What Our Gearhead(R) Experts Are Saying:"I've ridden a lot of hardtails, and the Highball 90 stands out for how fast it climbs and how stable it feels at speed. The carbon frame feels razor-sharp on punchy terrain, and the T-Type drivetrain shifts buttery smooth even under load. It's my go-to for long XC races and fast trail laps when I want pure speed."Whether we're lining up for race day or chasing KOMs on our favorite lunch loop, the Santa Cruz Highball 90 gives us the relentless speed and razor-sharp handling we need to push our limits. This is Santa Cruz's purebred XC hardtail-light, responsive, and built around their Carbon C layup that balances weight and durability for riders who demand speed without compromise. The Highball 90 build features SRAM's cutting-edge T-Type transmission, delivering crisp and dependable shifting through a 10-52t cassette that eats steep climbs for breakfast. Up front, a RockShox SID SL Select fork with remote lockout keeps the ride efficient on fire roads and composed through chattery descents. And with modern touches like 3 bottle mounts, a 27. 2mm carbon post for extra comfort, and DT Swiss 370 hubs laced to RaceFace AR rims, we get a race-worthy ride that's just as good for epic weekend loops as it is for the podium. Heads up - We do our best to keep bike specs and images current, but occasional component changes can happen without warning-and sometimes the photos might not show the exact build you'll receive. If you want to double-check the details, our Gearheads are always here to help.