I’m stuck in deciding a new bike. I mainly ride in the Tweed Valley around Innerleithen/Golfie and was thinking the Bronson would be better for the steeper tighter trails (I’m 5’8) but then was wondering if the Hightower will handle it just as well, maybe a little less ‘playful’, and be better for riding up to the trails etc.
I can get the Hightower 2025 C GX AXS for around £5.2k or the Bronson S model for £5k. Which would you go for? I’m coming from a Nukeproof Mega and still have the Fox 38s Performance Elite and Fox Float X2 Factory from that bike.
I have thought about the Ibis Ripmo v3. I can get one with Deore for my budget.
I occasionally venture up to Dunkeld and th sluggish of the Nukeproof up the hills was a chore.
I would go for the bronson. I changed to mx wheels this year and it’s a revelation in cornering and balance. I’ve got relatively short legs so the extra clearance is definitely appreciated on steeper stuff
What is the difference between the 2 (other than price and spec)...I don't follow the Santa cruz product line but are they not the same thing? (Which clearly shows how little I know about the line)
Looks like Tweed Valley Bikes has demos available (or soon to be available) for both, as well as the Ripmo. They'll all be great, I'm sure, but I'm a big believer in trying before you buy.
I've got quite long legs so clearance is rarely an issue but I far prefer my Levo on the steep or twisty stuff since I mulleted it. I'm sticking with full 29 on my hardtail because of how the unsuspended bigger wheel rolls over stuff on the flat but if you've got enough gravity and/or suspension to help I think mixed wheel sizes are the way to go. Feels easy to tip the bike over, more balanced in tighter turns and quicker to flick from side to side.
As above. I'm 6'2 with long legs and I prefer the handling of a mullet in tight and twisty stuff. It's not just about clearance even though I did used to get tapped on the arse by my rear tyre on my full 29er Norco then Privateer.
I still use a full 29 trail bike because it's just faster everywhere else. I did want a Hightower until I bought my Druid V2.
I'd probably get the Bronson. It's not exactly a long travel sled and probably climbs fine.
I've ridden neither, but I'd probably lean slightly towards the mullet for that kind of riding.
But if you feel really torn, could you consider a different brand that can be switched between full 29 and mullet on the same frame?
For that sort of travel and riding, my current preference would be mullet/Bronson.
Same as above, I'm also almost 6'2 (187cm) and despite no clearance issues I prefer my Geometron as a mullet - that's used at the likes of Golfie, Dunkeld etc. Just feels more manageable, for want of a better word, on techy stuff. I also still use a full 29er Tallboy for trail riding cos at that travel level it just works.
Bronson S model for £5k.
Would this influence your decision at all?
https://www.merlincycles.com/santa-cruz-bronson-41-c-gx-axs-mountain-bike-2024-337482.html
What is the difference between the 2 (other than price and spec)...I don't follow the Santa cruz product line but are they not the same thing? (Which clearly shows how little I know about the line)
Probably not best placed to give a view then? 😀
A mate has a Bronson. Another mate has a Hightower. Ridden with both at Glentress/Golfie and if it were me I'd go with the Bronson just because its a touch more gravity focused. That said, the mate with a Hightower wasn't hanging around last time we were there but it definitely seems to be a more trail focused bike than the Bronson which is more "enduro".
I would say for Scottish riding I would still take a punt on a Deviate Highlander . Ben is re openiong the brand and there will be some deals about . Ive ridden 2 versions of Megatowers arounf Inners and Golfie and my Hl2 was by far the faster and more compossed .
Hardtail fwiw, you know it makes sense 👍🤓
Having owned a hightower and having ridden golfie/inners/yair/thornie etc. I'd be going for the Bronson if you're stuck on it needing to be SC (long time SC fan but dont currently own one). The hightower is a jack of all trades but a master of none and it sounds like you mainly ride one sort of terrain so you dont really need that jack.
What bike do you have now? The geo of the new HT is pretty much the same as the new Bronson now, slacker and longer than the v4 model with more travel too.
Good to know. Thought they had shut down. Yeah I’ve tried the Megatower before and wasn’t a big fan of it. Too much bike for me.
What about a Nomad?
@DaveyBoyWonder, very true, which is why I wasn't making a suggestion but asking what the difference is between them.
Looks like @GolfChick has provided a decent outline of the main difference now, based on riding at least one of them.
I ride a transition sentinel now with an ext storia coil shock. It’s not as efficient a climber as the HT was but I really don’t care how much slower and harder work it is to get up, I care more about the capabilities pointing downwards. Which considering I live on the edge of the Lake District you’d think would matter because I’d argue the climbs in the lakes are significantly harder than the tweed valley climbs. A winch up a fireroad isn’t as challenging as some of our stupid rocky climbs. I’d still rather be able to absolutely fly down the descents than spend another five minutes climbing/recovering. I was glad to get away from the shock positioning of the SC even though I have more bearings now and have to actually pay for them, the shock tunnel type affair of the SC really did my head in.
These were on my list. I tried an Atherton A150. Great. Now I have one. Works well.