Awesome riding and trails, last DH looked like steep, rowdy mofo. You guys killed it on that. What tire set up for those conditions?

MaxxTerra version here. Tread was mostly roasted, especially center lugs in 6 weeks. Still running Assegai front some 8 months later.

Expensive, wears fast, mediocre grip. No thanks. Much better Maxxis tires out there, especially for all around use

Thx, will read the review again. Own the HT2 and have been pushing it thru it’s paces over last 6 months. Great bike! Just wanted to hear how it compares to Switchblade since the looks great as well

New Switchblade vs SC HightowerV2? Besides the differences in fork travel, and HT a little slacker front end, how do they ride and handle differently?

Amen brutha’

My favorite pads, great for big days in the saddle

Sounds like very fun and versatile trail weapon, but for +$5k for a $4k build at most is no bueno. Frame up with Shimano XT build to keep the cost at bay with better wheels and components is likely the way to go. Bike looks fun, but interested to hear how it performs over a bigger, +200lb rider ridden aggressively. Imagine the 125mm rear might come up a bit short. Think the 5010 might be better option in this regard for similar class of bike. Good review!

Good review. I ride my Hightower everywhere with preference for 140 fork and 29 carbon wheels. It is my go to trail/AM kind of ride that I will happily take on bigger jump and FR lines as well with no to minimal hindrance compared to my smaller wheeled bikes with more travel. So for me I find the bike to be quite playful and responsive (stock shock with only 2 bands and 33-35% sag at +200lb rider weight) for it's size and pedals/climb great and descends like a locomotive for me. So, a bit different than your experience. I couldn't be happier with this bike for the riding I do in the PacNW myself. Even was great in the SW chunk and chunder for week long riding vaca this early spring. I love this bike and can say it is probably the most versatile, reliable and solid, minimal maintenance bike I have been on to date over past +15 years. Even more so than other VPP bikes I have had. Kudos to SC for making such a great bike!

Another excellent, comprehensive review Vital! Second the notion that guys are killing with the reviews and offering the consumer great feedback on the product tested. Sorry Bible (Bike), but this is how a good review should be.

SC Hightower? I am curious as well if so. I ride one and just returned from riding trip from the chunky SW and pedal kickback was never a sensation I felt at all while crawling tech or blasting thru with 33-35% sag. I think SC bikes get pinned for pedal kickback since earlier renditions of VPP had a pretty high anti-squat they would cause a bit of kickback (like a hardtail) when ridden in rougher terrain despite them pedaling really well. VPP3 might not be the plushest designed out there but feels like good compromise between efficient pedaling and compliance.

First thing to do when considering a dropper post...is not to consider a KS unless you plan to service every month and cartridge still eventually fails. This has been my experience with last three post from them. Reverb B1 has been night and day better as far as performance and durability. So much that I bought another one on second bike to replace another clanky LEV.

Awesome! Finally a system to work with my short cage RD's since I bend and warp mid caged RD's too easily and prefer the shorter caged RD for 1x10.