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Santa Cruz Nomad V4 MY2018 170mm

430733 Views 1942 Replies 279 Participants Last post by  JDMDA9, 
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Features
• 148mm Rear Axle Spacing
• 170mm VPP™ suspension
• 27.5" wheels
• Angular contact bearings maximize stiffness
• Bolt-on shuttle guard and downtube protector
• Collet axle pivots lock in place without pinch bolts
• Double sealed pivots for long bearing life
• Forged upper and lower links
• Full carbon frame and swingarm
• Internal carbon tubes ensure precise and hassle-free routing of derailleur and seat post cables
• ISCG-05 tabs for chainguide compatibility
• Molded rubber swingarm and downtube protection
• Recessed lower link protected from rock strikes
• Single grease port on lower link for swift and easy maintenance
• Threaded Bottom Bracket

The Nomad's reputation is built on consistently pushing the envelope of how DH a bike can get while still remaining usable on most trails. With each iteration we nudge the travel and geometry further towards the outer limits, and each time we surprise ourselves at just how completely rideable the end result remains.
The fourth generation design sees a dramatic shift to the lower-link mounted shock configuration. This is the first time that learnings from years of V10 development have translated across to one of our trail bikes.
The shock rate is now almost completely linear-which means feather-light small bump sensitivity right off the bat, a supportive midstroke and overall progression that you'd normally only experience on a DH bike. To keep the gravity vibe going we've ensured the Nomad can run both standard metric coil shocks and lighter air units to suit any preference.
Full shock compatibility creates challenges when trying to cram everything into the precious bottom bracket area. But the continued evolution of our carbon tech means we're able to create a svelt, strong, swingarm/front triangle combo that's as much art as it is engineering.
We even managed to squeeze in a flip-chip feature on the lower link too. Think of the high setting as "regular", the way the bike's mostly meant to be ridden, and the low setting as being closer to full on DH status.
To handle all this new-found capability the geometry has adapted too. It's longer and lower-slung than ever to ensure maximum stability and confidence on absolutely everything.
The whole package is crowned with a raft of subtle yet essential details. Bolt-on downtube protectors and shuttle guards act as a helmet for your frame-a replaceable front line against abuse. An integrated shock fender has also been added to keep crud out of the suspension.
The crowning glory of the Nomad, however, has been in the making longer than the frame itself: the all new Santa Cruz Reserve carbon wheels. Spec'd exclusively on the Nomad for now, you can read more about how these wheels came into being right here.

https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/nomad
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FunkyFreeman
xhailofgunfirex said:
I understand how people aren't liking the appearance of the bike, especially the colors, I'm surprised on the no black option. I really love my N3 because of its down capability but also because I can use it more as an all around one bike solution, I don't see the N4 as a one bike solution, but I love the direction SC took with it, they did go in the right direction with it. If the Bronson could get a touch more progressive leverage ratio I don't think people will really miss the N3 as much.
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Agreed. The N3 is my best bike for going big and can be ridden around town well, plus having a gorgeous look that I love. For my riding I can't ask the N3 for more. I understand the scientific necessities SC claims for the new design. But do they forget that aesthetics is also another big factor that they're known for? How many SC fans are willing to pay almost 10 grands for this weird, GT-looking new bike? And oh, those two-decade-ago color choices... SC should better pay attention to how Scott and Intense paint their frames, sorry, just my opinion.

I appreciated SC's brave decision to push the Nomad burlier bike employing lessons learned from V10 in terms of suspension kinematics, but I really don't understand why they threw away lessons learned from their previous bikes in terms of beauty?

I think many ppl in this thread already have their own answers regarding the look of the new bike. But we still have to wait for more reviews and demo ride report to better know how the newmad really feels though. My guess is that it must be plusher than N3, but not sure if that's enough to convince N3 owners to buy.
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SDMTB'er
Makes me really glad to own the Pivot Firebird (before I get flamed, I also have a SC HighTower). Pivot FB is super sessy and pretty much offers all this bike offers.
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P
Will have to get a demo of this bike in during Crankworks this summer. It'll be nice to do a lap on my V10C then a Nomad lap. Be even nicer if I'm able to ride both the medium and large frames.
Sorta bummed about no 29er though
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FunkyFreeman
Ratboy and his 50to01 gangster with the N4 :cool:


Now I'm expecting official N4 video commercial. Anyone knows about this?
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Salespunk said:
The downside is that it probably makes flattish trails feel pretty tame. Other than that, my gut tells me this pedals better and descends better than the N3. The N3 (which I had a long love affair with) had the highest leverage at the sag point so it was very plush while in the saddle. With the straighter leverage curve of the N4 is should have a playful character and may pedal better as well. All speculation at this point and personally I am waiting for the new long travel 29.
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The recently posted nsmb.com is pretty good, not just a replay of the SC marketing materials. Mentioned "descends like a V10, climbs like a 5010", not quite of course, but pretty close. The riding wasn't in Italy (which was almost entirely downhill). Sure I'm anxious for more real world reviews and will make a road trip to SC after the test mules become available. Or maybe Roseville CA, or Reno NV if I can wait till Sept/Oct.

But a playful character sounds good. The new nomad pretty much checks off all the things I was hoping for. I was wondering about the max tire size, several reviews claim room 2.6" tires, but the SC website says 2.5".

In any case I expect the new nomad and the long travel version of the hightower should both be awesome. Can't wait to try them both.
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C
matadorCE said:
I'm sure it's a ripper but not a fan of the color combo and overall it looks like a GT. The Juliana version with the slightly curved top tube and brighter color looks much better IMO.
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Like GT Force

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FunkyFreeman
calvingsc said:
Like GT Force
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(sigh)Agreed.
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FunkyFreeman said:
I appreciated SC's brave decision to push the Nomad burlier bike employing lessons learned from V10 in terms of suspension kinematics, but I really don't understand why they threw away lessons learned from their previous bikes in terms of beauty?
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It seems you can't have it both ways :)

I believe next gen Bronson will look more Nomadish (like N3) due to fact they have to put longer shock in it. But that's just my guess.

Also, in my opinion, SC made terrible marketing decision by not calling 1st gen Bronson a Nomad, and then coming up with new name for heavy hitter. It looks people expect Nomad to be universal soldier and that's where Bronson and HT shine right know.
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hillharman said:
This is unfortunately one of the worst looking bikes SC has made in a long time, especially compared to the Nomad V3, which is gorgeous.
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Just curious. Which mountain bike would you pick? A gorgeous one that wasn't as good at climbing or descending? Or an ugly bike with an awesome suspension that climbed and descended better?
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FunkyFreeman
strasznyzbigniew said:
It seems you can't have it both ways :)
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Then they should've come up with better colors

strasznyzbigniew said:
I believe next gen Bronson will look more Nomadish (like N3) due to fact they have to put longer shock in it. But that's just my guess.
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Huh? Maybe a reborn N3 with 150mm of travel and 66 HA .

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H
I wouldn't buy a bike that didn't speak to be aesthetically. Fortunately, there are many great bikes that do.
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R
FunkyFreeman said:
How many SC fans are willing to pay almost 10 grands for this weird, GT-looking new bike? And oh, those two-decade-ago color choices... SC should better pay attention to how Scott and Intense paint their frames, sorry, just my opinion.

. . . I really don't understand why they threw away lessons learned from their previous bikes in terms of beauty?
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hillharman said:
I wouldn't buy a bike that didn't speak to be aesthetically. Fortunately, there are many great bikes that do.
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This^. This is carbon and they can shape it into whatever mold they desire. I get they are going for functionality but what happened to creating a work of beauty, visually, aesthetically. SC, this is your product and MTB buiz has become so competitive. Do you really want to be viewed as a company that does not care about the full package like it seemed you used to? Other companies can marry functionality with the artful craft of frame design.

Yup
strasznyzbigniew said:
It seems you can't have it both ways :)
.
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Can't have it both ways, other companies seem to do it both ways just fine. I wonder if SC just doesn't care. I hope this isn't a taste of things to come.
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scrublover
FunkyFreeman said:
Then they should've come up with better colors

Huh? Maybe a reborn N3 with 150mm of travel and 66 HA .

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so get a bronson and slap in a -1* headset.
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G
The bike looks great. If they do all their bikes like this Id be psyched!


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FunkyFreeman
scrublover said:
so get a bronson and slap in a -1* headset.
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No. I'll wait for Bronson 3

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M
I like it!
Could very well be a nice park bike or "big bike" in addition to a trail bike. Sure, a DH bike would probably do better, but the Nomad 4 is a much more practical package if you are not a racer looking for seconds.
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rscecil007
Gotta say, more I look at this thing, the more I like the looks.

And I told Salespunk earlier, I have to agree with kidwoo. This frame really isn't any different than the last one except for the 5mm difference in rear travel, and improvements in the leverage curve and reach numbers. 5mm difference doesn't suddenly throw this into a category different from the last one.

This won't apply to all, but how many of us with N3's had coils on the rear and were running 170mm 36's anyway? How would this N4 be any different than that setup? I really really loved that bike and regretted selling it for awhile. Almost makes me want to buy one of these, but my gut still feels this is too much bike for me.
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rscecil007 said:
And I told Salespunk earlier, I have to agree with kidwoo. This frame really isn't any different than the last one except for the 5mm difference in rear travel, and improvements in the leverage curve and reach numbers. 5mm difference doesn't suddenly throw this into a category different from the last one.
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I agree on the 5mm, it's in the noise (3% more travel).

I am quite curious how much better the rear suspension is. More progressive could potentially be a pretty big deal. After all I think most would agree that SC makes good engineering decisions. The cost of the N3 -> n4 change to the rear suspension is pretty substantial. Moving complicated bits closer to the mud, puncturing (read that as weakening) the seat tube with a giant hole. I actually snapped my seat tube on my blur right where that hole is. On top of that unlike the N3, the N4 removes the drive side connection between the seat stay pivot and the chain stay pivot. Granted the blur and the bronson does similar, neither are designed to take the hits the N4 is. The N3 and HT have the seatstay to chainstay pivot connected on both sides.

So presumably if SC thought the N4 suspension was worth all those changes that it is pretty special. After all SC could have just increased the N4 reach a bit and called it good.

I graphed the high tower leverage ratio compared to the Nomad 4 and it is pretty surprisingly different. I can't find the leverage ratio info for the N3, but the HT vs Nomad 4 should be quite a difference.

The graphs are here (n4 then HT)
https://p.vitalmtb.com/temp_photos/1534/max_Slide2_845363.jpg?1496280329
https://p.vitalmtb.com/temp_photos/914/max_Slide2_722198.jpg?1491506511

Assuming that the N4 pulls off the almost v10 like downhill and almost 5010 like climbing I'm quite curious about the downsides of having too much bike. I'm under no illusion that I can push the limits of any of the SC bikes, but what really matters is can the bike push me. I'm anxious enough to try the nomad 4 that I'd consider a pretty long road trip to try one.
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Salespunk
I would agree with both of you. The advantage of the new linkage is that it separates the leverage curve from the anti squat so that even with the progressive nature AS is still in the 100-120% range which should provide very good pedaling. I will say right now that once the general public reviews start to roll in, they are going to be gushing about it. This bike should be close to the holy grail of climbing/descending machines.

For the HT vs the N4, what you see on the HT is a standard VPP implementation of regressive/progressive. The net of that curve is a very supple bike at sag, but not much platform to push on during out of the saddle or sprint efforts. It won't be horrible in those situations, but it will rely a lot on damping technology in the rear shock. This is also why their bikes benefit so much from shock upgrades like the X2.
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A
Did anyone put an order in? (Confirmed with dates?)
I put a deposit for the frame only option. According to my LBS it will ship sometime in September. Complete bikes first, then frame only.
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