Santa Cruz Hightower V2 MULLET Conversion.

[@shieldmaidenbikes771]

This should be the new reference when people talk about mullet vs. not-mullet. You did a good job of an honest and critical review of mulleting a bike you've been riding for a long time. Not just following the (in my opinion) backwards trend everyone has been excited about lately. Cascade did a decent job trying to keep the geometry the same, with the smaller rear wheel. But ultimately, the wheel size does not have a significant impact on the bike handling. The geometry of the bike is the big player here. So no big surprises to me, a smaller rear wheel with similar geometry has consequences on the rough stuff. Without something like the cascade link, people out there mulleting bikes not meant to be mulleted are basically just creating new bikes altogether. (lower bb, slacker head angle, etc.) Definitely not an apples-to-apples comparison. This video however is a good insight into what's actually going on with mullet bikes. If you really want to go crazy, put the other not-mullet link back on the bike with the smaller rear wheel, then take it for a ride. You'll see what I mean.

[@SemiSendy]

Thanks, ShieldMaiden Bikes! I agree. I'm always a bit surprised by how many people will simply put a 27.5 wheel on their 29 frame without any ability to help "correct" geometry. That BB is already super low on the HTv2. I think the numbers work out to a 14mm drop in BB height alone. Ride handling aside, that alone would scare me.

[@jamiedesoto6840]

I ride a 2021 transition patrol its a mullet and i really like the way it handles through stuff. Im also 5’5 so im not getting my butt hit by the rear wheel! This bike really doesnt even come alive till youre going over 20! Then its a monster! Nothing compares to the mullet set up!

[@dannywild100]

just got my patrol mullet last week gonna put it thru it's paces this weekend at silver mountain bike park in idaho

[@jamiedesoto6840]

@@dannywild100 im heading to snowshoe this weekend

[@andrey_M32]

Which size patrol did you go with? I'm about 5'5 and currently on a mullet ripmo af. Really interested in the patrol

[@jamiedesoto6840]

@@andrey_M32 i have a medium its a little big honestly!

[@andrey_M32]

@@jamiedesoto6840 yeah I switched from a 50mm stem to a 35mm on my ripmo

[@russellparker4568]

I bought a 2020 Hightower in xl I’m 6ft 2.5. Rode it for 18 month and always felt a little cramped, it was fun but the cockpit was a bit small. Anyway I ended up cracking the frame a bit under the shock mount from a very overshot landing, when I got in touch with warranty I asked if I could have an xxl instead and they said of course. It’s got a 35mm stem on and it feels absolutely awesome. I’ve gone up to the 170mm fork and took the 2.5mm shock spacer out to bump the rear to 148mm. With this setup it’s plenty playful still

[@SemiSendy]

Good to hear! I've yet to try a 170mm set-up on this bike, but I have thought about putting a 170mm Zeb on it that I have here at the house to give it a shot. Currently running 160mm. I wouldn't be surprised if it felt really well balanced, especially since I'm running the cascade LT link. I wouldn't mind raising the BB just a touch.

[@RickyDownhillRDH]

Snow Shoe looks so awesome, I must check it out some day. So I've got PTSD from mullet bikes. WAY BACK in the day I rode a Santa Cruz Super 8 that had a 26" front wheel on the front and a 24" in the back. Talk about getting hung up on rocks and roots!! I just don't get this fad coming back at all. When I started seeing them I just shook my head. That being said, a 29 and 27.5 are a far cry from a 26 and a 24 so I'm sure it's MUCH better that what I was doing back in the day. Excellent edit, well done!!

[@SemiSendy]

I once had a 69er. It was super lousy. This was a blast though! Totally makes sense for people who struggle to clear the 29 out back.

[@chrisallen5293]

Nice video. Been thinking of trying the mullet set up on my v2 Hightower. But now you've changed my mind and probably saved me some money in the process. Thanks Rich

[@SemiSendy]

Glad I could help, Chris. Cheers!

[@PatBK]

Thanks for talking about hight at the end. Because that is the big thing about mullet bikes. If you look who rides a mullet at the world cups it's mostly shorter riders. They - aswell as a lot of other mullet users - do not really ride a mullet because of the snappier handling but because they just don't get enough range of motion with the 29er backwheel.

[@SemiSendy]

No doubt!

[@Tom-fn8xc]

What heights are most of those riders? Like below 5'8"?

[@PatBK]

Bruni is like 5,10, Reece Wilson around 5,9, Loris Vergier 5,8, Troy Brosnan 5,6 and so on. So pretty much below 5.10 it's pretty common, while almost all riders above 6,0 ride 29ers.

[@Tom-fn8xc]

@@PatBK I gotcha that makes sense. Seems like for anyone taller the downsides outweigh the advantages

[@PatBK]

@@Tom-fn8xc Sounds about right, since they really don't have a problem with 29ers there's not really a need to go mullet.

[@MidWestMTB]

Still haven't ridden a mullet set up but I definitely want to! Sounds like the best of both worlds in most situations.

[@kylegaulin5561]

Stoked on my Bronson mullet, but everyone has their own style. Great video!

[@SemiSendy]

That new Bronson is awesome! I heavily considered one.

[@MotorsportsX]

I wonder how your chattery rear end complaints would of been lessened with a newer shock and better damping?

[@evanknoch]

Great video! I have a v2 hightower and have been trying to decide between the two cascade links and this is all the information I need. Thanks for the awesome content!

[@SemiSendy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@midlifeshredder]

Come on over to Fezzari brother, waiting with open arms! 🤙🏼 Great vid Rich. The drawbacks you stated were exactly why I chose not to go mullet as other friends I know are doing. Especially the trails we ride here in the mid south, climbing and tech are everywhere!

[@SemiSendy]

I'm really glad I got to scratch the curiosity itch! It would be pretty sweet to have a bike designed to swap between the two, but if I've gotta pick one.....

[@midlifeshredder]

@@SemiSendy I hear ya! If there was a “do it all” bike we wouldn’t have so much variety!

[@greghighwood220]

Great job Rich!

[@SemiSendy]

Thank you! Cheers, Greg!

[@allenkvextreme]

loved this video, great quality and production !!!

[@SemiSendy]

Thanks, Urban Dropper! 🤘

[@mtb4l484]

I was thinking about doing this exact setup right before they released the new 2022 Santa Cruz Bronson. I'm more of a 27.5 guy so I bought the new Bronson and it's been the dream. In all fairness, I think the level of tech and chunk you're hitting on an average ride is higher then mine. Also, I road a 29er for 3 years and I couldn't stand they sluggish corning. At 5'8" the Mullet setup on the 2022 Bronson checks all the boxes for me. Great Video!

[@SemiSendy]

That Bronson is sweet, and I'm totally in love with the yellow color they used.

[@mtb4l484]

I agree 100%... BUT! I put a gloss frame protection set from Ridewraps on it and it took it from flat gold and made it a high gloss gold that also brought out all the metalic flake in it. The matalic hidden in that pain is multi color and beautiful!

[@rogerb3927]

Interesting… do you notice the Bronson hanging up on things? Some of the reviews of the Bronson indicate the suspension compensates for the smaller wheel to eliminate some of what might be more visible on an HTv2 mullet conversion… I wonder if the Bronson is a bit more effective than the HTV2 with cascade link?

[@peterduncan9277]

@@rogerb3927 I had (just stolen) the Hightower V2 as well and recently purchased a 2022 Bronson. My concern with mullet's was exactly what is being described, that in fast downhill over chunk / chatter, as well as technical climbing, that the rear 27.5 might bounce around causing me to brake more descending to gain more control, or get caught more trying to get up and over rocks while climbing. I have always thought that moving from 27.5 to 29 essentially is the same as gaining 10mm more travel. So the same might be said going from a 29 in the rear to a 27.5 in that it makes you feel like you are losing 10mm in travel. BUT - if you get a Bronson, you are now at 150mm in the rear (vs. 140mm on the Hightower). So, theoretically, the feeling of a 27.5 rear with 150mm of travel should feel "almost" like a 29 rear with 140mm of travel. I think at that point the benefits of a 29 might be super marginal, but the better cornering, ass clearance, playfulness, manuals, bunny hops, etc. may make the 2022 Bronson edge out the V2 Hightower. I have had literally one ride on the Bronson but in a place that challenges an MTB climbing and descending, and I didn't feel these issues I was concerned with at all. Also, the Bronson, even though it is 150mm in the rear, doesn't feel wallowy at all while climbing (linkage barely moves until it is "supposed" to if that makes sense. Also, the slacker fork will also make descending a bit more capable as well.

[@adamashberry7587]

I’ve been loving your channel, Rich! Keep up the fine work dude. 🤘🏼

[@SemiSendy]

Yo Adam! That's awesome man, stoked to hear from you my dude!

[@trailpimp6369]

Spoke X is the bomb and I really respect them. Cascade Link is sick too. I ride a European Enduro bike and Cascade does not make a link for me How is the mullet working out.

[@SemiSendy]

The mullet was such a blast. 💥 I broke it down last night to prep for a race, but spent a lot of time on it over the last few weeks to continue testing the rims. It really was a fun experience overall

[@gobikeyourself]

Great video and thanks for the insight! Starting at 6:40 I knew I'll remain with the 29er ;-)

[@bretobg]

Great stuff, enjoyed watching it alot. Keep em comming!

[@SemiSendy]

Thanks, will do!

[@DrJMTB]

Nice review! Been aiming to try this on the Process X. I bet mullet would be a blast at Baker Creek.

[@SemiSendy]

Mullet and Baker would be a heavenly match!

[@Tom-fn8xc]

Great video! I've been thinking of doing a mullet on my stumpy evo since specialized themselves makes a link which keeps the geo the same. Overall consensus seems to be it's a bit better for jumping / cornering but worse for climbing / techy sections. I think since I also do a lot of just trail / enduro riding rather than just downhill keeping the full 29er setup is the way to go and your experience seems to back that. Thanks for the breakdown.

[@SemiSendy]

If it's swappable and all you'd need is a 27.5 wheel, I'd probably set myself up with both options honestly. If I had to pick one or the other though, full 29 for me.

[@Tom-fn8xc]

@@SemiSendy When would you swap between the two?

[@grantwilliams2912]

Love my 5010 MX

[@Tzed250]

Great video Rich! We saw you in the lift line a couple of times over the Labor Day weekend. I bought my HTv2 partly because of your Quiver Killer review. I was able to pick up a CC mullet link second hand at a big discount and got a 27.5 rear setup as well so I’ll be trying this myself. Not doing any black trails right now so at 5’8” it may work for me on the Blue flow. Maybe see you closing weekend!

[@SemiSendy]

I think you're going to have a total blast with it. Also, at 5'8" the pro's will likely outweigh the cons even on the black tech. I'll be there closing weekend, holler at me if you see me!

[@marcuso68]

The HT is a good climber,,, Where is the info on that?

[@SemiSendy]

I discussed the climbing as it pertained to the mullet set-up specifically, but I did a full review on the normal HT 29 set-up previously that gets into the normal climbing ability here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2GYnGaHab-gl7s Cheers

[@PJJ205mtb]

Solid video, very nicely done! Nice work.

[@SemiSendy]

Glad you liked it!

[@B1KER]

I’ve been thinking about trying a cascade link for my Tallboy. I didn’t think about switching it to a mullet though

[@SemiSendy]

Unfortunately they only make the Mullet link for the Hightower. Since it does ultimately detract from the leverage curves they are trying to achieve, this link was a bit more of an experiment I think.

[@B1KER]

@@SemiSendy I’m actually not interested in changing that bike to mullet, just the difference in how the cascade changes the rear shock progression.

[@SemiSendy]

@@B1KER ah, in the case I say go for it! JKW’s filmer, Logan, seemed to really dig it.

[@benwigginsbikes]

Can you leave the link on and swap between 27.5/29 or do you need to swap the link when swapping rear wheel sizes to maintain proper geo?

[@SemiSendy]

You'd need to swap between the links designed for each size to maintain proper Geo.

[@Californiastrat11]

I run the mullet link as a 29er all the time and it's fine, but im also running a 170mm fork. If you have a 150mm fork it'll make your rear travel longer than the front

[@Californiastrat11]

That being said, i guess even as a mullet itll have the longer rear travel, but more similar geo.

[@UpHillWill]

Great video! I also love trail M I have a lot more fun on that letter trail than some of the others. As far as mullet set up I'm short not sure of the advantages so maybe I'll just rock the reverse mullet hair cut.

[@SemiSendy]

M really is a total hoot.

[@jameswitherspoon7640]

Great video Semi! Any hints on your next ride after you sell the HT???

[@SemiSendy]

Not sure just yet ☺️

[@jameswitherspoon7640]

@@SemiSendy saw you with a Transition shirt on in a video. Do I smell a Sentinel??? 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@SemiSendy]

@@jameswitherspoon7640 Ali rides a Sentinel and I've always been a big fan of theirs. We'll have to see!

[@Robdorange]

You are gonna go for the Bronson MX XT. I just saw the future.

[@SemiSendy]

They definitely nailed it with the new Bronson! Sweet bike for sure. Next one isn't likely to be a SC though.

[@Robdorange]

@@SemiSendyOk you keep my curious. If i ever get in Snowshoe i come and check those trails out. Things in Belgium are not that adventerous, but i am ;)

[@carmeloguino-o4539]

Can i still Mullet it even though i would not change the cascade link?

[@gabrielsegura1530]

So does it jumps normal like no changes? And did it feel weird like noticing a smaller back wheel?

[@SemiSendy]

Jumps great, agile getting up off the ground. I definitely wouldn't say it ever felt really weird.

[@edensgardenshed9622]

So by hung up do you mean compared to the full 29 setup. So a 29 rider would feel the slower roll over of the 27.5 tire? What if you were a 27.5 rider would you still feel “hung up”? Or would it ride the same as they are used to plus better rollover up front?

[@SemiSendy]

You're guess is dead on. If you're already a 27.5 rider moving to a mullet, it's going to feel the same out back but with better rollover out front. It's the full 29er rider that's going to feel the lagging sensation moving to a mullet.

[@edensgardenshed9622]

@@SemiSendy awesome i am a 27.5 rider and have my eyes on the new mullet Bronson. Never really wanted to go up to 29 love the fun factor of 27.5.

[@anthonywalters7434]

@@edensgardenshed9622 I’ve ridden a 29er xc bike for the last 3+ years and did some laps on my fiend’s Status 140 and didn’t feel too hung up with the 27.5 rear end. I personally prefer full 29 but it wasn’t bad. If I compare it to the other 29er full suspension bikes I’ve been on I’d say that it cornered better but wasn’t as easy to plow through tech.

[@lewisparker3234]

I have the 2021 high tower C. Shpould I mullet it or just get the normal CC link?

[@jameswhyte3834]

only 4k? criminal

[@jevilimbu5822]

Hi , my height is 5.5” and I am planing to buy Hightower.. and I know with 29” wheel size is too big for me,specially in drop, steep sections and of course in cornering. So do you think doing mullet will help me in tight corner or it’s better to buy Bronson? Pleas help me out in this confusion

[@SemiSendy]

Sounds like you’re the perfect fit for a mullet. You’ll still get the added benefit of the larger wheel out front, but the much needed clearance of the smaller rear wheel.

[@slowridersclub5433]

Now I want to know what bike you are looking at buying ;)

[@SemiSendy]

Can’t say just yet 🤫

[@mattmiller7650]

@@SemiSendy Revel new release coming 🤔

[@calrc123]

Sorry for my ignorance I’m new to mountain biking but when you say the rear end keeps getting “hung” what specifically do you mean??

[@SemiSendy]

That's actually a great question. It's a term that probably sounds a bit exaggerated to anyone unfamiliar, which wasn't something I considered while filming. What I mean is that the wheels smaller diameter inherently has a more difficult time rolling over obstacles, mainly roots & rocks, in comparison to a larger diameter wheel. Hung probably sounds like the wheel is stopping altogether, but the term is being used here much more liberally. It's not stopping altogether, but it's more of a lagging sensation in chunky sections than how the larger diameter wheel on the same terrain.

[@calrc123]

Thanks for your swift response I understand now. Love your videos please keep them coming

[@craigsteele8178]

You have to understand the theory behind an MX bike like the Bronson. It was fully designed professionally by Santa Cruz for a certain purpose in mind. That is Fun!!…The Hightower was Not designed to be a MX bike. So by implementing a new link and expecting it to perform properly is not going to happen. 29ers are meant to go fast! The Bronson is designed for Fun!! I have the new Bronson and I am blown away by its speed and fun factor, especially in the air. So maybe you should actually ride a proper MX bike and then make a more current evaluation. Just a thought. Keep on shredd’n !! 🤟

[@SemiSendy]

Hey Craig, I understand the theory and have also ridden the new Bronson. I’m not sure if you watched the whole video, but your comments mostly echoed my overall thoughts on this particular experiment. The purpose of this specific experiment was to keep all other factors the same, maintaining the closest kinematics, etc. while only changing out wheel diameter. It was a great way to determine the exact difference in characteristics between either wheel size for my personal taste and riding style. Cheers!

[@trashcanstunts7503]

Dude… come on. The exact bike I thought I had my decision made. Went from a pretty poopy 26” to a decent 27.5(that i do like)and now want to buy a good bike. I like to roll kinda fast downhill, like tech, and definitely some sendyaction. I thought mullet might be right for me. But not really ridden a 29. For sale maybe? #local

[@SemiSendy]

I mean, 90% of the testing it was a total blast! I’ve got someone in line for the HT, but I can always let you know if they go a different direction.

[@trashcanstunts7503]

@@SemiSendy yes please do

[@romaincebelieu3757]

Let me guess... are you considering to buy a new mullet bronson? 😁

[@SemiSendy]

I’ve looked long and hard at it ☺️