Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into the 2023 Santa Cruz Megatower GX AXS. If you're in the market for a long-travel enduro bike that can handle just about anything you throw at it, you’ve probably heard the buzz around this beast. Let's break down what makes this bike tick, from its updated geometry and suspension kinematics to its high-end components and overall ride feel. Whether you're a seasoned enduro racer or an aggressive trail rider, stick around – this review is for you.

Overview of the 2023 Santa Cruz Megatower

Let's kick things off with a general overview of the 2023 Santa Cruz Megatower. This bike is Santa Cruz’s flagship enduro machine, designed to conquer the gnarliest trails and handle the steepest descents with confidence. The Megatower has always been about pushing limits, and the 2023 model is no exception. Santa Cruz has refined the frame design, tweaked the suspension, and incorporated modern geometry to create a bike that’s both stable at high speeds and surprisingly nimble in tight corners.

One of the key updates for 2023 is the revised suspension kinematics. Santa Cruz has increased the anti-squat, which improves pedaling efficiency and reduces unwanted suspension bob when you're climbing. This is a welcome change, as previous versions of the Megatower were sometimes criticized for their pedaling performance. The updated suspension also offers a more progressive leverage curve, providing better bottom-out resistance on big hits. This means you can ride harder and faster without worrying about harsh bottom-outs.

The geometry of the 2023 Megatower has also been updated to reflect current trends in enduro bike design. The reach has been lengthened, the head tube angle has been slackened, and the seat tube angle has been steepened. These changes result in a bike that feels more stable at high speeds, more confident on steep terrain, and more efficient when climbing. The longer reach provides more room to move around on the bike, while the slacker head tube angle makes the steering more stable and predictable. The steeper seat tube angle puts you in a more upright position, which makes climbing feel easier and more efficient.

The 2023 Megatower is available in a range of builds, from the entry-level models with SRAM NX Eagle components to the high-end models with SRAM XX1 AXS. In this review, we're focusing on the GX AXS build, which offers a great balance of performance and value. The GX AXS drivetrain provides crisp, reliable shifting, while the RockShox suspension delivers smooth, controlled damping. The bike also comes with Santa Cruz’s Reserve carbon wheels, which are known for their durability and performance.

Key Features and Specs

Alright, let's dive into the nitty-gritty details and discuss the key features and specifications of the 2023 Santa Cruz Megatower GX AXS. Understanding these components will give you a better idea of what this bike is capable of and how it performs on the trail.

Frame and Geometry

The Megatower frame is constructed from Santa Cruz’s high-quality carbon fiber, which is known for its strength, stiffness, and lightweight properties. The frame features Santa Cruz’s VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) suspension design, which provides a balanced and controlled ride feel. The VPP system is designed to optimize pedaling efficiency, bump absorption, and overall suspension performance.

As mentioned earlier, the geometry of the 2023 Megatower has been updated to reflect modern trends in enduro bike design. The bike features a longer reach, a slacker head tube angle, and a steeper seat tube angle. These changes result in a bike that feels more stable at high speeds, more confident on steep terrain, and more efficient when climbing. Here’s a quick rundown of the key geometry figures:

• Reach: 475mm (size Large)
• Head Tube Angle: 63.5 degrees
• Seat Tube Angle: 77 degrees
• Wheelbase: 1277mm (size Large)

Suspension

The 2023 Megatower GX AXS comes with a RockShox suspension package that’s designed to handle the demands of aggressive trail riding. Up front, you get a RockShox Lyrik Select+ fork with 160mm of travel. The Lyrik is known for its smooth, controlled damping and its ability to soak up big hits. Out back, you get a RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ shock with 160mm of travel. The Super Deluxe shock provides a plush, supportive feel and offers plenty of adjustability to fine-tune the suspension to your liking.

The updated suspension kinematics of the 2023 Megatower provide a more progressive leverage curve, which improves bottom-out resistance on big hits. This means you can ride harder and faster without worrying about harsh bottom-outs. The increased anti-squat also improves pedaling efficiency and reduces unwanted suspension bob when you're climbing.

Drivetrain

The GX AXS in the name refers to the SRAM GX Eagle AXS drivetrain. This electronic drivetrain provides crisp, reliable shifting and eliminates the need for cables. The GX AXS system is easy to set up and use, and it offers a number of advantages over traditional mechanical drivetrains. For example, you can shift under load without worrying about dropping a chain, and you can customize the shifting behavior to your liking.

The GX Eagle AXS drivetrain consists of a rear derailleur, a shifter, and a battery. The rear derailleur is responsible for shifting the chain between the cogs on the cassette. The shifter sends signals to the rear derailleur to tell it when to shift. The battery powers the rear derailleur and the shifter. The GX Eagle AXS drivetrain offers a wide range of gears, which makes it easy to tackle steep climbs and fast descents.

Wheels and Tires

The 2023 Megatower GX AXS comes with Santa Cruz Reserve 30 carbon wheels. These wheels are known for their durability, performance, and lightweight properties. The Reserve 30 wheels are designed to be stiff and responsive, which helps to improve handling and acceleration. They are also tubeless-ready, which means you can run them without inner tubes for improved traction and reduced rolling resistance.

The bike comes with Maxxis Assegai tires up front and Maxxis Minion DHR II tires out back. These tires are a popular choice among enduro riders, as they offer a great balance of grip, rolling speed, and durability. The Assegai tire provides excellent cornering grip, while the Minion DHR II tire offers great braking traction and control.

Components

Rounding out the build is a selection of high-quality components, including a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post, a Santa Cruz handlebar, and a Burgtec stem. The Reverb Stealth dropper post allows you to lower your saddle out of the way for improved maneuverability on steep terrain. The Santa Cruz handlebar provides a comfortable and ergonomic grip, while the Burgtec stem offers a secure and reliable connection to the fork.

Riding Experience

Okay, now for the most important part: how does the 2023 Santa Cruz Megatower GX AXS actually ride? I've had the chance to put this bike through its paces on a variety of trails, from steep, technical descents to flowy singletrack and challenging climbs. Here’s what I’ve found:

Climbing

Let's be honest, the Megatower isn't exactly a mountain goat. With its long travel and slack geometry, it's not the most efficient climber out there. However, the updated suspension kinematics and the steeper seat tube angle do make a noticeable difference compared to previous versions. The increased anti-squat helps to minimize suspension bob, and the steeper seat tube angle puts you in a more upright position, which makes climbing feel more efficient.

While it might not be the fastest climber, the Megatower is still capable of tackling challenging climbs. The wide range of gears provided by the GX Eagle AXS drivetrain makes it easy to find the right gear for any situation, and the supportive suspension helps to maintain traction on technical climbs. Just be prepared to work a little harder than you would on a shorter-travel trail bike.

Descending

This is where the Megatower truly shines. This bike is an absolute beast on the descents, inspiring confidence and encouraging you to push your limits. The slack head tube angle and long wheelbase provide a stable and predictable ride feel, while the plush suspension soaks up bumps and chatter with ease. Whether you're navigating steep, rocky terrain or railing through berms, the Megatower feels planted and composed.

The updated suspension kinematics provide a more progressive leverage curve, which improves bottom-out resistance on big hits. This means you can ride harder and faster without worrying about harsh bottom-outs. The RockShox Lyrik fork and Super Deluxe shock work together seamlessly to provide a smooth, controlled ride feel. The Maxxis Assegai and Minion DHR II tires offer excellent grip and traction, allowing you to confidently tackle any terrain.

Handling

Despite its long travel and slack geometry, the Megatower is surprisingly nimble and responsive. The stiff carbon frame and the Reserve 30 carbon wheels provide a direct and precise feel, which makes it easy to change direction and navigate tight corners. The bike feels balanced and well-proportioned, which inspires confidence and allows you to ride aggressively.

The longer reach provides more room to move around on the bike, which is especially helpful on steep, technical terrain. The slacker head tube angle makes the steering more stable and predictable, which is crucial when riding at high speeds. Overall, the Megatower offers a balanced and refined handling experience that’s sure to impress even the most discerning riders.

Pros and Cons

To give you a clear picture, let's break down the pros and cons of the 2023 Santa Cruz Megatower GX AXS:

Pros:

• Excellent descending capabilities: This bike is a true descending machine, inspiring confidence and encouraging you to push your limits.
• Updated suspension kinematics: The updated suspension provides a more progressive leverage curve and improved pedaling efficiency.
• Modern geometry: The longer reach, slacker head tube angle, and steeper seat tube angle result in a bike that feels stable, confident, and efficient.
• High-quality components: The GX AXS drivetrain, RockShox suspension, and Santa Cruz Reserve wheels offer excellent performance and reliability.
• Stiff and responsive frame: The carbon frame provides a direct and precise feel, which improves handling and acceleration.

Cons:

• Climbing performance: The Megatower isn't the most efficient climber out there, requiring more effort than shorter-travel trail bikes.
• Price: The GX AXS build is relatively expensive, which may put it out of reach for some riders.
• Weight: While not excessively heavy, the Megatower is not the lightest bike in its class.

Final Verdict

So, what's the final verdict on the 2023 Santa Cruz Megatower GX AXS? Overall, this is an exceptional enduro bike that’s capable of handling just about anything you throw at it. It excels on the descents, offering a stable, confident, and controlled ride feel. While it may not be the fastest climber, the updated suspension kinematics and modern geometry do make a noticeable difference compared to previous versions. If you're looking for a long-travel enduro bike that can handle the gnarliest trails with ease, the Megatower is definitely worth considering.

The GX AXS build offers a great balance of performance and value, with its crisp, reliable shifting and smooth, controlled suspension. The Santa Cruz Reserve wheels are a nice touch, adding to the bike’s overall performance and durability. While the price may be a barrier for some, the Megatower is a worthwhile investment for serious enduro riders and aggressive trail riders alike.

In conclusion, the 2023 Santa Cruz Megatower GX AXS is a top-tier enduro bike that delivers exceptional performance in a wide range of conditions. Whether you're racing enduro, shredding bike park laps, or exploring backcountry trails, this bike is up to the task. If you're looking for a bike that can handle anything you throw at it, the Megatower is definitely worth a look. Happy trails, guys!