2022 Santa Cruz Megatower V2 | Test Ride and Review | These small tweaks have made a big difference!

[@dadventuretv2538]

Dude- great reviews of the Mega and the new Bronson. Two quick things before we talk shop: 1. Chillest video I’ve ever seen you do. You hit the dispensary or something first? 😀 2. The fans want a Bronson MX vs Mega comparo. Give the fans what they want. Lol OK- now with that out of the way- I feel like SC may have really hit the pinnacle of VPP with this iteration of the linkage and shock set up. My 2019 Bronson def had too linear of a curve. The nice thing is that it was easily fixed with the MegNeg can on the Superdeluxe- has a bigger neg air chamber which helps in overcoming inertia and initiating shock movement so it is more supple off the top, but then is more progressive at the end of the stroke for better bottom out resistance to better compliment the linkage’s linear curve. But with these new models they seem pretty perfect right out of the box. I got to ride a Bronson on a short demo but not on the kinda terrain it deserves. Felt great, now just need to take it on high speed gnarly day in the mountains. Not so sure though I like the longer chain stays, at least on the Bronson. On the Mega I can see it. The Bronson is a one bike quiver kinda rig and I prefer a shorter rear end with a longer front center and reach on a bike like that. Not ridiculously out of proportion mind you, but with those overall dimensions. It gives me the longer wheelbase for stability at high speeds but still a more playful nature when Im playing around while going down (which is usually) or when on more mellow trails it’s easier to still make the trails fun. Would love to get new Mega in a demo to some place like Mountain Creek on the old tech trails and really open up the taps. I bet it’s awesome. Speaking of which- video idea for you? Summer is for road trips ya know. So I got my Bronson V3 C + (so 2.6s front and rear) finally completely done as I want it- Saints with 203 rear, Assegai front, 35 mm stem, 30 mm rise/800 mm wide bars, PNW dropper, XT drivetrain, Onyx hub. Being in the Appalachians most of my rides including my descents involve a fair amount of turns and don’t have a lot of just wide open runs. The vid I’ll link below is an example. Still hitting just shy of 30 mph on those and for a run down that I was not going for a timed run and losing 15 secs for a downed tree and 2 botches still managed a time of 6:05 where the KOM is 4:35. I can’t imagine on a trail like that any newer bike giving me much more speed, or that I would want any more- I already have sections that I have to brake on that better riders don’t. Honestly the XT drivetrain and Onyx hub have had the most to do with anything about the bike decreasing my times, as that instant engagement and ability to shift whenever, even under load, saves secs or bits of secs here and there that add up over the course of a 5 or 10 minute run. The one thing that has me intrigued about the Bronson V4 tho is that 29er front. I don’t like 29ers too much, as I feel like they’re taking me for a ride instead of me riding the bike, if you know what I mean, but with the 27.5 front and rear, even in a 2.6 which measures 28.5 diameter, some of the holes and square edged stuff I definitely have to make sure to get that front wheel up. Not a big deal cause Im a pretty active rider anyways- coming from youth on bmx and never having ridden road- and like to do little manuals (the only kind I can! Lol) through the holes and up over the square edges, but I do have to admit that it does tire me out more. As I get older (50 now) where fatigue is the biggest enemy I can see an advantage to not HAVING to be so active. So that 29er front to help with that but 27.5 on the rear to keep it shorter and more flickable def has an allure to me. Yesterday had a chance to do an epic ride with 2500 + ft of descending (1200+ feet of climbing too- yeah we earned it! Lol). Some of those downs were gnarly af, but wider with a lot longer straights. Still managed almost 35 mph, and last year got just over 40, but I could def see the Mega just bombing that stuff and would love to have had it under me on those sections. I just don’t have much of those kind of trails. Anyway always love talking mountain bikes. Here’s the one vid. The epic down vid should be up today or in couple days. Gotta edit first. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXuolYamq9GSe6M So glad riding season is back for all of us! 🤙

[@ericstenglein4661]

Nice review. Straight into the important stuff. How it rides.

[@Jacob99174]

Freakin love this channel. Completely epic

[@jctrails]

🙏

[@MrDogoodthings]

*Great frame and lightweight. **Latest.Bike** components were well adjusted out of the box. Great entry level bike for light off road use.*

[@silverfox0072]

Sweet review🤘🏼 but I’m excited to see your new Trek brah! Anxious to see your thoughts on that bike. I just purchased the Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS. The shop is building it for me this week. Can’t wait! 💪🏼 Great vlog as always!

[@jctrails]

That video will be out soon! 🤘

[@PJJ205mtb]

BEEN WAITING FOR ONE OF THESE. Thanks for the video! Been waiting months for mine to arrive... just two more weeks to go.

[@jctrails]

You’re going to love it.

[@ethanreid8644]

Me as well. I just called them today and they quoted an extra 2 months. Last week I was looking at Jun 13th.

[@PJJ205mtb]

@@ethanreid8644 Uh oh... I was told the 15th of this month, but have noticed that other dealers got theirs pushed back into July already. Let me guess, a large, blue C-build of some sort? Where'd you order from, if you don't mind me asking?

[@derekmann4317]

Great review! Mine arrives on the 9th! Can’t wait

[@jctrails]

Nice 👍

[@federicomarmolejo1952]

one of your best videos!! New nomad MX review please

[@wheelspeed831]

Almost cleared those jumps!

[@jctrails]

I was being held up 😜

[@perfectit9240]

Awesome test of awesome bike 👍..I need advice for size, Im 185cm, should I go L or XL ???

[@IceyyRon]

Great video

[@mdmattmann]

Great review! How did you like the performance version of the Fox 38? Thanks

[@paukconuk]

All I see is an LFC top, good taste homie (from here in the UK)

[@NB-ski]

PinkBike claimed the suspension is harsh and chattery. Doesn’t sound like you agree?

[@driver_18]

I wonder if the Hightower will have the glovebox compartment also

[@mattspencer3294]

Do you know what the shock tune on the rear shock is? Planning to swap my Rockshox super deluxe onto the frame and curious what the stock shock valving is. It’ll say on the rear of the shock, something like “LL230” or “ML280”. Thanks!

[@TheTomasie]

Such an East Coast setting.

[@loganmaher7404]

I ride Highland and Thunder and also Pine Hills and I usually hit the dirt jumps there most of the time but I want to try a little bit bigger bike for some racing would you say this bike might be a little too big to throw around for the pine hills dirt jumps because I know it would be good for racing I’m also about your height

[@jctrails]

Hey Logan I would go with a size medium frame to keep it flickable and just send it!

[@tinshield]

5’10” team here. Always a sizing debate. 😆

[@lissildur]

for me size M and stem 50mm. The wheel base in L is too long.

[@Theworldismine_23]

Hello. 5'10...how much is that in cm?

[@tinshield]

@@Theworldismine_23 178?

[@Theworldismine_23]

@@tinshield OK. Thanks. I think I will buy a Megatower Size Medium. Large is very big.

[@jonathanhowson6420]

Why did you buy a green and the yellow megatower? They are exactly the same apart from colour. One of the key selling point of santa cruz bikes is the lifetime warranty and lifetime free bearings

[@jctrails]

I purchased the green Megatower right when it came out, rode it for 6 months and I loved it. When the new New Hightower came out I really wanted to try that one so I sold the Mega to get it. Rode the Hightower for a year but missed having the extra travel, so I went back to the Mega (yellow).

[@jonathanhowson6420]

@@jctrails you are so rich 🤣

[@BiGWaVeDaveAZ]

Sizing at 6' 1" is off. SC needs to refine sizing between LG xl

[@323johnnybravo]

I went with XL and got the shortest stem I could find. But you’re right the large is a bit small , XL too big.

[@BiGWaVeDaveAZ]

@@323johnnybravo I have the current hightower and did the same thing xl w 31mm stem. Recently sat on a large pivot firebird and it felt perfect. The new mega is awesome but damn I wish the sizing was fixed. Wish intense would do a full 29er w swat box

[@russellparker4568]

Same, hightower. Cracked it in the xl size so got a warranty replacement in xxl. Im 6,3 and land bang in the middle for a xl but i always felt like the bars were right under me like i was ontop of the bike. With the xxl its a bit too long but with a 35mm stem feels good. Trouble is the seat is still too far away making climbing awkward. The xl jumped miles miles better but the xxl has is better at descending and just going fast. The megatower v2 has the length and stack of the xxl but the shorter reach of the xl. Might have to demo one and see if its the best of both sizes ive tried.

[@ninjazzrhythm400]

I thought it's the 2023 model that's the updated model?

[@jctrails]

My yellow Megatower which was last year’s, was 21 model. So this V2 is the 22

[@darfoxmtb9642]

Got a bronson :) can you do a bronson mx vs megatower :D

[@jctrails]

I can.

[@jessehill3780]

Throw in the Nomad while your at it. I love my Nomad 5 but those are the other two I’m curious about.

[@darfoxmtb9642]

thank you jc👀 be waiting for it 😁

[@laurentduval7025]

U know the V2 is heavy

[@inraviratious6418]

Yeah, $5800... My wallet might just die

[@jctrails]

$6800 and your wallet will die!

[@inraviratious6418]

@@jctrails lol, I guess 5800 can't hurt, right?

[@ninjazzrhythm400]

Get the frame and move your parts from your old bike.

[@inraviratious6418]

@@ninjazzrhythm400 Yeah, but I dont need a new bike haha. My alloy frame works just fine!