First Ride: 2023 Santa Cruz Nomad - Now With Mixed Wheels
Santa Cruz has been on a roll this year, updating their catalog with geometry changes and in-frame storage compartments for model after model. Next up is the venerable Nomad, the long-travel machine that's been a mainstay in the lineup since its introduction all the way back in 2005.
Version 6.0 of the Nomad keeps its 170mm of front and rear travel, but it's now running mixed wheel sizes, with a 29” wheel up front and 27.5” in the back. Along with the bigger front wheel, the new Nomad's geometry has been made a touch slacker and longer, although the changes aren't too wild. Once again, it's more about refinements rather than drastic revisions.
Version 6.0 of the Nomad keeps its 170mm of front and rear travel, but it's now running mixed wheel sizes, with a 29” wheel up front and 27.5” in the back. Along with the bigger front wheel, the new Nomad's geometry has been made a touch slacker and longer, although the changes aren't too wild. Once again, it's more about refinements rather than drastic revisions.
Nomad 6 Details
• Wheel size: 29" front / 27.5" rear
• Travel: 170mm
• C & CC carbon frames
• 63.5º head angle (low)
• 77.6º seat tube angle (size L, low)
• 444mm chainstays (size L, low)
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Weight: 33.5 lb / 15.2 kg (size L, X01 AXS RSV)
• Price: $5,649 - $11,199 USD
• santacruzbicycles.com
• Wheel size: 29" front / 27.5" rear
• Travel: 170mm
• C & CC carbon frames
• 63.5º head angle (low)
• 77.6º seat tube angle (size L, low)
• 444mm chainstays (size L, low)
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Weight: 33.5 lb / 15.2 kg (size L, X01 AXS RSV)
• Price: $5,649 - $11,199 USD
• santacruzbicycles.com
There's also a Glovebox for stashing tools and tubes inside the frame, and tweaks to the bike's kinematics designed to increase the suspension's sensitivity and consistency.
There are 10 different build options, with prices ranging from $5,649 for the R kit all the way up to 11,109 USD for the XO1 Reserve build.
Frame Details
The Nomad's frame has all of the accoutrements that Santa Cruz has become known for. A threaded bottom bracket, tube-in-tube internal cable routing, chainslap protection in the right places, room for a full size water bottle, a universal derailleur hanger, grease ports for the lower link bearings –there really isn't anything missing.
There's that Glovebox too, which has a small latch that allows access to the inside of the downtube. A neoprene tool wallet and tube purse are also included to help with organization and keep things from rattling around inside the frame.
There are two frame color options, Gloss Gypsum, which is sort of a white / purple / grey depending on the lighting, and matte black. The frame uses a 230 x 65mm shock, and is compatible with air or coil options.
Geometry
Compared to the previous generation, the Nomad's head angle has been slackened by a scant .2-degrees, and the reach numbers remain the same, although keep in mind that it does have a 29” front wheel now. The 472mm reach of a size large is a little shorter than the 480 / 485mm number that multiple other companies have settled on, but that's not necessarily a negative. Remember, there's more to how a bike rides than one or two numbers on a chart.
There's also a new XXL option in the mix with a 520mm reach for all the taller riders out there.
The most substantial geometry change occurs at the chainstays – the length has been increased by around 8mm depending on the size. This was done to improve the fore / aft balance of the bike, especially since it now has mixed wheels. The chainstay lengths grow as the frame size gets larger, starting at 439mm for the small and going all the way up to 450mm for the XXL.
Suspension Layout
Not surprisingly, the Nomad retains its familiar lower-link driven VPP suspension layout. The Nomad's initial leverage ratio has been decreased, and it's actually slightly less progressive than before. It's still coil shock compatible, but the changes should help make for more consistent performance throughout the entire travel range.
The anti-squat has also been decreased, which Santa Cruz says was done to reduce suspension harshness and to improve climbing traction.
Prices
R-Kit $5,649
S-Kit $6,799
GX AXS-Kit $8,499
GX AXS-Kit Reserve $9,799
X01-Kit (CC) $9,299
X01 AXS-Kit Reserve $11,199
Spec Check
There's no getting around the fact that Santa Cruz's prices are on the higher end of the spectrum – this is not the place to look if you're trying to stretch your dollars as far as possible. That said, the parts in the various build kits are well selected, and if a bike has a GX drivetrain it has a full GX drivetrain, not just a derailleur to make it seem that way. All of the bikes have some version of SRAM's Code brakes with 200mm rotors front and rear, and all models get bash guards as well.
Interestingly, the build kits with coil shocks get Maxxis' DoubleDown casing tires, and the ones with air shocks get EXO+. Maybe coil users are more likely to make poor line choices?
My only real gripe with the kits is the 175mm hydraulic Reverb on the size large frames. I moaned a little bit about this when the new Hightower came out, but in this case it's even more relevant. The Nomad is essentially a pedalable DH bike – I want the seat as far out of the way as possible in the steeps, and I know I'm not the only one. There are also plenty of less expensive cable-actuated posts on the market that work just as well (or better) than the Reverb and have adjustable travel to boot.
Ride Impressions
The previous version of the Nomad was a fun-loving, relatively mild-mannered machine, a long travel, do-everything bike that didn't seem to mind if the terrain wasn't always super steep and rough. The new version still maintains most of those easygoing traits, but the revisions it's received, including that 29” front wheel, take its capabilities to the next level.
Considering how similar the Nomad's geometry numbers are to the Megatower, I wasn't sure how much difference there would be between the two out on the trail. They even share the same front triangle, so it really comes down to the Nomad's smaller rear wheel and slightly differerent kinematics. As it turns out, all of the subtle alterations add up to something much more substantial.
In all honesty, the newest Megatower hasn't really blown me away, and I've put in a significant amount of ride time on it this season. It's what I'd consider a Very Good bike, but it doesn't have the little extra bit of special sauce to push it into the Great category. That hasn't been the case with the new Nomad – after a handful of rides it's currently making its way towards the top of my list of favorite bikes this year.
What's so special about it? For me, it's the way the suspension allows for heels-down plowing while also maintaining enough support for pedaling or pumping through flatter sections of trail. With the Float X2 there haven't been any harsh bottom outs, and I've sent this thing extra-deep on more than one occasion, mainly because it seems like that's the way it wants to be ridden. I try not to use the phrase 'confidence inspiring' more than once or twice a year since it's become such a cliche, but in this case it's an appropriate one. The Nomad has plenty of travel for dealing with big hits and rugged terrain, with an extra dash of speed that makes it a highly addictive bike to ride.
The Nomad's suspension does feel a little softer off the top than the Megatower, which meant I was more likely to reach for the climb switch on smoother climbs, but it remains calm enough while pedaling that leaving it open all the time is totally feasible.
While the Nomad's reach numbers may be on the slightly shorter side of the modern spectrum, that's balanced out by the slack head angle and the moderately long chainstays that provide plenty of stability at higher speeds. Lately, my preference for a mixed-wheel configuration on longer travel bikes has been growing, and that continues with the Nomad. Along with creating more rubber-to-rear-end clearance, it feels easier to pick up and place the rear wheel, especially in the steeps.
I am curious about how the Nomad will hold up over a longer term test period – considering that sky-high price tag you'd hope that it would be absolutely flawless. There are a bunch more hard miles in this bike's future, including a couple of big enduro races and lots of bike park laps – I'll report back with a final verdict and comparisons to other bikes in this category once it's truly been through the wringer.
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A bike, at its core, is represented by its front triangle. If the front triangle is the same one from Megatower, why they just didn't called it Megatower Mx and called it a day?, why the mockery to the Nomad name?
EDIT: www.bike24.com/p2332941.html?utm_source=parcellab&utm_medium=email&utm_content=any&utm_campaign=any&utm_term=any
at this point, they could start making race strategies with guy who brings the water to the team members and/or the cleaning ladies.
Cheaper for SC, lol well you know the end story if you know SC's these days, and saw the price tag for us...
It's personal choice at the end of the day a mixed wheel bike or a full 29r might be slightly faster but i cant help but feel i have to ride faster with a higher level of shit hitting the fan if things go wrong for the same level of excitement.
You can still carry 1 tube. I've used 29er tubes in 27.5 and vice-versa. It works fine.
Guess I'm the stupid one lol.
26” and 27.5” will always turn better, lift ( wheelie) easier and weigh less…
If you were to swap worn front tires to the rear, you would have purchased 13 tires and saved $500 over that same time period. Saving ~28% on tires seems well worth my time, and I'd argue it's more fun to ride a partially worn rear tire. #TheyDidTheMath
And fast = fun in my head. I will never understand all you guys who say they have more fun going slower. I own a bmx (2 in fact) and a trials bike for slow paced fun. The mtb is for going as fast as i can. (which to clarify, isn't all that fast, but its still funner than going slower)
But it isn't about faster...the difference is small, what is noticeable is how much of a pig they feel to ride...hell even a 27.5 feels like a total pig compared to 26 but it's a good middle ground wheel size that gets hung up less in potholes whilst maintaining some agility and poppiness. There was even a time when gmbn and few others were testing plus tyres and saying they were faster too...but they never took off. People say they are rubbish for racing on or not durable enough, yet gmbn was finding in some situations and so were some e bikers that actually the plus tyres can be faster. Most are on 29 because it's the new fad and mostly all you can by. If the industry decided in a few years 28.25 is the best everyone would be buzzing about that next. If you want fun on anything other than black trails go ride a 10kg hardtail...that is miles more fun and feels a lit faster even if it isn't than a 29 inch monster truck.
global.pivotcycles.com/collections/part-1/products/17mm-lower-headset-cup
If I was spending money on one it would be the Oneup or PNW though.
This coming from someone who swore off reverbs from the thumb plunger days.
As hard as it is to believe looking at the price of this thing, at least part of that cost savings gets passed to the consumer.
For sure if you buy the parts for your bike over time you have more chance of finding deals. But the other thing is that even if you don't save money, you get to choose where/what parts to put your money into. Some people want DH brakes on their trail bikes, some don't. A deore crank works just as good as an XTR crank, so maybe no reason to spend money there? Flip side is the XTR crank is a little lighter, has much better resale or you know you can just keep transferring it to new builds for a couple decades. Point is you get to choose...
I run V4 Nomad which is pretty similar to V5. For last year I've been moaning that I would like to get a bigger wheel on the front - purely for the speed. I am using this bike for everything - bikeparks, enduro racing, even some DH racing. Wondering if I should try a bigger wheel or keep the V4 with me forever
Only morons and clowns comment on the internet, dont let yourself be tricked into thinking its properly ratioed sample of a community.
But please everyone, keep chirping as much as possible about the through the headset routing, nobody likes it.
On the upside, if a company like Santa Cruz doesn't make a bike that is what you want, there's enough companies that someone probably does...
If you're trying to impart wisdom on a group of morons and clowns you are firmly in both camps.
Remember bikes that came 29 or 27.5+ (2.5")?
Now they're just 29", even if the bike can still take 27.5+
I think "they" will see similar lack of broad enthusiasm for MX,
and try to maximize appeal by expanding manufacturer approved configurations.
I'm guessing the aftermarket lower headset spacers (e.g. Wolftooth Lower Headset Cup Extender)
referenced in earlier comments will be adopted by bike manufacturers,
just as link/frame flip chips have become standard issue.
Five years ago that was a unique feature.
Aftermarket companies like Wolf Tooth are more agile than bike brands,
and more in tune with customer demand,
so are a good indicator of where things are headed
www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/wolf-tooth-lower-headset-cup-extender-ec-external-cup
Long live the Nomad 27.5!!
Needing to include one of two forks is too complex/expensive for most brands,
and your average bike shopping customer won't see "just replace fork!" as an acceptable/attractive "feature."
HOWEVER, fork manufacturers could get on board,
and make something like the Fox TALAS system
for quickly switching travel to accomodate 27.5 and 29 compatibility.
But I think suspension engineers wouldn't accept the compromises necessary to make this possible,
especially on high end forks, which is probably why the TALAS system got retired (I think?)
I actually see no point for a 27.5 tire anymore for general trail riding. Big or small chunk, thr 29er tire just rolls over everything so much more easier and more proficiently. Also a front 29" tire is safer as it is much more forgiving of bad lines.
Everyone talks about how much faster a 29er or Mullet is over a 27.5 bike, but to me it seems a 29er or Mullett benefits us slower guys more than the fast guys.
29ers do feel cumbersome at times, and do turn slower, but the slower ruening is easy to get use to and eventually you wont even notice it .
As for a Mullet, to me they feel the same as a 27.5 bike as far as Playfulness and nimbleness goes, but they easily outclass 27.5 bikes in everything rlse. That big front tire makes riding easier as it just roll over a everything so mich easier and they do not get hung up like a 27.5 bike.
I do love 27.5 bikes, have 2 myself that I plan to keep forever, but moving forward, all future bikes I purchase will be a 29er or Mullet.
PS: I also love 26 bikes. I still have my 2000 Intense Tracer, and 1999 Litespeed, but I would never go back to 26ers either.
I am just Say'n! I know it is always 95% rider, a good rider will be good on any bike, but he can always be even better because of the bike. Has all these Haters even tried 29er for an extended period of time? Or even tried a Mullet at all? I think the Haters riding experience will even be better on a Mullet. 27.5 bikes have disappeared from World Cup XC and DH events, as well as in the EWS. Please discuss...
Just need a proper lower headset cup extender, and you're clear to run as 27.5 too (e.g. www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/headset-related/products/wolf-tooth-lower-headset-cup-extender-zs-zero-stack )
You'd better compare VW with Porsche
Not even "form follows function" comes to mind seeing these matte, flat-licked, carbon velos.
Oh look, yet another technically superb SC.
Oh look, yet another 5 figure price tag.
I'm bored. I inherited a fortune. I buy a SC. Off to the maledives, tomorrow.
You dont watch dh and never heard of 50to01?
I used to ride a SC 5010 (version 2) and it was such a fun bike. i just don't get that from them any more.
I don't mind the high cost personally (not that I have one, but I know people that do) - they've positioned themselves as a premium brand, seem to support shops and events, run a World Cup team, and have good service when it does wrong. You can pay less elsewhere but don't get all of the above.
Santa Cruz the new Yeti for dentists and doctors
Lol unless you spend $11,200 on the X01 AXS RSV build, in which they short change you and you get a GX AXS Shifter!
Already writing, I take the opportunity to give my opinion on the wheel size from the point of view of a fan of the full 27.5: sometimes I use my father's XC 29 for what I understand the superior grip in turns that the larger front wheel has, plus the best absorption of bumps so it seems logical that the mullet option gives slightly higher performance. The point is that mullets are very ugly. You can tell me that the Fiat Multipla is the best car in the world that I will not be able to leave all my savings on it. Apart from the belief that 90% of performance comes from the skills of the rider
Depends what trails you ride, etc, but I can absolutely see why some may go for a mullet trail bike.
I'm 6'2" for the record...
All the bikes share the same frame design, the main differences beeing the suspensions travel and the wheels size.
Maybe SC should consider to release an online tool on which buyers could choose the frame category, the wheels size and the type of suspensions... and all the other parts
That would be quite a premium service that would match the selling price.
I’m willing to bet that the upcoming review of the new Megatower will also talk about the shortcomings of the first version (which was “very good” when it was reviewed) while focusing on the new one being “very good”
Santa Cruz makes some good bikes. The only problem is that they aren't any better than a lot of other bikes that give way better value for the money to boot. I know there are people that will pay a premium solely for the name printed on the frame, and that's fine. I'm just not one of them.
Still feels awfully high priced but I do appreciate that the entry level build isn't just a money pit waiting for unsuspecting newcomers.
Aren't we supposed to chug a beer or take a shot when this pops up?
Moving on, the DELTA and VPP suspension systems are very different. I've ridden both and while I was not a fan of the earlier iterations of the VPP design, the current lower link designs are damn good. The annoying pedal kickback that plagued their previous models is in the past. Conversely, the DELTA system is really not like anything else save ironically Santa Cruz's APP from a dozen years ago. As for why anyone would go for one over the other is simply a matter of personal tastes.
As for my tastes (or lack thereof), I've ridden Evil bikes for the last five and a half years. On the plus side, they flat out rip, are low maintenance and yes the cliche "confidence inspiring" is 100% on point. If I was going to buy a new one I'd get an Insurgent. I will say on the down side, they are expensive, their finishes are just okay, they are not so great for tall riders (not my problem) and they are hard to come by being rarely in stock since the plague started.
So what does the Nomad say to me? KILL! No wait, sorry that's the wraith that visits me nightly in my dreams says to me. The Mad's geo numbers are bang on for what I want to do, nice actual steep seat angle (little to no shuttling down here), SC is known for making super high quality frames and they have the one of best warranties available. Furthermore, in frame storage is awesome and why every bike manufacturer isn't working to get this on their trail and enduro rigs is beyond me. Lastly, it comes in black. KILL! \m/
So the big question is-would the MegaTower also get the special sauce if the linkage was revised so the kinematics matched this bike?
Kinda suspect that's what would happen. And will happen when SC is due to refresh the Plower.
Tried manuals on so many different over the years, could never solve what the formula was, but I knew chainstay length wasn't the complete answer because some bikes with somewhat longer chainstays were the easiest to hold a manual on...
Got a full 29er Marin Alpine Trail 7 and it’s definitely faster over all except on the steeps when I buzz my butt lol.
So basically a mullet is the best of all…. Hopefully!
Makes sense to me! Changing the saddle is too much faff, I'm going to buy a 10k long travel full suspension instead.
If your over 6ft roll a 29
If your over 5’5” but under 6ft roll a 27
If your under 5’5” your a midget & should roll 26.
Just look at the womens WC field. 90% of them look like the bike is in control & awkward as f*ck.
Don’t get me started on bar width in that class ♂️
its never been a trail bike..
bit of a nothing statement really.
I had a Mki, a Mkii and a Mkii with a push link (basically a Mkiii).
I have not tried the later Nomads, heard there was issues with them cracking when ridden hard (from riders with them who cracked a few).
@BiNARYBiKE: You might have been pushing a tank up a hill 12 years ago but I wasnt. I had a bike with an angle set in it, ran 1 ring up front and a coil or air shock out back depending on what I was riding/racing.
I had a Nomad and a VPFree in the past from SantaCruz. They weighed mid 30's and I could ride my VPFree at 32lb at the lightest.
Too slack is just that though, too slack, if the top riders in EWS are running angle sets to steepen their head angles then you have to wonder where the "slack" revolution is going to end up.... steeper once they have sold you long and slack bikes I would guess.
I have a nice slack Mega with trail and Dh wheelsets, a Dh bike (I race Dh) and an xc/trail bike (Tallboy v2, run in the high setting).
Its amazing what that Tallboy can climb and it doesnt shy away from the descents either, there are so many water bars up in the mountains here and the pop of a capable short travel bike makes timing hopping them at speed so much easier than the mega.
(but that might be just me, I would consider myself a reasonable ish rider)
My opinion may be right, it may be wrong, without testing for yourself you will never know (unless you listen to sales and marketing telling you what is best for you)
Santacruz have traditionally shied away from "progressive" geometry.
I go with what works for me through testing to formulate my opinion for myself.
My Mega is one of the worst climbing bikes I have ever ridden, it is quick down a hill though, but I have a Dh bike for going quicker down a hill
I enjoy the gnarly stuff but can ride it all on my 110mm travel hightower V2 and pedal it to the top very quickly.
Love the gnarr. Can't wait for world masters Dh at Fort William in 2024. I go up to grand vets too which will be awesome.
My best time on an old 26 V10 down Fort William in a race is a 5.05.
Slacker, longer, big wheels 5.21.
Of course long and slack is faster and it has nothing to do with the rider etc
@mobiler: I was riding probably the most technical stuff that can be ridden in the mountains last weekend (not down as down is easy when its super technical), a slacker seat angle allows the front to be unweighted easier for hitting babies head rock after babies head rock. It would be most peoples idea of pure torture, after several hours of it (over 20 miles of gnarr low gradient stuff) and some hike a bike the benefits of that slacker seat angle are so apparent, I was cleaning and riding stuff I have never ridden before. I went steep seat angle many many years ago with a Thomson layback post fitted backward, so have done the latest Chris Porter trend a long time before the current fashion, before dropper posts when we went up with the saddle around 1" down and came down with the saddle down (just like now but without a lever on the bars to help). I also noticed at the weekend that a 120mm dropper was totally fine as the saddle was not where my knees wanted to be whilst descending.
Each to their own though and folk should ride what makes them happy.
It's amazing how our personal science experiments can get so far off track. I just spent a month on a borrowed dialled in bike, when I got back to my bike I was like how did I end up here? I reset everything and started over
I am a reasonable rider, trail builder and design engineer so understand about testing (although I hate the term PDDV).
Some local XC
youtu.be/CmoNnEPtNUM?t=646
Everyone arrives at a different happy place in different ways. To each their own. Engineers and mortals alike.
Don't have 45 podiums, 6 regional titles and current national title. Haha
Omg, I hate being a riding beginner who is clueless. Said by some WC pals that I test more than them
Mullet bike threads wouldn't be the same without him.
Fact is I see straight through all the bullsh*t. Shame other don't or chose not too. Fad will die.
Im not the one who is refusing to see through the bollox.
E-bikes I've given a proper try a couple of times now, and they have the fun of neither. They have a throttle that you can't control (pedals), on a platform too heavy to feel fun, and all without the endorphins of putting in a proper effort.