[scottyoungsheep]

Been toying with the idea of a longer shock on a Nomad, maybe the 8.75x2.75 length instead of the 8.5x2.5, coupled with some Fox 40's set to 7" up front?

Anyone done it or have any thoughts?

Scott

 

[k1creeker]

I remember reading about someone who built custom links to get 8" of travel out of the Nomad. Try searching the Santa Cruz forum.

 

[venom600]

Why?!

There are a ton of great 7" bikes out there.......

 

[$ally Hu$tle]

Don't do it. It doesn't make the bike fun. Plus I would never put two fox 40's in the front, I'd probably only do one or keep a single crown.

 

[scottyoungsheep]

Why?!

There are a ton of great 7" bikes out there.......

Why not? I have a Nomad, I can get a 8.75 damper, and I'd doubt there'd be a lighter 7.2" travel bike frame around for spending £150.

Sally Hustle, thanks for the advice. On the back end, at least...

Schmert erse.

 

[Scotth72]

Why not? The linkage is designed to go through a certain range of motion, and a longer shock will put it outside these parameters. Even if you can shove it in there without binding at each end of the stroke, your BB height will be way high, and handling will go out the window.
Travel is NOT the end all of performance.

 

[keen]

I read a couple posts on the SC board about the longer shock. Not sure if the increased BB height was worth the extra bit of travel. You will also find a few pic's of Boxxers on Nomads possibly Syndicate rides.

 

[scottyoungsheep]

I realise travel isn't the be all and end all, but I'm gonna try it nevertheless. The shock is only 6mil longer, 2 if which will be taken up by sag. I'm pretty sure it'll fit, so I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[mjw]

I realise travel isn't the be all and end all, but I'm gonna try it nevertheless. The shock is only 6mil longer, 2 if which will be taken up by sag. I'm pretty sure it'll fit, so I'll let you know how I get on.

It will fit.

I remember several people doing it in the SC form when I was riding a nomad actually.

I am unsure if a 8.5 X 2.75 stroke will work, or will the wheel hit the seat tube? Elka is making these now so I hear, and I am sure AVY might have the ability to do so...maybe?

 

[tuumbaq]

Why not? The linkage is designed to go through a certain range of motion, and a longer shock will put it outside these parameters. Even if you can shove it in there without binding at each end of the stroke, your BB height will be way high, and handling will go out the window.
Travel is NOT the end all of performance.

What he says...period, Why bother asking us if you should do it if you were going to do it regardless ?

I'd take 4" of GOOD travel and a dialed geometry over high BB, steep HA and f-ck up leverage/ratio any time.

 

[scottyoungsheep]

What he says...period, Why bother asking us if you should do it if you were going to do it regardless ?

I'd take 4" of GOOD travel and a dialed geometry over high BB, steep HA and f-ck up leverage/ratio any time.

I doubt the geometry will change radically. The head angle will get a little steeper with the longer shock, but it'll be made a little slacker by the longer fork. So probably little change.

The BB will be a bit higher, but i can live with that, i sometimes ground out that bike anyway. When i set it with more sag than before, as i intend to, i doubt i'll notice the difference.

I don't see why the leverage ratio will substantially change either, i'm not changing linkages or adding a 9.5" shock. It's an extra 6mm.

I'll let you know when i've done it. If its crap feel free to laugh in my face.

 

[man w/ one hand]

I doubt the geometry will change radically. The head angle will get a little steeper with the longer shock, but it'll be made a little slacker by the longer fork. So probably little change.

The BB will be a bit higher, but i can live with that, i sometimes ground out that bike anyway. When i set it with more sag than before, as i intend to, i doubt i'll notice the difference.

I don't see why the leverage ratio will substantially change either, i'm not changing linkages or adding a 9.5" shock. It's an extra 6mm.

I'll let you know when i've done it. If its crap feel free to laugh in my face.

I ran my Nomad (1st gen), w/a CCDB & 06 66sl that came off of my VP Free for about 2yrs. It always felt too tall and too steep of a HA. I never felt comfortable on it like I did my VP Free. I recently (2 months ago), put new bearings an stuff on my VP Free and tore th Nomad down and built up th VP Free w/the intentions of doing th same to the Nomad and switching it all back over.....however I've had soooo much more fun on th VP Free that I haven't thought much about th Nomad. Th VP Free iz so much more flickable and rider friendly in the air and on landings. I call it a Nomad w/ a recliner mechanisim This time when I build up th Nomad it'll have th stock length shock, (PUSH'd DHX) and my 05 66rc on it = "slackness galore".
Bottom line: I wouldn't long shock a Nomad, been there and done that.....yuck....pfffft.....rft:

 

[his dudeness]

I ran my Nomad (1st gen), w/a CCDB & 06 66sl that came off of my VP Free for about 2yrs. It always felt too tall and too steep of a HA. I never felt comfortable on it like I did my VP Free. I recently (2 months ago), put new bearings an stuff on my VP Free and tore th Nomad down and built up th VP Free w/the intentions of doing th same to the Nomad and switching it all back over.....however I've had soooo much more fun on th VP Free that I haven't thought much about th Nomad. Th VP Free iz so much more flickable and rider friendly in the air and on landings. I call it a Nomad w/ a recliner mechanisim This time when I build up th Nomad it'll have th stock length shock, (PUSH'd DHX) and my 05 66rc on it = "slackness galore".
Bottom line: I wouldn't long shock a Nomad, been there and done that.....yuck....pfffft.....rft:

Personally, adding a longer shock which will in turn raise the bb and steepen the angle and screw up the optimal leverage ratios intended for your frame is all something that's kinda counterproductive. You Nomad won't ride like it should, won't corner like it should, won't cycle through the travel like it should, and the steeper angle will make the bike a tad more twitchy. If you want to turn your burly am/fr bike into a weird long travel xc bike or something built for straight line hucking then go for it. Personally, I'd keep the same size shock on and if you're going to upgrade then go for a better and more tuneable shock. I'd also throw a triple clamp fork lowered to 7 inches on for dh riding and keep the single crown for more all around ripping.

Bottom line, let the Nomad be what it is. If you want something with more travel and a more dh feel, then get a different frame that'll have apprpriate geometry to ride the way you want and the proper suspension movement that you'll want. The nomad is a pretty capable bike man, you could take it to a ski resort and rip dh runs all day... You could also climb to the top of your favorite singletrack and rip down too.

 

[tuumbaq]

I doubt the geometry will change radically. The head angle will get a little steeper with the longer shock, but it'll be made a little slacker by the longer fork. So probably little change.

The BB will be a bit higher, but i can live with that, i sometimes ground out that bike anyway. When i set it with more sag than before, as i intend to, i doubt i'll notice the difference.

I don't see why the leverage ratio will substantially change either, i'm not changing linkages or adding a 9.5" shock. It's an extra 6mm.

I'll let you know when i've done it. If its crap feel free to laugh in my face.

my point is, if you are already aware of the negative impact of a longer shock for your bike, WHY ARE U POSTING THIS ?

 

[scottyoungsheep]

my point is, if you are already aware of the negative impact of a longer shock for your bike, WHY ARE U POSTING THIS ?

To see if anyone had tried it and thought it worked maybe? Why else would i ask?

I already have a VP Free, wanted to se if i could make something lighter, and longer travel.

Is there a problem with trying new things? Maybe you should post a list on here of what is and isn't acceptable to try. Seeing as you've tried it all, and have such strong opinions on putting longer shocks on bikes.

And WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING? :???:

 

[Haus Boss]

Scotty, did you go through with the 8.75" shock? I'd be interested to hear how your nomad is performing. I see a lot of people making a lot of noise about "it's gonna mess up the geometry" etc etc etc. Seems like it will have rather minimal impact on the seat and head angles, and one that could be adjusted depending on the travel of your front fork. I mean honestly, the BB is probably riding 3 mm taller now!? Any engineers or mathematicians in here who can give us a graphical image of the 8.5 vs 8.75" shock rates on the Nomad?

 

[b-kul]

I realise travel isn't the be all and end all, but I'm gonna try it nevertheless. The shock is only 6mil longer, 2 if which will be taken up by sag. I'm pretty sure it'll fit, so I'll let you know how I get on.

you only run 2 mm of sag

 

[Metanoia]

can you sell me your 8.5x2.5 coil shock if you decide to go ahead with your project?