Mountain Frames

Tackle big mountain trails or screaming enduro runs. This proven lightweight trail machine does it all with speed. Whether you’re pinning on a number for a weekend enduro race or ripping laps on your favorite local trails, Trance Advanced delivers cutting edge performance so you can climb faster and descend with more control. Now featuring 140mm of rear suspension travel and 150mm up front, plus the superior all-rounder performance of 27.5 wheels, this progressive trail bike has been updated to perform even better on technical trails. The refined Maestro suspension system includes a new trunnion mount shock and Advanced Forged composite rocker arm, which makes the whole chassis lighter and stronger. And overall frame geometry has evolved with shorter chainstays and a longer toptube for confident handling on aggressive terrain.

Amp up your trail riding adventures with this all-conquering 29er. Whether you’re gunning for faster enduro times or bagging a big backcountry loop, do it like a boss on this big-wheeled singletrack shredder. It took years for our team of engineers, product designers and pro riders to create a new short-travel 29er that met their high standards. The wait was worth it. The latest iteration of this legendary trail bike marks a huge step forward, offering a true advantage in all-round trail performance. It starts with a full composite frame that’s fitted with our most up-to-date Maestro suspension. The Advanced Forged composite rocker arm and trunnion-mount shock help produce 115mm of smooth rear-wheel travel that’s active and sensitive to small bumps, giving you killer traction and confident control. And the frame geometry is updated with progressive headtube and seattube angles, shorter chainstays and a longer toptube—all engineered to balance the speed and control of its 29-inch wheels with the quickness and agility you need to rail corners, hammer through rock gardens and do it all with confidence and control. KEY PERFORMANCE FACTORS 29er confidence and control - Larger 29-inch diameter wheels roll over rough terrain with balance and stability, giving you the momentum to tackle technical climbs and the confidence to fly on fast, rugged singletrack descents. Latest suspension tech - Updated Maestro rear suspension features a trunnion mount shock with a longer stroke and smoother feel. With 115mm of full rear-wheel travel (and 130mm up front), it has the new Advanced Forged Composite upper rocker arm for increased stiffness and strength plus lower overall frame weight. Trail-tuned chassis - The lightweight Advanced-grade composite frameset features updated geometry, including an aggressive 66.5-degree headtube angle and 74.5-degree seattube angle, plus a 44mm fork offset. The result is agile and efficient climbing capabilities plus added control for high-speed descents.

Amp up your trail riding adventures with this all-new, all-conquering 29er. Whether you’re gunning for faster enduro times or bagging a big backcountry loop, do it like a boss on this big-wheeled singletrack shredder. It took years for our team of engineers, product designers and pro riders to create a new mid-travel 29er that met their high standards, but the wait was worth it. The rebirth of this trail bike marks a huge step forward, offering a true advantage in all-round trail performance. It starts with a full composite frame that’s fitted with our most up-to-date Maestro suspension. The Advanced Forged composite rocker arm and trunnion-mount shock help produce 115mm of smooth rear-wheel travel that’s active and sensitive to small bumps, giving you killer traction and confident control. And the frame geometry is all new, with progressive headtube and seattube angles, shorter chainstays and a longer toptube—all engineered to balance the speed and control of its 29-inch wheels with the quickness and agility you need to rail corners, hammer through rock gardens and do it all with confidence and control.

Extra travel, extra fun. From rowdy enduro runs to backcountry missions on steep, chunky singletrack, this new composite 29er builds on the Trance 29 platform with beefed up suspension and adjustable frame geometry. This new member of the Trance family is designed with a longer travel suspension setup for added control on the most challenging trails. The full composite frame is engineered for 135mm of rear travel and 150mm up front. The Maestro rear suspension has a two-stage adjustable Advanced Forged Composite rocker arm with a trunnion-mount shock. The flip-chip equipped rocker arm lets you adjust frame geometry for your own riding style and terrain. To fine tune the ride, you can choose a steeper or slacker headtube angle (66.2 or 65.5 degrees) and seattube angle (77.9 or 77.2 degrees), which results in either a 30mm or 40mm bottom bracket drop. And it's all built around 29-inch wheels for added stability on rugged terrain. 29er confidence and control Optimized Maestro suspension for 29-inch wheels with 135mm rear/150mm front travel to roll over rough terrain with balance and stability, giving you more momentum for technical climbs and the confidence to fly on fast, rugged singletrack descents. Added clearance for up to 2.5-inch tires. Full Composite Construction Mainframe and rear swingarm are engineered with proprietary material featuring high-performance carbon fiber and resin. Handcrafted monocoque construction makes it lightweight, stiff and compliant. Adjustable frame geometry Flip chip lets you change the headtube and seattube angles, along with the bottom bracket height, to fine-tune the handling. You can choose the low position (65.5/77.2 head/seattube angle and 40mm BB drop) for faster, open terrain or high (66.2/77.9 head/seattube angle and 30mm drop) for slower, tighter singletrack.

Meet the one bike to rule them all. Meet the new Furtado. The Furtado is more than a bike, it's your partner in grime. From winding singletrack to burly rock gardens, the unmatched maneuverability of the Furtado makes it the perfect dirt-ally for every escape. Re-designed for the 20's, this year's Furtado bumps up the capability to the do-it-all (then do it again) frame. The 27.5" inch wheels fitted with grippy 2.4" tires turn loose lines into Velcro, letting you weave through trails with the confidence of a kid wearing a cape. The 130mm rear travel and 140mm front travel floats over chunky trails while the lower link suspension keeps the traction high, letting you push the pedals without worrying about slipping or sliding. Size-specific chainstay lengths coupled with a relaxed, 65 degree headtube angle create a bike that twists and turns, letting you tackle the unknown with the confidence to commit. From the lighter-tuned rear suspension that ensures full use of the travel to the nimble geometry and selection of build kits, the Furtado puts you in control. Make every second carved from a busy day count. Snake through the tight switchback, then eye up the ledge that's had your number for far too long. The question was never if you'll clear it, but when. The Furtado's balanced design and controlled feel turns to-do lists into just-did-that lists, and questions of when into exclamations of let's do it again!

A little bit (cross) country. A little bit rock and roll. The Joplin is a bit of an XC wild child, a light bike that's heavy on capability with a "let's go" attitude to any trail. Let's go fast. Let's go far. Let's go until your legs are ready to give up, and then go some more. Let's make every second count. Let's carve rides out of busy days and put those lines on the map on your done list. The Joplin's 29-inch wheels and lean frame float over washboard bumps with the same ease with which it devours jagged ledges. A geometry bred for long days in the saddle is blended with 130mm of travel in the front and 120mm in the rear, creating a capable climber that doesn't flinch when roots get ragged and rocks start to roll. The lower link VPP suspension offers a responsive pedaling platform that's ready to get up and go the moment you are. Whether you're flossing rock gardens or making the rider in front of you your next hare, the Joplin is one rapid little trail fox that will take you farther than you thought you could and give you the confidence to go bigger than you thought you would. With a size range that starts at XS, this bike brings big-wheel benefits to those of us in the fun-size category,, too. And, yes, every size in the line fits a water bottle inside the main triangle because XS doesn't mean "do things by half". So, what are you waiting for? Let's go!

A little bit (cross) country. A little bit rock and roll. The Joplin is a bit of an XC wild child, a light bike that's heavy on capability with a "let's go" attitude to any trail. Let's go fast. Let's go far. Let's go until your legs are ready to give up, and then go some more. Let's make every second count. Let's carve rides out of busy days and put those lines on the map on your done list. The Joplin's 29-inch wheels and lean frame float over washboard bumps with the same ease with which it devours jagged ledges. A geometry bred for long days in the saddle is blended with 130mm of travel in the front and 120mm in the rear, creating a capable climber that doesn't flinch when roots get ragged and rocks start to roll. The lower link VPP suspension offers a responsive pedaling platform that's ready to get up and go the moment you are. Whether you're flossing rock gardens or making the rider in front of you your next hare, the Joplin is one rapid little trail fox that will take you farther than you thought you could and give you the confidence to go bigger than you thought you would. With a size range that starts at XS, this bike brings big-wheel benefits to those of us in the fun-size category,, too. And, yes, every size in the line fits a water bottle inside the main triangle because XS doesn't mean "do things by half". So, what are you waiting for? Let's go!

You can't define the Maverick in just one line. You're not here to be whatever somebody else thinks you should be...and neither is the Maverick. You're here to get down. You're here to go fast. Not fast for a girl. Just damn fast. So is the Maverick. Did someone say smile more? No problem. Tell 'em to look closer as you set your quads on fire churning up the last brutal climb that makes the downhill taste that much sweeter. When you live for that magical space between pleasure and pain, the Maverick is the bike that won't say no when you say yes. With 140mm of supportive rear travel complemented by 150mm of front suspension and obstacle-eating 29" wheels, this bike isn't measured by what it can do. It's measured by what's left to do. The lower link VPP suspension soaks up big bumps with a pedal-efficient design that's easy to tune exactly how you want it. Whether you're hauling down root waterfalls, biting into big ledges, or soaking up the chatter, the Maverick isn't here to tell you how to ride—she enables you to ride wherever you decide. Want to change the geometry? The integrated flip chip means all you have to do is grab an Allen key, and, in under a minute, you can slacken the headtube and drop the bottom bracket for an extra-planted feel no matter how steep the descent gets. Every size frame fits a water bottle inside the front triangle. After all, some days are made for riding lean. Other days are made for dusk-to-dawn solo sojourns that require an extra bottle in addition to a rucksack. It's time to escape the shoulda's and the coulda's. Write your own rules and explore trails until you run out of water or daylight (whichever comes last). The Maverick is just the pen.

Ready to rally the World. A 1:25000 scale map, a weather forecast, and the Roubion. Three things you shouldn't hit the high mountains without. And, while we can't guarantee you won't get lost or soaked, we're pretty sure there's no better bike to tackle ancient alpine terrain. Whether blind racing or just blindly enjoying the trails as they come, the Roubion's MX wheel combo feels like the best mix since Aperol met spritz. A 29-inch front wheel serves up high-speed stability and high-rolling confidence. Meanwhile the 27.5-inch rear makes for an intuitive and highly maneuverable rear end that loves to get sideways around the most ragged of switchbacks. This bike is rapid, so when it comes to stopping power and control, we've mixed things up here, also. A 200mm front and 180mm rear brake rotor pairing ensures you shouldn't overcook the corners no matter how hot you're coming in. The Roubion's chainstay lengths are all specifically sized for the XS, S, and M frames too, meaning handling remains consistent across the range. And, like all Julianas, each shock is tuned to work better for slightly lighter riders than equivalent Santa Cruz models.

Go Wilder Saving weight means little without retaining an appropriate level of stiffness and responsiveness,, too. So we've taken all the acceleration and out-of-the-saddle sprint qualities of a carbon XC race rocket and fused them with a rear-end that still rails corners like a hardcore trail bike. This unique XC-trail attitude is also reflected in the geometry. The head tube angle (67.1 degree) and reach (425mm) is a little steeper and shorter than a Joplin to meet the demands of aggressive climbing, yet the Wilder's seat tube angle is a touch slacker and the chainstays a little longer than a Joplin, too, in order to retain that familiar Juliana confidence on descents. And, speaking of chainstays, each chainstay length is specific to the individual frame size, meaning riders of every height enjoy the same handling and performance no matter what.

Get creative with your surroundings. The 5010 turns obstacles into features. Its nimble, poppy feel makes even the most mundane rides feel like they're loaded with features to hop, skip, and jump over. It's the kind of bike that makes new trails feel as familiar as the back of your hand. 27.5 is the fun-sized wheel size. Smaller wheels provide an ideal balance between toughness and weight saving making them the most fleet-footed (or quick fingered) whether launching logs or weaving through stumps. With its quick and agile character, the 5010 has become a go-to plaything for progressive riders the world over and the only contender on any backyard trails. It's a bike that goes harder than its vital stats may suggest. A 140mm-travel fork is paired with 130mm at the rear, the lower-link VPP configuration of which leaves you feeling there's a lot more travel at hand. And, you can choose how out of hand you want to get, as this pocket rocket fits all sizes and types of rear shocks. It's no handful, either. The relatively slack head angle makes it predictable to steer, the relatively low BB height turns like it's on tracks, and the short chainstays make this plaything easy to pick up and throw around. No matter how much of a big kid you are, the bike grows with you. We've tailored the geometry so frame size is matched to size-specific chainstay lengths and super-low standover heights make it feel (almost) like that BMX you had as a kid. Okay, perhaps that's a bit nostalgic, but the 5010's certainly a perfect gateway to the highs only proper mountain biking can offer. The 5010's balance and poise can turn any rider from cautious neophyte into a full-fledged flyer. The legendary Santa Cruz fit, finish, and quality construction make this pocket rocket tougher than a Tonka toy. Fun and games are guaranteed, and the frame and linkages come with a lifetime warranty. So don't be afraid. Roll up your sleeves, and go get creative.

The Chameleon changes to suit its environment. Twenty-niner or 27-plus, geared or single-speed, this adaptable hardtail utilizes a suite of simple, swappable dropouts to convert it from aggro trail charger to single-speed racer to husky bikepacking mule, or anything in between. Depending on setup and skill level, the Chameleon is capable on a wide range of terrain—aggressive trail riding to jump lines to all-around use. Going for maximum speed and rollability? Go 29er. Riding mostly loose terrain? Get some Plus tires that provide traction for days. With the Chameleon, the most versatile bike in our range ticks even more boxes.

The Chameleon changes to suit its environment. Twenty-niner or 27-plus, geared or single-speed, this adaptable hardtail utilizes a suite of simple, swappable dropouts to convert it from aggro trail charger to single-speed racer to husky bikepacking mule, or anything in between. Depending on setup and skill level, the Chameleon is capable on a wide range of terrain—aggressive trail riding to jump lines to all-around use. Going for maximum speed and rollability? Go 29er. Riding mostly loose terrain? Get some Plus tires that provide traction for days. With the Chameleon, the most versatile bike in our range ticks even more boxes.

The Chameleon, one of our longest-tenured models, has ascended the evolutionary ladder and is now a fully imagined carbon fiber sub-species. It’s Darwinism in action. We took the fun-loving, shreddy spirit and adjustability of the beloved aluminum Chameleon and added a lighter, faster, more advanced version of the species. It’s a do-it-all hardtail that is as happy making the most of backyard booter (mis)adventures as it is fully-loaded with camp gear and a color-matched dangle mug. Two bottle cage mounts, including a triple-bolt cargo cage mount under the downtube mean you can escape from the crowds, too. The Chameleon changes to suit its environment. Twenty-niner or 27-plus, geared or single-speed, this adaptable hardtail utilizes a suite of simple, swappable dropouts to convert it from aggro trail charger to single-speed racer to husky bikepacking mule, or anything in between. Depending on setup and skill level, the Chameleon is capable on a wide range of terrain—aggressive trail riding to jump lines to all-around use. Going for maximum speed and rollability? Go 29er. Riding mostly loose terrain? Get some Plus tires that provide traction for days. The most versatile bike in our range now ticks even more boxes.

The Chameleon, one of our longest-tenured models, has ascended the evolutionary ladder and is now a fully imagined carbon fiber sub-species. It’s Darwinism in action. We took the fun-loving, shreddy spirit and adjustability of the beloved aluminum Chameleon and added a lighter, faster, more advanced version of the species. It’s a do-it-all hardtail that is as happy making the most of backyard booter (mis)adventures as it is fully-loaded with camp gear and a color-matched dangle mug. Two bottle cage mounts, including a triple-bolt cargo cage mount under the downtube mean you can escape from the crowds, too. The Chameleon changes to suit its environment. Twenty-niner or 27-plus, geared or single-speed, this adaptable hardtail utilizes a suite of simple, swappable dropouts to convert it from aggro trail charger to single-speed racer to husky bikepacking mule, or anything in between. Depending on setup and skill level, the Chameleon is capable on a wide range of terrain—aggressive trail riding to jump lines to all-around use. Going for maximum speed and rollability? Go 29er. Riding mostly loose terrain? Get some Plus tires that provide traction for days. The most versatile bike in our range now ticks even more boxes.

Wide open, dawn to dusk. The Highball is our flagship carbon hardtail race thoroughbred, and a dark horse in XC versatility. More capable than a pure endurance bike, more composed than most XC race-rigs, the Highball has evolved to be easier to ride harder for longer. We fine-tuned the carbon layup process and the low-angle, bridgeless seatstays join the seat tube below the top tube junction in order to curb trail chatter. Built around a 27.2mm diameter seat post, the whole package combines to take the "hard" out of hardtail riding. It has the mindset of a race bike but it's prepared for more. With capacity for three bottle cages, the ever-reliable threaded BB, and of course, the lifetime warranty that comes standard with all Santa Cruz bikes, it's the kind of bike that'll go far.

The Highball is our flagship carbon hardtail race thoroughbred and a dark horse in XC versatility. More capable than a pure endurance bike, more composed than most XC race-rigs, the Highball has evolved to be easier to ride harder for longer. We fine-tuned the carbon layup process and the low-angle, bridgeless seatstays join the seat tube below the top tube junction in order to curb trail chatter. Built around a 27.2mm diameter seat post, the whole package combines to take the "hard" out of hardtail riding. It has the mindset of a race bike but it’s prepared for more. With capacity for three bottle cages, the ever-reliable threaded BB, and, of course, the lifetime warranty that comes standard with all Santa Cruz bikes, it’s the kind of bike that’ll go far.

THE MOUNTAIN BIKE, DISTILLED With 29-inch wheels, 145mm of rear Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) travel and a versatile personality, the newest Santa Cruz Hightower delivers mountain bike thrills over a wide range of terrain. Big on wheels, medium on travel, and short on fuss, this do-it-all model shines with a versatile balance of geometry, spec and durability. It’s mountain biking, distilled.

Our greatest hits compiled into one bike. Just hit play. If ever a bike resembled your most cherished mix tape compilation, the Hightower is it. Featuring our lower-link mounted shock design, updated, adjustable geometry, this "Engineering Best Of..." assembles some of our biggest design pleasers into one belter of a road-trip companion. The Hightower has been a does-it-all-well trail bike since its inception. More maneuverable than its longer-travel sibling, the Megatower, and more at home in the steep-and-chunky than its snappy cousin Tallboy, Hightower excels when the route covers 'all points in between,' and descents come courtesy of some big-ass climbs. The VPP suspension's lower-link-mounted shock creates a nearly linear leverage curve, meaning it mops up bumps of all sizes and maintains the kind of progressivity normally reserved for our V10 DH bike! 145mm of rear travel complemented by a 150mm front end gives Hightower just a bit more front and rear travel over the first generation model. Combined with a slacker 65-degree head tube angle, the Hightower still sits squarely in the Goldilocks zone, but with a touch more "Oh sh*t, get me out of here" capability when the porridge gets too hot! Balancing stiffness and weight savings in all the right places is a hallmark of all Santa Cruz carbon frames, and the Hightower flies the flag yet higher. The advanced composite chassis tracks well across all trail surfaces, holds a line, and is reactive to rider directions while isolating pedal-influenced inputs. The Hightower also has a bonus disc to heighten the experience: the flip chip. In the High setting, the BB height is a little higher for those tricky tech trails and/or when Plus sized tires are required. In the Low position, the shock rate is more progressive to provide additional bottom-out resistance. Whatever mood you're in, the tone of the Hightower can be adapted to meet your individual taste. And, speaking of taste, there's room for a water bottle inside the main frame and a threaded BB for convenience. There's refined cable routing for better shifting performance, simpler installation, and no cable rub. On top of that, there's a tailgate shuttle guard, downtube protector, shock fender, and noise-canceling chainstay protector to keep things quiet. The lifetime frame warranty and lifetime pivot bearing replacement policy assure you that the Hightower will keep delivering the hits for years to come.

Our greatest hits compiled into one bike. Just hit play. If ever a bike resembled your most cherished mix tape compilation, the Hightower is it. Featuring our lower-link mounted shock design, updated, adjustable geometry, this "Engineering Best Of..." assembles some of our biggest design pleasers into one belter of a road-trip companion. The Hightower has been a does-it-all-well trail bike since its inception. More maneuverable than its longer-travel sibling, the Megatower, and more at home in the steep-and-chunky than its snappy cousin Tallboy, Hightower excels when the route covers 'all points in between,' and descents come courtesy of some big-ass climbs. The VPP suspension's lower-link-mounted shock creates a nearly linear leverage curve, meaning it mops up bumps of all sizes and maintains the kind of progressivity normally reserved for our V10 DH bike! 145mm of rear travel complemented by a 150mm front end gives Hightower just a bit more front and rear travel over the first generation model. Combined with a slacker 65-degree head tube angle, the Hightower still sits squarely in the Goldilocks zone, but with a touch more "Oh sh*t, get me out of here" capability when the porridge gets too hot! Balancing stiffness and weight savings in all the right places is a hallmark of all Santa Cruz carbon frames, and the Hightower flies the flag yet higher. The advanced composite chassis tracks well across all trail surfaces, holds a line, and is reactive to rider directions while isolating pedal-influenced inputs. The Hightower also has a bonus disc to heighten the experience: the flip chip. In the High setting, the BB height is a little higher for those tricky tech trails and/or when Plus sized tires are required. In the Low position, the shock rate is more progressive to provide additional bottom-out resistance. Whatever mood you're in, the tone of the Hightower can be adapted to meet your individual taste. And, speaking of taste, there's room for a water bottle inside the main frame and a threaded BB for convenience. There's refined cable routing for better shifting performance, simpler installation, and no cable rub. On top of that, there's a tailgate shuttle guard, downtube protector, shock fender, and noise-canceling chainstay protector to keep things quiet. The lifetime frame warranty and lifetime pivot bearing replacement policy assure you that the Hightower will keep delivering the hits for years to come.

Jackal is an opportunistic scavenger of man-made terrain. The Jackal is a no-BS dirt jump, pump track, and urban assault bike. We sell it as a frame-only, and it runs on old-timey 26-inch wheels. Overbuilt to last forever, these frames will take more abuse than you can dish out, yet still weigh in at under 5lbs. A clever asymmetrical yoke permits the use of rock-solid and super-short 15.2-inch chainstays. And, for those who want to take their anarchy further afield, the unique sliding rear dropouts allow for a geared set-up as well as single speed. - Frame only

Seriously. The Megatower’s big wheels, long travel, and tough carbon fiber chassis delivers the high-speed security traits of a downhill bike. Yet the relatively-steep seat tube angle and size-specific geo maintain the Mega’s mega pedaling ability—elevating its reputation as the perfect choice for big gravity rides and DH park laps.

Seriously. The Megatower’s big wheels, long travel, and tough carbon fiber chassis delivers the high-speed security traits of a downhill bike. Yet the relatively-steep seat tube angle and size-specific geo maintain the Mega’s mega pedaling ability—elevating its reputation as the perfect choice for big gravity rides and DH park laps.

The ultimate power-wheeling, bump-chewing sidekick. The Megatower is the fusion of big wheels and the biggest-hitting suspension system. It's a modern day brawler, as suited to diehard racers as it is to riders wanting to conquer their hometown trails. Tracing its roots to the Hightower, and now featuring the lower link-driven VPP suspension derived from the V10, the Megatower is the most capable, confidence-inspiring 29er trail bike in our line-up. The lower-link-mounted shock configuration, designed for compatibility with both air (160mm fork) and coil shocks (170mm fork), provides a progressive shock rate that has unmatched traction and bottom-out resistance, making it ideal for taming the longest descents and rowdiest hits. In order to make the Megatower stride confidently across the globe, it has an enormous amount of clever adjustability hidden in its bones. A tidy and concealed flip chip in the lower-link adjusts bottom bracket height and changes progressivity of the rear suspension. A second in the rear dropouts allows for a 10mm fore-aft adjustment in chainstay length to dial in the rider's rearward weight distribution—either set for play or for stability. The flip chips are a robust mechanism for riders looking to tune their ride according to their needs without compromising reliability and durability. No wackadoo mousetraps and frail proprietary shocks here. The Megatower isn't all fight and fury, it's smart and savvy, too. It has a sharp, 76-degree seat tube angle for winching to the top of the kinds of descents where having a roomier cockpit and a 65-degree head tube angle will come in handy. And, you can still carry around a full water bottle inside the frame (even with a piggyback shock), and the frame is well protected with a shock fender, shuttle guard, downtube protector, and ribbed chainstay protector.

The ultimate power-wheeling, bump-chewing sidekick. The Megatower is the fusion of big wheels and the biggest-hitting suspension system. It's a modern day brawler, as suited to diehard racers as it is to riders wanting to conquer their hometown trails. Tracing its roots to the Hightower, and now featuring the lower link-driven VPP suspension derived from the V10, the Megatower is the most capable, confidence-inspiring 29er trail bike in our line-up. The lower-link-mounted shock configuration, designed for compatibility with both air (160mm fork) and coil shocks (170mm fork), provides a progressive shock rate that has unmatched traction and bottom-out resistance, making it ideal for taming the longest descents and rowdiest hits. In order to make the Megatower stride confidently across the globe, it has an enormous amount of clever adjustability hidden in its bones. A tidy and concealed flip chip in the lower-link adjusts bottom bracket height and changes progressivity of the rear suspension. A second in the rear dropouts allows for a 10mm fore-aft adjustment in chainstay length to dial in the rider's rearward weight distribution—either set for play or for stability. The flip chips are a robust mechanism for riders looking to tune their ride according to their needs without compromising reliability and durability. No wackadoo mousetraps and frail proprietary shocks here. The Megatower isn't all fight and fury, it's smart and savvy, too. It has a sharp, 76-degree seat tube angle for winching to the top of the kinds of descents where having a roomier cockpit and a 65-degree head tube angle will come in handy. And, you can still carry around a full water bottle inside the frame (even with a piggyback shock), and the frame is well protected with a shock fender, shuttle guard, downtube protector, and ribbed chainstay protector.

More travel than a white van Big-mountain riding is a nomadic existence: meeting friends in farflung car parks; pinpointing trails you're not sure are even rideable; sending the ones you know are. Shiny new bling gets battered, shattered, and bruised. That's life. That's how it should be. That's why the Nomad exists. Probably the most abused bike in our line up, every Nomad has a story to tell. But, each Nomad we've made keeps coming back for more. It's not Stockholm Syndrome, it's called sealed bearings in all pivots, a lower link grease port, shuttle guards, and free bearing replacements. Why scrap a frame when a simple bearing service can make one last a lifetime? That's our stance on sustainability at least, and it's why our carbon fiber doesn't just mean lighter, it means tough as hell backed up by a lifetime warranty and crash replacement support. There's no time for puzzling when on a road trip, either. That's why we chose 27.5 wheels as the go-to for the widest variety of riding styles and rider sizes. When peeling your bike out of the van at a new spot, your only question should be: "Is this a full-face or a half-lid kinda ride?" The 64-degree head angle and 77-degree seat angle puts you in the sweet spot when winching up to the top of a big drop-in. Meanwhile, proportional chainstay lengths mean handling is never compromised, regardless of frame size. And, when we say big travel, we're not talking about your Transit's odometer. We're talking 170mm of 38mm diameter fork and 170mm of VPP rear suspension compatible with both coil and air shocks. The details are completed by a neat mud flap to protect the rear shock, plus tidy cable routing within the frame and swingarm and rubberized DT protectors that shrug off strikes. So, van-lifers, unite. The Nomad is the kind of bike you need never worry about all summer long. Sorry we can't say the same for the locked public washrooms and parking tickets.

More travel than a white van Big-mountain riding is a nomadic existence: meeting friends in farflung car parks; pinpointing trails you're not sure are even rideable; sending the ones you know are. Shiny new bling gets battered, shattered, and bruised. That's life. That's how it should be. That's why the Nomad exists. Probably the most abused bike in our line up, every Nomad has a story to tell. But, each Nomad we've made keeps coming back for more. It's not Stockholm Syndrome, it's called sealed bearings in all pivots, a lower link grease port, shuttle guards, and free bearing replacements. Why scrap a frame when a simple bearing service can make one last a lifetime? That's our stance on sustainability at least, and it's why our carbon fiber doesn't just mean lighter, it means tough as hell backed up by a lifetime warranty and crash replacement support. There's no time for puzzling when on a road trip, either. That's why we chose 27.5 wheels as the go-to for the widest variety of riding styles and rider sizes. When peeling your bike out of the van at a new spot, your only question should be: "Is this a full-face or a half-lid kinda ride?" The 64-degree head angle and 77-degree seat angle puts you in the sweet spot when winching up to the top of a big drop-in. Meanwhile, proportional chainstay lengths mean handling is never compromised, regardless of frame size. And, when we say big travel, we're not talking about your Transit's odometer. We're talking 170mm of 38mm diameter fork and 170mm of VPP rear suspension compatible with both coil and air shocks. The details are completed by a neat mud flap to protect the rear shock, plus tidy cable routing within the frame and swingarm and rubberized DT protectors that shrug off strikes. So, van-lifers, unite. The Nomad is the kind of bike you need never worry about all summer long. Sorry we can't say the same for the locked public washrooms and parking tickets.

If ever there was a gravity riders' XC bike, the Tallboy is it. The new 120mm Tallboy takes a leap further into what short-travel bikes really are capable of. With kick-ass lower-link VPP suspension, a streamlined design, the typical Santa Cruz refinement, and rather radical geometry, the Tallboy is back to being a genre-bending folk hero. Sure, 10mm more travel might only seem like one small step. But, coupled with a lower link-driven VPP suspension design, this is one giant leap for the Tallboy. It's the kind of bike that makes you sprint while going up, along, over, or down because of the maximum efficiency of the VPP design and responsive, lightweight chassis. But, because it shares the same engineering principles as our longest travel bikes, the progressive lower link-mounted shock feels equally at home doing cross-country as it does in extreme-country. Paired with a 130mm fork the new Tallboy becomes ever more appealing to riders who like to open it up. And, the geometry: that's a big part of what's going on... Established theory suggests shorter-travel bikes get ridden more slowly, therefore require steeper and more conservative geometries. In reality though, when was the last time you ever throttled back on a fun trail because you weren't on a bigger bike? ...caution to the wind and all that. So, we've done the same here and mimicked our longer travel geometry to create a bike with a 65.5-degree head-angle, generous front center, and short-offset fork, something rarely seen on a bike of this ilk. And, the radical thinking doesn't stop there. The Tallboy's short-short 430mm chainstays have +/- 10mm of rear axle adjustment to ensure riders of all sizes and styles feel equally at home. Match that to a relatively low BB (335mm and 37.5mm drop), and you've got a combo that's ready to haul into every pocket turn and launch out the other side. - Frame only

If ever there was a gravity riders' XC bike, the Tallboy is it. The new 120mm Tallboy takes a leap further into what short-travel bikes really are capable of. With kick-ass lower-link VPP suspension, a streamlined design, the typical Santa Cruz refinement, and rather radical geometry, the Tallboy is back to being a genre-bending folk hero. Sure, 10mm more travel might only seem like one small step. But, coupled with a lower link-driven VPP suspension design, this is one giant leap for the Tallboy. It's the kind of bike that makes you sprint while going up, along, over, or down because of the maximum efficiency of the VPP design and responsive, lightweight chassis. But, because it shares the same engineering principles as our longest travel bikes, the progressive lower link-mounted shock feels equally at home doing cross-country as it does in extreme-country. Paired with a 130mm fork the new Tallboy becomes ever more appealing to riders who like to open it up. And, the geometry: that's a big part of what's going on... Established theory suggests shorter-travel bikes get ridden more slowly, therefore require steeper and more conservative geometries. In reality though, when was the last time you ever throttled back on a fun trail because you weren't on a bigger bike? ...caution to the wind and all that. So, we've done the same here and mimicked our longer travel geometry to create a bike with a 65.5-degree head-angle, generous front center, and short-offset fork, something rarely seen on a bike of this ilk. And, the radical thinking doesn't stop there. The Tallboy's short-short 430mm chainstays have +/- 10mm of rear axle adjustment to ensure riders of all sizes and styles feel equally at home. Match that to a relatively low BB (335mm and 37.5mm drop), and you've got a combo that's ready to haul into every pocket turn and launch out the other side.

THE TRAIL BIKES THAT LOVE TO PLAY The Santa Cruz Tallboy combines short travel efficiency with modern geometry to create a bike that's as up for the big climb as it is the big descent. These sporty 29ers are the perfect choice for riders considering a cross country bike but will likely never race. They climb efficiently, roll fast on the on the flats, and have some real capability for when the DH music goes from easy listening to rock-and-roll. Featuring a 130mm fork and 120mm of Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) rear suspension travel, Tallboy is sporty, capable, and fun.