Description
Built for enduro racing and white-knuckle downhill trails, the Santa Cruz Megatower tackles big mountain terrain with utmost confidence and control. This long-travel 29er is now in its second generation, coming with more travel, updated geometry, and several other smart refinements that elevate the bike over the first generation Megatower. We’re especially stoked to see the Glovebox integrated frame storage that stashes tools, a tube, and a bundle of snacks in the bike’s downtube, saving weight off our backs and ensuring we’re always prepared for the trail ahead. Compared to the first generation Megatower, version two increases the travel to 165mm in the rear and 170mm up front. The head tube angle is over a degree slacker in both the high and low flip-chip settings, and the bike has a longer front-center as well as longer chainstays. This puts the Megatower V2 right at the forefront of modern enduro race bikes, ideal for plowing through absolute carnage at wide-open race speeds. That being said, Santa Cruz steepened the seat tube angle significantly, giving us a more comfortable pedaling position for knocking out the tough climbs that often precede our favorite downhill trails. And for those who are wondering whether they should buy a Nomad or a Megatower, the best answer we can give is that the Megatower is more speed-oriented with its 29-inch wheels, whereas the Nomad is freeride-focused with 27. 5-inch wheels that respond quickly to rider input and make it easier to throw the bike around. Santa Cruz offers numerous build kits on the Megatower, with this “S” build coming with some considerable upgrades over the entry-level “R” build kit. We’ve always thought of the “S” kit as Santa Cruz’s workhorse bike, coming with reliable components that perform similarly to the top-end options but at a much lower cost. SRAM GX Eagle handles drivetrain duties, with powerful Code R brakes to slow us down quickly and safely. The FOX 38 Performance fork is a burly option tha…
