2020 Santa Cruz Megatower review: Is it too big?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มิ.ย. 2024
- The 2020 Santa Cruz Megatower is a monster on the downhills. That's not surprising. Between the long travel (160mm) and relaxed geometry (64.7-degree head tube angle), this enduro sled is built to shred. Can it match the versatility of its shorter-travel sibling, the Tallboy 4? Spencer decided to spend some quality trail time on the Megatower to see if he'd be happy with this massive mountain bike on his everyday rides. It turns out that Santa Cruz made the Megatower even more versatile than expected. Read the complete review: www.theproscloset.com/blogs/n...
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I rode the 2018 Hightower LT for a few years & just loved it. That is until I bought the 2020 MEGATOWER a few months ago. Now I have a new love😚
That was really a great review and perspective on things. I appreciate your time and efforts.
Thanks Bill! -Spencer
Been riding a Megatower since May 2019 and absolutely love it. A monster of a bike, just absolutely rips downhill and can handle just about anything you can throw at it
love my Megatower , but as you point out , sometimes on cross county sections it feels like im towing an anchor , but when things get rowdy this bike just excels , i love it, its so confidence inspiring , when funds allow i plan on getting myself a Bullit , but noway im parting with my MT
I moved from a giant trance 27.5 to the megatower. Small difference on steep long climbs but more than makes up on anything slopping downward. Has also increased my confidence going down. 8 months in and 1200 miles thus far of pure bliss with the SC. Great video.
Awesome! The 29er wheels can definitely help too on both climbs and downhills.
Hey same bike change for me! Ya not big change on the climbs with 50t cog vs 42t, but so much faster and stable on downs! Keeping the Trance for more trail oriented days and have Mega for those more gnar descending days here in the interior BC mountains. Honestly, if I could only have one bike I would go with Mega for the type of riding/where I live. Only had a few rides so far but hoping I come to same conclusion as you re increased confidence on downs - want to keep up with younger guys on black gnar haha!
As a Tallboy owner considering more travel for Front Range trails, this is a dangerous video to watch. I think your written review of the Tallboy was among the reasons I got one some years ago. Great job on this video.
I got a hightower and realized I wanted more travel and a smaller wheel, so it's now a mullet bike, with a cascade link increasing rear travel to 160mm, and a 170mm fox 38 up front. Still in the process of changing things over but i'm stoked to get out on it
I replaced my 120 mm Canyon Neuron 27,5er by a Megatower and I am super happy. It felt quite heavy in the beginning. However, after some weeks of riding, I feel that it is more about setting the right tempo than the real cons. The right tempo for me is to apply the right efforts at any time. I need to face the very steep slopes with a bit more of power. The Mega doesn't like very low speeds uphill, if you do so, you risk to step off the bike (speed recovery at low paces requires powerful pedalling). So you need to adjust your tempo in order to recover some oxygen before approaching the steepest climbs.
But who cares about a couple of secs more? I always ask myself why I ride. Today I can say that I ride to have fun, to feel strong and to feel fast. With the Mega I have more fun, I feel I am getting stronger and I am really reaching higher speeds in tricky terrains with much more confidence than before. No more excuses hehe. Could the same have been possible with a Hightower? I think so, but if I had acquired a Hightower, I am sure, I would be wondering how a Mega would feel like ... Is the Mega too big? It depends on how much you wanna grow :)
Thanks.... im getting ready to pull the wallet out... just checking every vid, post, comments I can find on the mega...
Thank for the nice rewiev bro 🤜🏼🤛🏼
Awesome video buddy. Thank you. 😊
Did you make this video for me ? After two years of Mega riding Ive found myself looking at the hightower and thinking what if ? But then remembering the ridiculous climbs ive cleaned on the Mega and the fun when I point it back down .. I guess I end up coming to the same conclusion as you .... Still the best bike ive every ridden ..... please dont let me demo a hightower ;)
same bike and love it!!
Still think hightower is the way to go, almost as good on the downs and as he basically said himself he enjoys the ups less on the mega, hightower seems like the win win option
have the same bike and i love it....! Great fun - a little less up hill.... but damn...
Awesome bike, I’ve got an Ibis Ripmo. You sure know a lot about this bike.
I love my Megatower
I own a 2021 Hightower. I am thinking about getting the the cascade components linkage and adding 10mm of travel to the fork. In effect making it a Megatower. I wonder how it will affect the climbing. I doubt I will notice it. From what I understand the linkage makes the shock even more progressive and the extra 10mm of travel up front is due to the fact that I do bottom out more than I used to on my previous bike. In fairness my previous bike was a bit more burly, a Transition Patrol. Any thoughts on what those changes might do to the bike?
Hightower be like bruh
Fr, it’s now irrelevant
I have a Tallboy 4 (aluminum build, EX511 wheels, on the heavier side anyway), and am under-biked when it gets steeper and chunkier, and am looking to upgrade. It's great uphill and on the XC single track. I'm no gravity rider, and doubt I'll ever get there, but I'd consider my style aggressive trail with enduro ambitions. As you say between Rider "A" and Rider "B", most of us are somewhere in between, which is me! I took out a Hightower (and probably should again for a second opinion), and thought it was great, but not quite different enough to justify the switch. In fall fairness, what I didn't like was the suspension felt far too stiff and bouncy like my Tallboy, where I want more rock-erasing plushness (but that largely could have been due setup, sag, tokens, etc). The Megatower looks really attractive, so the great debate is Megatower vs Hightower (unfortunately, I can't find a Megatower to demo currently to answer that question).
Best of both worlds..Hightower “mini-Mega” with Cascade Components HTLT link and bigger fork for 160/150 ripper than can climb anytime and not hold you back at all on most any DH.
Hightower 4 me 🤙🏻💯🥜
I‘m still regretting I got rid of my Hightower 1.0 😪
The HT is sluggish uphill just like the Bronson
@@pcarts232 but she makes up for it slaying DH...yeeeyeeeee
Awesome bike! May I ask your height for a size Large? I am 5ft 9 with shoes on and I remember you saying in the Tallboy long term review, you normally ride Medium, so I really need help here to choose.
Keep up the good work!
I am about your height, but I have pretty long arms. Both my Megatower and Tallboy were size large, and I liked the extra stability. However, if you want a bike that feels a bit more maneuverable, and less like a sled, perhaps a medium would be best. -Spencer
@@theproscloset Thanks a lot!
Tallboy & Bronson for me.
Traded My 2019 Turbo Levo C.C for a 19/20 Megatower CC X01 Build
Wanted something for travel,water crossing and the ability to fly with the bike
Hope to do a video on it here soon
I like it it when you say its for Mega FUN! Sizing wise, if in between sizes.. lets say 5'9 which is better to get M or L? cant find a store that has size M and L to try them out. Thanks
I'm about your height and I went with an L. I have pretty long arms, though, so it kind of depends on your preferences and body proportions. Typically, I'd imagine most people around 5'9" would actually go with an M. Thanks for watching! -Spencer
I’ve been thinking of swapping my Hightower for a Megatower for the past few weeks or so, I love what I have but I’ve been riding bigger chunkier downhill stuff lately and I’m wondering I I just should go to the Megatower and make it more fun and safe? Or would I not be missing out by switching. Haha so many decisions.
Thanks for the video by the way, it definitely helps.
You could always try some burlier tires or maybe a slightly longer-travel fork to make the Hightower more capable. Do you have the geometry link set in the low position? That helps too.
@@theproscloset Very true, I’ll start with the tires and go from there, I do have it set up on the lower link. Don’t get me wrong the Hightower goes fast, I guess I’m just making excuses at this point, the mega does look sweet 🤤.
Thanks for your reply!
Cascade link and 160mm fork upgrade. Trust me
@motorsportsX just bought the link, stoked to try it out.
How much travel is there on your fork? 2021 newest model? What build kit is it? And in Low or High position (via the Flip chip)?
It's a 160mm fork. This is actually a 2020 model, but Santa Cruz didn't change the frame itself. Build is XO1 with Guide brakes. Chip is in low position.
@@theproscloset Thanks a lot and happy riding haha
How about those 3Zero Wheels? Just picked up a pair for a bike coming in January.
I like them overall! They seem to corner very well and help to smooth out a bit of the chatter. It's not a night-and-day difference, however. -Spencer
I can't decide on this one or the specialized enduro
what is the rear drop out? 190mm?
Iv noticed everyone who buys a Hightower just turns it into a mega with a cascade link and over forking it. So just go with the Mega.
Ur underrated
I feel like bikes look a lot bigger on video
I’m new in bike geometry knowledge. If I enjoy the Tallboy so well, can I just change the shocks for a 160mm travel like mega tower or even 170mm travel and still maintain how well the tall boy rides? Looking into a bike that can do some jumps and 5-6ft. Technical drops.
From what I have seen cascade makes a rear link that will up travel to 128mm and then people will add a 140mm fork
Fox 34 Rhythm forks can upgrade to 140mm (item number 820-02-370-kit
)
The kicker for me is that the Megatower only comes in carbon. Way more bang for buck with the alloy Hightower IMO.
Im between this and a nomad myself cant decide
Give our Ride Guides a call and they can help you out! 866-401-9636
I own a Megatower too and, I would have to agree with every point you made.
Are you still riding this ? I ordered a 2023 mega blindly
Yeah, great bike!
The 2023 is better than this one
@@DavidFoundCo that’s good. I pick mine up Tuesday
These are a real tank to pedal up hills so if you ride in places that do not have shuttles probably not ideal, but they do go downhill ok.
Not sure I agree with you on that. My rides always involve several thousand feet of climbing. The Megatower is a few pounds heavier than most capable trail bikes, but it doesn't stop me from getting out on big rides. If my trails were mellower, then yeah it might be better to go with something that's more XC-friendly. -Spencer
@@theproscloset It's not really the weight that is the main issue. If you climb at a sedate pace it is not too bad, but if you put a lot of power in then the in efficiency hits you like a wall. You soon realize that you are not moving forward at a pace that is in line with the effort being put in. Also if you put out a good level of power and run a bigger chainring to take advantage of this then this makes it become even more in efficient.
I have both longer travel (160) and short travel (120) light bike for fast XC. And I would never use heavy wheelset from 160mm to my fast 120mm. It would just kill the personality of 120mm bike and make it feel terrible. Light carbon wheelsets are must for XC fast bikes.What I say is that putting heavy wheelset and tyres at 120mm would always make me use just my 160mm bike with the same wheelset. There would be no point to ride that XC anymore.
bronson for me
So the megatower climbs nearly as well as the tallboy. That shows that the Tallboy is not as good at climbing as you would expect. This is why santa cruz uses the top mounted shock on the Blur, because the lower link suspension setup is not as efficient particularly when pedaling with a decent power input. .
I have an aluminum Tallboy and it climbs pretty well for its weight. I haven't tried out the Megatower yet, but I imagine it will still climb better since it's 2.5 lbs lighter than my setup. For instance, I took out a Nomad, which is said to not be a great climber. However, it's lighter weight totally offset the difference and it climbed just fine for me.
@@ABHORRANCE831 Even on the reviewers own admission at 1:46 says: "I don't mind pushing the extra weight up hills, even if it meant hiking like a lot". That hardly sounds like a bike that climbs well !!!
I disagree about the short offset fork.
Just buy both
I ride all types. Just bought a Transition Patrol for DH riding. It actually is fun on XC trails. Yes it is over biked, but it climbs well and I can do all the optional drops and Gnar at a good speed, without fear.
@@rascal1234 Same, three weeks on my patrol as well! Loving it. Kept the hardtail for the really mellow trails!
The other day I couldnt decided if I wanted to fly first class or business class on a flight, so I bought both so I can change seats depending on my mood during the fight. I also burn money for warmth and wash my dishes with caviar. Tough life.
That’s rubbish, the Hightower is No way better at climbing, it’s sluggish just like the Bronson, the best choice is the Nomad , it’s Much better than the MT and the HT and it climbs just as well as both !
Hmmm I'm not sure I agree because the Bronson and Nomad both have 27.5 wheels. Depends on the type of climbing you're doing, but I always prefer 29 for a little extra speed on more gradual terrain and better rolling on rough, technical moves. -Spencer
@@theproscloset yeah I hear you but I demoed the TB 4 it’s not great at climbing tbh the Megatower is about the same as it’s heavier but the Nomad is better DH so overall I think the Nomad is still better 👍🏾😊
@@pcarts232 nah, bronson is by far the best bike santa cruz produced (V3).
@@tonwhelan the new V4 is nice 👍 I had a look at it on Monday 27:5” and 29” , the Gold colour is nice it’s really light but I’m buying a Revel Rail , I’ve had 8 SC bikes , the htlt a 5010 a bronson a Hightower a Tallboy and Nomads!! 😂🤘🏾
@@tonwhelan The reason I say the nomad is the best is because it’s amazing downhill and when it comes to climbing it’s not much worse than the Bronson it’s a little more taxing but overall for the travel it has it’s not too bad you can actually ride it as a trial bike and obviously take it to bike parks too so all round I’ll give it to the nomad but the Bronson is still a great bike 8/10 Nomad 9/10 ( just cos it’s amazing downhill) 🤘🏾👊🏽