Santa Cruz HIGHTOWER 4 CC X0 AXS - 29" Carbon Mountainbike - 2026 - gloss day green

Peak to valley and back again.

Big on wheels, short on fuss, this is the pinnacle of go-anywhere-anytime bikes. A balance of travel, wheel size and attitude makes this a true MTB for modern mountain biking. Whether that includes the rarefied air of the alpine or just local trailheads, built and burly trails or sublime natural singletrack, the Santa Cruz Hightower is an all-terrain thriller.

The Hightower’s looks have changed radically. It wasn’t to satisfy the ego of a designer or stand out, but rather moving the location of the lower link and the shock down low and forward was paramount in lowering the anti-squat for a wild bike like the Hightower.

Features of Santa Cruz HIGHTOWER 4 CC X0 AXS:

Strong carbon frame

Santa Cruz frames are not disposable products. With regular stock service, they easily last a biker's lifetime. Carbon stands at Santa Cruz not primarily for lightweight construction, but for durability, which you reinforce by the warranty promise and crash-replacement principle.

VPP suspension travel

150mm of rear 4th generation VPP™ travel and a 160mm fork give the Hightower the brawn to back up the brains of all the enginerds kinematics. This suspension travel sweetspot gives the Hightower a broader riding envelope, meaning you’ll be pushing yourself and not the bike. 

Anti-squat

Anti-squat refers to how much your pedaling inputs stiffen the suspension. Think of it as yanking your chain, and therefore your pedals, backwards every time you hit a bump. Not enough anti-squat and you have a bike that bobs under power. Too much and the bike will be harsh and not as able to absorb bumps while under power. Santa Cruz have worked hard to improve (reduce) anti-squat on their bikes and the result is more traction and more freedom.

The geometry fits

The chainstay lengths of the Hightower grow with the frame size. So all get the same balanced geometry.