I think this is a great experiment. The HTA and STA and Bb height are all important. The 140mm travel bikes with 64 HTA have caught my attention, especially in a Mix wheel set up.

As a Hightower owner this is very helpful. Great ideas, thanks 🙏

Great video. Love hearing about less expensive ways to freshen up an older ride without buying new.

Brilliant!!!

I own a 2020 Hightower Mx and I love it!! I did not use the cascade link and it’s still amazing. Pedal strikes are minimal at 170mm length. The only thing I did adjust was the shock I added more are for 25% sag ( I like it firmer) and I lowered my stem.

I definitely gotta try this, because like u said I’m lusting over that new Bronson!!!

My next mod on the Hightower!

Sick

Tbh I love how no one has a video of the hightower being pushed to it's limits as far as jumps and technical decends etc...

I didn't do a mix wheel, but I added a LT link to my V2, also running a 160 spring. It's never felt more alive on PNW enduro trails. I did have to add about 25 psi more to my rockshox SDU, but it feels way more progressive in the right way. The sealed bearings are a plus also.

If you do this, you may want to go to 165 or even 160 cranks, the pedal strikes are no joke with as low as it rides. I would be interested in what would happen if you mullet a Nomad.

I have two friends riding the 29" trek slash in mullet and anotherone riding a 27.5" trek remedy with 29" front wheel. No custom links etc just fun.

Makes me wanna try this on my SC Tallboy 4 since my cousin has the Hightower v2. We were talking about this when the new Bronson came out and you guys did the experiment for us.

@michaelkay4464

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I was wondering if this was possible also! No cascade link for the bb height though :(

I have both v1 and v2 Hightowers and I'm not gonna lie. On technical and steep climbs I still to this day prefer the V1. Thinking of trying them both in mullet configuration. Good vid man. Gave me a few ideas 💡

@c.mccracken

2 жыл бұрын

Same here and 100% agree but the descents on the v2 are significantly better imo. Very interested to try mx...

@LUCKYSOB

2 жыл бұрын

@@c.mccracken descent v2 hands down

What size frame and dropper post do you run? And did you get seat buzz when you bottomed out with the MX link?

Jackson goldstone rides mixed wheel at 5’8 but me being 6’3” the 29 bike feels like a normal bike I can get over the rear wheel easily though, but having the hightower means you could switch back and forth. If I was gonna ride the lift I would go mullet for sure, enduro racing full 29 for sure.

I've installed a 216*63 shock with offset bushings to shorten the ete to 212. But then BB is too high and HTA too steep. 27.5 in the back makes the geometry go back to original value.

I did the MXing on my commecal meta tr (2021). Had an cane creek db 216x63mm and a 27.5" wheel lying around. According to the linkage program rear travel bumps up to 158mm with the geo staying pretty much the same. Had initially some doubt about clearance with the bigger shock, but I had no trouble. It is a really easy conversion for beefing up the bike for park riding, highly recommend it!

Boise Idaho!!! Heck yeah!

@Gehajjs62727

2 жыл бұрын

The reason I exclusively watch Vital reviews 😂

@Gehajjs62727

2 жыл бұрын

That line on sage fright with the no hander was even more impressive knowing how hard it is to catch that landing 😂.

I just sourced all the parts and look forward to mullet party on my 2021 Hightower 🤘🏻

I’m really curious about doing this to my Tall Boy v4. Might just flip the chip for now since I doubt anyone makes a link to convert a tallboy to mullet.

I am thinking about buying the new sx but i dont know if the mullet set up good or not..

Can you please do the nomad 5 next. Asked cascade to make one and test it on the n5.

If you go on the Sc website, they tell you that going down that route you'll probably want/need a 2.8 tire and keep it at the high position...i am tempted to try!! Is the cascade link necessary???

Has anyone gone mullet with the new transition scout??

How about a 5010 with a 29 front next?

@vitalmtb

2 жыл бұрын

we did it a few years ago with a v3 5010 - kzread.info/dash/bejne/g5mjvNqAoKe6iLQ.html - also did it w/ a v4 (no video) and same 120mm/29er fork. our conclusion was that the 5010 is more fun as dual 27.5.

I've been considering this, not on a Santa Cruz.

I'm wondering about doing this on my bronson v3, but the price for new fork and wheel!

@jessehill3780

2 жыл бұрын

Not sure how well that would work out. It’s much easier to mullet a 29 bike than a 27.5. The 27.5 will end up much slack head angle, seat and high bb and stack.

Great video, what did you put a spacer in the shock to reduce travel, or was it 55mm, I thought that gave you 160 mm travel with the link

@vitalmtb

2 жыл бұрын

Cascade makes two links for the Hightower - an LT and a mixed-wheel link. The LT will give you 160mm with a 29er rear wheel. The link we used is just to be able to run a 27.5 rear wheel but does also up the travel to 155mm

@philharrop4373

2 жыл бұрын

On cascades website it states 155 with 52.5 shock which only the 2020 has, the 2021 and 2022 have 55 which I think makes it 160mm rear

@mauricelogarithmic4730

Жыл бұрын

@@philharrop4373 exaclty !!

Speed

putting the cascade link on your Santa Cruz will void the warranty so I'm not sure if it saves money if you crash or need warranty help

What do you think about put a cane creek il shox whith progressive coil? Whith progressive coil is possible olso with standard link, although santa cruz does not suggest it, but it does not refer to profressive spring. I dream about cascade link and coil on my hightower, but it's a little bit expensive.

@jameslee5237

2 жыл бұрын

coil likely to rub on Hightower shock tunnel

@jonathanangieri153

2 жыл бұрын

If you are serious/passionate about your riding and your rear shock is a Super Deluxe then I HIGHLY recommend giving it the Tractive tune by Vorsprung. Im coming from a Jeffsy w/ Push 11-6 and yea I too missed the coil but after getting CC link and Tractive tuned my SD the back end is very close to coil-like sensitivity. The rear wheel stays planted and follows the terrain like my 11-6 did. Definitely the best alternative IMO

@lucafrica74

Жыл бұрын

@@jameslee5237 the cascade link avoid it

but you stil would need to source the link wouldn't you? I tried the mx conversion on the 2019 v1 LT and the bb was way too low as well, esp with 175 cranks.

@TheAllEngineering

2 жыл бұрын

I have ridden V1 LT and found even in standard configuration it was bad for pedal strikes so can see the issue lower bb would bring.

that is a lot of " we only changed the ...."

I am thinking to buy Hightower but I am short guys and I need small size. So how about doing MX on small size of the Hightower?

Jeez the compression ratio goes to 1:2.8 with that cascade link. 2001 called they want their terrible suspension back. Maybe pass on this idea fellow heavier riders.

Ewwww No. WTF.

So glad they did this. I love my v2 in full 29er but been thinking of what this would be like. I'm not sure but did they put the chip in the low setting for this setup? I worry about pedal strikes, but I'm kinda short and this could be killer for me.

@vitalmtb

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the video! The Cascade Link only has one position, which is very close to the low setting on the stock link. If you're not having issues with pedal strikes in the low setting right now, it won't be much of an issue with the Cascade Link.