Santa Cruz Highball
XC hardtail racers.
XC hardtail. Stiff, fast, and steep enough to race. Chameleon is the more trail-oriented hardtail.
XC hardtail racers.
XC hardtail. Stiff, fast, and steep enough to race. Chameleon is the more trail-oriented hardtail.
Riders on older Epics. For 2024-on, use Epic 8 / Epic World Cup pages.
Pre-Epic 8 generations, including Brain-shock years. XC race bikes of their era — steeper and shorter-travel than a modern trail 29er.
Riders on older Epics. For 2024-on, use Epic 8 / Epic World Cup pages. The S-Works kit is the halo build — same geometry as the non-S-Works page for this year, different parts.
Pre-Epic 8 generations, including Brain-shock years. XC race bikes of their era — steeper and shorter-travel than a modern trail 29er.
XC racers who want a little rear travel without a full-suspension trail posture.
Short-travel IsoStrut XC. It pedals like a hardtail until the rear end takes the edge off roots. Not a trail bike.
| Measurement |  Santa CruzHighball 2026 |  SpecializedEpic 2021 |  SpecializedS-Works Epic 2021 |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stackmm | 614 | 611−3 | 611−3 | 590−24 |
| Reachmm | 460 | 460 | 460 | 450−10 |
| Head tube angle° | 67.0 | 68.5+1.5 | 68.5+1.5 | 67.5+0.5 |
| Seat tube angle° | 73.5 | 74.5+1.0 | 74.5+1.0 | 74.5+1.0 |
| Chainstaymm | 430 | 435+5 | 435+5 | 435+5 |
| Wheelbasemm | 1180 | 1169−11 | 1169−11 | 1153−27 |
| BB dropmm | 58 | 48−10 | 48−10 | 46−12 |
| BB heightmm | — | — | — | — |
| Standovermm | — | — | — | — |
| Part | Highball L | Epic L | S-Works Epic L | Supercaliber ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stem | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm |
| Bar | 800 mm | 800 mm | 800 mm | 800 mm |
| Crank | 175 mm | 175 mm | 175 mm | 175 mm |
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Specialized Epic Evo Expert is streets ahead of its rivals in sizing and geometry. Long reach gives you freedom to get creative on any trail.
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