Compare/Santa Cruz Highball vs Specialized Epic Hardtail

Head to headMountain

Highball

Epic Hardtail

Santa Cruz

Specialized

Starting price

Highball$3,299

Epic Hardtail$3,600

Claimed weight

Highball10.15 kg (22.4 lb)

Epic Hardtail10.37 kg (22.9 lb)

Tire clearance

Highball61 mm

Epic Hardtail—

Builds available

Highball5

Epic Hardtail1

01 / Overview

Overview

03 / Specifications

Where the builds differ.

Comparing our editor's-pick builds side-by-side. Winners highlighted row-by-row — lower price and weight, and the better-spec component, each mark a point.

01Frameset

Highball

X0 AXS RSV · $7,899

Epic Hardtail

Comp SRAM S-1000 AXS RockShox SID SL · $3,600

Claimed weight

10.15 kg (22.4 lb)

10.37 kg (22.9 lb)

Frame material

Carbon CC frame

Specialized FACT 11m, Progressive XC Geometry, Rider-First Engineered™, threaded BB, UDH, 12x148mm rear spacing, internal cable routing

Fork

RockShox SID SL Ultimate, 3-position, 100mm, w/ remote

Rockshox SID SL, Rush RL Damper, Debon Air, 15x110mm, 44mm offset, S-XL: 110mm Travel, XS: 90mm Travel

Tire clearance

61 mm

—

02Groupset

Shift levers

SRAM AXS Pod Controller (right), Rocker Paddle

Sram AXS POD Controller

Rear derailleur

SRAM X0 Eagle AXS T-Type, 12-speed

SRAM S-1000 Eagle Transmission

Cassette

SRAM X0 Eagle T-Type, 10-52T

SRAM XS 1270 Transmission, 10-52t

Crankset

SRAM X0 Eagle DUB T-Type crankset, 34T

SRAM S1000 Eagle, DUB, 165/170/175mm, 34T

Brakes

SRAM Level Silver Stealth 4-piston

SRAM Level Bronze 2-piston, Stealth

03Wheelset

Front wheel

Reserve 28|XC Carbon; DT Swiss 350, 15x110mm, Centerlock, 24h

Specialized 29, 27mm inner width, 28h, tubeless ready; Specialized alloy, sealed cartridge bearings, 6-bolt, 15x110mm thru-axle, 28h; DT Swiss Industry

Rear wheel

Reserve 28|XC Carbon; DT Swiss 350, 12x148mm, XD driver, Centerlock, 24h, 36T

Specialized 29, 27mm inner width, 28h, tubeless ready; Specialized alloy, sealed cartridge bearings, 6-bolt, 12x148mm thru-axle, 28h; DT Swiss Industry

Front tire

Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.35, EXO

Specialized Fast Trak, Control Casing, T7 Compound, 29x2.35

04Cockpit

Handlebar / stem

Santa Cruz Carbon Flat Bar, 31.8x760mm, 7mm rise

Specialized Alloy Minirise, 10mm rise, 750mm, 31.8mm clamp

Saddle

WTB Silverado Medium Fusion, CroMo SL

Body Geometry Power Sport, steel rails

Seatpost

OneUp Dropper Post, 27.2mm

Specialized Alloy, Single Bolt, 30.9mm

03.1

Build variants & pricing

Highball · 5 builds$3,299 – $7,899

X0 AXS RSV

SRAM X0 Eagle AXS T-Type · Reserve 28|XC Carbon; DT Swiss 350

$7,899

GX AXS

SRAM GX Eagle AXS T-Type · RaceFace ARC Offset 27 (29"); DT Swiss 370

$5,049

SRAM 90 Eagle T-Type · RaceFace AR Offset 27 29"; DT Swiss 370

$4,149

SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed · Race Face AR Offset 27 (29"); DT Swiss 370

$3,999

SRAM NX Eagle

$3,299

Epic Hardtail · 1 builds$3,600

Comp SRAM S-1000 AXS RockShox SID SL

SRAM S-1000 Eagle Transmission · Specialized 29

$3,600

04 / Geometry

How they fit, how they steer.

Reach × Stack · size —mm

Where the handlebar sits relative to the bottom bracket — the single most important fit pair.

Highball

Epic Hardtail

size —

Reach—

——

Stack—

——

Head tube angle—

——

Trail—

——

Chainstay length—

——

Wheelbase—

——

Top tube (effective)—

——

04.1

Which size should I buy?

Your height

5'8"173 cm

5'0"5'5"5'10"6'3"6'7"

Highball

5'7" – 5'10"

Fits riders in this height range.

Epic Hardtail

—

Fits riders in this height range.

→These are starting points. Flexibility, riding style, and preferred position all shift the answer — if you’re between sizes, a professional fit beats a chart.

05 / Reviews