Santa Cruz Nomad Frame: With longer legs than most trail bikes and a lot less bulk than most freeride bikes, the Nomad sits in a class of it?s own. On one hand you?ve got a light but strong aluminum frame and 160mm of VPP travel. And on the
Submitted by
Kerry
a Weekend Warrior
from Kelowna B.C.
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2011
Strengths: Well balanced trail machine that does everything I ask it to.
Weaknesses: None yet. Nothing but fun here.
Bottom Line:
Had ridden a Bullit in many different forms since 2002. It was an awesome bike that was 1 size too small once I got into more all mtn type riding. I'm 5'11" and moved to a large when I bought the Nomad. This is an awesome bike that is doing everything I need which is light freeride to a bit of XC. The Okanagan is perfect for an all mtn bike and the Nomad does it all so well especially now that I'm on a proper fitting bike. The Giant is a bit lighter duty and it showed but if I wasn't hitting as many jumps, it would've been an excellent choice for me. Anyways, the rocks plain and simple. Ride one and it won't dissapoint.
Bike Setup: DHX Air, Van 36 RC2, X9 drivetrain, Elixir brakes, Crossmax SX wheelset.
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Submitted by
pwrtrainer
a Cross Country Rider
from Flagstaff, Az
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2011
Strengths: Great bike. I have the first generation with the 1.5 headtube. I came from a Specialized Pitch and didn't realize how much more intuitive the axle path is on the nomad until I descended. It climbs very well and handles my heavy behind nicely. All in all very pleased with the purchase and will likely buy another when the time comes.
Weaknesses: Pedal bob when out of the saddle in the granny. I love the way the bike climbs, but sometimes this bobbing can lead to a bad line or a dab. No biggie, but it is there.
Bottom Line:
Great bike when a deal can be found. They are pricey, but I was "upgrading" my Specialized bikes very frequently simply because they were built very proprietarily. Every action voided every warranty. With the SC you still have that risk, but you can replace parts yourself and not void everything, or so I think. if you can find a lightly used 08 version, go for it. will last years to come and will likely just change the bearnings and keep going.
Similar Products Used: Specialized pitch, Intense 6.6.
Bike Setup: Heavy
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Submitted by
jemmett75
a Weekend Warrior
from Lodi, CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2011
Strengths: 32lb 6.5 travel bike climbs well, even with me on it. Articulates and floats over obstacles. Appears to be an all around well oiled machine for what ever trail you choose.
Weaknesses: The grease fitting design is moderate at best. They frequently come out of the pressed area of the lower link. Originally it was built with a hollow pin chain. I dont recommend this chain for any type of down hill. This caused significant chain rub/slap damage to the chain stay and front of the drive train. It also tweaked my front derailure a little. But these are parts not the actual bike.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. My only downfall is not riding it as much as I would like to. It can handle any trail you face. The price will smack you, but if you really love riding it's worth saving up for. Craigslist will usually have this bike for a decent price range, but please do your research. Rackem!
Similar Products Used: 06 Specialized Enduro Pro, 2011 SC Heckler
Bike Setup: Fox 36 Talas 160mm, Fox DHX air, 2.3 WTB weirwolfs, DT Swiss rims/wheels, Avid Elixer CR brakes, Havoc Stem, Specialized Command Post.
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Submitted by
bserk
a Downhiller
from Ipswich, QLD, Australia
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2010
Strengths: Able to climb tall hills, descend like you mean it
Weaknesses: fear of cracking the frame... White matt frame marks easily...
Bottom Line:
This is a heck of a lot stiffer than my other Nomad. But that just means taking those corners/berms becomes faster. Get your set up right and will cut like a hot knife thru butter down the trails. Climbs like my Mojo. The ULTIMATE do all bike. Nuff said.
Similar Products Used: Reign, Ransom Ltd, 08 Nomad
Bike Setup: Fox 36 Talas, Fox DHX 5.0, Crank Brothers Iodines, dual Saint cranks, Saint f & r derailleur, Code brakes, Rock Shock Reverb
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Submitted by
apecush
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, Alberta
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2010
Strengths: Strong frame, great climber for a 6.5" travel bike, fast on downhills. VPP rear suspension is phenomenal.
Weaknesses: Fork stiction, cheap crankset in RAM package, clearcoated paint chipping before 1st ride, lead time from Santa Cruz (took 2 months instead of the quoted week)
Bottom Line:
Shouldn't have waited so long to go FS. This bike does everything I ask it to, both uphill and down.
Similar Products Used: My first FS bike - previously rode a hardtail (fisher paragon)
Bike Setup: RS Lyrik SA-R fork, Fox DHX air shock, DTSwiss ES2200 wheels, LX hollowtech crankset (replaced stock non-hollowtech shimano), R-AM package (xt/10sp rear)
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Submitted by
belljr13
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodside, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2010
Strengths: Quality built frame, VPP allows most of the power to the rear wheel on climbs and comes alive on fast tech descents. Grease ports on lower link. Anodizing is tougher than powder coat.
Weaknesses: On slow speed tech climbs, VPP can hang up and stall on square edged rocks/ bumps.
Bottom Line:
It's amazing that I can ride my local trails that involve climbing and still go to Downieville and Northstar on the same bike. The large geo is perfect for me: 230lbs. 6'.
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mountain Flatline, Giant Glory, Specialized Enduro
Bike Setup: 36 Van RC2, DHX RC4, Truvative 80mm stem, Straightline 50mm stem, Straightline pedals, Easton Monkey lite DH bars, SLX double crank, XO rear, X9 shifters, Gravity Dropper Turbo, Maxxis Ardent 2.4, 2.25, WTB saddle, Oury grips, Saint brakes, Mavic 321, Hope Pro 2
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Submitted by
2010nomad
a Weekend Warrior
from Kelowna, BC, CAN
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2010
Strengths: 2010 Nomad:
Proven design and I see why it hasn't changed much. neutral geo; nothing extreme so it works well going up and down.
Weaknesses: Why no 12mm rear? that seems to me what is missing from the bike.
Bottom Line:
Great fitness machine for a downhiller because you can still descend hard after the climb. I recommend a coil shock but if you choose air, go with the fox over the RS monarch. Its worth the extra money. I am 6' tall and I found the large fits perfect even though for a dh bike I prefer a medium.
Similar Products Used: giant reignx, marin quake, heckler
Bike Setup: Fox 36 Float, Sunline bar/stem, ElixirCRs, crossmax wheelset, tubeless maxxis (2.5 F, 2.35 R), Fox DHX Air shock. 32 lbs.
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Submitted by
psycho2u
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, Co, USfuckingA
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2010
Strengths: Carbon with Carbon build. Absolutely sell the baby and buy the bike precise. might as well give em to social services now cuz this bike is like a drug. Insane want to pedal till ya puke uphill then hold on and float like a dream downhill.
Weaknesses: Girlfriend will be gone after I don't come home for a while. Oh well, their free to a good or bad home like kittens anyway.
Bottom Line:
Take a 2nd mortgage, Sell the boat, Dump the wife and use the float till the divorce. Just f,ing do it. Any stupid questions?
Similar Products Used: Specialized Enduro. Owned, felt bad for the Ebay buyer but, Oh well.
Bike Setup: Sram rear, Xtr front, but saw Sram's charity work so Shimano will get crushed with a hammer as they are no longer comparable.
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Submitted by
jxr2k2
a Weekend Warrior
from Quito, Ecuador
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2010
Strengths: Everything..... GREAT BIKE...
Weaknesses: i would chance the rear shock...
Bottom Line:
i used ir for three months and it is great i can handle a cross country ride in the morning and in the afternoon an agressive downhill using the same bike
Similar Products Used: Santacruz Bullit, Yeti 575...
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Submitted by
SANATACRUZ
a Weekend Warrior
from GREEN BAY WI USA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2010
Strengths: HANDLING
Weaknesses: DHX AIR, I AM A BIG BOY, I COULD NOT GET ENOUGH AIR IN THE SHOCK FOR PROPER SAG, I TRIED OVER PUMPING EVEN. THE AIR BLEEDS DOWN BEFORE I CAN GET THE HOSE OF THE SHOCK PUMP. NO BODY IN MY HOME TOWN TO FILL IT WITH NITROGEN
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE MADE ME A BETER RIDER. WHEN THE GOING GETS ROUGH IT PUTS THE POWER TO THE GROUND.THE SHOCK SUCKS I SHOULD HAVE GOT THE COIL
Similar Products Used: NORCO FLUID SANTA CRUZ BULET
Bike Setup: DE MAX, FOX36RC,8 INCH HAYES, RACEFACE X TYPE AM, AZONIC TRAILKING PLATFORMS, MAXIS.3.5 TOMAC
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Submitted by
Nomadic Buckeye
a Weekend Warrior
from Murfreesboro, TN, USA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2010
Strengths: It climbs very well and descends even better.
Weaknesses: I'm not a fan of the on/off propedal. I test rode an '07 that had the dial and liked that better. That's the closest thing to a weakness I can come up with.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It climbs the ugliest stuff better than XC rigs. If you have the legs, it will find traction. Going downhill is even more fun. It loves to land jumps. I've yet to bottom out, and I've landed 7+ foot drops.
Bike Setup: DHX Air 5.0, Fox TALAS 36 RC2, XT stuff, King hubs/5.1 rims, Atlas cranks, Joplin seatpost
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Submitted by
ThorAllMyT
a Weekend Warrior
from So Cal
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2010
Strengths: Very strong and relitively light for such a stout bike just under 30 lbs for my set up. Climbes well and decends very well, excellent build choices, Santacruz quality.
Weaknesses: A bit pricey. Limited color choices. A little tight in the cockpit (Better control for decending a little less for climbing) Did I already say price?
Bottom Line:
Great all around bike, climbs better than my hardtail. Been a Santacruz fan since the skating days in the early 80’s. Solid build not as flashy as the Trek Remady but cold’nt justify buying a big corporate bike and think the Nomad is better built. A little more bike than I need but hope I’ll make it up with less maintenance. Seeing how you can buy a decent 450 motorcycle for the same price it’s hard to justify any MTB manufacture to charge over $2k for any bike.
Favorite Trail: Snail Trails after a night at Deja Vu
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Similar Products Used: Haro, Trek
Bike Setup: 2010 frame, AM X9 build, 2010 Fox 36 Talas RC2, Fox DHX Air 5.0, Avid Elixirs, Specialized Command Adjustable Seat post (New 100mm adjustment), Easton Monkey Bars, Lizard skins, DT Swiss ect….
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Submitted by
flotsom
a Weekend Warrior
from Las Vegas
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2010
Strengths: Pedals and handles well. Relatively light. Looks awesome. Fox suspension works great. Like the SRAM shifters and rear derailer.
Weaknesses: Price. Also had 2 flats in 2 rides and rear der cable pulled out first ride. Headset bound up until head tube faced. Build issues, though, not the bike's design.
Bottom Line:
I love the bike now that the build kinks are worked out. Concerned about the longer wheelbase on tight uphill & downhill switchbacks but it handles them better than all my previous XC bikes. I cleared a scary downhill switchback easily that I'd never made previously. Also worried about getting up short steep technical stuff common at Bootleg and Gooseberry but no problem there, either. It pedals more efficiently than my beloved old horst link Jamis and is one or two lbs lighter with an extra inch of travel. It feels like it works different leg muscles than my old bikes, maybe because of a slacker seat tube angle - not a plus or minus, just different. Enough's been said by others about how well Nomads go downhill...ditto that. Whether you're XC, DH or somewhere in betweein you'll like this bike a lot. "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up." - Ferris Bueller
Going back to my 'Similar Products Used' the VPP is like nothing I've ever ridden. I have owned 6" travel all mountain type bikes before, but they have all been of single pivot design. Needless to say, I had to deal with gnarly brake jack every time I would need to brake in technical or steep situations. Now that I have seen the light of VPP, my riding has improved and my confidence as well.
This bike is the perfect light downhill, freeride, and or all mountain machine. Mine is set up for descending, but with a double ring up front, air shock rear, and air sprung fox fork, this could be a very nice climber.
Similar Products Used: None compare... because of the VPP (it's freeking sweet)
Bike Setup: 2007 Nomad, Marzocchi 66RC, Fox DHX 5.0 Coil, Avid Juciy 7's (6" f/r), Shimano Saint cranks, SRAM X.9 rear shifter / derailleur, E.Thirteen SRS, Truvativ Holzfeller WC bar and stem, Chris King headset, Thompson Elite post w/ FUNN Skinny RL saddle, Maxxis 2.35 Minions on Atomlab wheels.
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Submitted by
butanding
a Weekend Warrior
from davao city philippines
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2009
Strengths: all i can say is wow. if you want only one bike to keep this is it. i havent brought my new bike to heavy trails yet but its a big difference from my lapierre black frx before. i only have one bike but i have a full face, a half shell and an xc helmet for this bike. choose a ride you desire and the bike will follow.
Weaknesses: im not sure yet since i havent been in heavy muddy trails if the its the same as the older nomad where there is squeaking sounds on the links. i havent also done the little jumps and bumps and drops that i like as well as the quick tight swithcback turns so i cannot comment yet but in my practice runs in urban settings it did well.
Bottom Line:
for now i only used the bike in urban settings where i go with little jumps from the gutters and obstacles.
i only had the bike for a month and im scared that a new nomad carbon will come out.
but needless to say i dont even know what the difference between carbon and aluminum will be. all i know is the weight difference for now. i hope i wont drool and cry over if a new nomad carbon will come out by january 2010
Bike Setup: white medium 2009 santa cruz nomad2 with dhx air 5.0. 2008 fox36 float rc2 fork, 2009 xtr cranks, rear derailler shadow, front derailleur, cogs, shifters and dura ace chain. magura louise brakes with ventilated 7 inch rotors, syncros bulk handle bar, syncros saddle, syncros db 28 wheelset with kenda nevegal tires, syncros headset with reducer (didnt upgrade fork yet), thomson oversized 70mm stem, thomson seatpost, steve peat syndicate white grips,
