vs MT2 in spreadsheet many numbers arent all that different. If you had to choose just one for all things from fire roads to DH gnar... with most riding deep in the middle between those extremes, which would it be? I'm thinking MT just because ynot. Thoughts?

Hightower vs Revel Rail29 would be a great comparison video!

Yoow! How would you compare the Hightower to a Sb130? Like in terms of climbing and overall thoughts? Thank you

You would expect it to have no flaws for the price being charged, which is why the previous model is a bit disappointing.

Looking at this and the gen 6 fuel ex. I like how the Hightower has appropriate stack height for the xl frame. Thoughts on those two bikes?

Hey Conor! Is there a chance to see a comparison video between Transition's Spire and Propain's Spindrift?

Curious how it compares to a HT2 w/ cascade link and perhaps 160mm fork. The geometry numbers and suspension curve are closer with that configuration and it's fairly popular

I hope we see a new tallboy soon!

Great review! Have you ridden the Occam M10 LT and are there any comparisons you can share vs the V3 Hightower?

The seat angle seems relatively unchanged and still seems fairly slack in pictures. Do you think the improved climbing performance is more related to the leverage curve rather than geometry? Was hoping for even steeper seat tubes

Love the frame, hate the spec. I don't understand why SC chose to not offer a Shimano option or a frame only option.

Hi, so, I've got a frame, now looking for a fork, thinking about Lyrik Ultimate, but confused about travel, on SC website it says that it's compatible with 150-160 mm travel. Spoke with one of the guys from Santa Cruz, and he said that 160mm would have a negative effect when climbing... What do you think? Should I get 150 or 160? Considering I'm a heavy guy that hates climbing... LOL

Great Review! How does the new Hightower compare to the Mullet Bronson?

No Shimano build? And the mis matched suspension always triggers my ocd 🤣 Do you know why they use a fox fork and RockShox rear? Great review!

Hey Conner, I am wondering how you think the Hightower V3 now compares to the Tallboy. I was going to purchase a Tallboy as I prefer a trail-bike-ish ride feel over the mini enduro style of suspension, however it seems like the V3 might have most of the playfulness of the Tallboy with the capability to handle some of the rougher blacks and double blacks out here in NM.

Great review. How would you compare the HighTower V3 against a Bronson V3?

You did the SB130 vs Hightower video two years ago. Curious to hear your thoughts on this new Hightower vs the Yeti SB130LR you owned? Realize it’s not back to back reviews but still helpful.

Amazing video game like terrain. Do you think this edges the Ripmo?

Hello Conor, do you think i can get a similar suspension curve on my Hightower v2 with Megneg kit on Superdeluxe shock ? Thanks a lot for your excellent reviews 👍

I’m 6’2” 205lb, what size should I get? I notice on their size chart, I’m right in that awkward bit between large and XLarge

Hightower V3, Orbea Rallon or Revel rail 29 if I’m looking for an all-rounder bigger bike (in addition to a smaller aggressive XC bike) that can handle jumps, drops be nimble enough to climb tech, handle some bike park duty and still be a good option for a long road trip with tons of pedaling (assuming I was only bringing the big bike with me) and varried terrain?

Oh man. I was dead set on the Niner Rip9 RDO being the perfect mix between climbing and playfulness, all the reviews have led me towards it, but SC is my fav bike maker and this seems like it's a direct equal to the Rip9. Would you agree? Should I take a closer look at the new Hightower?

Great video as always, thank you. The new Hightower looks really good too bad it's that pricy.

How is it compared to the latest Orbea Rallon ? Thanks a lot for your reviews

this thing looks sick.

Cool! I'm really curious where in Oregon this was?

Oh my gosh, I just realized that the front fender this bike sports is from ABS, the bike shop I work at in Santa Cruz! 😂 1:14

Wonder how much the new Super Deluxe has to do with the suspension improvement

How would you compare the new Hightower to the new Rallon? Thanks

I'm looking to buy my first real mountain bike. Right now santa cruz have their sale going on. Is the V2 aluminum S good enough or the V3 S worth the extra cost. I live in Phoenix and will be coming from a marlin 5 so any bike is wonders. But not someone to buy new bike again and again. Thank you for any help.

What do you think about the Hightower 3 and the Sentinel now?

Feels like companies have 2 options now , tiny little tweaks to existing platforms or go high pivot. Have we seen peak geo, maybe 🤔.

How does it compare to the RM Instinct?

Still can not decide between Hightower and Megatower … pedalling up the hill a lot and riding difficult terrain (hiking trails in alps) but also bikepark few weekends a year. I am scared that Megatower is too heavy. I am scared that Hightower is not enough for bikepark laps.

So does this bike have the new special unicorn dust on rear suspension like the new megatower . Basically is it as noticeable as it is in the megatower v2 vs v1. Great vid as always

How does it compare to the pivot switchblade?

how does this compare to the giant trance x 29er?

I think I like Lapierre better! Beautiful Lapierre!

As always, loved the review!! Super cool bike, very desirable. But the prices!?!? Ouch, this is a very expensive toy with some questionable spec choices for the prices. 😎😉

How does the Hightower v3 compare to an sb130?

Hightower v3 vs Specialized Evo? :)

Hightower, Smuggler, RM Instinct, or Ripmo for a one bike quiver to travel the west? Based in PNW but mellower than the typical stuff you might think of.

how does it compare to the Sentinel?

This is frustrating! I got the 2022 version in last October and they fixed my main complaints which have caused me to feel a twinge of regret. I recently dented a rim in the high setting despite being 10 psi over what's recommended for my weight with a pack on. It does feel better in low but I'm lightly pedal striking now.

It’s a Meowntainbike 🦁🚲✨

So basically this is like the old high tower with cascade link. Got it.

Would of been nice to see photos of the new colorway before the trail threw up all over the bike ...great review though!

This bike's geo is identical to Bronson MX except its rear tire is 29

Limited shock options. Too late to the party geometry update. Switchblade still on top.

How the hell you colour grade your videos so well?

How tall are you? Inseam?

Want

Is it possible to mullet

I just put the new float x rear shock on My V2 and wow what a difference 🤤🤤. They should’ve spec’d the V3 with it & the bike would be perfect 👌🏻😎

G outs?

Why so expensive? :(

What does slacker mean

You guys SUCK!!! Literally watched your Mega Tower review about 12 times then you pull this $#!T. I probably only have one new bike day left in me so I don’t wanna screw that up. Do you guys offer some kind of counseling/bike decision making process?? Really respect you guys! You are my most anticipated subscribed KZfaq channel! And I really would love your take on the Bronson mixed wheel Connor, I know, I know you haven’t road that one yet. I truly believe you have enough clout to get your hands on a Bronson and with the respect that your channel commands I’m sure I’m not the only subscriber that would love your thoughts on the Bronson. Thanks for all the effort you guys put into the stuff!

Bike manufacturers need to quit mixing the suspension on complete bikes. There’s no reason for it. If you service your bike, you need the tools for each manufacturer. BREAK THE STIGMA.

Just about to buy the Hightower 2 and then this happens 🤦🏻‍♂️

And the prices for shitty components? Niceee...

No more alloy 👎🏻

Nice bike! poor value

Man , The color schemes Santa Cruz creates suck !

My wallet hurts.

With all due respect, this just doesn't seem like an honest review to me. It feels more like a delicately worded sales pitch. I would like more unguarded, blunt impressions and less rundowns of specs and industry trends. Not super helpful.

Next time show more of the bike not your face!