Super excited to see the Hightower vs. ripmo video. If possible, I’d love to hear separately how they compare on the easier flowy and jumpy trails and then on the more technical black trails as I’m guessing that will be the deciding factor for many riders depending on how they divide their time
That's cool you're back on the bike. That brace you were wearing looked gnarly! I know the feeling of having to lower the bars a lot on a Santa Cruz, dang near slammed on mine
Great review, as always. The HT is now a lot of bike and there is a pretty big hole between the 120/130 Tallboy and this. Sure would like to see the TB and 5010 marry and go 130/140 with a flip chip, MX option. Trail riding is still an 80% climbing or at least pedaling and traversing proposition, and this HT sounds like too much bike to pedal around on.
Conor great to see you in Moab at BBQ joint and thx for the water bottle! Having a SC HT3, I did wonder how it compares. Certainly seems more DH oriented. Good one nonetheless - the grading system is sure to spark conversations!
I am curious how the Hightower V4 compares the Megatower V2? They have similar wheelbase, similar reach, similar chainstay and Head angle. Is this juat a short travel Megatower?
I placed an HTv4 order and waiting for it. This review pretty much confirmed this is the bike i want, ok on pedal, confident on descents and good all-arounder! My friend got Bronson v5 and one of the downsides is huge fat ugly down tube that can cause problems fitting into some bike racks....and its ugly in a mix with standard thin top tube😂
Yes, to both of those things. It's also less plush and stable when things get rough, as you'd probably expect. The HT just feels quite a bit more well-rounded.
I am overbiked on an MT2 that I ride more like a Trail bike than Enduro, and demoed HT4 twice. HT4 pedals substantially lighter, and quicker. As Connor says, not as plush or firmly planted, but I also didn't put it through the paces on more challenging (to me) trails, so much as rad comfortable familiar trails. My initial impressions were yep, I want to sell my MT2 and get the HT4, however, I want to plush the suspension more with a big air can like Fox X2 or RockShox Vivid.
@@ABHORRANCE831I also have a MT2 that I ride every where and looking for a second bike that’s more lively on tamer trails. Also considering the Bronson or 5010.
Hey Connor! Great video man. I know you loved the Vivid on the SB160. Try the Vivid on Ripmo. Oh man... Yeah, bud, its that good. In my video, I run it at 230X65 for a Ripmo at 160mm with plenty of clearance to the seat tube. Try the Vivid on the Ripmo! Then do a back to back.
I had a V2 Hightower, absolutely loved it, but wanted something a little more mini-enduro than all-arounder. The V4 seemed like a mini-Megatower which was exactly what I was looking for, got a DHX2 coil for it and CAN'T wait to get on it. Curious if you've ridden it with a coil shock yet?
I haven't ridden a coil on this yet. Not sure I'd want to - I typically prefer air shocks on most bikes, and with how this one rides, I'm very happy to stick with air.
0:14 How tall are the tester to ride an XL size? Please in centimeters 😊. I'im really interested to HT4 but I'm little bit in doubt about the size... I'm 184 cm with 87 cm of leg inseam.
@@bikersedge ok noted thank you, so I'm really confused which size buy... Now I have a Yeti SB150 in size L that have the TT 1,5 cm longer than the HT4 in the same size but them have the same reach... I climb usually in single track and probably the HT4 in L size could be shorter than I need.
I’m at a crossroads in life. I’ve been on a 2019 Sentinel for a few years. It was always a grind for me to climb the local fire roads and single track. I find myself riding less because of the grueling climbs around here. At 45 years old I’m leaning towards a more balanced bike like a smuggler, tallboy, or Ripley. I don’t think the Hightower is what I’m looking for now after the changes but would the Tallboy be enough? “Hightaller” when?
I think there are a few options you could look at that fall between a tallboy and Hightower. The Smuggler is certainly one of them. The Occam SL built with burlier tires and brakes could do the trick too.
Great review thx. As a shorter rider 5ft 8, I’m undecided between the bum clearance of the Bronson or the extra traction of the 29er. Is there any noticeable climbing advantage to the Hightower over the Bronson ?
Another great review... And love the new rating scale. Now I'm wondering what the rating of recent bikes you've reviewed would be. Perhaps you could do a "rating baseline" video where you toss out your ratings of previous reviews in several categories to give us YTers a good context for new bikes coming out? 😊
You know what I find funny is that people come on here and talk bad about a bike they can’t afford. I’m so sick and tired of people talking trash about something that they have no intentions on purchasing.
@@Schwabz33 to each their own. The one that bugs me is when folks talk trash on a bike they’ve never ridden. They heard something on a forum somewhere and then come here and regurgitate it. Ha.
Struggeling between the new Hightower vs. Bronson, but overall I guess to choose better pedaling traction and stability against the more playful, agility setup. Hopefully the right decision too 😅
I think the SB140 is probably closest to the Sentinel. Compared to the HT4 it's more supportive, snappy, and sharp but less forgiving, plush, and playful
Hey Connor. Thanks for the awesome review as always! Love your content and it’s great to see you back riding again. Just a question though, you didn’t mention how the new Hightower compared to the previous V3. Is the new one better or the worse or similar or the same? I sold my V3 because I couldn’t get it to feel the way I wanted it to be. Just wanted to know if it’s worth getting the new model if someone has a V3? Thanks
I didn't compare the two because it's been quite a long time since I've ridden the HT3. I didn't feel like I could compare them fairly. That said, I enjoy riding the 4 more than the 3. The 4 seems a bit more lively and comfortable. I like the suspension changes. At the end of the day, there's not a huge difference, but there are some noticeable differences between the two.
@ Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated! Honestly I kinda figured it wouldn’t be a huge difference either. But now that I know your thoughts, I’m not going to spend the big bucks and get the new one. I also think that the newer Santa Cruz bikes don’t have very good value for your money either.
They can be a bit spendy, but if you look at the intangibles, I think Santa Cruz does better than most other brands. Especially when it comes to practicality, ease of use, durability, warranty, paint quality, etc. You get a hell of a frame from the money - even if you pay a bit more.
I wouldn't be rushing to go upgrade if I were you. I do enjoy the 4 more than the 3, but at the end of the day, they're still similar bikes as you'd expect.
Having watched the current pinkbike reviews, it seems a lot of the bikes that can be both MX and 29 have compromised bottom bracket heights and sometimes head angle/ seat tube angle.
I don't know about the new rating system. I feel it would be better if you put the numbers on post it notes and stuck them to a piece of cardboard for the presentation. Great review, as per usual, though.
The LT has a much sportier geometry feel. The front end is much lower and more responsive. The LT has a similar suspension feel but it's a bit less supportive throughout the entire stroke - keep in mind I rode the LT with a coil.
I’d personally just run fewer spacers under the stem. If that’s still too tall I guess you could drop the fork by 10mm. You’d get a steeper HTA with that and I wouldn’t want that.
@@bikersedge Agreed, was just looking from geo perspective. Am actually considering adding a 5010 for mellow trails. Wonder what’s next for upcoming 5010.
Just think its a bad idea to force people into wireless that have no interest in it plus the additional cost.
I agree. Luckily the C frame is still cable compatible.
I think we will see mechanical options stick around on bike frames with SRAM mechanical transmission on the way...
Hopefully so!
Sram has a mechanical version in the works!
@bikersedge bike reviews are my absolute favorite. Quality, honest reviews with high production quality. Looking forward to the next video.
Thanks! Really appreciate the kind words.
Because of your reviews I bought a HT 2 and have been loving it ever since! A sweet all around bike.
Rad! Enjoy.
Love your humor, the comparisons with similar bikes, and your concise yet well-considered summaries!
Hey, thanks! Glad you like it.
Super excited to see the Hightower vs. ripmo video. If possible, I’d love to hear separately how they compare on the easier flowy and jumpy trails and then on the more technical black trails as I’m guessing that will be the deciding factor for many riders depending on how they divide their time
We're really close to wrapping that one up. It's going to be great with the Hightower v Ripmo v Sentinel. Stay tuned.
@@bikersedgeadd the pivot switchblade
Won't be able to do that. We don't carry pivot. plus we like good bikes...😂
@ 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for laughing. Most people get really mad and offended by that joke. It’s probably a great bike but it’s fun to poke fun.
That's cool you're back on the bike. That brace you were wearing looked gnarly! I know the feeling of having to lower the bars a lot on a Santa Cruz, dang near slammed on mine
@@EvansMTBSaga thanks! I love a tall front end so Im usually a big fan of SC stack heights.
Great review, as always. The HT is now a lot of bike and there is a pretty big hole between the 120/130 Tallboy and this. Sure would like to see the TB and 5010 marry and go 130/140 with a flip chip, MX option. Trail riding is still an 80% climbing or at least pedaling and traversing proposition, and this HT sounds like too much bike to pedal around on.
It’s certainly not too much to pedal around on. It pedals just fine. That said it does skew slightly to the DH.
Conor great to see you in Moab at BBQ joint and thx for the water bottle! Having a SC HT3, I did wonder how it compares. Certainly seems more DH oriented. Good one nonetheless - the grading system is sure to spark conversations!
Good to meet you too! The HT4 doesn't get worse at climbing in my opinion. But yes, it gets a bit better on the DH.
@@bikersedge Thanks buddy!
I really like the scoring method! One bike can’t do everything perfectly so let the buyer choose what’s important to them.
Thanks! The thing I hope people take away from the scoring is that 0 (average) isn't bad. Average is great, especially these days.
I am curious how the Hightower V4 compares the Megatower V2? They have similar wheelbase, similar reach, similar chainstay and Head angle. Is this juat a short travel Megatower?
They’re similar on paper but the suspension kinematics keep them very distinct.
Dude I love the scoring... Any chance you'd go back in recent time and score previously reviewed bikes? Spur, Ripmo, Ripley, etc.
Thanks! I'm planning on doing that for recent bikes that I can still score fairly.
@@bikersedge awesome, looking forward to the scoring table buildout.
@@bikersedgeMegatower V2 score would be cool !
Rockshox approves of the new scoring metric.👍
Don't tell them that's where I got the idea.
Great work, as always. I’m really looking forward to the others in this category.
We’ve done most everything in the category already. Just doing a quick showdown soon.
I placed an HTv4 order and waiting for it.
This review pretty much confirmed this is the bike i want, ok on pedal, confident on descents and good all-arounder!
My friend got Bronson v5 and one of the downsides is huge fat ugly down tube that can cause problems fitting into some bike racks....and its ugly in a mix with standard thin top tube😂
@@009etna this has the exact same front triangle as the Bronson.
How would it compare to the V2 Megatower. Is it much better peddling or noticeably more poppy? Thanks
Yes, to both of those things. It's also less plush and stable when things get rough, as you'd probably expect. The HT just feels quite a bit more well-rounded.
I am overbiked on an MT2 that I ride more like a Trail bike than Enduro, and demoed HT4 twice. HT4 pedals substantially lighter, and quicker. As Connor says, not as plush or firmly planted, but I also didn't put it through the paces on more challenging (to me) trails, so much as rad comfortable familiar trails. My initial impressions were yep, I want to sell my MT2 and get the HT4, however, I want to plush the suspension more with a big air can like Fox X2 or RockShox Vivid.
@@ABHORRANCE831I also have a MT2 that I ride every where and looking for a second bike that’s more lively on tamer trails. Also considering the Bronson or 5010.
Always on top of the review game. What bike in this category would you recommend for its climbing ability?
The Sentinel is really good. And as always, the Ripmo is up there, too. Our Ripmo v Hightower v Sentinel video should be out soon.
The review I've been waiting for! Can you guys review an Atherton bike?
Oh man, I wish I could. Write them a letter on my behalf and ask if they'll send me one please.
Hey Connor! Great video man. I know you loved the Vivid on the SB160. Try the Vivid on Ripmo. Oh man... Yeah, bud, its that good. In my video, I run it at 230X65 for a Ripmo at 160mm with plenty of clearance to the seat tube. Try the Vivid on the Ripmo! Then do a back to back.
Hey thanks. I might give it a go if I get the chance.
I had a V2 Hightower, absolutely loved it, but wanted something a little more mini-enduro than all-arounder. The V4 seemed like a mini-Megatower which was exactly what I was looking for, got a DHX2 coil for it and CAN'T wait to get on it. Curious if you've ridden it with a coil shock yet?
I haven't ridden a coil on this yet. Not sure I'd want to - I typically prefer air shocks on most bikes, and with how this one rides, I'm very happy to stick with air.
I'm considering switching from Megatower to HT4, and changing my X2 shock length to fit the HT4 (which apparently can be done with a spacer)
0:14 How tall are the tester to ride an XL size? Please in centimeters 😊. I'im really interested to HT4 but I'm little bit in doubt about the size... I'm 184 cm with 87 cm of leg inseam.
Im 187
@@bikersedge ok noted thank you, so I'm really confused which size buy... Now I have a Yeti SB150 in size L that have the TT 1,5 cm longer than the HT4 in the same size but them have the same reach... I climb usually in single track and probably the HT4 in L size could be shorter than I need.
Always a solid review, my go to for all my bike reviews.
Thanks Clair!
I’m at a crossroads in life. I’ve been on a 2019 Sentinel for a few years. It was always a grind for me to climb the local fire roads and single track. I find myself riding less because of the grueling climbs around here. At 45 years old I’m leaning towards a more balanced bike like a smuggler, tallboy, or Ripley. I don’t think the Hightower is what I’m looking for now after the changes but would the Tallboy be enough?
“Hightaller” when?
I think there are a few options you could look at that fall between a tallboy and Hightower. The Smuggler is certainly one of them. The Occam SL built with burlier tires and brakes could do the trick too.
Great review as always. Do you think Santa Cruz will eventually drop VPP for the hightower or is VPP here to stay?
I don't see VPP going anywhere soon. The only reason they went 4-bar on the Vala was because of the motor placement.
Great review thx. As a shorter rider 5ft 8, I’m undecided between the bum clearance of the Bronson or the extra traction of the 29er. Is there any noticeable climbing advantage to the Hightower over the Bronson ?
I don’t think k there’s much between them at all in any aspect.
Another great review... And love the new rating scale. Now I'm wondering what the rating of recent bikes you've reviewed would be. Perhaps you could do a "rating baseline" video where you toss out your ratings of previous reviews in several categories to give us YTers a good context for new bikes coming out? 😊
@@JCaleb3718 yeah I’ve been going back and adding them to the written ones on the website.
@bikersedge O that's fantastic. I'll have to go and look. Thanks!!
I'll go back as far as I feel I can while still being fair. So probably through bikes I've ridden this year.
@@bikersedge that makes sense. I was interested in the new Ibis bikes, as well as the Rocky's and the Orbea Occam SL and LT.
Seems like this might be the best trail bike to snag at the moment.
For slow folks like you, probably.
You know what I find funny is that people come on here and talk bad about a bike they can’t afford. I’m so sick and tired of people talking trash about something that they have no intentions on purchasing.
@@Schwabz33 to each their own. The one that bugs me is when folks talk trash on a bike they’ve never ridden. They heard something on a forum somewhere and then come here and regurgitate it. Ha.
Just curious if you tried riding in steeper head angle and if you did how was the experience. Thanks for the content. Appreciate your feedback.
I rode in both low and high. Frankly there’s not a lot between them. It .3° is all. I don’t think it significantly changes the ride quality.
@ awesome thank you for your feedback. I am torn between the hightower and the sentinel
@ we will have our showdown published soon. Stay tuned.
Best bike reviews on the internet 💯
Hey thanks!
Struggeling between the new Hightower vs. Bronson, but overall I guess to choose better pedaling traction and stability against the more playful, agility setup. Hopefully the right decision too 😅
@@Loki92-tb3jv I really don’t think there’s much between them at all. Extremely similar.
Where are you riding in the video. That ridge line was magestic.
@@brennanmackenzie370 this is a mix of park city and Richfield Utah.
Thank you. Great videos. Love you precision. Keep it up
@ thanks for the kind words.
I’m really tossing between this and new Bronson. Would you say that one has the advantage for climbing? Or if one would be better for the bike park?
Like I mentioned in the video I think 9/10 people wouldn’t tell the difference between the bikes.
How does the SB140LR compare?
I think the SB140 is probably closest to the Sentinel. Compared to the HT4 it's more supportive, snappy, and sharp but less forgiving, plush, and playful
I want intel on some of those trails. I ride a lot of the same ones but there are one or two I dont recognize 🤔. Great reviews!
It’s all Park City and Richfield.
Good job!! I would like to see Intense Tracer 29 pro build review plz 😊😊😊😊
Thanks! We don’t carry Intense. Won’t be able to make it happen.
Hey Connor. Thanks for the awesome review as always! Love your content and it’s great to see you back riding again. Just a question though, you didn’t mention how the new Hightower compared to the previous V3. Is the new one better or the worse or similar or the same? I sold my V3 because I couldn’t get it to feel the way I wanted it to be. Just wanted to know if it’s worth getting the new model if someone has a V3? Thanks
I didn't compare the two because it's been quite a long time since I've ridden the HT3. I didn't feel like I could compare them fairly. That said, I enjoy riding the 4 more than the 3. The 4 seems a bit more lively and comfortable. I like the suspension changes. At the end of the day, there's not a huge difference, but there are some noticeable differences between the two.
@ Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated! Honestly I kinda figured it wouldn’t be a huge difference either. But now that I know your thoughts, I’m not going to spend the big bucks and get the new one. I also think that the newer Santa Cruz bikes don’t have very good value for your money either.
They can be a bit spendy, but if you look at the intangibles, I think Santa Cruz does better than most other brands. Especially when it comes to practicality, ease of use, durability, warranty, paint quality, etc. You get a hell of a frame from the money - even if you pay a bit more.
I have a V3. How close to a V4 would it get with a 160mm fork and making the shock compression slightly lighter?
I wouldn't be rushing to go upgrade if I were you. I do enjoy the 4 more than the 3, but at the end of the day, they're still similar bikes as you'd expect.
I have the v2. Just might upgrade to a v3 that's on sale or wait to see if the tallboy gets bumped up in travel😃@@bikersedge
Which region ? Landscapes are beautiful !
@@alexandrecosson14 Utah.
Having watched the current pinkbike reviews, it seems a lot of the bikes that can be both MX and 29 have compromised bottom bracket heights and sometimes head angle/ seat tube angle.
Yeah. That is certainly a consideration.
How does it feel compared to the occam LT?
Check for the previous comments asking about that. I compared it there.
I don't know about the new rating system. I feel it would be better if you put the numbers on post it notes and stuck them to a piece of cardboard for the presentation. Great review, as per usual, though.
Noted. I'll raid the recycling bin for the next video.
How would you compare to the SB140 and Stumpjumper?
Not sure about the Stumpjumper. Check the comments for the SB140 comparison.
@bikersedge would you compare this to the new Occam LT??
The LT has a much sportier geometry feel. The front end is much lower and more responsive. The LT has a similar suspension feel but it's a bit less supportive throughout the entire stroke - keep in mind I rode the LT with a coil.
Would it be weird to run a 150 fork to lower that stack height?
I’d personally just run fewer spacers under the stem. If that’s still too tall I guess you could drop the fork by 10mm. You’d get a steeper HTA with that and I wouldn’t want that.
How does it compare to the RM Altitude?
This is much closer to the current Instinct than it is the current Altitude
Would love to see a Forbidden Druid or a Norco.
I’d love to ride a Druid too.
You should come out to Oregon and ride near Dallas. For your next bike review. :)
Huck yeah! Love that spot.
@@bikersedge if you thinking of Black Rock that’s not the spot I am talking about. These trails are not on any maps. :)
@ yeah. I’ve ridden the stuff on the logging land in Dallas. The big jump line is rad. Never been to black rock.
You’re convincing me to buy one.
@@richhb14 I’ve pretty well convinced myself too. Ha.
New Hightower is so close in Geo to Megatower V2. Swap your X2 and Fox 38 for Float X and Fox 36 and bam you got a Hightower v4.
I don't think it's quite as simple as that. The suspension kinematics are very different and the ride quality is really different between those two.
@@bikersedge Agreed, was just looking from geo perspective. Am actually considering adding a 5010 for mellow trails. Wonder what’s next for upcoming 5010.
On paper MT2 and HT4 look very alike. On trail HT4 still feels like a Hightower, but all the best traits.
@@NoShredDad I’d imagine it follows suit with the new Bronson and HT. Would be cool. I love the 5010.
That's a dumb move to make a bike frame less. I mean, I should be able to use wire or wireless shifting.
I totally agree. Luckily the C frame is compatible with both wireless and cable.
This bike is not Gusher approved. That's a deal breaker.
Should be good for fruit by the foot, though.
Think of it as an emergency stash of gummy bears, just slap a "Break Downtube in case of Emergency" sticker to it😂
@@bikersedge Stick it on the downtube for extra sticky frame protection.
@@RookYZRM1 Do they have a tool for that i can stash in my pack? It will be Santa Cruz OEM for sure.
Santa Cruz has gone downhill after the conglomerate buy out!
@@lesterma1608 what makes you say that?