Faust29
Moderator
Ok... Here goes. For the last few months I've been talking @mtnbikej 's ear off about adding a full suspension bike to the stable. I've read every review and forum post for the Canyon Spectral, YT Jeffsy, SC Hightower, Tallboy, 5010, and the GG Smash, Trail Pistol, and Megatrail. That was the short list. I added one more near the end at Revolution when I was able to briefly pedal a Hightower LT. That was instant love. 
In the end, the Canyon and YT came off the list, because of the press fit bottom brackets. 
With two in college, and a stack of recent unexpected bills, I wasn't sure there was going to be a new bike day... I had been watching all of the listings on Colorado Cyclist, Back Country, and had talked to the Path about what kind of deals they had going. The Rocky Mountains that they have on clearance check a lot of the boxes, but then it's another case of a press fit bottom bracket. Bummer... I also missed out on a GG Trail Pistol frame on Pink Bike that went for a really good price... in about two hours. I probably would have been very happy with that one, too...
Over the last few weeks, I made a spread sheet of all the offerings at the on-line retailers, comparing prices and component spec. If money were no option, it would have been a loaded Smash sitting in the garage. I'm going on record to say that I will own one of their bikes someday... 
Back Country had a base model Hightower for $3299, which I thought was a pretty decent deal- $700 off the original price. Then last week it dropped to $2799 for the few that they had remaining. 
I texted J, and told him I was probably going to order a bike. When he responded that Active Junky was doing 12% cash back, it was a done deal... A new Hightower for not much more than I paid for the Chameleon. 
The lifetime frame warranty was also a big selling point. I tend to break things. 
It arrived last night when I was out on the Tuesday social. Thankfully I have a kid home for Thanksgiving, and he was able to carry it off the truck for the driver.
I did not expect it to be assembled, but my Back Country "gear advisor" emailed me the other day and sent a picture of the bike fully assembled... That was a pretty nice touch.
This box is huge...
This box is really well packed, but it looks pretty much assembled... And the tires have air.
Tires were mounted, and it sounds like there's 4 or 5 ounces of sealant in each. They both had 30+ pounds of air...
Awesomely packed... Eventually freed from its cardboard prison with a pair of cutters.
Not really much to do...
Lots of small touches in the packing...
Can't have the chain rubbing on the axle in transit...
We went to find some stairs to bounce on...
Plans for the future...
I'm still fussing with the cockpit and saddle. I'll probably lose a spacer or two under the stem, and I'll swap out the aluminum bars for the RaceFace carbon bars I have ready to go. I would have done it today, but I want to ride it stock for a ride or two.
The stock wheels were supposed to come with Novatec hubs, but they are SRAM. My last set of Novatec hubs disintegrated after 100 miles, so I'm happy to see they are something else. I've had good luck with SRAM's low end hubs in the past. I may keep this wheelset as a backup...
The everyday wheels will be a set of "JM Custom Wheels".
Silver Hope hubs with Arc 30 rims.
Also in the box was a bag of goodies... The tires were loaded with sealant already, so I have some extra. Pretty nice touch.
In the end, the Canyon and YT came off the list, because of the press fit bottom brackets. With two in college, and a stack of recent unexpected bills, I wasn't sure there was going to be a new bike day... I had been watching all of the listings on Colorado Cyclist, Back Country, and had talked to the Path about what kind of deals they had going. The Rocky Mountains that they have on clearance check a lot of the boxes, but then it's another case of a press fit bottom bracket. Bummer...
I also missed out on a GG Trail Pistol frame on Pink Bike that went for a really good price... in about two hours. I probably would have been very happy with that one, too...Over the last few weeks, I made a spread sheet of all the offerings at the on-line retailers, comparing prices and component spec. If money were no option, it would have been a loaded Smash sitting in the garage.
I'm going on record to say that I will own one of their bikes someday... Back Country had a base model Hightower for $3299, which I thought was a pretty decent deal- $700 off the original price. Then last week it dropped to $2799 for the few that they had remaining. I texted J, and told him I was probably going to order a bike. When he responded that Active Junky was doing 12% cash back, it was a done deal... A new Hightower for not much more than I paid for the Chameleon. The lifetime frame warranty was also a big selling point. I tend to break things. It arrived last night when I was out on the Tuesday social. Thankfully I have a kid home for Thanksgiving, and he was able to carry it off the truck for the driver.
I did not expect it to be assembled, but my Back Country "gear advisor" emailed me the other day and sent a picture of the bike fully assembled... That was a pretty nice touch.
This box is huge...
This box is really well packed, but it looks pretty much assembled... And the tires have air.
Tires were mounted, and it sounds like there's 4 or 5 ounces of sealant in each. They both had 30+ pounds of air...
Awesomely packed... Eventually freed from its cardboard prison with a pair of cutters.
Not really much to do...
Lots of small touches in the packing...
Can't have the chain rubbing on the axle in transit...
We went to find some stairs to bounce on...
Plans for the future...
I'm still fussing with the cockpit and saddle. I'll probably lose a spacer or two under the stem, and I'll swap out the aluminum bars for the RaceFace carbon bars I have ready to go. I would have done it today, but I want to ride it stock for a ride or two.
The stock wheels were supposed to come with Novatec hubs, but they are SRAM. My last set of Novatec hubs disintegrated after 100 miles, so I'm happy to see they are something else. I've had good luck with SRAM's low end hubs in the past. I may keep this wheelset as a backup...
The everyday wheels will be a set of "JM Custom Wheels".
Silver Hope hubs with Arc 30 rims. Also in the box was a bag of goodies... The tires were loaded with sealant already, so I have some extra. Pretty nice touch.
Last edited:
2007
I will admit though that every so often I will hear a rock bounce off the rim or frame and I wince. Eh.. Oh well ride and have fun. 
But seriously, congrats on the new bike stoke and I'll wave at you as you go even faster down those hills in front of me....
