2022 Santa Cruz Megatower Review

The Santa Cruz Megatower first landed on the scene as an evolution of the Hightower LT, the enduro racer’s version of the capable Hightower platform. With long travel trail bikes already approaching warp speeds, Megatower V1 simultaneously raised the bar and fed the habit. Mountain bike design keeps marching on, though, and after 3 years it’s time for Santa Cruz to update the Megatower with more. More travel, more refinement, and more utility make this their flagship long-travel ripper. 

Billed as “the ultimate privateer race bike,” the new Megatower is built for Enduro World Series wannabes and avid riders who put their gear through the wringer. Bigger, badder, and unambiguously better: Megatower V2 isn’t messing around. 

Key Details

Technical Details

Geometry

Santa Cruz has been surprisingly conservative, geo-wise, over their recent history, with less dramatic swings in angles than other manufacturers. They’re consistently out in front of the Joneses though, so it makes sense not to overdo it with a big gamble. They stay with angles that are working, only revamping a bike when it’s time. 

This V2 Megatower update addresses the few gripes pinned on the debut model. The requisite “longer and slacker” treatment has been implemented here, extending the size L to a 1266mm wheelbase and 63.5° head tube angle in LO - that’s 1.2° slacker than the V1. Those numbers indicate that a premium has been put on high speed stability. Reach numbers have increased too - up 5mm to 475mm in size L - complemented by the steepened seat tube angles necessary to keep a climber centered over the bottom bracket. The suspension/geo flipchip at the shock remains, with the LO mode being 0.3° slacker than HI mode in both head and seat tube angles. The chainstay length adjustment has been ditched on the V2, replaced by size-specific rear ends for ride consistency across the run.

Suspension

The lower link-mounted VPP® suspension has been a huge hit for Santa Cruz, due to its efficient pedaling characteristics and solid, planted feel. The V1 Megatower did take some flak for an abrupt ramp-up spike towards the end of its stroke that could leave the rear end feeling harsh, something Santa Cruz have spent some effort to remedy with the V2. Not only does this version increase rear travel by 5mm to 165mm, it does so with a longer-stroke shock. This means fewer surprises on bigger hits, smoothing out the feel as you’re slamming through the rough stuff.

The redesigned shock tunnel now accepts more aftermarket shocks too, so the privateer in you can puzzle to their heart’s content: get that bespoke quad-chamber 3D-printed titanium double-bubbler from Italy and tinker. It’s going to fit. Combined with a burly 170mm fork leading the way out front, this bike is fully equipped to take on some serious chunk.

Builds

Features

Ride Impressions

Climbing / Uphill

I’ve been riding this bike as if I’m the entire field in a secret one-man enduro race, hurrying up fire roads of varying steepness with a few purpose-built climbing trails thrown in. Nothing too tech, but solidly within the purview of an enduro bike. Even without locking out the climbing switch, this Megatower climbs like my V4 Nomad, which climbs like a Hightower, which climbs like a Bronson. All of which is to say that I find Santa Cruz bikes to climb very well, regardless of travel. VPP® is known for this efficiency, and the lower-link mounted incarnation is fantastic. They’ve figured it out - how to negate pedaling inputs without limiting trail inputs. The climbing limits of this monster bike are inside your legs, not the design. It’s great, seated or standing to deliver.

Descending / Downhill

My first ride was spent trying out the base suspension settings. I set the rear somewhere around 30% sag, and the 38 to Fox’s suggested PSI for my weight. I ended up riding with the rear shock’s rebound nearly open to keep from hanging up on quick rocks, and fiddled with the fork’s compression damping to make it faster too, but that’s rider preference. The manufacturer’s base settings were spot-on. After a couple rides to dial in the fork I was blown away by how fast this bike was. Not how fast it felt, as it stayed composed through all sorts of chonk, but simply how fast it rolled. It gets up to speed and stays there, balanced through BS of all types. It’s almost…chill. 

The 165/170mm travel is great for the trails I ride, beat-up ex-flow trails that see considerably more tires than shovels. Holes abound, ranging from higher speed braking washboards to blown-up not-so-sneaky inside line craters. The Megatower has handled everything I’ve been willing to try, and it’s still begging for more. I’ve buzzed the rear tire a few times on very steep sections, but that’s about it. The reach is long but comfortable, even more so as you approach Megaspeeds. I found no issues near the end of the travel. The few times I have bottomed the rear out haven’t been overly harsh, and I’ve never felt out of control under hard braking. 

The Megatower is a relatively big, long bike that’s very comfortable at warp speed, to be sure. I avoid tight switchbacks, since I’m very smart, but any possible issues with tight corners are moot since you’ll be arriving there so much sooner. Boom. 

Overall Impression

The Bottom Line

The Megatower V2 out-Nomads the Nomad. Buzzing your butt on the rear tire a couple times is a small price to pay for going this much faster everywhere. It has unreal traction, ridiculous speed, and enough travel to handle the repercussions thereof. If you’re the kind of person who believes a bike can be “playful,” it’s all good - this one just plays at a higher pace. 

This bike is everything Santa Cruz says it is, and you don’t have to be Iago Garay or Jackson Goldstone to reap the benefits. If you’re looking to concentrate on smashing downhills for the next few years, there’s no better pedal bike for the job - especially when you factor in the support you’re guaranteed from the manufacturer. Shreddable and serviceable, the new Megatower is a bike for the responsible maniac. Spring for the Reserve wheels and let the Mega wash over you. Subtlety is dead, let us ride!

About the Reviewer

Name: Alex Wolfe

Job Title: Copywriter

Age: I remember the 80s

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 178 lbs

Size Reviewed: Large

Riding Style: Poor eyesight, no real style to speak of. I tend to stay on the ground and smash down the center of the trail. Very limited BMX background. 

2022 Santa Cruz Megatower Geometry