I tested two top-end trail bikes head to head – and there's nothing I'd change about the winner's spec

The demands on modern-day trail bikes are astounding, with very little room for compromise. These bikes need to do it all and do it well to be in with a chance of impressing riders.

While no one expects the same level of efficiency as a thoroughbred cross-country bike, or the descending prowess of a full-on downhill bike, riders have very high expectations when it comes to these true all-rounders.

Are they comfortable enough to be pedalled all day up and over hills and mountains? Are they stable and surefooted enough to take on steep, technical downhill trails?

And are they robust enough to be thrown about in the bike park? These are all justifiable questions riders looking to buy a trail bike should be asking.

Creating a bike that can tick these boxes and more is a real headache for brands.

Not only do they need to sweat the details such as geometry, suspension travel and suspension kinematics, but the spec too.

Yes, this is true for every type of mountain bike, but designing a trail bike with a build kit that offers the best possible ‘do-it-all’ credentials is possibly the hardest.

Do you go long, low and slack with the geometry to ensure it descends well and feels stable at speed, or keep things a little more conservative so as not to disrupt slower-speed agility?

And what about suspension travel? Can you land on a figure that provides a sprightly, efficient feel when hammering the pedals, but still offers enough comfort and cushioning for those times you venture into wilder terrain?

How a brand interprets the term ‘trail’ bike can vary, but for the most part, they’ll come sporting 130-150mm of rear-wheel travel. They typically offer up relatively slack head angles around the 64-degree mark, but steep seat tube angles measuring somewhere around the 77-degree area.

Bottom brackets will be low and most bikes, to ensure they can cover ground as quickly as possible, will roll on 29in wheels.

Both Yeti and Santa Cruz have taken years to perfect their own trail bikes.

The Hightower and SB140 share multiple similarities, with specs and geometry figures that are closely matched.

Yet, on the trail, each bikes offers something a little different. As you’ll find out, much depends on what you’re looking for from a trail bike.

Where do your preferences lie and what sort of riding do you want to do?

Both are important questions when considering which top-end trail bike is best for you.

• Read more: Best trail mountain bikes 2025: 20 the of the most exciting and capable MTBs ridden and reviewed

Introducing the bikes

How do the Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXS RSV and Yeti SB140 T-Series T3 Lunch Ride compare?

It’s been said many times before, but a trail bike has to offer the fewest possible compromises in order to be good at just about everything on the trail.

As Yeti and Santa Cruz prove, there’s more than one way to achieve this, and while there are a number of similarities here, the small differences add up on the trail.

The Yeti SB140 Lunch Ride (LR) uses a full-carbon frame and has 140mm of rear-wheel travel, controlled by its Switch Infinity system.

This places the main suspension pivot on a sliding shuttle that’s able to move up and down on two short Kashima-coated stanchions.

In essence, this is Yeti’s take on a virtual-pivot design, with the lower pivot and sliding shuttle acting like the lower link of a twin-link design. However, here the pivot moves vertically rather than arcing around the centre of the forward pivot point of a link.

As you enter the 140mm of travel, the main pivot moves upwards, and it continues to do so until you’re about halfway through the travel.

This is to ensure there’s sufficient anti-squat to make the bike pedal well.

Deeper into the travel, the main pivot slides downwards, causing a reduction in anti-squat, resulting in a more active feel through the suspension.

Santa Cruz’s Hightower also has a full-carbon frame, but uses the brand's tried-and-tested counter-rotating twin-link system to deliver the 150mm of rear-wheel travel, upped from 145mm last year.

Alongside upping the travel on the Hightower, Santa Cruz has lowered the shock’s position in the frame, lowering the centre of mass as a result, which should help improve how the bike feels through the turns.

Santa Cruz has also reduced the anti-squat to ensure the back end of the bike remains more active while climbing on choppy terrain, along with boosting comfort when descending on rough trails.

Both bikes roll on 29in wheels, use SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger interface and threaded bottom brackets and have space for a bottle cage in the front triangle, along with neatly routed cables that slide into guides within the frame.

If you plan on running a mechanical drivetrain at any point, you’ll want to know that the Hightower doesn’t have provisions to take a gear cable, which may put some folk off.

This is only relevant to the carbon ‘CC’ version of the frame seen here and the cheaper ‘C’ carbon frame will work with mechanical groupsets.

The Hightower also features the Santa Cruz ‘Glovebox’, which offers some internal storage within the down tube – a handy feature to have.

When it comes to the proportions, things are quite closely matched. Since both bikes are built with 160mm-travel forks (Yeti’s standard SB140 uses a 150mm fork), head angles are relatively slack.

I measured the Hightower’s head angle (in the low setting) at 63.5 degrees (0.4 degrees slacker than stated), while the SB140 is a little steeper at 64.3 degrees – again, slacker than stated.

As a result, the Hightower has a slightly longer front centre at 805mm versus the SB140’s 790mm.

Santa Cruz gives you the option to steepen the angles a little, though, thanks to the flip chip located within the lower link.

This’ll enable you to tweak the seat and head tube angle by 0.3 degrees, the bottom bracket height and reach by 3mm and change the chainstay length by 1mm.

To help create a nice, efficient position for pedalling, seat tube angles are suitably steep, although the Hightower’s is a little more upright at 77.7 degrees (measured) than the Yeti’s, which comes in at 76.7 degrees.

Chainstay lengths are closely matched, with the SB140 LR coming in at 438mm, while the Hightower’s is 436mm. However, it’s worth remembering that these figures are on medium frames and will grow as sizes increase.

Both bikes have the same 340mm bottom-bracket height and a reach of around 460mm.

Similar but not the same

It doesn’t take a genius to see that these two bikes are closely matched when it comes to the parts bolted to them.

When it comes to the fork and shock, both bikes are running the same Fox Factory units, with a 160mm-travel 36 up front, complete with a highly adjustable X2 damper slotted inside.

Fox Float X shocks are bolted in place to control things out back.

These shocks feature a low-speed compression pedalling platform lever to firm things up if you need a slightly more efficient feel, as well as a low-speed compression dial and rebound adjuster to help tune ride-feel preferences.

Things are mirrored with the drivetrain, too, with the SB140 and Hightower both using SRAM’s X0 Eagle AXS Transmission drivetrain.

The only difference here is the use of a 30t chainring on the Yeti compared to the 32t ring on the Santa Cruz.

The tyres are similar, too, although not the same. While both bikes roll on a Maxxis Minion DHF tyre up front and Maxxis Minion DHR II at the rear, the all-important rubber compounds and casings differ.

Yeti’s tyre choice makes for a faster-rolling setup, thanks to the 3C MaxxTerra rubber compound used on the Minion DHF, while the firmer dual-compound rubber used on the rear tyre should increase not only speed, but durability too.

Both tyres use the EXO casing, which helps keep weight down.

Santa Cruz’s take is more focused on control. While the front tyre shares the same EXO casing as the Yeti’s, the Hightower uses the stickier 3C MaxxGrip rubber compound, which should bolster traction on wet roots and rocks.

There’s more grip available at the rear, too, thanks to the 3C MaxxTerra compound, and more protection from the EXO+ casing that’s tougher, although slightly heavier.

My bike came with an EXO+ casing up front and DoubleDown casing at the rear, having been used at the press camp out in the Alps.

The difference might be subtle, but on the trail it's sizeable – more on that later.

Another component that can make a massive impact on performance is the brakes. While these bikes both use SRAM anchors, they come in different flavours.

Yeti’s SB140 LR uses the slightly older Code RSC stoppers, paired with a 200mm rotor at the front and 180mm at the back.

Santa Cruz has opted for the Maven brakes.

While originally pitched as SRAM’s ‘gravity’ brakes, we’ve already seen Specialized stick these on its Stumpjumper 15 trail bike, so it’s no massive surprise to see them on a burly trail bike such as the Hightower.

And thanks to the masses of power on tap, Santa Cruz has deemed 180mm rotors more than enough to handle trail duties.

Along with the carbon frame, the Hightower continues the carbon theme with the inclusion of its Reserve 30|HD carbon rims, laced onto Industry Nine’s 1/1 hubs, which feels very much in line with the asking price.

My SB140 LR test bike didn’t arrive with the correct rims. Rather than the DT Swiss XM1700 hoops that should have come as standard, I had Race Face ARC 30 rims laced onto DT Swiss 350 hubs.

Both machines use a Burgtec Enduro Mk3 stem, although while the SB140 LR uses a 50mm stem, the Hightower has a shorter 42mm option. The handlebars are carbon and own-brand.

While there’s little in it when it comes to performance between the OneUp Components dropper post on the Hightower and the Fox Transfer found on the SB140, Yeti specs a longer 175mm-travel post on the medium bike compared to the 150mm option on the medium Santa Cruz. Even for my short legs, the latter felt as if it could have offered more drop.

Without pedals, the SB140 is a fraction lighter at 14.63kg, compared to the Hightower at 14.9kg.

Ride impressions

Of course, frame designs and specs are all well and good, but it's how the bikes behave on the trail that we really care about.

In an attempt to get to grips with how each bike performed, I rode them on a wide variety of terrain around the south west of England and South Wales, covering everything from natural singletrack to worn-out trail centres, and bike-park berms and jumps.

Alongside that, I had a few days aboard the Hightower when it launched back in 2024.

Setup was straightforward for both bikes, setting sag at the rear to 30 per cent and backing off all damping adjusters.

Both forks were set with 78psi for my 68kg weight, and again, had all damping adjustments backed off fully.

Climbing performance

From the outset, the Yeti feels more sprightly and athletic when you start to make your way uphill.

Yes, the faster-rolling, firmer rubber compound of the tyres helps here, but so does the incredibly calm, stable rear end of the bike, which hovers obediently around the sag point as you turn the pedals.

Even out-of-the-saddle efforts are met with a relative composure that not many other trail bikes can match.

Don’t get me wrong, steep, high-torque efforts when really grinding a gear will get it bobbing, but it’s calmer than most.

That’s despite the fact that the initial stroke of the SB140 is incredibly supple and forgiving. It sinks into the first part of the travel with ease and traces the trail impressively while you winch your way up off-road climbs.

While the seat tube angle isn’t as steep on paper as the Hightower's, the SB140 maintains its sag position without dipping into the travel more than it needs to on steeper inclines, helping to keep you perched quite upright and sitting you over the bottom bracket.

Similarly, the Hightower does a solid job of resisting pedal bob when seated and it takes heavier pedalling stood up to get the back end oscillating.

The steep seat tube angle makes it a very comfy, efficient place to be, too.

However, it doesn’t feel as energetic as the SB140 here. That’s likely down to the stickier tyres and, potentially, the larger 32t chainring, which doesn’t enable you to twiddle a gear as effortlessly.

Like the SB140, the Hightower’s rear end still beavers away while you’re busy working away against gravity, ensuring the rear tyre can do its best to maximise traction wherever possible.

On mellower climbs and flatter trails, the Hightower rolls more slowly and feels a little more lethargic compared to the SB140.

This differences only come to light when riding these bikes back-to-back, because the Hightower is still able to truck along at a fair old pace, it just doesn’t maintain that rolling speed as easily as the SB140.

But that’s largely where the benefits of the SB140’s firmer rubber end.

Descending performance

While the Yeti may feel like the more dominant bike when pointed uphill (if only by a bit), the Hightower has the edge on the downs. That’s not to say the SB140 doesn’t hold its own, though.

On flow trails, even though the difference in weight is minimal, the SB140 feels more agile and easy to manoeuvre.

It encourages you to pop and pump trail features to maximise speed, and once at pace, it’ll happily maintain it provided you have the courage to stay off the brakes.

The frame feels taut and precise, making for quick, reactive handling as and when you want to make those split-second adjustments to lines or pick up and place the wheels on a different part of the trail.

That said, this by no means translates to a stiff or uncomfortable ride, even when it gets choppy.

Delve into rougher, more technical terrain and the way in which the rear end of the bike works impressed me, time and time again.

Yeti has managed to ensure the 140mm of travel gets delivered in a very precise manner.

This translates to support when driving your weight down through the pedals, but all the while retaining a very active, forgiving ride feel as you head deeper into the stroke.

Get closer to that bump stop at full travel and the ramp-up feels decently progressive but smooth, enabling you to exploit every single millimetre of travel and push the bike to its very limits on more demanding descents.

However, as soon as things get damp, the tyre spec makes life a little harder.

The firmer rubber compounds don’t generate the same sort of confidence when skipping over wet rocks or roots as that of the Hightower – and braking on steeper rocky trails needs recalibrating somewhat, due to the lack of bite from the rear tyre.

The Code brakes work well enough, but since the Mavens have come to market, the benchmark for power has really shifted.

It's something you can notice on long descents after some hefty miles in the saddle, with hand fatigue creeping in more quickly on the SB140 than on the Hightower.

I made the switch to the same tyres found on the Hightower and the SB140 felt instantly more capable, especially on technical descents in the wet and under braking just about everywhere.

While some rolling speed was lost, the move to heavier, stickier tyres didn’t quell the SB140’s agility or eagerness to be chucked about, so I’d say moving to this setup would be no bad thing from the get-go if you can.

Santa Cruz’s updates to the Hightower have certainly added an enduro edge to proceedings.

The low-slung belly of the bike and improved suspension comfort stand out from the off, especially in the turns, where the SB140 can feel a little top-heavy in comparison. It can really rip a turn with confidence.

Even if the weight difference is only small, the Hightower very much feels like a burlier bike. Sure, there’s a little extra rear-wheel travel to play with, but its general demeanour definitely errs on the side of enduro.

It’ll still do a lot of the trail things well, but compared to the SB140, this bike certainly sits closer to the enduro bikes end of the spectrum.

Just as I did on the Santa Cruz press camp, ditching the 0.1in volume spacer helps improve comfort – for lighter riders, at least.

Even without the spacer, I never struggled with any harsh bottom-outs on big landings or impacts, and felt I could access all the travel I needed a little more easily.

Compared to the back end of the SB140, though, the Hightower doesn’t feel quite as active, delivering more muted feedback, although I’d never describe it as harsh or uncomfortable.

Still, the better choice of tyres, punchier brakes and longer, slacker angles of the Hightower add an injection of confidence on descents.

That’s not to say the Yeti can’t hold its own in these situations, but it’d benefit from a tyre swap at the very least to tap into its potential first.

Overall, both bikes are great to ride, although their differing characters and the brands' different interpretations of what a trail bike needs to be mean they’ll each suit different riders.

Santa Cruz Hightower CC X0 AXS RSV vs Yeti SB140 T-Series T3 Lunch Ride bottom line

While the SB140 LR and Santa Cruz Hightower are both great trail bikes, their baked-in attributes mean they excel at different things.

If you’re looking to cover a lot of distance in comfort without shying away from technical descents or bike-park jump trails, the SB140 LR does a fine job.

But if you’re looking for a bike that’ll climb well but handle a little like an enduro rig on the descents, the new and improved Hightower might be the bike for you.

You wouldn't be disappointed with either, but I’d suggest swapping to stickier tyres from the off to make the most of the SB140. If budget allows, I'd stick a set of Mavens on there, too.

Making changes such as this might dull outright rolling speed a touch, but the benefits of tackier rubber and better brakes will far outweigh any downsides.

After duking it out on the trails, picking a winner between these two has been tough.

They’re both excellent at different aspects of trail riding, with the Yeti arguably offering the better all-round performance.

But considering the price and spec, the Hightower just cinches it for me.

While it might not feel quite as sporty as the Yeti, it offers better value for money overall, and there’s not a thing that needs changing on it.

Although the differences are minimal, with a fight as close as this, that’s all that separates them at the end of the day.