Biggest surprise: Aluminum frame right off the bat. SC kept that secret very well, didn't they?
Hightower V2
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Rev Bubba
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Big backcountry days are its bread and butter imo. I live in the PNW and did plenty of winch and plummet on mine, and it’s fantastic for that. I never did any park days on it, but it could surely hold its own in a park, especially so with some thoughtful spec. But where I was most happy on it were big steep and deep days in the Gifford Pinchot or down in Oakridge. Big mountain stuff.
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252 Posts
I haven’t ridden Grand Valley or Moab, definitely on the list, though. From what I have heard about Moab, I would say your description is likely accurate. To me, the HT2 is the ideal all-around mountain bike, down for whatever, able to confidently handle any downhill terrain regardless of how much you have to pedal to get to it, but also fine on XC rides and in the bike park. It is especially versatile in that it can be built on the lighter or heavier end of the do-it-all spectrum, depending on the rider’s taste.
I built mine specifically to ride on my favorite enduro style trail system, Glorieta NM, where there are some sustained climbs to steep technical descents. We also have everything from XC to lift access in NM, so it is a great bike to cover all the bases.
I’m an avid rider, but far from the fittest climber, best bike handler, or most aggressive, so I appreciate how it has packaged relatively good climbing efficiency and descending prowess together. This is a video of my buddy (on a Sentinel, another great bike for this stuff) and me on the type of ride I think the bike is perfect for; a few laps of +/-1k climbs followed by technical descents with some pedaling sections interspersed:
Haha it's hard for me as well. We generally have xc trails here at the back door which account for 80% of riding. So lots of punchy, rooty, looping trails with up to 300m climbs but we are developing a new area with mostly flow tracks fed from a 600m climb. We have lot's of unofficial DH with drops, tech, gnar and also a ride centre within a couple hours with full on sustained DH. All of which I am thankful to have my mid travel HT to survive on for every ride type.
Did you guys see Peaty's old vs new V10 video on PinkBike? It drives home the fact about be happy on the bike you've got. Progression is incremental, the grass isn't always greener and industry hype is just that. N+1 though haha
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60 Posts
Thank you for the responses. When I read/watch some of the online reviews, I honestly have no idea what they are talking about when discussing XC vs Trail. When does a XC Trail become....a trail? With the capabilities of !20MM bikes getting so high, but then 145MM bikes starting to pedal better....how does one decide what bike is right for their riding?
I just got back from a trip to Moab and we road Bull Run. Relatively flat trail, but downhill the whole way. Just not steep. Lots of drops, but lots of pedaling up rocks. I enjoyed it on my HTV2, but guessing a 120MM would of been just as good. Most of my riding is less then 1K up at a time and then downhill, plus lift served mixed in....but mostly smoothish CO trails with roots, etc. but not east coast slick rocks everywhere.
I'm in the same dilemma. I have a Tallboy 3 (110mm travel with 130mm fork), and it is good for about 80% of what I ride. But I do ride some fast rocky trails where its suspension gets overwhelmed. I'm considering a 120mm bike, like the Tallboy 4, and wondering if the little bit of extra travel plus the longer slacker geometry will be in the sweet spot. Or, if the HT2 pedals and climbs almost as well, should I just get the extra travel for those fast rocky downhills and bike park days.
I have a HTV2 and Bronson V3 and my son has a MT (which I have ridden a bunch). All spec-ed about the same (C-S level). We primarily ride in the Wasatch and Moab.
For the wasatch, (a little bit of everything. Lots of smooth climbing and descending plus a variety of steeps and chunk) the HTV2 is perfect. MT is a bit overkill, but still works fine.
For Moab, HTV2 is great for 90% of riding. MT is ideal. There are some trails the MT is better: high speed descents on porcupine doubletrack and singletrack, Jackson's, gold bar/portal. The HT can run out of rear travel on those trails.
Since I got my HT (June), I haven't ridden my bronson much. But it actually feels like it has more rear travel on high speed chunky descents.
I haven't ridden the new tallboy. I am sure you could ride it anywhere and be fine, and it probably climbs better, but I would run out of travel real quick on the stuff I like to ride.
The HT could be equipped more XCish with lighter tires and running in the hi mode. It definitely climbs better in the hi mode.
For the wasatch, (a little bit of everything. Lots of smooth climbing and descending plus a variety of steeps and chunk) the HTV2 is perfect. MT is a bit overkill, but still works fine.
For Moab, HTV2 is great for 90% of riding. MT is ideal. There are some trails the MT is better: high speed descents on porcupine doubletrack and singletrack, Jackson's, gold bar/portal. The HT can run out of rear travel on those trails.
Since I got my HT (June), I haven't ridden my bronson much. But it actually feels like it has more rear travel on high speed chunky descents.
I haven't ridden the new tallboy. I am sure you could ride it anywhere and be fine, and it probably climbs better, but I would run out of travel real quick on the stuff I like to ride.
The HT could be equipped more XCish with lighter tires and running in the hi mode. It definitely climbs better in the hi mode.
I demoed the T4 and loved it, especially how it climbed over tech, just so balanced and perfect feeling. It was a high end carbon build. The only negative I would say is that the rear travel found it’s limit really quick and also my wife was on the aluminum lower spec (Julianna version) and it was almost a different bike. The difference in feeling and ability was actually kind of shocking.
I had planned to buy the T4 but there were none in my area just as Covid supply scarcity issues started so I grabbed the HTV2 in a panic. The only regret was buying a low end carbon R spec. I’m now looking to upgrade it. It is definitely more bike than the T4, climbs well (but not as well) yet it’s a huge step up on the DH which I think even makes the MegaT overkill.
So my advice is determine what is 80% of your riding and if you favour climbing or DH performance.
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56 Posts
I wonder if anyone has tried a Maxxis assegai 2.5 as as a rear tire and if so how was the clearance? Any tire rub? I would really appreciate any input.
New bike day. Finally got it!
Fox Float X definitely fits! Put the Float X, 36/160 factory fork, code RSC brakes, 200mm rotors. Getting SIT bone measured Friday for a new saddle (broke my pelvis several years ago so saddle has to be perfect). She’s a beast though!
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Fox Float X definitely fits! Put the Float X, 36/160 factory fork, code RSC brakes, 200mm rotors. Getting SIT bone measured Friday for a new saddle (broke my pelvis several years ago so saddle has to be perfect). She’s a beast though!
How do you like those Yoshi pedals?
So quick question. On the factory dropper, there is no angle adjustment for the saddle (that I can find yet) and the saddle angle just will not work for me so I am going to put a fox factory transfer on.
Question: what is the stock size and drop? Thanks in advance!
Question: what is the stock size and drop? Thanks in advance!
What dropper came stock on your bike? I've never seen a seatpost with no tilt adjustment.
Looks like a 2 bolt post. Their a pain to adjust but you can set the tilt by loosening 1 bolt and tightening the other till you get the desired tilt angle. So if you want the nose down, you loosen the rear and tighten the front. If you want the nose to go up, loosen the front and tighten the rear.
Don't blame you. Same reason I put the AXS seatpost on all my bikes. The tilt adjust with 1 screw makes it worth it (not to mention not having to route cables).
I've ridden the HT2 and TB4 in Moab, Wasatch (PC/DV area) and Fruita. Both are great and very capable and I have Cascade links on both and a Fox 36 with a Fractive tune on the HT2, so bikes are set up nice. Basically as you turn up the chunky riding, the HT2 becomes nicer for a long day. I've done the Wasatch Ridge on my HT2 and my only bad memory was the 102F heat and running out of water 8mi from home. For Rabbit Valley (28mi), the HT2 was great, especially the last few miles when the trail is a bit rough and undulating. For Moab, we ride Dead Horse and Bull Run and both bikes were fantastic. I'm 52 and don't have a great desire to do Whole Enchilada, or the super gnarly trails, so there is that.
What I notice with the TB4 is that the loss of the 1lb is a nice thing, especially for a long 1hr climb up to the Mid-Mountain trail. If I didn't go to the DV DH park, I'd be happy with the TB4 and probably get a piggyback shock to help on the long descents. That of course would shave some of the weight savings.
In the end, I have the HT2 in UT and would make the same decision again; bit like an insurance policy. If I didn't go to the DH park any more, and was still doing big long climbs, I might go with the TB4 because it's a touch lighter and climbs a touch better, yet descends really well, but would have to do a shock mod. So I think I net out at there's no reason not to get an HT2 unless you just want to do cruisy, flowy trails, then you may as well get the TB and save a bit of weight.
Can't go wrong; both great bikes with lots of guaranteed smiles. I will say if you get a Fox fork, visit the fine folks at Suspension Syndicate and get the 36 tuned; it is such a better fork now thanks to Cody and Stew.
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