# Santa Cruz Hightower 70 vs Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore): specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Santa Cruz Hightower 70 (Santa Cruz) and Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore) (Ibis) among mountain bikes. Santa Cruz Hightower 70 is the cheaper of the two at $5149.

## Side by side

| Spec | Santa Cruz Hightower 70 | Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $5149 | $5999 |
| Brand | Santa Cruz | Ibis |
| Released | 2026 | 2026 |
| Frame material | Carbon C | Carbon |
| Wheel size | 29" | 29" (MX 27.5" rear on S-M sizes) |
| Fork travel (mm) | 160 | 160 |
| Rear travel (mm) | 150 | 150 |
| Suspension type | VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) | DW-Link |
| Drivetrain speeds | 12 | 12 |
| Groupset | SRAM Eagle 70 T-Type | Shimano Deore M6100 |
| Brake type | SRAM DB8, 200mm Centerline rotors | Shimano Deore M6120, 4-piston, 200/200mm rotors |
| Weight (lb) | — | 31.11 |

## Key differences

- Frame material: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 Carbon C vs Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore) Carbon
- Wheel size: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 29" vs Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore) 29" (MX 27.5" rear on S-M sizes)
- Suspension type: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) vs Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore) DW-Link
- Groupset: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 SRAM Eagle 70 T-Type vs Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore) Shimano Deore M6100
- Brake type: Santa Cruz Hightower 70 SRAM DB8, 200mm Centerline rotors vs Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore) Shimano Deore M6120, 4-piston, 200/200mm rotors

## Sources

- Santa Cruz Hightower 70: https://www.wheatridgecyclery.com/product/santa-cruz-hightower-70-1238854-1.htm (wheatridgecyclery.com, verified 2026-08-01)
- Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore): https://www.ibiscycles.com/bikes/ripmo/ (ibiscycles.com, verified 2026-08-01)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/mountain-bikes/santa-cruz-hightower-70-vs-ibis-ripmo-v3-deore/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Santa Cruz Hightower 70 ($5149) vs Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore) ($5999) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/mountain-bikes/santa-cruz-hightower-70-vs-ibis-ripmo-v3-deore/
License: CC BY 4.0.
