Megatower

6500–11500 EUR

Origin

The Megatower debuted in 2019 as Santa Cruz's dedicated long-travel 29er enduro race platform, built around the lower-link VPP suspension to give EWS/EDR racers a bike that could carry speed and survive blind risks on big-mountain courses. The 2022 V2 was an all-new carbon chassis: it gained 5 mm of rear travel (to 165 mm), 10 mm of fork travel (to 170 mm), and introduced Santa Cruz's first-ever in-frame storage. It sits between the shorter-travel Hightower and the 27.5/mixed-wheel Nomad in the lineup.

Specifications

Frame: Carbon fiber (CC high-end or C standard layup), VPP lower-link suspension, in-frame 'Glovebox' down-tube storage
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle 1×12 (11-50t cassette) on base build; GX AXS / X0 on higher trims
Brakes: SRAM G2 RE hydraulic disc, 200/200 mm rotors (C R build)
Wheels: 29" only (front and rear), Race Face AR Offset 30 rims on SRAM MTH hubs (C R build)

The verdict

+Strengths

Carries speed extremely well and feels composed/solid through rough, chattery terrain
Surprisingly capable climber for a 165 mm enduro bike — well-supported suspension that holds traction without much pedal bob
Very forgiving and confidence-inspiring — riders are at home from the first run on unknown trails
Updated linear-rate suspension curve gives consistent ramp-up and good bottom-out control
In-frame 'Glovebox' storage and adjustable flip-chip geometry add real practical versatility

−Weaknesses

Poor value for money — build kits are weak for the price compared to direct-to-consumer brands like YT
Entry SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain feels under-specced and unrefined on a bike this expensive
Rear suspension can feel a little muted and less supple than the plushest enduro rivals (especially off-trail/car-park feel)
Brakes on cheaper builds are less powerful than competing enduro bikes
Heavy for the category in alloy-wheel trims (~16 kg), and overkill for mellow XC/flat Baltic riding

Who it’s for

Big-mountain enduro, blind EDR/EWS racing, lift parks (Bikepark Wagrain, Leogang, Châtel). Overkill for Baltic XC.

Want one?

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