New Santa Cruz Hightower V3 | First Ride Report

[@jeffreyd1156]

Love your review style. You touched on things others don't, like the sram udh. Cheers to sram, remember they were getting mocked in the past for staying with the threaded BB vs press fit. Also it's not about any 1 single spec angle, but how they all work together collectively. SC has been doing this bike for a while and the cohesion of the V3 geometry is the best it's ever been. Just got a HT purple S-kit. More reasonably priced. $4900. The purple paint is amazing. Almost a work of art. The paint job is only outdone by how well this bike rides. I heard it described as it performs great on everything But the "ests". Absolutely agree with this description. While it can certainly handle the "est" category of terrain, it's Not going to be the best on the Rocky-est terrain, Steep-est, Narrow-est, Smooth-est, etc. But if you you're regularly riding terrain that's Not an "est" the HT crushes it and is the Best-est.😂 It's as close to a 1 quiver bike as there is in the market right now. If you want to ride the "est's" regularly get something more suited for that terrain. This bike is a Jack of all Trades, Master of Fun!

[@derektassie1479]

Man I love your Santa cruz videos I get to live vicariously through these.

[@jillybeann]

I have a 2023 Santa Cruz Hightower CC X01. Swapped out the X01 derailleur for X01 AXS. Replaced dropper with Fox Transfer Factory. Swapped the chain with an XX1 in gold. So far the bike has been great. It could use some 200mm rotors but otherwise I've been really happy with it. I also ride up in Bellingham!

[@brownasiankoala]

Hey Jilly, how tall are you and what size frame are you riding?

[@jillybeann]

@@brownasiankoala 6'. Riding an XL and it feels perfect.

[@brownasiankoala]

@@jillybeann Thanks. I'm 5'10" and not sure if I should size up or down... my inseam is 29-30". I test rode both and not sure if I should go with the large which has a roomier cockpit but might need a shorter stem... or go smaller with a medium...

[@jillybeann]

@@brownasiankoala You might try riding a L. When I tried a large, my knees were hitting the handlebars. I think you officially fall into a L per SC sizing chart?

[@michaelkroleski]

This dude is my favorite bike reviewer to date. NorCal guy, totally honest, get review

[@peterschnelle3134]

I really like this guy as a reviewer

[@TheLoamWolf]

So do we! haha. Thanks and we hope to have Dario back for more.

[@solebrother9620]

"Costco hot dog..." Haha...very good! Thanks for the review.

[@TheLoamWolf]

Thank you for watching.

[@eddie2go]

Don't forget the ketchup and mustard...

[@eddie2go]

Fun is all that matters...FUN!

[@REB4444]

This is the best, most well rounded bike in the category. Anything more rowdy need to be handled by an enduro type bike anyways, like the Megatower. But for the All-Mountain, which means it need to pedal well in all types of trails up AND down, this is a great pick because if you are riding trails that you have never been on all-day, it's a lot more capable than a Yeti SB 130/140 or a Ripmo. It's not as fast a climber as those bikes but it is more comfortable, it is very efficient so you have no wasted energy, and can handle any surprise that may come your way better. But none of those bikes are enduro bikes either.

[@3igger1]

Cool! It has SWAT box too!

[@grantwilliams2912]

Sounds good, looks good 🙂👍

[@jimmarshall5346]

How does the hightower compare to your stumpjumper evo?

[@ivoaugustin5669]

You mentioned you got the XL, but how tall are you?

[@rstrakovsky]

Good review, I like your style. Hightowers are pretty sweet.

[@BiGWaVeDaveAZ]

Santa Cruz needs to match Specialized sizing framework. I love the SC vpp but the sizing at 6'1" is a bubble/ball buster.

[@BiGWaVeDaveAZ]

@deanicuss youll be fine at 6'2" but 6' 1" with long torso their frame is way smaller than my specialized enduro in s4.

[@mathieudeline1897]

@@BiGWaVeDaveAZ you mean fine with an xl at 6,2 ? I'm 6,3 with average torso/legs rapport, so xl for me also ? Thanks

[@jonasneubauer1076]

Still waiting for my hightower 2022

[@pcarts232]

Cancel it and buy a Revel !!

[@ninjazzrhythm400]

Why didn't they put the new lyrik or pike on there?

[@daniel44187]

I think that this is maybe the best review of this bike. The fact that your regular ride is a stevo gives a good perspective, given that many folks are deciding between the two. Thx

[@TheLoamWolf]

Glad you liked it!

[@sbonel3224]

@@TheLoamWolf Hey man, what's your height? You said you went for the XL. I'm also interested in this model. I am 6 foot 3 inches tall and I'm torn between the L and XL.

[@natemady1584]

How about your height? Did XL feel good?

[@dustinbjohnson]

$11,000 and they only give you 1/1 hubs??? No hydras. Wow. 👎

[@dcouture79]

That blew me away too. The reserves should come with Hydra, DT or something equivalent. 1/1, really!?

[@dustinbjohnson]

@@dcouture79 I love Santa Cruz but man not happy with the specs and pricing this year. Specialized looks to be pulling away in that department

[@dcouture79]

@@dustinbjohnson I can certainly appreciate that, I too am a big fan. In 2017 I bought a new X01 Bronson for $8200 and it had pretty much the same spec as the new X01 Hightower which now sits at $8800. After thinking about that I guess the pricing it’s that far off..

[@ianswayne7296]

Why am I at work when I just want to be in the woods?

[@curtydbikes]

i feel the exact same way

[@TheLoamWolf]

Call in siiiiiiick

[@anders.a.johnson]

Grandpa DiGiulio! Biiig KZbin guy now

[@WheeliamWallace]

Solid Review

[@junglejim36]

Did you say the HTA is pretty conservative at 64.5?

[@DaBinChe]

might thoughts too, lol

[@mathieudeline1897]

Hey dude how tall are you ? I'm 6'3 (192 cm) and I really can't decide wich size to take... The XXL is soooo long, and I think I want to have a much playfull bike than my actual (commencal meta tr Xl). so knowing you height could help me ! cheers !

[@tntexplosivefighter]

Can you race enduro on it?

[@PossiblyClever]

Thanks for the review! How tall are you to reference the XL bike size?

[@kobemaui9983]

I would also be interested to know

[@brassmnky33]

101 hubs? 10k doesn’t get you hydra?

[@Monkeyseemonkey79]

The build kits on Santa Cruz bikes are always blah for the money. They make great bikes but the builds are terrible value for money.

[@peterschnelle3134]

I know right?

[@pcarts232]

10’000$ omg insane, you could get a YT Izzo and a Revel Rail for one Hightower !! 🤣

[@ninjazzrhythm400]

Inflation and blame Putin and China's supply chain.

[@DaBinChe]

@@ninjazzrhythm400 No it is the Bidenflation. Printing money like it grows on trees does it. History have shown time and time again, Ex: Venezuela, Zimbabwe, etc., that printing money will everytime reduce it's value. They are about to print another 1.7T this coming year, yes that is capital T as in Trillion, the US national debt is 35T. So expect more hurt in the coming years and your USD to be worth a lot less.

[@huntermcpherson8399]

Trying to figure out if that hot dog comment was sarcastic or not

[@TheLoamWolf]

🤔🤔

[@samcoyle3345]

WTF!? What’s good Dario?

[@dariodigiulio3758]

lol hey Sam

[@maxbilling421]

Wild Sam Coyle spotting

[@DavidS94938]

Even a Costco hotdog

[@TheLoamWolf]

Fold it in half! Yes.

[@shamrock4840]

How does it compare directly v your STEVO?

[@johnnnewmex]

Best intro evah! I didn't watch the rest.

[@simonchaddock3694]

When you said bars i thought you meant handlebars pretty big glove box

[@russellparker4568]

Reach is exactly the same?

[@laurentduval7025]

Looks good, what is the real weight in kg ? :)

[@nunyabiznes32]

14.01kg / 30.88lbs

[@laurentduval7025]

@@nunyabiznes32 Thanks !

[@muma5372]

I’m dying to know how this compares to the stumpjumper evo, which do you prefer??? I’m trying to choose between them

[@dariodigiulio3758]

I'll have a full comparison in my long term review! So far, they feel like two very different bikes - trail (Hightower) vs light enduro (Stumpy)

[@3igger1]

They’re the same! Lolz.. both have SWAT box. ✌️

[@muma5372]

@@dariodigiulio3758 thank you so much that’s an interesting distinction. I’m sure you don’t know but approximately how much time do you think until the long term review?

[@sbonel3224]

What's your height?

[@mitchelllawver6097]

Dude how does it climb? And how does it compare to the stumpy evo since you said you own that bike?

[@Evan2201]

I just Demo'd the Hightower 3 from the Santa Cruz factory yesterday and it climbs like a champ. Really surprised with the uphill performance

[@mitchelllawver6097]

@@Evan2201 good to hear. Have you ridden the ripmo, stumpy evo, pivot switchblade or anything else you can compare it to?

[@Evan2201]

@@mitchelllawver6097 I have ridden the stumpy evo as I used to work at a spez dealer. I would say the hightower definitely out performs it in climbing. I have no experience on the other models unfortunately. I have heard amazing things about both and would love to get my hands on one for a ride.

[@mitchelllawver6097]

@@Evan2201 Thanks!

[@pcarts232]

It looks like a Nomad 🤣🤣

[@dianelabelle2982]

Will this bike hold a 450lbs man?

[@chad3034]

Boys, I almost fell asleep watching this review.....

[@andrewscasualmtb]

Right? I'll be playing it tonight. Hahahaha

[@SupperUpper]

So the hipsters discovered the trails now too?

[@dariodigiulio3758]

been riding mountain bikes since I was a kid, but yeah I guess I found some trails