Description

2017 Santa Cruz Bicycles Highball Carbon CC 27.5 X01 Eagle Complete Mountain Bike

 

Santa Cruz Bicycles’ recipe for singletrack speed is simple. Start with a wagon-wheel base for an aggressive angle of approach and steamroller capabilities, subtract 1.5in of rim diameter to add agility, lengthen the reach, and shred to taste. If you’ve followed these steps correctly, then the results should look something like the Highball Carbon CC 27.5 Eagle X01 Complete Mountain Bike. The Highball bakes up into an aggressive XC machine that capitalizes on speed for endurance events but also rocks a short stem and nimble wheelbase for spry handling that dices the chunky stuff like garlic in an Italian grandmother’s kitchen.

Of course, we’re not too terribly adept at cooking, so we’re happy to let Santa Cruz do the prep work—especially since SRAM (one of our favorite sous chefs) finishes the dish with a generous helping of the new Eagle X01 drivetrain. Eagle’s 50t cog brings us back to the Italian grandmother theme, as it’s the ultimate granny gear and will help you clean your plate when you’ve taken on a bit more climbing than your belly can handle.

The latest Highball Carbon CC frame is built with the same Carbon CC construction as its predecessor. It features a higher modulus carbon than the Carbon C model, so less material is required to hit the same strength and stiffness numbers. Less material equates to a lighter chassis that needs fewer watts to propel, and the watts that you do pour into it are transferred with greater efficiency courtesy of the increased stiffness.

The whole frame is also a single piece instead of a jigsaw puzzle of individually-cured carbon tubes. This allows Santa Cruz to wrap the fibers continuously around structurally important junctures like the head tube and bottom bracket, buttressing the frame and dissipating the force from impacts and pedaling load. Translated into trail talk, this means it hits the bricks when you stomp on the pedals and dampens high-speed chatter. The Highball’s efficiency combines with its low-weight for a package that makes any full-suspension bike’s responsiveness feel as sharp as an overripe banana. Save the brown nanners for banana bread; we’re having XC speed cake tonight.

A superlative XC endurance bike

27.5in wheels balance agility with rolling aggression

Santa Cruz Bicycles’ top-tier Carbon CC construction

Long reach and a short stem make for nimble handling

Steep front end stays on point while grinding out climbs

The one-by revolution goes to 12 with SRAM Eagle

 

2017 Santa Cruz Bicycles Highball Carbon CC 27.5 X01 Eagle Complete Mountain Bike

Frame Material:

Carbon CC

Suspension:

hardtail

Fork:

RockShox SID RLC

Front Travel:

100 mm

Headset:

Cane Creek 40 IS

Shifters:

SRAM X01 Eagle

Front Derailleur:

n/a

Rear Derailleur:

SRAM X01 Eagle

ISCG Tabs:

no

Crankset:

32 t SRAM X01 Eagle

Bottom Bracket:

BSA threaded

Crank Arm Length:

[size Small] 170 mm, [sizes Medium – X-Large] 175 mm

Cassette:

10 – 50 t SRAM Eagle XG-1295

Chain:

SRAM X01 Eagle PowerLock

Brakeset:

SRAM Level TLM

Brake Type:

hydraulic disc

Rotors:

180 / 180 mm SRAM Centerline

Handlebar:

Santa Cruz XC Flat Carbon

Handlebar Width:

750 mm

Grips:

Santa Cruz Palmdale lock-on

Stem:

Race Face Turbine Basic

Saddle:

WTB Silverado Team

Seatpost:

Easton EC70

Seatpost Diameter:

27.2 mm

Seat Collar:

31.8 mm

Wheelset:

[rims] Race Face ARC 24

Hubs:

DT Swiss 350

Front Axle:

15 x 110mm Boost

Rear Axle:

12 x 142mm thru-axle

Tires:

Maxxis Ikon EXO TR

Tire Size:

27.5 x 2.2 in

Pedals:

not included

Recommended Use:

cross country

Manufacturer Warranty:

lifetime on frame

Actual Weight:

Matte Black/White, M: 9730g

 

2017 Santa Cruz Bicycles Highball Carbon CC 27.5 X01 Eagle Complete Mountain Bike

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