Field Test: 2022 Santa Cruz Megatower - Even More Mega

Aug 23, 2022
by Alicia Leggett  

PINKBIKE FIELD TEST

Santa Cruz Megatower


Words by Alicia Leggett; photography by Dave Trumpore

It feels like just recently that 150mm of rear travel seemed like plenty for an enduro bike, but the times have changed, and as the definition of an enduro bike has become brawnier, Santa Cruz's long-travel 29er has grown to reflect that shift.

The second iteration of the Megatower - the biggest of the 'Towers - brings 165mm of rear suspension to the table, paired with a 170mm fork and with the new addition of in-frame storage to make it even more enduro-ready. It's gained 5mm of travel compared to the Megatower V1, and even more notably has slackened out by more than a degree up front.

Megatower Details

• Travel: 165mm rear / 170mm fork
• Carbon frame
• Wheel size: 29"
• 63.5º - 63.8º head angle
• 77.5º-77.8º seat tube angle
• 441mm chainstays
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Weight: 15.42 kg / 34.00 lb
• Price: $5,649 - $13,999 USD
• santacruzbicycles.com
This new version uses the same VPP suspension platform as its predecessor, with just a few tweaks including a slightly lower leverage ratio, and there's an option to swap out the stock 62.5mm stroke length shock for a 65mm one, bumping the travel up to 170mm.

Santa Cruz has chosen to ditch the chainstay length adjustment chip for size-specific chainstay lengths - our size L test bike had 441mm chainstays. Still, the Megatower keeps its other geo adjustment flip chip, which changes the head angle by a paltry 0.3mm between 63.5º and 63.8º, changes the bottom bracket height by 3.5mm, and makes the leverage a bit more progressive in the low option.

Available in a total of 11 build options, the Megatower pricing starts at $5,649 for a base model in the C (as opposed to the fancier and slightly lighter CC) carbon, and skyrockets all the way up to $13,999 USD for the Flight Attendent, CC, all the bells and whistles build. All the build kits all come with SRAM drivetrains and brakes, so Shimano fans are out of luck, but there's an interesting mix of Fox and RockShox suspension, including mixed Fox 38 / RockShox Super Deluxe (both air and coil) options in the middle of the range.

photo

The bike was designed with a 170mm fork in mind, but Santa Cruz gives its blessing to run 180mm up front if riders are inclined, but a dual crown fork is not advised. Each of the builds comes with ISCG-05 tabs and a full chainguide and bash guard setup, a Santa Cruz derailleur hanger (though the bike is UDH-compatible), internal routing, and frame protection on the downtube and drive-side chainstay.

Finally, we need to mention the Glovebox. That's Santa Cruz's new take on in-frame storage, and though this is the first go-around, the system works nicely. There's a spring-loaded latch that is reasonably easy to open and close, though it's a bit trickier with gloves on, and inside you'll find a "tool wallet" and a "tube purse." The purse is just a neoprene sleeve, while the wallet has some internal organization for tools, credit cards, and other small items.



photo
FIELD NOTES

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Climbing

If someone told me a few years ago that 165mm travel bikes would soon be climbing as well as they do today, I'd have trouble believing it. Still, long travel and all, the Megatower powers right up as well as you'd expect from any 34 lb (15.4 kg) bike. The well-supported suspension has enough sensitivity to keep traction over rocks and roots without bobbing much, and the bike as a whole has a nice, responsive feel.

Pitted against some of the other bikes in this Field Test, it clearly holds its own on the ups, proving that it's a very solid climber for the enduro bike category. Both the Commencal and Contra, while both are well-supported and offer very firm pedaling platforms, are heavier, longer, and less maneuverable than the Megatower, making them feel like much more bike to manage on the climbs. The Transition and the Fezzari are some of the better climbers of the bunch and are fairly well-matched against the Santa Cruz. The Transition has a smaller rear wheel, which doesn't have quite the same feeling of rolling and powering capability on the climbs as the Megatower's rear 29" one, but at 33.6 lbs, it's the lightest bike of the test. The Fezzari is the most "trail bike-y" of the group and climbs quite well for its 170mm of travel. It has a softer feel than the Megatower, which both helps and hurts it on the climbs: it doesn't feel like it has quite the same willingness to sprint and push as the Megatower, but it does maintain traction just a bit more easily than the Megatower.

In short, my take on the Megatower's climbing ability is that it has enough support and enough sensitivity to get the job done - I recently rode two back-to-back 6,000' (1829m) days on it, and at no point was I wishing for any other bike.

photo

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Descending


Despite having the shortest reach of any bike we tested, the Megatower is not exactly compact, with a 1266mm wheelbase and 441mm chainstays. To me, that moderate reach helped keep the bike from feeling strung out from the 63.5º head angle (in the low setting) and made it easy to feel on top of both the front and rear wheels at the same time, unlike some of the more boatlike bikes we tested. That's a double-edged sword, as the feeling of sitting in rather than over the bike can be nice, but the Megatower's riding position helped keep the handling feeling quick.

I found the Megatower to be a lot of fun, but there was one thing I couldn't quite sort out. It felt pretty harsh at times, despite the ultra-plush Fox suspension and dialed settings, which we attributed in part to the stiffness of the frame and wheels.
Timed Testing


This timed lap was what I'll call "tech-flow." It was a tech trail that made sense in the way that it flowed, and it was easy to find fast lines and carry speed. It started relatively flat with some pedally sections, then dropped into steeper, choppier terrain, with a series of stair-step drops, a few root doubles, and some fast corners.

Don't forget that timing is just one of many ways to judge a bike, and a fast lap time is a.) subject to my own preferences and comfort on the bike and b.) doesn't always mean it's the best for everyone.

Alicia Leggett: "The Santa Cruz came mid-pack for me in my timed testing, with a lap time of 2:40.0. That's just a tenth of a second behind the Transition, 0.2 behind the Commencal, and 1.3 ahead of the Contra."

That's another give-and-take, as the bike felt aggressive enough that we all agreed that it had a chargey, easy-to-push feel, but the harshness on chattery sections made it a little more work to ride than some of the other bikes we tested. That said, heavier riders might find the stiffness to be perfect. Santa Cruz says it's introduced size-specific stiffness for this version of the bike, and the smaller sizes have more compliant frames.

One more characteristic that surprised me about the Megatower is that the rear end breaks free laterally more easily than any of the other bikes, despite having great braking traction in straight lines and over choppy terrain. I found that to be really fun, and it gives the bike a "slappy" feel in the corners, though it does detract from the bike's race-ready feel, in my opinion. Some of the bikes on test (like the Commencal) felt most at-home pointed down choppy descents in straight lines, while others (like the Transition) wanted to hop and play around. The Santa Cruz strikes a balance between those impulses, feeling playful but willing to stay on track when needed.

photo


Pros

+ Efficient, comfortable climber
+ Capable, versatile, and fun descender
+ Glovebox, UDH compatibility
+ Size-specific frame stiffness and chainstay length

Cons

- Expensive
- The large frame feels stiff for riders at the smaller end of the weight range




The 2022 Enduro Bike Field Test is presented by Rapha, POC, and Continental. Thanks for keeping us dressed, safe, and rolling rubber side down.


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Field Test Reviews Enduro Bikes Santa Cruz Bicycles Santa Cruz Megatower


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329 Comments
  • 485 5
 Sweet BABY jesus $12,000USD and it doesn't even come with an AXS dropper?! Every day we stray further from the lord....
  • 162 1
 My brother in christ
  • 174 49
 Santacruz is the BMW of the bike world. people just ride it for the image. Overpriced
  • 25 1
 amen
  • 58 108
flag Bro-LanDog (Aug 23, 2022 at 9:27) (Below Threshold)
 @mininhi: or because they can afford a great car or bike Smile
  • 55 4
 14k no motor wtf
  • 128 6
 Corinthians 3:16 - Thy shall not ride a Santa Cruz.
  • 111 0
 @mininhi: that would be true except you can find used BMWs for fairly cheap. Meanwhile people still think their 2014 Hightowers/Bronsons are worth 5k.
  • 44 1
 That harshness on chatter and rocks, and tendency to break free easily was exactly what I hated on my Bronson. It made riding rocky sections (My fav thing to smash through) hard work and tiring, and wet riding became terrifying.

It all went away the second I got rid of the Reserve wheels and put Stans Alu rims on. Some may love them, and they do feel so fast and nimble, but nothing could make up for how difficult it was to stay on line in rough stuff with those carbon hoops.
  • 11 1
 "... I shall not want"
  • 51 1
 Yes brother, PON-tificate on that unholy pricing and spread the good word.
  • 41 2
 With a bike from a storied brand coming in at 12k honestly the reviewers should be over the moon with how amazing it is compared to all the others. But they're not. Bonkers.
  • 12 3
 @OrangeGoblin: I didn't realize how bad SC rear suspension was until I went TB4 -> Norco Revolver 120 in search of more xc efficiency...and found out that the tiny SIDluxe shock and climbing focused suspension was way smoother through chunk than the burlier Tallboy. That said, I did love my old chameleon...but the VPP was the rear axle!
  • 18 8
 they do it so middle age fat men can buy them at a discount and feel like they got a deal
  • 10 3
 @mininhi: You never drove a BMW or?
  • 17 4
 @mininhi:
As a huge BMW guy/owner I’m triggered. Lol
  • 17 39
flag notthatfast (Aug 23, 2022 at 10:03) (Below Threshold)
 @bridgermurray:
The difference is those 2014 Santa Cruz bikes are still going strong. There aren’t many other brands where the frames can take such a beating year on year.
  • 33 8
 @mininhi: Just wait until SRAM starts trying to charge a subscription for their AXS products, like BMW is now doing for what most people consider "standard" features. "Oh you forgot to renew? Well sounds like you're going to be riding the next 6 miles with the dropper post up your ass in your granny gear! Have fun!"
  • 15 6
 @mininhi: This!!!!!!!!!! Its a wannabe BRO brand. Go check out PON Holdings their parent company to see how BRO they are.
  • 5 0
 @bridgermurray: Heh, I have both a 2014 (maybe 2015...) Bronson and a 1998 BMW that barely cost half of what people apparently are trying to sell the bike for.

If my Bronson was still worth 5k, I'd probably have a new bike
  • 5 19
flag Bro-LanDog (Aug 23, 2022 at 10:17) (Below Threshold)
 @dh-corn: lmao lotsa bimmer hate, looks like plenty have never been behind the wheel of a proper m3
  • 6 19
flag nickfranko (Aug 23, 2022 at 10:21) (Below Threshold)
 @mininhi: BMW actually offers good products, though. It's more like Audi or Lexus, because both of those have fallen far behind BMW and Mercedes in quite a few fields, such as the luxury car category (although the RS3 and RS6 are pretty amazing).
So, let's just go Lexus. Because have you seen the dashboard on the LX600? Looks like one from a $40-50k car.
  • 39 2
 @mininhi: 12k to put all those break bumps in on Blue Velvet at Whistler, I can do it for half LOL!!!
  • 3 2
 @mininhi: BMW is pricey at their entry levels (although discounts at dealer are substantial in Europe), but around M240 / M2 price/performance is far beyond what SC manages to offer at any point in their range.
  • 4 0
 Every frame iteration is just a liiiiitle bit longer, lower, and slacker. Let's just cut to the chase and come out with Grim Donut geometry.
  • 3 1
 And I thought ebikes were getting expensive.....lol
  • 31 0
 Reverb non AXS for XX,XXX is a non starter. That post belongs in the dumpster and its hard to believe it still gets spec'ed
  • 13 0
 Jesus wept.
  • 10 19
flag codypup (Aug 23, 2022 at 10:45) (Below Threshold)
 @mininhi: Keep telling yourself that and maybe someday you'll have the $ to see it differently. I buy them because I like the bikes, like my lbs and don't give much of a rat's ass what they cost. I save other places, like buying cheap clothes and drinking at home...
  • 5 3
 @mininhi: dude if you think BMW is the most expensive car brand, I have some news for you
  • 16 0
 Think about how many cancelled Beta magazine subscriptions you could buy for 12k, madness!
  • 5 0
 @mininhi: I can buy a used BMW for that. A 7 series no less.
  • 11 0
 @bridgermurray: well to be fair bike frames cant leak oil
  • 2 5
 @moabenchilada: give the peasants some time to adapt
  • 3 2
 @bridgermurray: a high resale value is a positive thing if you're buying new. If people are willing to pay big for a used santa cruz I really don't see who it's harming. They won't buy it if it's not worth it to them.
  • 4 1
 @porkchopsandwich: PON’s parent company is BRO
  • 21 0
 @thisc*nt: in my experience the higher-end your build is, the more poorly you do on the used market. There comes a point where your in a price range where anyone with that much money will just buy new because they can afford to.
  • 3 0
 @Kmccann137: @Kmccann137: I resemble that comment
  • 6 3
 @BiNARYBiKE: to an extent yes. Regardless, to most people a bike is a toy. A toy doesn't have to be a sensible purchase, or make sense to other people. Supercars wouldn't exist if that was the case. As long as the people buying it enjoy it, who gives a shit.
  • 9 0
 @mininhi: give it a couple of years and an actual BMW might be the cheaper option
  • 4 0
 @snowwcold55: this idea legit unnerves me...
  • 1 0
 @powderhoundbrr: most of my friends do
  • 11 5
 @vonroder77: People buy 300k Ferrari's for stop and go traffic. Who cares where people ride as long as they are happy. different strokes for different folks
  • 2 0
 @brettbob: we should make that the new metric, we've MABEW now we've got CBMS
  • 2 0
 @thisc*nt: I agree with all that, even if I think it’s a silly way to live. My point was simply that I don’t think the resale value is that great for these five figure bikes.
  • 2 0
 @BiNARYBiKE: sounds like an enjoyable way to live to me. My life would be boring if all I did was make sensible choices.

Resale may not be great where you live, but it's pretty ridiculous where I live.
  • 3 4
 @n2deep: LOL!!!.... Cpt. obvious has entered the chat.
  • 2 1
 @thisc*nt: fair point. “Reasonable” is quite relative after all isn’t it? I shouldn’t have said “way to live” as much as “way to buy a bike” and that’s just my opinion. I like to buy a couple steps down from top end and replace my bike each year. Every non-biker I know (and some riders too) think I’m unreasonable.

The used market is good. I’ve just found I don’t get as much of my money out of higher end builds than say gx/xt level builds.
  • 1 0
 @codypup: you should smoke weed. Drinking at home’s no fun
  • 1 0
 @nickfranko: Spoken by someone who has clearly never owned a BMW.
  • 16 2
 $ 7,999 for a New, Updated, State of the art Yamaha YZ 250 X with better suspension that will ever be speced on a mtn bike EVER !!... Mtn bike companys are the greediest S.O.B's on planet Earth.
  • 3 0
 @snowwcold55: I’ve been thinking that exact same thing. As soon as SRAM bought that head unit company, I was like full oe electric integration on a bicycle will surely lead to a subscription model sooner than later. Ford is doing this too with their auto lane change feature like BMW and the heated rear seats.
  • 2 0
 @Mac1987: granted this was February 2020 but I got a 228i (the real coupe one) with a CPO warranty for $15.5k

The extra $3.5k went towards electric seats I guess, but I do have aluminum wheels…
  • 1 0
 @pargolf8: That's gotten hella'cheap too
  • 2 0
 @WeenoT: You braap the truth.
  • 1 0
 @scallywagg: Close:

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?"
  • 1 0
 @njcbps: "No God" - Darby Crash
  • 1 0
 @n2deep: "It ain't trickin' if you got it." True. But, it's still a waste of money no matter how you slice it..
  • 1 1
 @moabenchilada: All other things being equal, the geometry tweeks in the last 2-4 years (apart from those in the suspension) haven't made much difference to anyone but elite riders.
  • 2 1
 @AccidentalDishing: I can't really comment on that, I've loved the VPP compared to everything else I've ridden, but I'm not after XC efficiency like you. I'm after bump-eating, grip in the gnar and general awesomeness in the swoops and whoops of enduro and trail riding and the Bronson is easily the best I've ridden in that sense.
  • 1 1
 @mininhi: I own a BMW and can for SURE say this is over priced item. besides bmw, rides very different from a LOT of cars. 1st of all, RWD... and yes, it slides and drifts
  • 1 0
 TheGerms / Darby Crash. I’d rather spend the $ that the SC costs to see them one more time live!!
@suspended-flesh:
  • 2 0
 @vonroder77: then why does it matter if people ride blue trails or double blacks? You sound salty
  • 1 0
 Hold out for the upcoming crash.
  • 1 0
 @n2deep: It doesn't, I'm a huge smartass, and make fun of myself a lot in my smug comments.
Salty? Yes, towards how ridiculous the bike industry has become.

If you have ever ridden Blue Velvet, it might make more sense, especially in the last two years.

If you are ever up this way shoot me a D.M, happy to go for a rip with ya!
  • 1 0
 @kirny6: ew.
  • 1 0
 @WeenoT: mixing gas and kicking ass
  • 201 3
 Harsh and chattery.......skips in the corners.......but climbs OK. Sounds a bit shit at everything to me.....
  • 46 1
 Yeah, but you can't say that about a big brand with expensive products that spends a ton on advertising and sponsors your race team. So the "Con: harsh and chattery" gets massaged into "Pro: climbs well", even if the review makes it sound like a middle of the pack climber, and "Con: poor cornering traction" becomes "Pro: slappy".
  • 18 5
 SC is too married to VPP. They keep updating it, and yet users still have basically the same complaints.
  • 11 0
 Shit at everything except emptying one's wallet (disclosure: I ride a 2021 Hightower and love it, and my wallet is also empty).
  • 21 3
 @emarquar: to me, saying "slappy" implies that the loss of traction while cornering is predictable - which it is, which makes it pretty fun, even though it detracts from the race-ready feel.
  • 9 1
 @alicialeggett: Did you get the sense that's what SC was going for or is the slappiness an unfortunate consequence of the frame stiffness / suspension harshness? Seems like they would have gone for a shorter rear end if they wanted that behavior.
  • 26 0
 You can't expect everything from a cheap bike
  • 8 0
 @alicialeggett: what I want to know is how the new nomad feels by comparison?
  • 4 1
 @ATXZJ: I ride a 2020 Hightower and if I had to ride it for the rest of my days I’d be 100% fine with that. Love that bike!
  • 2 0
 @gspottickles918: For sure, and totally not knocking anyone's rig. Glad you're happy! I'm sure there's lots of criticism that can be aimed at my choice of bikes. I was a huge SC fanboy from 2012-2015 and had six of them. Threw a leg over a process111 and immediately listed my TBLT on PB.

The thing that stands out to me was the exact same issues I had with my VPP bikes is what people mention now. Albeit to a lesser degree. In my experience the platform had a jittery back end, pedal kickback in the tech, yet wallowed at the mid-stroke. It was really tough for me to get dialed.

Glad to see them try something new with the Blur, even if it's just a flexy-stay single pivot.
  • 4 0
 @thechunderdownunder: I haven't personally ridden the Nomad, but Kaz compared them a bit in his Nomad writeup here: www.pinkbike.com/news/first-ride-2023-santa-cruz-nomad-now-with-mixed-whees.html
  • 3 4
 @ATXZJ: Almost as if VPP isn't good enough to win world cups...
  • 12 5
 They lost me at no Shimano before I could even get to the price.
  • 5 2
 @Neechy:

1: I never implied that they didn't

2: It's certainly more about the rider at that level. Turner said "they could win races on frozen dog turds" or something like that.

3: The bikes at WC races are far from stock kinematics.

Carry on
  • 5 0
 @Neechy: This is not the same VPP. When it comes to suspension, few mm here and there make a huge difference. It's like you would say that Horst Link wins WC. There are plenty of Horst Link bikes yes they work differently. But marketing guys should build you a monument, you are exactly the type of customer they look for when spending money on WC teams. Just like you would see a BMW winning F1 and go immediately to buy a diesel BMW combi Wink
  • 1 0
 @alicialeggett: Did you get to try a different shock on the bike to see if it was the bike or suspension?
  • 2 1
 @alicialeggett: I'm curious to know if a heavier rider would limit some of that harshness and increase back-wheel traction. You guys are all on the lighter side, right?
  • 4 0
 @cougar797: I personally rode it only with that X2 but Kaz tried it with a few different shocks to figure out his setup before he took it to Stone King. Swapping out didn't solve it.
  • 1 0
 @snowwcold55: Yep, there's a real chance of that. We're all in the 150ish-170ish range.
  • 2 0
 @gspottickles918: I bought a second hand 2020 Bronson and feel like it is just perfect. Does my commute, my xcrides, my more gnar rides and everything I could want. Doesnt feel sluggish or bobby under power or on the climbs, is reactive to small bumps and big alike. Cant imagine what I'd change.
  • 2 0
 I would attribute alot if the harshness from the overly stiff Reserve wheels. I've ridden with both and find the bike easier to get on with being on aluminum wheels. No harshness or chattering and I'm about 145 lbs.
  • 1 0
 @gnarnaimo: interesting. I have zero brand loyalty so have reserve wheels on a spesh enduro and find them to be very compliant and comfortable. Would be interesting to try and figure out if it’s a single part that contributes most to harshness or is it a sum of the parts that makes the most difference
  • 1 0
 @snowwcold55: I'm going to guess a sum total. In the last few years I've built several bikes, went through different renditions of all and it amazes me, how little tiny things can make a huge difference in feel from bike to bike too.
  • 3 0
 @snowwcold55: I think sum total as well. New Santa Cruz frames are quite stiff, and the reserve wheels are pretty stiff as well. A good quality alloy wheelset compliments the modern Santa Cruz bikes nicely I think.
  • 153 0
 Ah, soon there will be no more peasants attending this sport and cluttering my favorite blue trails! We must keep on chipping away, one ridiculous price hike after another, until the only people I meet are my fellow dentist!
  • 50 0
 You will see my toothless grin out there.
  • 13 16
 Buy a Fezzari then… or a Giant… or literally any other budget friendly brand. They are out there.
  • 13 3
 @notthatfast: #whooshgoesthejokeoverhishead
  • 16 0
 @notthatfast: or buy a gently used bike from your favorite dentist
  • 4 0
 @notthatfast: Yes. Also, bike development has become so incremental that a three year old bike will likely be as fun, and as fast, as that shiny new one.
  • 9 25
flag notthatfast (Aug 23, 2022 at 10:52) (Below Threshold)
 @nickfranko:
I get the joke, it just wasn’t funny
  • 11 1
 @notthatfast: More entertaining than you, though. "Why so serious?"
  • 2 0
 Thanks for the laugh mate!
  • 6 1
 @notthatfast: When has anything dentist related ever been funny
  • 1 0
 @wutamclan: for 5k
  • 9 0
 @SimbaandHiggins: When they call themselves a Drill Sergeant?
  • 1 0
 @codypup: Specialized Enduro lol
  • 82 1
 For $13k I hope this comes with a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty a couple of free oil changes and lemon scented air freshener.
  • 10 0
 and a transferable warranty, like a car that costs the same.
  • 2 0
 You're going for the air freshener model....??!! Whoa!
  • 11 0
 @ACree: No doubt... the "non-transferable" lifetime warranty that bike manufactures offer is immediately discredited. Why should it matter who the owner is, or when it was purchased, or from where if its a "lifetime" warranty?
  • 76 6
 By Grabthar's hammer, by the suns of Worvan... is anyone going to comment that Alicia is probably a better rider than 99% of us idiots! Big Grin
  • 45 1
 Hi, I appreciate you
  • 22 0
 As I'm reading this in the waiting room for urgent care i can confirm she's certainly better than this idiot here... Smile
  • 3 1
 @alicialeggett: You definitely have great style! I’ve been noticing that in these videos. It’s fun to watch. Cheers!
  • 3 4
 Suckr
  • 3 1
 @SleepingAwake: ouch, hope all's well dude
  • 6 0
 @p0rtal00: yeah all good. free health care ftw!
  • 67 0
 My takeaway from the 12k bike review is I want to try santa cruz grips.
  • 3 0
 They are pretty fresh feeling but the deity cushy ones are pretty close to the same things
  • 2 0
 Those grips do feel really nice when new but in my experience they wear out super fast and the rubber ripped off exposing the hard plastic interior.
  • 2 0
 @WalrusRider: Rotate the grip as it wears to extend the life of it.
  • 3 1
 Seriously! For the 11k, I’d expect they’d be raving about the bike at least as much as they were raving about the grips. But other than the grips, it seemed just OK.
  • 1 0
 shop.santacruzbicycles.com/products/house-grips
  • 62 0
 If the glovebox can't fit the owners manual as well as my collection of CDs, I'm out.
  • 25 4
 You mean weed, mezcal and a .38 (Hunter S. Thompson out!)
  • 50 4
 Don't worry about the price... Santa Cruz will have a video out soon about how it is helping make MTBing more inclusive by doing trail work and sponsoring a couple of race series.
  • 11 7
 14k but lgbtqai+ friendly, its ok then!!!
  • 2 0
 I wonder how much Peaty costs them a year?
  • 45 2
 Seems like a very meh review for a 5 figure bike
  • 22 0
 Unfortunately they can't just "lmao 15k for this"
  • 5 3
 @fiekaodclked: I mean they could but I don’t think they like to bite the hand that feeds.
  • 6 1
 But those grips, tho.
  • 5 0
 In all seriousness, I wonder if riding great bikes all the time for tests kind of just numbs you to how great some of these bikes really are.
  • 4 0
 @TheR: that’s probably true. Also most bikes are just really good now. Even with lower-end specs. It’s more about intended use and ride characteristics. It’s getting to be like skis and snowboards: Assuming you buy from a reputable brand, it’s pretty hard to get something legitimately crappy. More about finding something that suits your purposes and rides the way you like it.
  • 40 5
 The fact the climb switch is seen as a detriment boggles my mind. Who tf cares. It allows bike designers to focus less on the climbing ability of the bike and make a better descender while using the “cheat code” that is a climb switch.
  • 3 7
flag notthatfast (Aug 23, 2022 at 10:07) (Below Threshold)
 Where did you even read “climb switch” in this article?
  • 8 0
 @notthatfast: Its covered in the video
  • 32 1
 its just Mike Levi who thinks he's too hard to use it,
  • 11 1
 The climb switch is fine for fire roads, but sucks if you hit a technical climb requiring the rear wheel to track. I guess if you had a bar mounted toggle, it would not be a big deal, but reaching down to the shock every 5 minutes is no bueno, and impossible if shock is close to the bb like this one.
  • 3 6
 @monkeybizz climb switches aren't cheat codes; they're band-aids
  • 29 6
 "The large frame feels stiff for riders at the smaller end of the weight range"

Yet another reason why you need some bigger folks testing bikes and parts. What might be a con for smaller riders might be perfect for bigger riders.
  • 8 17
flag taskmgr (Aug 23, 2022 at 10:35) (Below Threshold)
 Or just not enough time dialling in suspension. Skipping and chattering can usually be tuned out. Sounds like they do one lap on the bike and complain. I have a feeling i could make this bike work for me lol
  • 7 2
 "The large frame feels stiff for riders at the smaller end of the weight range" Well, there's a big non-issue for me...
  • 11 0
 Perfect, there you go. You got the information you needed as a larger rider. What more are you asking for?
  • 16 2
 I am 6'5" 235lbs and have 8 rides in on my MegaTower 2 with the Fox factory suspension, X01 drivetrain and stock aluminum wheels. This bike is amazing and is far and away the best bike I have ridden. In part because its the first bike I've ridden in the past 15 years that actually fits me.

I have years to weeks of ride time on these other bikes: Ibis Mojo XL, Ibis Mojo HD XL, original Bronson XL, Tracer 275 XL with Push ElevenSix, Jeffsy XXL with Push ElevenSix, Salsa Spearfish XL, Rocky Mountain Element XXL, Orbea Rise XL, Kona Process 153 XL.

I really didn't want to buy the Megatower bike because it was so expensive, but I had to because it was perfect for me: (1) 20-40mm higher stack height than my other XL and XXL bikes means I can get my bars close to saddle height;
(2) size-specific carbon layups increase the odds of it being stiff enough for me;
(3) size-specific chainstays increase the odds of being balanced when cornering;
(4) works with all stock shocks and has a threaded BB and well-sorted linkages so I can maintain it myself and swap shocks if I want to;
(5) Has nice in frame storage which means I can carry a bottle on my back and a bottle in the frame and ride for 2 hours.
(6) Didn't buy it for this, but I also really like that the water bottle cage is high and unobstructed so I can drink from it while I am climbing and not just on breaks.

I've been experimenting with suspension settings but have settled back on the exact suspension settings Santa Cruz recommends for my weight and ride in the high shock position.

Here is what I have found when riding:
1. Riding Pinball Downhill high speed chunky sections on Noble Canyon yesterday felt like a powder day on skis. The suspension fully absorbed the chatter and gave me outstanding control.
2. On dusty switchbacks I can totally commit to the Fox 38 when cornering and let the back end follow. It feels almost like I am surfing or carving. Similar experience on off-camber ruts and switchbacks, where I can put my front wheel where I want, trust it will stick, and then use my hips to either hold the chosen line or drop the back wheel right into a rut or onto a spot on the berm.
3. It is well supported on climbs and I can make it around tighter technical switchbacks that I couldn't make it around on my other bikes and can weight and unweight either wheel or trackstand at times I couldn't on other bikes.
4. With stock settings it feels firm on chunky climbs, but in a good way and not so much that it compromises riding. I think it would be a mistake to not use Santa Cruz's recommended settings.
5. I rode widowmaker on Noble Canyon for the first time out of maybe 50 tries I've done there over the years. Also cleared Stairway to Hell for just my second time and made it further up the Extra Credit climb sections than I have in the past.

Overall, this is a f---ing great bike and Santa Cruz deserves credit, both for the overall execution, and for the extra effort they put into engineering the XXL size.
  • 4 0
 @taskmgr: I believe Alicia and Mike both raced the EWS100 on Megatowers, and Mike also did the Stone King Rally on one. I'd imagine that during that process there was a reasonable amount of tuning going on.
  • 2 0
 @Marcencinitas: at your size and weight, did you need to add volume spacers to the rear shock to get the bottom out progression right?

I find the rear suspension stays really composed in the mid stroke, but then often bottoms out harshly when you have bigger hits (with recommended setup).
  • 1 0
 @ponyboy24: It’s been riding the way I like it so far, with the last bit of travel only used when I make a mistake, but I’ve been riding on rocky and steep trails with small drops and jumps. I’d probably want to add volume spacers and/or switch it to the low setting before taking it to a park.
  • 1 1
 @Marcencinitas: but what grips do you use?
  • 1 0
 @k2theg: I know you are f-ing with me but the stock grips are actually pretty nice.
  • 25 1
 Hmm 34 lb MT = Light
36 lb Meta = Heavy

Perceived or rolling weight vs scale weight? Trying as hard as I can to avoid price.
  • 40 1
 Gotta take into account that your wallet will be a lot lot lighter also ...
  • 2 0
 Do you know how much weight you save when you spend $14k in saved pennies?!
  • 3 0
 @Mac1987: That and you'll be flying that climb trying to run away from your financial problems !
  • 2 0
 @Mac1987: Roughly 3.5 tons
  • 1 0
 @NickBosshard: you can always count on the Swiss for financial advise
  • 1 0
 @NickBosshard: But will this make me ride better?
  • 22 1
 Built mine with a push shock, zeb fork and Chris king hubs for under $10,000. Buying the bare frame new for the warranty seems the best way to go.
  • 11 1
 Sssssshhh don’t go letting people know frame only is significantly cheaper than buying completes at the moment.
  • 14 0
 It’s wild you got a $1300 shock and $900 in hubs and still came in under their build. SC’s complete bikes have been pretty bad value prospects for a while, but that’s just next level. At least the grips were good on this one though lol
  • 5 0
 @BamaBiscuits: so I did get a little bit of a break on the shock due to being a disabled vet and the hubs luckily I was able to purchase one at a time on eBay and only spent a little over $600 for both of the hubs but yes the full bike always seems like a bad deal for me from SC.
  • 7 0
 @thenotoriousmic: last time I priced out a build with a frame only it seemed impossible to get any savings. I thought about building up a mega v1 myself with a modest slx drivetrain, marzo z1, mix of oneup and Raceface components it still climbed to over $8k. Ended up buying the S build with fox and gx for $7100.
I think the best way to go is buy a base model complete with the frameset you want. Sell off what you want and upgrade it. Little more work but more savings. Unless you work at a lbs and can snag some solid discounts
  • 3 0
 SC complete build prices are insane. $9K for an XO1 mechanical setup vs $6K for almost the same build from Specialized.
  • 1 1
 @thenotoriousmic: Always has been the case.
  • 17 0
 Is this the bike @alicialeggett won the EWS 100 on and @mikekazimer chose for the Stone King Rally? Did you both choose the bike because you thought it would the best for the course, or was it just a matter of Santa Cruz offering the bike for a more extended test?
  • 18 0
 Yep, it is! For me, it mostly came down to it being the most capable bike I had at the moment. It's a solid all-arounder, totally able to race enduros and fun to ride in the bike park. The other FT bikes had been sent back already, so you're right on SC allowing us to keep it a bit longer, but even if we'd kept them I think this would be in my top few for a race bike. (I'd pick the Deviate as my #1 any day though. You'll hear about that in the next bunch of days.)
  • 1 2
 @alicialeggett: When? The deviate is the one bike Im most interested in
  • 2 1
 @alicialeggett: what are your thoughts on the Claymore XL having a stack height just 20mm greater than their M? Should XL-sized riders ride with bars just 20mm higher than M riders?
  • 1 0
 Santa Cruz/Sram is the main sponsor of the Stone King Rally. Race is in France but most of the racers seem to be UK/Northern Europe or North America. Maybe Santa Cruz and Sram invite industry friends and top dealers to the race as reward.
  • 1 1
 @Baciatutti: SC's largesse within the industry is not unconnected to their pricing, I'm sure.
  • 21 1
 34lbs is “pretty light” but the 35lb Commencal was “heavier” ???
  • 2 6
flag chrismac70 FL (Aug 23, 2022 at 14:49) (Below Threshold)
 Got to find the positives to Keri the free bikes and ad revenue coming
  • 1 5
flag RedBurn (Aug 23, 2022 at 15:10) (Below Threshold)
 Lobbies
  • 5 1
 I understand you are trying to make a point but it clearly lists the Commencal at 35.9 and the SC at 34.0. That's 2 pounds for all intents and purposes (if they swapped that ridiculous hydraulic dropper for a cable actuated, they could drop another 0.5lbs).

Yes... 2 pounds is noticeable. The weight/feel was the first comment from the same rider/reviewer on the same trails
  • 16 0
 Lets face it, these bikes are all mass produced and overpriced crap now. When you can buy a boutique brand bike for cheaper and a better build there is really issues and shows how much they take the piss.
  • 2 0
 Forbidden is one example. Their top end built Dreadnought isn’t even close to the price of the X01 megatower cc
  • 11 0
 So the glovebox leaks and gets your stuff wet, but you count it as a positive in the summary. How can they have designed it so badly. Does it not come with a drain hole for the water or do you get to carry it round until you strip the bike down
  • 15 0
 Simple math - don't buy it. Prices will decrease if demand falls.
  • 5 3
 But then all these nice people would have to find something new to whinge about.
  • 12 2
 Ok, so "climb switch not needed" + "poppy" + "chatter" = bad shock tune, simple as that. Or maybe this was done on purpose, but the point is, change the shock tune and most probably this baby will eat all the chunk. Had a similar problem with Meta (although it was my fault since I bought a frame only), and though it was antisquat, though it was pk, nope, bike has plenty of as, has planty of pk and still is plush after changing the tune. This brings us to a point about testing, I would love PB tried to tweak bikes a bit, show that the character of the bike can most of the time be changed and maybe it is more than sum of parts, but honestly not by that much. NSMB sometimes does that and this is great.
  • 57 0
 In this case I think it's combination of factors that give the bike a slightly harsh feel, and I do think the kinematics are one of them. Outside of the Field Test I tried the Megatower with both a RockShox SuperDeluxe air shock and a coil shock, and still found the bike to have a not-that-plush ride feel. I'd expected to favor the coil, but I actually ended up preferring the air shock. The interesting thing is that the new Nomad feels a lot more like how I wanted the Megatower to feel - it's supportive, but much more comfortable when it comes to dealing with repeated hits. I'll include a comparison between both bikes in the long term review, and work on getting some more definitive answers as to what's causing that difference.
  • 3 2
 @mikekazimer: RS Shocks are really a bad example, because they need a high leverage frame, cause they have builtin rebound platform. Especially for coil it's a letdown, this is the very shock that made my Meta ride harsh (MM tune for 75kg guy and a frame with ~3x leverage on the beginning). I literally started riding 20% faster (have very chunky trails) and this climb switch started to be essential. I think that lots of shocks have consumer tunes which favour climbing.
  • 4 0
 @mikekazimer: interesting. i was thinking that the lack of suppleness i also experienced was due to the (X2) shock/tune, but hearing you tried said alternative shocks to no avail does suggest something going on with kinematics.
  • 2 0
 @mikekazimer: I came to ask exactly the question you answered. Lookin forward to the long terms for sure. I have had 3 shocks on my Slayer: X2, DHX2 and EXT Storia. They each changed the character of the bike so much.
  • 2 2
 @mikekazimer: curious to know what specifically makes this bike feel more harsh than the Nomad as well.

Overall, the new Mega feels particularly damped/confidence inspiring IMO (maybe it's my slightly higher rider weight of 170lbs). Struggling with the comments about traction too - for me, this battle was completely won or lost primarily through LSC adjustment on the stock X2. Too much LSC and I lost traction, dial it back and there's traction for days (while still maintaining a decent platform to push off of).
  • 2 0
 @mikekazimer: "The interesting thing is that the new Nomad feels a lot more like how I wanted the Megatower to feel - it's supportive, but much more comfortable when it comes to dealing with repeated hits." This is kind of what I wanted to know and I am glad this is the case. It also seems that the Megatower is overall more business where as the Nomad from your earlier statements just seems more fun.
  • 9 2
 Megatower owner here with one difference, I run WA1 Unions. The bike is not anywhere near harsh anywhere. In fact I would describe it as buttery everywhere. This is coming from someone that owned multiple Specialized Enduros with everything from custom X2 tunes to Ohlins TTX coils on them. The MT has way better ride quality. As an explanation of what a difference wheels can make in the ride, just yesterday I switched from Zipp 303's to Roval Terra CL's on my gravel bike. If I was blindfolded I would swear someone dropped 30 psi from my tire pressure between the two. It was absolutely insane what a difference it made in the ride quality.
  • 3 0
 @dresendsit: I found similar, this bike like really fast LSC/LSR.
  • 4 0
 @mikekazimer: can you try throwing a different set of wheels on the Megatower as part of the process?
  • 1 4
 @mikekazimer: it almost sounds like the Megatower needs the new kinematics upgrade that the Nomad got...
  • 2 0
 Outside of the field test, 65mm stroke sounds like a zero-brainer
  • 1 0
 @salespunk: how much do you weigh? If you weigh significantly more than the reviewers could explain difference in ride feel as well.
  • 1 0
 @ashmtb85: 175 lbs, so not much more
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: Do you think aftermarket linkage designers as CC or WR could improve the harshness with a different link?
  • 4 1
 @zeitfuerplanb: the bike isn’t harsh. This is nonsense. Go demo one if you can.
  • 2 0
 @zeitfuerplanb: CC linkages help because they typically rise the leverage ratio and thus cancel the effect of too much damping. So in my opinion CC is great when you need extra progressivity, but for most folks it works simply by accident. Very progressive bikes are sensitive off the top but not plush in general and to make them plush you end up running too much sag.
  • 3 1
 @salespunk: road riders have known for years that wheels can make more of a difference to ride feel than frames. When test bikes come with carbon wheels, I feel reviewers should at least slot in some alu wheels as a sense check.
  • 2 0
 @chakaping: the other issue here is that they could be following SC's air pressure recommendations. I am running 15% below the recommended and still have yet to bottom the bike. At the recommended pressure I hated the ride.
  • 1 1
 @salespunk: I dunno, but also some bikes are just more lively/responsive than others and that can translate to skittishness at times. I'm a fan of that character on my Orange, but I also have another MTB with a very different ride feel for when I want a change.
  • 17 3
 Saudi Prince prices on a skateboard company brand name, makes no sense
  • 3 1
 Every time I see SC that’s all I think of
  • 15 1
 $7300 CAD for a full NX bike... ummm.
  • 16 2
 13K and you still need new brakes.
  • 1 1
 hahahaha yes
  • 9 0
 @alicialeggett How do these bikes compare climbing wise to the heavier hitting trail bikes like the Stumpjumper Evo and Ripmo AF? We read a lot about how much better they climb than in the past, though they're still no XC bike. Do you have enough experience to compare them to some of the heavy trail bikes for someone who is on the fence for use case?

Thanks!
  • 5 0
 Seconded! Would love to see these enduro bikes compared to the previous aggressive trail test- probably a lot of folks on the fence of which direction to go
  • 5 0
 My name is not Alicia but I have a ‘22 stumpy evo and it is remarkably good on the climbs. I also have an SB130, which is a phenomenal climber. The evo isn’t far behind at all- if I had to quantify it, I’d say it’s about 93% as good =)
  • 2 0
 @twonsarelli: Perfect. I like nice specific numbers. :-)

i just looked and Alicia did the write up for the Stumpy Evo in the last field test, so I'd love to hear the cross category comparison.
  • 10 0
 Hey, it's been a while since I've ridden the Stumpy Evo or the Ripmo AF, so I don't think I can split hairs on this one, but both of those ones you mentioned feel fairly comparable as climbers. The Stumpy and Ripmo AF have better traction on the climbs than the Mega, with I think the Stumpy being the most sensitive, and the Ripmo is the most compact and is a little more maneuverable than the others. The Mega feels extremely efficient for the amount of travel so I'd definitely put it in that same "pretty good" climber category as the others. There isn't one that stands out as extra amazing, and the Mega doesn't stand out as extra slow compared to the other two. (Sorry, I know that's probably not helpful.) Stumpy - probably the most versatile. Mega - pretty decent as a climber very calm, a little less sensitive. Ripmo - great all-arounder, but a little less DH-oriented than the Stumpy and a lot less DH-oriented as the Mega.

If you're on the fence, I'd recommend really thinking about the trails you ride most often and what exactly you need the bike to do. If you don't need long travel, an aggressive trail bike is probably a good option. If you're racing enduros and/or riding gnar frequently, you'll probably be happier on something like the Mega that has plenty of travel but is an adequate climber.

Sorry I can't give you any specific numbers... I don't quite trust my memory that well Smile
  • 1 0
 @alicialeggett: Thanks! Just knowing that they're in the same "pretty good" category is helpful. It's the La Sal that I'm most interested in, so it sounds like that might be even closer to the big trail bikes in the traction category. My home trails are fairly nasty, but I mostly stay on the pedalable rather than shuttle trails. Those in the rest of my area are not. And a new bike park is opening up the mountain, so really two bikes would be ideal but probably not in the cards so I read all your articles and think about tradeoffs.
  • 5 0
 @MarcusBrody: Tomorrow's your day then! You're right that the Fezzari is the most trail bike-y of the bunch. And if you want to go for something more obscure, it sounds like the SCOR 4060 LT (long travel mode) might be up your alley.
  • 1 0
 @alicialeggett: I have a Scor 4060 (in 140mm conig currently) and REALLY digging that bike. Alicia, your comments from the test a while back plus one of the 'Mikes' actually sold me on it.
  • 9 0
 Insane pricing for the value. I bought two aluminum SCs before they jacked prices, and they were decent values. These days, SC is making only carbon in new models and the prices are crazy for the build. They have lost me as a loyal customer.
  • 2 0
 You have to pay for the warranty replacements and ask the ones they seem to give away
  • 21 8
 Looks like an E-Bike.
  • 31 16
 Costs the same as an ebike but has all the fun parts removed.
  • 38 0
 E-bikes and mountain bikes seem to be slowly converging in appearance... on purpose?
  • 3 0
 @mikelevy: you know you could have a point, light weight ebikes are looking more like regular bikes and many regular bikes appear to be chunking up in the BB area and in the down tube to accommodate the in bike storage.
  • 2 0
 @mikelevy: do you know more than we do???
  • 9 0
 @IMeasureStuff: we are being conditioned to accept the coming of the machines
  • 9 0
 @mikelevy: also converging on price
  • 1 0
 @mr-moose: how are they converging in price when the prices hike each year more and more?
  • 12 1
 Almost 14k for the flight assisted one and STILL no AXS dropper, I mean come on, this is getting wayyyy out of hand
  • 11 0
 The mountain bike industry has turned into a racket
  • 11 2
 Are you allowed to buy a Santa Cruz if you don't already own a Ford Raptor because that is the standard "Bro" combo out here.
  • 4 0
 You’re allowed to but they don’t recommend it.
  • 1 1
 You're allowed but it'll invalitade your warranty
  • 9 0
 The most interesting thing about it is that none of you sound particularly stoked when talking about the Megatower. That tells me all I need to know.
  • 6 0
 It was obvious how little enthusiasm they actually had for the bike. They know it is not $6k better than the Commencal.
  • 11 1
 So my take away is, the aluminum commencal is half the price and better. Got it.
  • 6 2
 commencals are cracking deals
  • 11 2
 2017 S-Works Enduro: $8500. Adjusted for today's dollars, that's $10,273.93. Where is the extra $3500 going here?
  • 7 1
 Not sure about the 2017's, but the 2019 Enduro has been the benchmark of race bikes for the past 3 years. They're as common as cockroaches because they're that good of a bike. By comparison, the Megatower has always missed the mark.
  • 3 1
 The 2022 S-works Enduro is $12.5k without the AXS. So maybe email Specialized??

This is an industry issue, that anyone who reads (every single) pinkbike comment section is aware of.
  • 1 0
 @Starsky686: I don’t disagree. But this article is about the SC. Total industry issue for sure.
  • 2 3
 This one is a good bike.
  • 3 5
 @fentoncrackshell: How many EWS wins does the Enduro have??
  • 2 0
 A warranty replacement frame and a huge marketing spend
  • 3 0
 @dresendsit: if you broke richies' and jesses' legs you'd probably get some
  • 1 0
 @p0rtal00: you'd have to break half the series' legs lol. Although Charles Murray has had some streaks.

Then again, the Mega isn't going to be getting any wins either unless they get some fresh blood. Unfortunately Iago can't seem to break top 20.

Apparently the Mega has less traction than a Stumpjumper so I guess it's doomed lol
  • 1 1
 @dresendsit: How many does the Mega have? SC dont even have an enduro team
  • 1 0
 @CM999: actually they do have a team lol. And if you read my last post I said Iago can’t break the top 20.

But the point is the Enduro hasn’t really done sh*t for wins either.
  • 6 0
 Would be cool for PB to mention what type of shock tune these bikes have and also the leverage ratio curve. Even if the damper tunes were somewhat generalized into light, medium, and firm it would give me a lot better idea about a bikes rear end and where I could possible take it
  • 7 0
 That model name would make a great password I'd never remember. On second thought, the price is also enough digits to quality as a password.
  • 1 0
 *qualify
  • 13 6
 I wish pinkbike offered a “costs too much” comment filter. Then I could read the couple dozen comments that offer something different.
  • 3 2
 Word!
  • 8 0
 I see a lot of these at the local trails. They go well with the Land Cruisers and Teslas.
  • 5 0
 I don't think the hydraulic actuation has anything to do with why some Reverbs go squishy. It's the internal circuit not the lever circuit that is the problem. You could put a cable on that post and it would still be squishy.
  • 6 1
 A little off topic, but does anyone have any experience/reviews on those continental tires?
I would much rather hear the reviews from riders here versus an over stimulated verb flinging review from the marketing industry
  • 1 0
 @Aburjakowsky Chain Reaction Cycles is selling them, and the reviews are starting to be put up. Would be worth a look for you.
  • 1 0
 Local shop rates them very highly!
  • 2 0
 Used to run dual assegai, exo casing maxx terra with cush core in rear, now running dual kryptotal downhill supersoft with same cush core in the past. Feel wise I think the braking and climbing grip is very similar to assegai, cornering grip doesn't feel like it has as progressive of a breakaway feel as the assegai, but when you really push into them the grip is there. I've been impressed with how these wear as the knobs moreso wear away on the leading edge vs tearing away like the maxxis do (and I've gone through at least a dozen maxxis tires between dhf, dhr, hr2, and assegai. IMO the way they brace their knobs against the casing of the tire is shit). Biggest impression of these is how quickly they roll compared to dual assegai, which felt miserable to pedal on pavement. Some of my homies had some issues with getting them to seat, but mine went on just fine. No sidewall seepage with orange seal.

Overall takeaway is that it seems like conti benchmarked a lot of the others in competition and decided to improve a lot of stuff, because of their reputation lacking in the past. Are they the perfect tire for everyone everywhere ? probably not, but for someone tired of the BS with maxxis (warped casings, leaking sealant, torn sideknobs) they are a good option to try out.

Personally I'd really like to try out the new michelin offerings as well but I haven't seen any available for ages.
  • 6 3
 Here I was thinking the 2023 KTM 300 xc I just bought for $11k was overpriced. Now I feel better. I can't knock Santa Cruz though. I see plenty of them on the trails. Folks are willing to pay for the privilege. I do think they are leading the poser / garage queen category though. Took the title from Yeti. Also plenty of the super overlander dudes using them as decoration on the back of an over done Tacoma. In case they need to outride the apocalypse or some shit. Ok, well now I'm knocking Santa Cruz a bit.
  • 6 0
 Missed opportunity to piss everyone off even more. They should have gone Superboost and made and integrated stem and bars.
  • 4 0
 I think it's a bit misleading to say: "but a dual crown fork is not advised". SC expressly say in the FAQs on their website that you can't run a dual crown fork on this bike (which, incidentally, really sucks).
  • 1 4
 I mean 170mm can do a whole heck of a lot lol. Ride a v10 lol
  • 4 0
 You can have a Vitus Sommet carbon which has almost the exact weight and geo numbers for around 1/4 of the price. That will leave you enough change to buy the ebike version aswel...
  • 8 2
 Yeti is now seeming much more affordable!
  • 9 0
 Yeti is getting close to dropping their revamped lineup, I imagine they are not pleased with anyone thinking they are affordable and will price accordingly to re-take “it costs how much?!” mantle back from SC.
  • 4 1
 Yea though I descend on my blue trail with my overpriced chinese frame, Thy VPP and mechanical dropper comfort me. In the presence of my wife who is glaring at me stating. You financed how much for that thing?
  • 4 1
 If you're going to price yourself as a maker of luxury goods, at least do it for a new product and not some basic bike you've been selling for year.
  • 5 0
 12 grand and the glovebox isn't even water tight. Boo this company FFS.
  • 1 0
 I do not get santacruz, we make alu versions, we do not make alu version, we make only carbon, we place 12k price tag for shitty spec, etc, big S and other brands nailing in geo, features, and price parts any time of the day.

yeah, they have nice team and cool ad, however majority do not ride like a rider from ad
also SC suspension not the best in the market to say, neither geo as well;

honestly it is fun boy product, however not the best
  • 1 0
 Well, I'm 6 foot 7 and around 155Ibs. I'm currently ridding a S5 Specialized Enduro and it's starting to get on the small side of the spectrum. looks like the XXL might be my next bike. I've already bumped my stem up to a 50 and got a 210 dropper on there as well.(as soon as I bought my 210, they came out with a 240) My Renthal carbon 40mm rise is coming soon, but
now I'm thinking that just won't be enough. I might try and sell it to get a Megatower. Does anyone have any insider information on which rear shock is the best? I did notice that the rockshox coil on the Megatower is in fact the new one with the HBO. I've heard really good things about it. But the air is lighter and probable a bit more tunable.
  • 4 0
 that first con says it all.
  • 8 2
 For some keeping away from the great unwashed is not a con!
  • 5 1
 Can't wait to see how much the Mega-E will cost good heavens
  • 4 1
 for that price id expect it to be best at everything overpriced and just paying for the name
  • 1 0
 Mega$$$ - remember, these are never going to be affordable if folks keeping opening their wallet.

Santa Cruz would find instant benevolence to lower prices if sales dried up.
  • 1 1
 I like my V1, the V2 looks to address a few of the issues I do have. I like the harshness they talk about, it makes the bike a little more poppy and able to pump. It comes alive at very high speeds. I use it as a trail bike and park bike. It does really well at the latter. Prices of bike have gotten insane, this is no exception, or more realistically towards the upper end. i'd expect a gasket or something on the glove box to make it water tight.
  • 4 1
 12k ! this is how you start to buy houses and lambos from mtb bikes!
  • 2 0
 Maisto 1:24 Scale Special Edition Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Die-Cast Vehicle USD 18.91 + freight
  • 4 0
 You should see the house that Rob built... his neighbors where not pleased.
  • 7 0
 @onemanarmy: do you mean the one in South Africa, New York, Porto Montenegro, Silicon Valley, or Lake Tahoe? 'It has to evoke a feeling of warmth, living and emotion.'--Lepa-Galeb Roskopp

observer.com/2018/02/misahara-jewelry-designer-lepa-galeb-roskopp-home-tour
  • 2 0
 @onemanarmy: HAHA Hillpeople
  • 1 0
 @ceecee: holy f. Didn’t expect he made that much money with this brand! Well done Rob!
  • 1 0
 @zeitfuerplanb: He's not making all his money on the bikes. The Santa Cruz Brand and NHS makes a crap ton of money of apparel and other things.

I don't know if any "city" on earth has as much apparel behind it as Santa Cruz.
  • 1 0
 @onemanarmy: I love NY is probably the most iconic of city brands, but the amount of Santa Cruz stickers on cars per capita in the Santa Cruz area would be hard to beat. Should make the left lane of Hwy-17 a FasTrak lane, but use Santa Cruz window/bumper stickers to pay the toll.
  • 1 0
 @shapethings: You're not wrong. And yeah... NY probably has it beat. But per capita based on population... no way. LOL!

And I fully support your idea of a Santa Cruz fastrak lane... speaking of which... pretty sure I blew though about 20 fastrak check marks on my way to the mountains to ride last week. Should be fun to see how much it's gonna cost me.
  • 1 0
 @zeitfuerplanb: God bless the ultrarich and all they do for the planet. Except MacKenzie Scott, she's a total bitch
  • 2 0
 @ceecee: Bezos? Is that you Jeff?
  • 4 2
 How do I put my credit card in the glovebox when it burst into flames as I swiped it in the machine to pay for the bike?
  • 6 2
 $14600 CAD, geez
  • 9 1
 Do the math on the top tier model and it's over 20 grand Canadian after taxes!!! Wtsf!!! I've been yelling at walls about the ever increasing greed of the industry for years, I'm not sure how any company can rationalize that price tag for a pedal bike.
  • 5 0
 They do a $18k Canadian XX1 build and even at that price they’re cutting corners and ripping you off by shipping it with x01 cranks or without an wireless dropper. Where are they getting these prices from? Haha.
  • 4 0
 @lostlunchbox: at these prices they should come pre-Ridewrapped atleast
  • 7 0
 @thenotoriousmic X01 cranks are stiffer and more durable than XX1, which makes them a "better" choice for a 170/165 enduro race bike. Take a look at the EWS pits and see how many Sram sponsored EWS racers are running XX1 cranks
  • 2 0
 @lostlunchbox: Not sure how you get to over 20k CAD. Bikes are taxed at 5%. Regardless, it's expensive af
  • 1 0
 @HeyBaumeister: They are 5% in some provinces, but not all. In Ontario, the top-spec would be north of $20k after tax.
  • 1 0
 @gabdumlao: along with pedals of your choice, a full kit, helmet and a jar of Vaseline.
  • 1 1
 @leon-forfar: Bikes are 5% across Canada (except maybe Quebec). If you paid more, you got hosed.
  • 1 0
 @HeyBaumeister: I work in the online department of a shop that frequently ships bikes in Canada. It's not 5% across all of Canada. Several provinces do not have a provincial tax exemption for bicycles, meaning they are charged their regular sales tax.
  • 1 0
 Funny you say that about the chatter I found the same with the new Bronson doesn't feel as supple like the older vpp. I thought it was the tire and shock but no.
  • 2 2
 Please help me understand : So this bike feels harsh, meaning the frame would be too stiff to damp hits properly , but in the main time , flex laterally ? Has Santacruz missed the point ?
  • 1 0
 I'll need Santa Klaus to get a Santa Cruz. On a serious note they seem to look after their customers and make decent bikes although I've never owned one.
  • 2 1
 Did you not have enough coffee? I usually look forward to these, but the delivery was labored. I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.
  • 2 0
 This question might have been asked already but, where has Mike Levy been hiding the last couple of months?
  • 1 0
 blah blah blah after clicked the first wtf for price.....economics will be the SC downfall....this does not change....they will.
  • 1 0
 Can I just say you guys at Pinkbike are tripping! 37lbs is "light"? And it didn't even have a coil. Come on, that's just stupid. That thing is a tank!
  • 1 0
 I thought Yeti was expensive, haha. 12k with a gx carbon crankset and a worthless reverb dropper. Everyday I think specialized ain't that bad. Lol
  • 3 0
 This,or 3 well specced Propain Tyee's?
Hmmm...
  • 1 0
 @alicialeggett casually mentioning riding back-to-back 6,000ft days like I didn't almost die last weekend riding one 2,500ft day in a row. Enduro riders are on another level.
  • 3 0
 She did win a EWS100 the other week. Racer fitness is on another planet!
  • 1 0
 This format with the specific leading questions is ridiculous. Just ask their thoughts on a topic. Feels like Im watching a child's show.
  • 1 0
 @alicialeggett any possibility to share suspension settings you guys used? Super curious.
  • 2 0
 Oh and that price better come with a Cove Hooker SL dammit!
  • 1 0
 I recently rode two back-to-back 6,000' (1829m) days on it.

Thank you for the matrix!
  • 2 0
 A 2022 Chevy Spark starts at $13600.
  • 5 4
 Surely the paint has pure gold flakes in it for that price?
  • 6 0
 No your just paying up front for the warranty replacement one you will get
  • 2 2
 I’m looking for a new bike at some point but I really don’t want any 29” wheeled bike. Is it just me?
  • 2 1
 My 2022 bronson mx feels amazing wouldn't compare it to a trash BMW
  • 2 7
flag Bro-LanDog (Aug 23, 2022 at 11:56) (Below Threshold)
 Someone's never driven an M3
  • 1 1
 Intense does not use VPP on the bike they are using in this field test right?
  • 2 0
 looks like an ebike
  • 1 0
 For that price there should not be a single con. Other than the price ffs
  • 1 0
 New enduro bikes weight nearly a light ebike same price.
  • 1 0
 SANTA CRUZ: Making Yeti's look affordable since 2022!
  • 2 2
 Make an alu version for like 2500 frame/shock and sign me up!
  • 1 1
 no Henry on testing? offers best insight currently on PB
  • 3 5
 Megatower VPP analysis (spolier): www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK9xY7Rfy5k
  • 2 1
 That's the first gen Megatower, not this one.
  • 1 3
 I applaud Santa Cruz for building a bike insecure dentists will appreciate.
  • 8 10
 I didn't know Santa Cruz was still around?
  • 1 3
 100% off my radar (after owning a 95 Heckler 2000 Chameleon and 2003 Bullit).
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