Best Mountain Bikes · head-to-head

Santa Cruz Hightower 70 vs Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore)

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Santa Cruz Hightower 70 is cheaper at $5149. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Santa Cruz Hightower 70 or Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore)?

On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Santa Cruz Hightower 70 is the cheaper at $5149.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Santa Cruz Hightower 70 Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore)
US price $5149 $5999
BrandSanta CruzIbis
Released20262026
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

Sources — Santa Cruz Hightower 70: wheatridgecyclery.com (verified 2026-08-01). Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore): ibiscycles.com (verified 2026-08-01).

What's the difference between the Santa Cruz Hightower 70 and Ibis Ripmo V3 (Deore)?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 9). Matching specs are omitted.

  • 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

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