# Santa Cruz Hightower, used prices on Cyclesite > 0 active Santa Cruz Hightower listings on Cyclesite, the UK's bike-only marketplace. Frame numbers checked against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports before going live. **Brand Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2419452 ## Fair-value range (real UK market prices) - **Low to high:** £1,950 to £3,200 - **Typical:** £2,550 - **Source:** market_listings - **If you are pricing one to sell:** about £2,550, adjusted for model year using the table below. ## Measured asking price by model year (30 real UK listings that state a model year) Median last-advertised asking price per model year. These are asking prices, not confirmed sale prices. These are a different set of listings from the headline figure above: 40 of the 62 listings state a model year, and their median is £2,550. Compare a model year below against £2,550 rather than against the all-listings median. | Model year | Median asking price | 95% confidence range | Listings | |---|---|---|---| | 2024 | £3,050 | £2,550 to £4,100 | 13 | | 2022 | £2,850 | £2,200 to £3,600 | 9 | | 2020 | £1,750 | £1,500 to £2,050 | 8 | The range is a 95% confidence interval on that year's median, not the spread of listing prices. Where two years' ranges overlap, the difference between those years is not established by this data. ## Sell velocity - **Demand:** medium ## Overview The Hightower is Santa Cruz's long travel 29er trail bike. With 145mm of rear travel and a 29 inch front wheel, it sits between the Tallboy (shorter travel) and the Bronson (more aggressive) in the Santa Cruz range. The Hightower is aimed at riders who want the rolling efficiency and stability of 29 inch wheels with enough travel for aggressive trail riding. Like all Santa Cruz bikes, the Hightower uses VPP suspension and is built to a very high standard. The frame quality is excellent and the bike is designed to last. With 2 used listings tracked at an average price around £4,800, the Hightower is rare on the used market. Owners tend to keep them, which says a lot about how the bike rides. The Hightower has found a strong following among UK riders who want a modern 29er that handles everything from cross country loops to rough trail centre descents. ## What it's like to ride The Hightower rolls beautifully. The 29 inch wheels carry momentum over rough ground and the 145mm travel keeps things composed on technical terrain. It climbs well for a long travel bike, partly because of the big wheels and partly because VPP delivers an efficient pedalling feel. Descending is where the Hightower shines compared to shorter travel 29ers. The 145mm travel soaks up roots and rocks that would unsettle a 120mm bike, and the stability at speed is confidence inspiring. The handling is predictable and planted. On UK trails, the Hightower covers everything from smooth singletrack to technical descents with ease. ## Who it's for Trail riders who want the best of both worlds: big wheel efficiency and long travel capability. Riders who do long, varied loops mixing climbing with technical descents. Mountain bikers who prefer 29 inch wheels but want more travel than a typical 29er XC bike. UK riders who ride varied terrain and want one bike that does it all. ## Good points - Outstanding rolling efficiency from 29 inch wheels - 145mm travel handles rough UK terrain with confidence - VPP suspension pedals efficiently for a long travel bike - Exceptional Santa Cruz frame quality and lifetime warranty - Versatile enough for all day trail rides and technical descents ## Considerations - Premium Santa Cruz pricing - 29er handling can feel less playful than 27.5 bikes on tight trails - Limited used market availability. Owners tend to keep them - Large frame sizes can feel unwieldy for shorter riders ## Year guide The V2 Hightower (2020 onwards) is significantly better than the V1 with improved geometry and suspension. The V3 (2023) brought further refinements. For the best value, a V2 in alloy or carbon is an excellent bike. V1 models are getting dated and the geometry does not match current standards. ## FAQs ### Is the Hightower better than the Bronson? Different tools for different jobs. The Hightower rolls better on mixed terrain and climbs more efficiently thanks to the 29 inch wheels. The Bronson is more playful and handles steeper, rougher descents with more confidence. For long, varied UK trail rides, the Hightower is arguably the better all rounder. ### Is 145mm enough travel for UK riding? For the vast majority of UK trails, 145mm on 29 inch wheels is plenty. The big wheels effectively add compliance that smaller wheels lack. You would need to be riding very steep, rough terrain regularly to need more travel. For trail centres and natural trails, the Hightower handles everything well. ## Buying tips - Check the VPP bearings and pivots. 29er trail bikes put significant force through the linkage - The alloy version is much cheaper than carbon and Santa Cruz alloy frames are built to last - Ask about shock tune and fork settings. The Hightower can be set up differently depending on riding style - Make sure the 29 inch wheels suit your height. Riders under 170cm may find the big wheels awkward - Look for a model with a coil shock if you ride rough terrain. Coil feels plusher on repeated impacts ## Live data - **Browse listings:** https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/bike-brands/santa-cruz/hightower - **Sold prices:** https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/sold-bike-prices/santa-cruz/hightower - **Get a valuation:** https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/value/santa-cruz/hightower - **Programmatic search (MCP):** https://api.cyclesite.co.uk/api/mcp/search?brand=Santa%20Cruz&model=Hightower - **Valuation (MCP):** https://api.cyclesite.co.uk/api/mcp/valuation?brand=Santa%20Cruz&model=Hightower --- Source: [https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/bike-brands/santa-cruz/hightower](https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/bike-brands/santa-cruz/hightower) Cite as: Cyclesite (cyclesite.co.uk), accessed 2026-09-19. License: CC-BY-4.0, see /ai.txt for full AI usage policy. 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